Aren't bar-end shifters friction as well?

Nope...just looked it up and there are some that are indexed also...

I suppose my main point for friction over indexed with this particular bike is the issues the bike seemed to have with compatibility between the index points of the shifter out front and the cassette out back. Things would be properly adjusted yet gears would still hesitate, make noise, and sometimes it would pop and shift out of nowhere.

One size won't fit all, though. I can understand why friction shifters wouldn't be suitable for all. But I think we can all agree that if they could fix the compatibility between the shifters and the cassette, it would drastically improve the overall ride.

I'm definitely one of the fans of friction shift, though. I love the tactile feel, quick multiple gear changes, silence, smoothness, and the infinite possibilities of adjustment. But on the flip side I haven't really been exposed to a 'good' indexed system either.
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