9-speed downtube shifters
 

I'm looking to build up a 9 speed bike and would like to use downtube shifters but they seem pretty elusive. So far I have come up with the following options:

Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 (Old but still availible)
Sunrace SLR90
Dia Compe Silver (Retrofriction - not indexed)

Are there any other options for 9 speed indexed or retrofriction shifters? I'm currently leaning towards the Silver unless I get a find a good deal on the Dura-Ace.

I run the DA 9-speed shifters and they are the shnizz nizz. PBK has the best price- about $58 shipped to the USA.

I have Shimano 9-spd downtube shifters I bought about 3-4 years ago... don't think they're DA, not sure. 105? but anyway, they work really well. Hope you find a set soon.

Current Shimano DT shifters are all labeled "Dura Ace" and they are both reasonably priced and very high quality. Sun Race is usable but certainly not at the same quality level and the Dia Compe are strictly friction so if friction is ok, use any NOS downtube shifters you can find.

Go with the DA.

i personally don't like indexing on downtube shifters, it adds a bit of resistance and the stops make riding more jerky when throwing indexed downtube shifters. one hand on the bar, click click, click, its herkyjerky!

I would go with the silvers.

The reason I prefer indexing is it should allow me to get my hands back to the handlebar faster than with friction. I'm not saying this based on extensive experiance, the last bike I had with DT shifters was a 5-speed (5, not 10) Schwinn.

Exactly!! And here I thought it was just me. I have a nice Tommasini that I put Campy's last iteration of Synchro on (8-sp) just because I got them cheap at a bike-shop close-out. And damned if the reason I don't ride it as much as I should is because of the indexing. It works fine, it's just, well... herkyjerky. Thanks for that insight.

I'd say indexing is one of those innovations that had to wait for integrated brake/shifter levers before it really started to pay its way (for riders who eventually "got" friction shifting.) Being able to shift the tandem while standing is a huge help, but I can't do that with indexed down-tube shifters so why bother? Retro-friction is just fine for everything else....and I've got 6-, 7-, 8- , and 9-speed setups that all use it.