I am mechanically inclined but know nothing about bikes. The shifters on my bike need to be replaced and I don't know what to get. it's a Giant Farrago and I have been looking at the Shimano EF-51 Shifter/Brake Lever Combo (3 x 7 Speed) on Amazon. Would this work on my bike? if not any advice on how to choose one that would work would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

What year is the bike, how many cogs does it have in the back, and what shifter are on it now? Photos can help. I have a set of 7 speed trigger shifters/brake levers that just came off of a tandem I am converting to drops if they might help. Not sure if they work properly or not.

What is wrong with the shifters? I have encountered a few pairs of trigger shifters that were gummed up inside from age and just needed some cleaning and fresh lubrication to work again.

One of the best places to get technical information on parts compatibility is https://sheldonbrown.com/ Lots of good and well written information there.

Haven't used the EF-51's but I replaced the GripShifters on my Trek with a set of the EF-65's when I did a complete overhaul on it and I like them so much I just put a set on the rain bike I'm building from the TREK leftovers. If you are the slightest bit mechanically inclined hooking them up was a piece of cake and if you hit any stumbling blocks refer to Sheldon brown's website in the link 'Yo Spiff' posted.

Does your bike have V brakes or canti's?
IF Canti's, make sure you get the 4 finger version of the EF-51's. They work for both type brakes.
The 2 finger version only work for V brakes. (linear pull)

Providing a link to your bike would be useful. I've never heard of a "Farrago".

@Yo Spiff
it's 7 cogs on back. There's nothing wrong with them mechanically as far as I can tell. They seem to work fine, but the rubber is mostly gone, whats little is left is gooey and stickey. I'll see if I can post pics tomorrow night. I'm not sure what year it is (and not sure how to tell) but I think I saw a listing for the same model from 2000 or so. I can't seem to find the bike on the Manufacturer website, so I'm guessing it's about that old. [MENTION=78399]Bill Kapaun[/MENTION]
I had to look that up, but based on pics I saw on google and a quick wiki lookup they are Cantis.

Thanks for all you guys Feedback Yo Spiff, Murray Missile, Bill Kapaun

I am now looking at Shimano ST-EF65 Shift/Brake Set (I'm guessing it's an upgraded/newer version of the EF65 that Murray Missile mentioned?)


Any thoughts?

I don't know if the EF-65's work with Canti's, so do your research.

[MENTION=352629]bimbim18[/MENTION], I have the ST-EF65's.


The ST-EF65's have the option of working with Canti, Roller or V brakes. I have Shimano V's on my TREK and Tektro Cantilevers on the "Junkyard Refugee". I had to leave the levers in the V brake position to get them to work with the Tektros though, the levers hit the grips in Canti position. They "worked" but I was not comfortable with that situation, I switched them back to the V brake position and they work great like that.

Well I got my ST-EF65's on the other night. Having never worked on a bike before, it took a while but I watched a few youtube vids, took my time, paid attention to details, worked on one cable at a time.....after thinking I was done and put away the tools figured out how to change the settings to work with Cantis (Doh!)

Thanks a lot guys for all your help

now if my new seat would hurry up and get here so my butt won't hurt ...

i think mines a 1998 or 1999, some were dual suspension, some not. 42 x 700c tires, 7 speed grip shift, sun tour crank, crmo frame, 35 lbs. i have a new rear hub, and shifter on the way to make an 8 speed.

mine doesn't have suspension (and isnt as pretty) but I'll post pics as soon as the rest of the parts come in and I'm done with it. The handlebar is pretty rusty (surface) so I am planning on taking a sander to it and give it a nice coat of paint. Opted for grip tape instead of handlebar grips. The bike is also a bit too tall for me but manageable. But hey, I bought it for $25 a few years back. When I'm done with it, it will be a very nice bike for cheaper than a new one with some nice upgrades.

i went for an alloy handlebar and one piece quill stem from nashbar. the bike was free, but under the dust, cob webs and mud it came out not bad.

I found the farrago on bikepedia. they say 95-2000 and it is a womans specific design.
https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...o#.Uj0XRz9SiJY


the 2000 had 8 speeds, all years say gripshift except the 97 which had shimano nexus
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-ST-8S2...+nexus+shifter

gluck

That does help a bit, but it's odd, it doesn't have the typical lower upper tube on the frame most women's bikes have. (my wife is now yelling at me 'no it's not a women's bike' lol)
Either way it is turning out to be a lot more fun to ride. (almost a new bike at this point hehe) Next is the front derailers. After fighting with it not shifting correctly into 3rd and reading several books about bikes and looking closer the cage seems well worn.

so far:

new tubes
tires
shifter/brakes
handlebar wrappings
seat

now front derailers.

traditionally a girls bike would have the lower slanted top tube but that was 20 years ago or on low end department store bikes.

now a days a WSD (women specific design) bicycle looks similar to a mens model however it does have subtle differences.

The top tube is shorter between the seat tube and head tube to account for a shorter reach. also the tube angles are more relaxed. often they will come with a comfier seat or a more upright neck.

Im not certain if this bike was ever made as mens model, I am not an expert. I am only going by what bikepedia says.

either way, it still servers as a good bike, aside that it's too tall for me (at least its not pink with flowers or something),
i think its wrong actually. The bike pedals are longer than standard (most womens bikes I read also have shorter levers(?) (not sure of terminology) to compensate for the shorter legs) and it had a mens style bike seat (either stock or cheap replacement).

It will definitely will work for you, it may even be a little more fun to ride, less twitchy.

not sure if you can see a difference between these two (doubt it), the 6000 is my mens mtb and the 7000 is my wifes wsd mtb, 1 year different. her bike has a different feel but it is a slightly larger frame.

funny, at a quick glance i would have thought it were the other way around. The top tube is definately proportionately higher.