Hi all,

I'd like to put drop bars on my Karate Monkey but am not sure which brake levers or shifters would work. It is equipped with mechanical disk brakes and Deore XT derailleurs with 3 gears in front and 9 in back.

I also have a question about handlebar-brake lever fit. On my 1980s Schwinn, I replaced the handlebar and couldn't find a position where I could reach the brake levers from the top and bottom at the same time so I ended up getting another replacement handlebar and that one seems to work better. Is there a difference in how newer and older brake levers or handlebars are shaped? Is there anything to be aware of when matching up these parts?

Thanks

one decision: do you want the bottom of the drops parallel like regular road bars,

or widely flared at an angle. ?? A WTB Dirt drop theme ..

The control levers and shifters for flat bars don't fit on drop bars; they have different diameters. The clamps for your brake levers/shifters are too small (22.2mm or 7/8") where drop bars are 23.8mm or 15/16". They physically won't fit.

So you have two options:
1) Find a versatile handlebar that takes MTB controls. Trekking/butterfly bars, Albatross/Albastache/North Road styles, Bosco/cruiser styles. I use a cheap Wald cruiser bar on my MTB to townie conversion.

2) Change the controls to road/23.8mm to match the new drop bars. You'd still have to get brake levers with the proper pull (for linear-pull or mechanical disc brakes); Tektro RL520's are cheap and popular.
For shifters, you'd have to get 9 speed bar-ends or thumb shifters. You couldn't use STI brifters; I don't think any 9 speed brifters have the proper brake pull for disc brakes.

Thanks for the replies.

For the handlebars: I was hoping to use some drop bars I already have. I can look for other ones later if I don't like them but, since I already have them, I thought I would start there.

It looks like Surly's Long Haul Trucker pairs up Tektro RL520s with mechanical disks so that should work for me as well?

I know nothing about shifters but STIs are outside my budget, so bar ends it is. Are there different shifters for different derailleurs? For my Deore XT derailleurs, are some shifters compatible while others aren't? I'd prefer index shifting.

I have a road bike stem I can use for this. It might be too long but at least I can put everything together and see how it works.

Shimano has 8 , 9 and 10 speed bar ends , Microshift makes a different one,
they try to make them to go with Shimano RDs,
Because Shimano dominates the OEM Market. so odds are better that will be on the buyers bike.

you need the count of cogs and the shift lever detent count and cable pull rate to be the same .

Shimano 9 speed Bar end shifter kits cables housing and all are about $100 ..



I stayed back at 7 speed stuff , and friction shifters are OK by me ..

YMMV

Your rear derailleur will index fine, as long as you select the shifter to match the number of gears on your cassette. The front will only shift properly in friction mode, as the cable pull between mountain and road front derailleurs differs. You can also purchase a new FD such as the IRD Alpina, or a Tiagra triple if your granny ring isn't absurdly small.

Thanks, I think that's what I needed to know.

So something like this would work? microSHIFT -The best control system