I posted this on the 650b group but thought I would inquiry here.
I am doing a 650b conversion for my wife and am thinking of using the Nitto Albatross bars. But I don't think sh would like bar end shifters. So hence the the above question.
It will be an 8 speed triple.
Thanks!

Assuming you left the f out of shifters in your title?



What you want are probably thumb shifters (trigger shifter usually refers to a Sturmey Archer three speed shifter). Whether that's what you mean by classic looking, well, I couldn't say.

NEW SunRace SLM96 8-Speed MTB Thumb Shifter - Right/Rear - Includes Cable | eBay

SunRace SLM10 thumbies work well but look cheap -- I use one on my hybrid to replace the balky Shimano indexed shifter for the front derailer. The SLM96 look nicer.

For more money, Paul Components and IRD Power Ratchet thumbies.

if what you really want is trigger shifters and not thumbies (as mentioned above) then i do remember Shimano made Deore LX 3x8 shifters in silver... which makes it a little classier, especially because you can then use any silver brake levers you want. this might be as good as you can get, though, in triggers.

Easy -- Suntour XC or XC Sport thumb shifters. Classy, built like a tank, and ratcheting. A bit harder to find, and $$$, but worth it.

The "World's Most Interesting Man" doesn't always use thumb shifters, but when he does, he uses Suntour Power Ratchets.

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I don't know why anyone wouldn't want bar ends on Albatross bars. They're perfect on those and completely intuitive. YMMV.

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I agree. IMHO, albatross bars are the suckiest looking of all bars, but they are at least 15% less sucky looking when equipped with barcons. And shifting barcons is a lot more natural to me than triggers or thumbs.

Thread title fixed.

Lots of folks like the Paul Thumbie mounts with newer Shimano shifters attached. I have a bike with Albatross bars and Shimano bar ends and I absolutely love it.

Just like on the folks on the 650b list requested can you clarify if you actually mean trigger shifters or are talking about thumb shifters?

not everyone is comfortable taking a hand off the bars to shift (my fiancee included). she probably could if she REALLY wanted to, but it's hard enough to get her on a bike as it is.

What I got were from Velo Orange, named "Falcon" and not fancy; to make them look more "classic", I got the "gum" covers that normally fit down tube levers or QR's. Major improvement in appearance. Sorry no pics but both items on VO's site.

Thanks for your replies! Great ideas!!!!

For an 8 speed triple with albatross or Northroads, I would choose these.
Microshift Twist Shift Triple 8 speed Shifter Set | eBay

I found some older Shimano Sora ST-R221 shifters for my wife's bike - the only EZ-fire style that I could find that were entirely silver, both pods and brake levers. The barrel adjusters could probably be replaced with something silver, the shift levers are probably going to have to remain black.

One project I've got planned is a sports bike in the vein of this hand-built RIH I came across a few years ago and captured on my phone. I really like the way it looks, including the trigger shifters.

I don't think that plastic trigger shifters can ever look classic.

These no-name thumb shifters are my all-time favorites. They're 3X7 Shimano and all metal.

For a recent build I got shifter mounts that clamp to the bars (either common diameter, road or upright) and accept typical indexed or friction shifters (like downtube shifters). VeloOrange sells them; not particularly cheap ($65) but they work well, and don't look too bad. I put them just outside the center barrel of some road bars. Sorry, no photos, but you can see the items on VeloOrange site, and they even have a photo that's on an Albatross-type bar (bare, though) -- might work well with the bar-end reverse brake levers.
https://store.velo-orange.com/index....22-2-23-8.html

I've had very good luck with 6 or 7 spd Deore thumb shifters.