Hey all. So some may know that I'm building up an older Nishiki, and everything is coming together. I'm super excited; however, the recipient of the bike is attempting to be enthusiastic but it's hard when he won't be able to ride it for months.

Anyway, the guy I'm building it up for is a tall dude and he didn't like the idea of the lengthy reach down to the DT for shifting, so I decided barcons would be the way to go. Long story short, I'm having pretty much zero luck finding some decently-priced Shimano 7speed bar ends, and I'm wondering what my options are really. Would it be cheaper to get something like the Rivendell adapters and then use indexed DT shifters?

Lay it on me, C&Vers!

check these out from Rivendale https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...-mounts/17-068

Hm. Those look good, but they're rivaling the cost of some 8speed shifters that I found. Can I make an 8speed shifter work with a 7speed cassette?

I've used parts bin friction thumb shifters clamped on the drop for one of my parts bikes in the past. They also can be mounted next to the stem if you can get the shifters to fit. Its completely ugly but it works.

I assume you want sis only then?
Friction setup would be no problem.
I'm trying out some suntour "mighty shifter"s and I bet you could fit them with indexed shifters without too much hassle.

Yeah, I'm personally fine with friction but it's my brother's bike. And he gets a little freaked out with friction.

This might work
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=42336

Seven spd. GripShift. I love em'

How did you mount them? Handlebar-end insert?

-Kurt

Shimano originally sold their 8 speed bar end shifters as 7/8 speed. Get the Ultegra shifters. They're easy to find. I've been using them for years on a 7 speed. It has never missed a shift.

Bar End Shifters



Shimano Ultegra 8 Speed Bar-end Shifters LD801 $84.95
These permit switching between indexed and friction shifting.
Complete with cables, housing and down-tube cable stops for attachment to down-tube braze-ons. If your bike doesn't have the braze-ons, you also need to buy a pair of clamp-on cable stops.

The 7-speed units are no longer available, but the 8-speed shifters actually work quite well with 7-speed cassettes, especially with modern rear derailers.

Dirt Dro-- I mean, Grand Bois. Do you know if the SL-BS50 8 speed shifters might also work with a 7speed set up?

All the shifters do is pull cable. All Shimano 8 speed non-Dura Ace shifters should pull the same amount.

Darn, the SL-BS50-8 is Dura Ace. Gar.

Oh well, I now have some options.

Try to track down early GripShifters, originally designed for triathlon aero bars. These work well on the bottom of drops. The later models pictured by Norwood have a shorter ´throw´and are a bit trickier to turn with the bottom of the hand, IYKWIM. All in my experience, of course.

Yeah, I machined the bar end inserts out of some solid alum. round stock.

I'm thinking about these for one of my bikes.
https://www.kellybike.com/2nd_xtra_takeoff.html