DisplayERROR

So i'm a big fan of the downtube shifters but is there a compelling reason why Shimano in particular still releases downtube shifters along with their new groupsets? I guess its an appeal to the people who are their fans, myself included, but do people just mount them in concert with the standard levers that come with these groups? Do they still manufacture brake levers without the STI shifting function like the ones in a dura ace 7400?

surreal

um, shimano has been doing downtube shifters for as long as i've been riding. They make 2 versions of the aero brake levers, sans shifers, but these are non-series bits. there's a "good 'n" and a "cheap' n". I think it's mostly for retro ppl, ultimate gram-counters, and b/c it's gotta be a high-margin part for shimano retailers. I, for one, am glad they're making 10speed DT and bar-end shifters, and i'll likely boycott shimano if they ever stop making them.

-rob

abarth

I think the new 9 and 10 speed down tube shifters are for TT/Triathlon aerobar.

Sirrus Rider

I don't intend to hijack the thread, but in a similar vein is it possible to use '88 era 105 down tube with a modern 105 8/9/10 speed rear hub? Yeah I know the indexing won't work, but I was going to flip it to friction.

Barrettscv 

I'm happy with my Dura-Ace ten speed indexed shifters mounted on the bar-ends. I'm running an Ultegra RD & FD with an Ultegra ten speed cassette. I have also have a 20 speed Shimano Brifter with Ultegra; and 105 5603 thirty speed brifters with an 105 Triple crankset & Ultegra RD.



The ten speed bar-end shifters are great.

I'm not sure I would want a twenty speed with down-tube shifters, IMO. Taking hands off the drops to shift as often as I do would not be good.

DisplayERROR

Shimano definately still makes dt shifters. https://www.canadabicycleparts.com/sh...rs-p-1453.html

jimmuller 

$121 (Canadian) for two levers**********??? You gotta be kidding.

531phile 

it'll work under friction just set the high low screws right on the derailleurs and you are good to go. Heck, even campy derailleurs will work with shimano dt shifters under friction. Friction shifters is simplicity at its finest.

wrk101

+1 I am starting to migrate to barcons myself. I really like them on my modern Trek 520, they are reliable, relatively cheap (compared to brifters). I'll probably end up with a mix of barcons and brifters on my keeper fleet.

DisplayERROR

I've seen cheaper (50-60 range) but yeah, they exist, but at a price.

Sixty Fiver

D U R A A C E

The Ultegra 8 speed bar ends can be found for $80.00 (at a discount)

Sirrus Rider

The DuaAce is made of unhobtainium ego the higher cost.

s70rguy

There was a time when your man Armstrong used one brifter and one dt shifter on his Trek, I think mainly in mountain stages and maybe for weight reasons. So maybe he convinced Shimano there was still a demand for those (really nice btw) DA downtube shifters.

rccardr 

ProBikeKit has DA DT 9 speed shifters for like $60 shipped to the USA. I use a set with modern 105 on the SuperTempo and another with 6500 Ultegra on the Yellow Sub. Awesome shifters.

RobbieTunes

I bought a set of Dura Ace 10-sp DT shifters for $70 from a Taiwan vendor last year. They are great.
With 10 speeds, though, I shift a lot, or seem to notice it more than I did when I used 7's and 8's.

The PBK 9-sp shifters are another great value.
For times when you just don't need the expense, or prefer the look.
Not everyone wants to see shift cable leading your bike like some kind of bug antennae.

You definitely can use the older DT shifters in friction, but there's a learning curve.
The "normal" 7-sp move, in friction, tends to go 2-3 cogs on a 9 or 10 setup.
You have to learn to shift "lighter." If you aren't swapping RD's, make sure yours had the in/out range.

clasher

I like 'em, put them on a bianchi campione d'italia frame I was gifted... looks a lot nicer than brifters imho, and lets me keep more of a vintage look and still use modern drivetrain components. They show up on amazon sometimes with better prices than other stores.

DiabloScott

I put 9-speed DT shifters and Shimano aero brake levers on my foul weather bike when my old 8-speed Ultegra brifters wore out. I think they're more robust when exposed to crud and slop.