Your Favorite Downtube Shifters. Post some pics
 

My only real experience with downtube shifters has come while riding my current bike with Shimano 600 arabesque levers. My first bike had Cyclone MII but that was before I knew anything about bicycles and that bike no longer exists. Other than that I know nothing and have never even ridden with index dt shifters, although I have worked on many bikes with them.

Since we all love photos, why don't we post a close up our shifters and a picture of the bike.

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/sr-4881_3.jpg

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/sr-semi-pro-4881_22.jpg

Huret shifters on my '73 Record

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...Record014a.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...Record004a.jpg

Okay, twist my arm :)

1980 Alpina's drillium Portacatena levers:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4091/5...9d6fce8e_b.jpg

1983 Colnago Mexico's panto levers:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4116/4...103e7b7b_b.jpg

1973 Colnago Super's drillium levers:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6...9ea60a47_b.jpg

DD

Friction DT shifters are nice. I wish the Simplex Retrofriction was equipped with a D-ring bolt. One of these days I'll install one.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8425/7...e6661a74_b.jpg

Indexing DT shifters are quicker and easier to shift when I'm drained, especially on the tall frames I ride.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/7...99b0f7eb_b.jpg

I see great potential in this thread! I've always like the modolo shifters but unfortunately I do no have any pics. Hopeful a few will pop up soon...

Here's my contribution: A pair of simple Shimano 600 shifters

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=263707

Here are the downtube shifters on my Centurion Ironman (Sante), Miele Condor (Suntour) and Viscount Aerospace (Shimano).

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8283/7...b97a11fb_m.jpghttp://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7...d19ecaac_m.jpghttp://farm9.staticflickr.com/8013/7...380df5d7_m.jpg

Is that a Huret band by the person that modifies and sells them on Ebay? I am thinking of buying one just in case I ever find some 8 speed shifters

I hope it will live long and prosper.

I have a pair of Suntour Blue Line levers, missing all the parts though.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=263720

I like my Sprint's coz I'm a sucker for Suntour but the Shimano 600 are more comfortable to pull on.

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSCF1870.jpg
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSCF2016.jpg

Then there's old Superbe
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSCF2203.jpg

Someday I want to try simplex retrofrictions with gen1 c-record but for now my Ofmega mistral kit will have to do:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...100_1034_2.jpg

These, though on mine (clamp on, not braze on) I've never needed or wished for the D-ring as they stay perfectly adjusted. Best DT shifters I've ever used, making the Campy NR pair sit forlorn in my parts bin.

I have the same shifters, but they are labelled Modolo and CF for carbon fiber... I would like to see the rest of that bike because I see an uber weigh weenie build and I am intrigued.

I bet that bike is hot.

Thanks for the comments. The frame is a little heavy and the wheels are made of lead but everything else is fairly light so it balances out. The bike was build for fun, not for weight.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...a/100_1035.jpg

A vintage carbon frame and traditional tubular wheels would drop 3+ lbs. don't think I haven't thought about it :)

It just looks fast.

Suntour 6 speed Accushift:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4078/4...3d8a844a_b.jpg
IMG_2791 by WNG555, on Flickr


Suntour Symmetric, I have 3 sets of these clever FD trimming shifters...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...i-IMG_3499.jpg
http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1225/5...dd681bc4_b.jpg
Specialized Expedition-8 by WNG555, on Flickr

Someone asked for Modolo Kronos?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6...e685cbb2_b.jpg
IMG_3492 by WNG555, on Flickr

hmm they actually say carbon fiber... I have the same ones, obviously haven't looked at them in a while. I've never used them either... they live in a box.

Downtubes, downtubes.

Build thread for the Yokota is here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ttle-different
Look near the end for the ride report

thanks

here's my favorite downtube shifters:

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...Veneto0004.jpg

Once you go there you don't go back.... MUH WA HA HA HA HA.....

c'mon everybody, cross over to the DARKSIDE......

I love the Simplex Retrofrictions (who doesn't?) but also like finding something cheaper that also satisfies...these Shimano SLA400 Light Action (not indexed) have a very fine-tooth ratchet mech in them, and they are not as clunky as this photo (from Velobase) would make you think. Not easy to find but usually cheap when you can. I swear there's a SunTour DT lever with a very compact ratchet mech that looks like one of their stylish Superbes, but I can't find it in Velobase...must be very rare or I imagined it.

I must be going about this backwards.

I can take them off your hands if you'd like!

I like the Simplex Retrofrictions, too.

The Shimano Light Action seems to be the same sort of thing.

I bought a set of the Simplexes on ebay on impulse and haven't even installed them on anything. I don't know what I want to do with them. I don't have downtube shifters on any bike any more.

Why is it harder to use downtube shifters on a tall frame? Aren't your arms correspondingly long? I don't think I have to drop my shoulder to reach that location; do you?

My faves;
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...love/Moto9.jpg