FreeFloat

I just took ownership of an early 90's steel Bridgestone 26" hybrid bike that had been spec'ed w/ "moustache" bars and indexed mountain shifters. The purchaser had been used to drops, and had the dealer swap the bars, but with no shifter bosses brazed on the only option available at that time was shifters that mounted into the ends of the drops.
I obtained the bike from the original owner who gave up cycling at 90 years of age, and want to re-fit it with flat bars and non-integrated mountain shifters (the brake levers are fine).
Do these bar-end shifters see use anywhere? Do I throw them into my scrap parts bin or are there folks looking for these for some special purpose?

illwafer

lots of people love bar-end shifters. you will get $40+ for them if they are in good shape.

Orrery

That could be a desirable bike to collectors... might be worth keeping the original components around if it is a XO bike.

Also, with some Paul Thumbies those could be converted to MTB-type thumb shifters.

bibliobob

+1. Sounds like an XO.

FreeFloat

Yeah but those bars and shifters were'nt original...the shop swapped them at the time of purchase..I was there..my Father's first 26" bike! I had told him that his '85 Centurian Iron Man w/ it's 700c X 20mm tires just wasn't suitable for gravel roads, and he listened! He was fine w/ the heavier frame and fat tires, but just could'nt see riding anything other than drops. He added aero's to it as well!
He's still with us, and despite riding BOTH bikes tucked in on the Scotts well into his late 80's, he's now mentaly grounded to the couch. We'll definitly keep the Bridgestone in the family fleet, but my neck can no longer tolerate drops, and nobody else in the family wants to ride in that aggresive of a position on 26" tires.
So why do folks want bar ends? Same reason? Riding drop bars on bikes w/ nowhere to mount shifters?

pamaguahiker 

I love bar end shifters. For around $40 or so...they are a great solution to keeping some type of shifter on the drops...not downtube. They swing over to friction quickly making them far more versatile and easy to use if some accident or other mishap tosses off your shifting. Also, on older bikes, the bar end shifters are sometimes easier to integrate multiple mixes of components and manufacturers, brands and types begin to have no boundaries or restrictions. I believe there will be far more reasons and better ones reviewed here, but i for one. Love bar end shifters. Let me know if you want to get rid of them. haha.

Walter

Gonzo Bob

Most bar-end shifters these days go on the end of aerobars of triathlon and time-trial bikes. Allows the rider to shift while staying in the aero position. Bar-end shifters on drop bars are often used where it is desirable to keep two hands on the handlebars for control, e.g. cyclocross and loaded touring.

jeirvine 

They work great on porteur bars as well.

Grand Bois

How so?

FreeFloat

Not sure what I was thinking saying the brake levers were fine...I'm going to need mountain levers of course.
So the brakes are DiaComp XCE , the deraillers Exage 400 LX 7speed.
What mountain levers/shifters readily available will be compatable?
Oh and yes, it is an XO2 Bridgestone as you guys correctly figured.
Also, I will need a new quill stem. How many different diameters are there? A quick no-calliper eyeball estimate looks like around 7/8", my eyeballs only work in English. Does that sound about "standard"?

pamaguahiker 

I have found them to be more forgiving. i have a mix of old parts of Shimano and Suntour shifting types, shimano derailleurs with suntour freewheel and vice versa. With bar ends, a little extra pull and in the gear it goes and stays. But simply put, i find you can mix groups and still get relatively consistent workable unit.