FD compatibility with Shimano SL-R441 or SL-R770 flat bar road shifters
04-15-11, 05:15 AM
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FD compatibility with Shimano SL-R441 or SL-R770 flat bar road shifters
Hi all! I'm new to the site and I don't know if this has been posted before, but I have a general question.
I recently acquired a 2007 Trek 7.2 FX road bike for free (I found it in a scrap heap
). I've been looking to more or less convert it to a better road bike, so I did some buying and so far everything's turned out great except the FD. I found out that the mountain shifters (older Shimano EF-60's) I had lying around my house do not shift the FD well, but the RD shifts very nicely fine. Both FD and RD are Ultegra 6600's.
I know Shimano makes a special flat bar shifter series (SL-440, 660, 770), but they say it's only compatible with the special FD's they make. That seems like BS, as the physics remains the same for road shifters. Essentially, I'd like to know if the Shimano SL-441 will be compatible with my Ultegra FD or if I am going to have to find the matching FD to the shifter?
I recently acquired a 2007 Trek 7.2 FX road bike for free (I found it in a scrap heap
). I've been looking to more or less convert it to a better road bike, so I did some buying and so far everything's turned out great except the FD. I found out that the mountain shifters (older Shimano EF-60's) I had lying around my house do not shift the FD well, but the RD shifts very nicely fine. Both FD and RD are Ultegra 6600's. I know Shimano makes a special flat bar shifter series (SL-440, 660, 770), but they say it's only compatible with the special FD's they make. That seems like BS, as the physics remains the same for road shifters. Essentially, I'd like to know if the Shimano SL-441 will be compatible with my Ultegra FD or if I am going to have to find the matching FD to the shifter?
11-12-11, 02:35 AM
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great question
hi there. have you found the answer to your question? i have also just bought the sl-r441. do i realy need a specific fd?? if so would i need a specific crankset too???? cant find any info online other than official shimano dadatech....
11-12-11, 06:09 AM
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Ultegra front der (FD) has a road bike FD cable pull length, and curvature for a road crank.
Shimano R-440 & R-770 FD's have mtb cable pull length, and curvature for a road crank. They have the R-443 & 773 for triple cranks.
SL-441 shifter is a standard mountain bike shifter, with MTB cable pull length. It will not work well with Ultegra shifter, pull length is different.
New this year are Tiagra and Ultegra flat bar shifters that have road cable pulls, so would work with your Ultegra FD. I have only seen them advertised on English sites so far.
If I understand your current scenario, you want to run flat bars. If so, ditch your ultegra FD, buy an R-440 or R-443, and use any mtb shifter you want. I use a SRAM X7 and it is the smoothest shifting front I have had. Works great on both a standard and compact road crank.
Shimano R-440 & R-770 FD's have mtb cable pull length, and curvature for a road crank. They have the R-443 & 773 for triple cranks.
SL-441 shifter is a standard mountain bike shifter, with MTB cable pull length. It will not work well with Ultegra shifter, pull length is different.
New this year are Tiagra and Ultegra flat bar shifters that have road cable pulls, so would work with your Ultegra FD. I have only seen them advertised on English sites so far.
If I understand your current scenario, you want to run flat bars. If so, ditch your ultegra FD, buy an R-440 or R-443, and use any mtb shifter you want. I use a SRAM X7 and it is the smoothest shifting front I have had. Works great on both a standard and compact road crank.
