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9 Speed Chorus + Flat Bar shifters? Possible?

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9 Speed Chorus + Flat Bar shifters? Possible?

Old 06-02-15, 02:01 PM
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Bepster
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9 Speed Chorus + Flat Bar shifters? Possible?

Hi everyone,

Do you guys have any suggestions as to what shifters for a flatbar might work with a 9 Speed Campy Chorus setup?
I am trying to convert an older road bike to a commuter...

From what I could find, it's really tricky... an possibly expensive?
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Old 06-02-15, 05:45 PM
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Campagnolo Veloce 10 speed flat bar shifters are available.

Probably easier to replace chain and casette and go ten speed but the ratchets are the same as the normal ones so they could be replaced if needed.

An alternative would be Paul Thumbies and an old set of Campagnolo bar end shifters but that's more expensive.

Last edited by Mark Kelly; 06-02-15 at 05:51 PM.
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Old 06-02-15, 05:53 PM
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As Mark said, go 10-speed and you're good. The cheapest alternative is to change to friction shifters and live without indexing.
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Old 06-03-15, 05:49 AM
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Thanks guys for the suggestions.
Going 10 speed should indeed not be a problem. Sounds like a good idea.

Not a huge fan of the thumbies and I would love shifters without the attached brake levers, i.e. shifters only.
But from searching, it appears only Shimano makes those?

So the 10 speed Tiagra would not be compatible?

Thanks all for your input!
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Old 06-03-15, 07:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Bepster
Thanks guys for the suggestions.
Going 10 speed should indeed not be a problem. Sounds like a good idea.

Not a huge fan of the thumbies and I would love shifters without the attached brake levers, i.e. shifters only.
But from searching, it appears only Shimano makes those?

So the 10 speed Tiagra would not be compatible?

Thanks all for your input!
No, Tiagra shifters will not work with your Chorus derailleur, unless you use a JTEK Shiftmate.

Shimano doesn't make "thumb" shifters any more- they haven't for more than 20 years. Their handlebar shifters are all under-bar "trigger" shifters which aren't real thumb shifters. (It's about bicycle parts vernacular. It can get confusing at times. )

I was thinking of the Velo-Orange shifter mounts and Dia-Compe ENE friction shifters, both available from Velo-Orange:
VO Thumb Shifter Mounts - Shifters - Shifting - Components
Dia-Compe ENE Down Tube Shifters - Shifters - Shifting - Components
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Old 06-03-15, 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Jeff Wills
No, Tiagra shifters will not work with your Chorus derailleur, unless you use a JTEK Shiftmate.

Shimano doesn't make "thumb" shifters any more- they haven't for more than 20 years. Their handlebar shifters are all under-bar "trigger" shifters which aren't real thumb shifters. (It's about bicycle parts vernacular. It can get confusing at times. )

I was thinking of the Velo-Orange shifter mounts and Dia-Compe ENE friction shifters, both available from Velo-Orange:
VO Thumb Shifter Mounts - Shifters - Shifting - Components
Dia-Compe ENE Down Tube Shifters - Shifters - Shifting - Components
Thanks Jeff!
I see. Learning something new every day

The frame is a Look KG381 and I would really love trigger (rapidfire stye) shifters.
I find them really satisfying to use!

So the Veloce Flat Bar shifters with a change to 11 speed cassette are my only alternative?
There is no way to use Sram or Shimano or some other brand that makes trigger shifters that would work with my older Chorus setup?

I am also willing to change more parts if necessary. But from what I gather starting to change the FD and BD setup to possibly MTB parts opens a whole new can of worms...
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Old 06-03-15, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Bepster
Thanks Jeff!
I see. Learning something new every day

The frame is a Look KG381 and I would really love trigger (rapidfire stye) shifters.
I find them really satisfying to use!

So the Veloce Flat Bar shifters with a change to 11 speed cassette are my only alternative?
There is no way to use Sram or Shimano or some other brand that makes trigger shifters that would work with my older Chorus setup?

I am also willing to change more parts if necessary. But from what I gather starting to change the FD and BD setup to possibly MTB parts opens a whole new can of worms...
I think you will need to:
Switch to 10-speed cassette and Campy flat-bar "trigger" shifters
OR
Install Shimano 9-speed flat-bar shifters and use a JTEK Shiftmate to get things to work together.

Neither of these are things I've done so I don't know what complications you may run into along the way. Others have posted here about their experiences- search for "Shimergo" to see who's done what.
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Old 06-03-15, 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Jeff Wills
I think you will need to:
Switch to 10-speed cassette and Campy flat-bar "trigger" shifters
OR
Install Shimano 9-speed flat-bar shifters and use a JTEK Shiftmate to get things to work together.

Neither of these are things I've done so I don't know what complications you may run into along the way. Others have posted here about their experiences- search for "Shimergo" to see who's done what.
Thanks Jeff. Your input is really appreciated.
As I have an older but working Chorus group on my frame, I think I will keep it in the family and opt for the Veloce FB shifters.

After some more digging however, I fear that my 9 speed Chorus derailleur in the back won't be compatible with a new 10 speed Campy cassette. Can you confirm this?
Is it now also possible that I will need a new BD?
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Old 06-03-15, 07:23 PM
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I'm running campy 9spd derailleur and cassette with shimano 9spd shifters and it mostly works OK. I don't believe there is a difference between the 9 and 10 spd derailleurs though.
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Old 06-03-15, 08:20 PM
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best answer was to get friction thumb shifters.
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Old 06-03-15, 09:02 PM
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Rear Shifting | CTC

Do you have new or old 9 speed?

According to this you could run 7 or 8 speed shimano indexing on a shortened 10 speed campy cassette, depending.

I'm sure you can get new 7 or 8 speed shifters but they'll probably be pretty low end.

If your campy shifters still work, why not put them on moustache/ dirt drop/ 46cm noodles with a tall stem? You can get a really comfy upright setup with ergos.
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Old 06-04-15, 02:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Soody
Rear Shifting | CTC

Do you have new or old 9 speed?

According to this you could run 7 or 8 speed shimano indexing on a shortened 10 speed campy cassette, depending.

I'm sure you can get new 7 or 8 speed shifters but they'll probably be pretty low end.

If your campy shifters still work, why not put them on moustache/ dirt drop/ 46cm noodles with a tall stem? You can get a really comfy upright setup with ergos.
My guess it, it's mid-2000's. I bought the bike used, so I am not 100% sure.


I would really like to go trigger shifters with a flat bar. I am willing to switch out the complete group if necessary to achieve this but I want to make sure that there aren't any stones left unturned.

Originally Posted by bluehills3149
I'm running campy 9spd derailleur and cassette with shimano 9spd shifters and it mostly works OK. I don't believe there is a difference between the 9 and 10 spd derailleurs though.
Could you elaborate? What shifters are you using?
From what I have heard so far, there is no way to use Shimano flat bar trigger shifters with a Campy setup...

I really like the look (and price) of these... but I assume there is now way I can make this work with my setup?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-SL-R...p2054897.l4275

Is shiftmate the answer?
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Last edited by Bepster; 06-04-15 at 05:08 AM.
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Old 06-04-15, 07:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Bepster
My guess it, it's mid-2000's. I bought the bike used, so I am not 100% sure.


I would really like to go trigger shifters with a flat bar. I am willing to switch out the complete group if necessary to achieve this but I want to make sure that there aren't any stones left unturned.


Could you elaborate? What shifters are you using?
From what I have heard so far, there is no way to use Shimano flat bar trigger shifters with a Campy setup...

I really like the look (and price) of these... but I assume there is now way I can make this work with my setup?
Shimano SL R440 2x9 3x9 Shifters and BL R550 Brake Lever for Flat Bar | eBay

Is shiftmate the answer?
Your setup is older than you think. Your rear derailleur is first generation 9 speed, pre 1999. It is not the same as the later generation 9 speed and 10 speed rear derailleur. You might be able to make it work with a 10 speed shifter, but not perfectly. You certainly can't use Shimano shifters without changing your front derailleur.
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Old 06-04-15, 08:47 AM
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Thanks for the feedback!

I guess I have decided. Combining Campy and Shimano seems to be a costly, risky and complicated journey.
So now I am thinking of changing the whole group to Shimano and giving my Chorus parts to a friend.

Will a recent 105 set work with the shifters mentioned above?
Shimano SL R440 2x9 3x9 Shifters and BL R550 Brake Lever for Flat Bar | eBay

If not, could anyone point me towards the group set that would work?

The main reason I was clinging to the idea to stick to campy was that I have fairly new Mavic Aksium wheels on it, optimized for Campy.
But, am I correct in the assumption that I can simply switch the freehub to make it Shimano compatible?

Again guys, thanks for your help!
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Old 06-04-15, 09:20 AM
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Seems a More usual offering thru European Distributors , of Shimano, than what the corporation
ships through their US distribution chain, for 'Fitness Bikes' road bike with flat bars ..
so Importing the parts at retail from an EU or Australian seller may be a good approach.

Like wise Campag , they want a piece of that market segment.
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Old 06-04-15, 04:32 PM
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I've done a bike using 9s pd mtb shifters on a road bike (triple) and the front derailleur cable pull is different on road vs mtb so front shifting was bad. Also, the SL 440 actually needs a special front derailleur also. See this Shimano Tiagra R440 9 Spd Flat Bar Road Shifter | Chain Reaction Cycles

also see this post.
https://forums.mtbr.com/drivetrain-sh...ty-782176.html

If you're in a flat area, consider ditching the front shifter altogether and run 1x9. Use the smaller of your front rings only (39-42 ideal) and if you can, mount the samller ring on the outside bolt pattern. I've done on a couple of bike like this and it works great as it simple to use but enough gears for pretty much anything except mountains. Last bike I used a MicroShift rear derailleur and it works fine - cheap and lighter than Ultegra.

Last edited by bluehills3149; 06-04-15 at 04:41 PM. Reason: added more
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Old 06-04-15, 04:50 PM
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and one more thing - if your bike has Campy hubs, you cannot use Shimano/Sram (or anything else) cassettes. You're stuck with Campy or one of the odd-ball conversion cassettes from the likes of Ambrosio or wheels manufacturing.
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Old 06-04-15, 09:34 PM
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1 possibility.. Buy a rigid MTB and put slicks on it.

Donate your campy bike to a forum member in your area.
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Old 06-04-15, 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by bluehills3149
and one more thing - if your bike has Campy hubs, you cannot use Shimano/Sram (or anything else) cassettes. You're stuck with Campy or one of the odd-ball conversion cassettes from the likes of Ambrosio or wheels manufacturing.
I am not sure this is true. From what I have read, changing the freehub from Campy to Shimano isn't that complicated with Mavic wheels.
Workshop: Changing a Freehub Body | Bicycling Australia

All I would need is this plus the right tools:
https://www.amazon.com/Mavic-Freehub-Body/dp/B00A3G1082

Incorrect?
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Old 06-05-15, 08:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Bepster
Incorrect?
No, you're right - you can totally change your bike to Shimano.

Good idea in the long run, IMO. Then you have more choice of wheels and cheaper drivetrain parts.

9s is a good choice too - more reliable than 10s.
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Old 06-05-15, 10:14 AM
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N+1, Just buy a nice Hybrid , leave the race bike as is.

Commuting Daily, the whole bike becomes a Consumable .

So buy a bike you can afford to wear out and rebuild as needed.
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Old 06-05-15, 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Kimmo
No, you're right - you can totally change your bike to Shimano.

Good idea in the long run, IMO. Then you have more choice of wheels and cheaper drivetrain parts.

9s is a good choice too - more reliable than 10s.
+1
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