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sstorkel

I have close to 10,000 miles and probably close to 100,000 shifts on the Ultegra 6600-series STI shifters that now inhabit my touring bike and have never had a problem...

Walter S

I didn't realize there was an issue with the shimano shifter. I have shimano shifters. Not sure if it is "dura ace" or not. Mine are on a Surly LHDT that was new November 2012. I've put about 25k miles on the bike. Shifters have always worked well. Is there going to be a catastrophic failure?

mdilthey

I have Shimano Deore bar-end shifters (whatever comes stock on bikes with Deore groupsets) and have about 7k miles on them, maybe 8k. I had the plastic housings where the cable meets the shifter get torn to shreds by my strong shifts. So, a shop replaced them with metal housings and the problem was solved.

That's all the insight I can lend here.

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tarwheel 

I also had some 9-speed Dura Ace bar-end shifters that broke after about 2 years of use. They were still covered under warranty, so I got them replaced for the price of labor at my bike shop. That experience made me nervous, as well, so I bought some Dia-Compe bar-ends from Velo Orange for my next bike project. The Dia-Compe shifters are well constructed and work fine, but they are not indexed. You have to use them a while to get a touch for the shifting, and also adjust the pressure thingie just right so they don't slip. I went back to DA bar-ends the next time I needed shifters, mainly because I prefer the indexing.

Dia-Compe ENE Bar-End Shifters - Shifters - Shifting - Components

bikemig 

No problems with my 9 speed bar ends and I've been using them for a while on 2 different bikes; that's a drag if they are subject to failure. Good to know that the micro shifts are working for the OP as they are a cheaper alternative to shimano 9s; the dia compes seem like a good alternative if you can live with friction.

MassiveD

The problem is that anyone who has good feedback probably is talking about some product they no longer sell. I recently opted for microshift/nashbar, ordered direct from overseas. Cheapest, and the rep is good for what that means.

I have been using bar ends since the 70s, but the thing is that if you go to 9-10 speed, and all that, you are picking up so much troublesome crap, that to go retro on the shifters is just silly in my view. I just looked at my new cassette, it is an 11-34. In 8 speed I could have a 13-34. No advantage for touring whatever as far as I am concerned, but I bought the White hubs, and they have extreme spoke angles so in for a penny in for a pound, might as well go with the 9. To take advantage of all the gearing, really, why would I want to reach down to a bar end? These stupid systems cry out for brifters. I actually though the touring world wouldn't follow the racing world down these idiotic rat holes, but if we are going that way, go the whole way, get the brifters. Brifters are more reliable, and they actually allow one to shift a lot, and use the gears. I could still happily tour on a 7 speed rear, and some simple stuff, but in the absence of that choice, Shimano is putting it's best parts into new technology and it is getting increasingly pointless to try to hold on to bar ends. The money is still an issue, but only if you think there is some meaningful alternative. It costs what it costs.

I am also thinking of some arrangement that uses different combos on drop bars, but tosses the brifters entirely, maybe use some adapted MTB gear.

fietsbob

Resistant to the more the merrier marketing of more and more Speeds packed in a limited space,



The current market target for Bar end shifters from the high profile aspect,

is Triathlons bike race sections and Aerobar mounts .. and the Time trial bikes ..

the racing is marketing and the product competition between the component brands is on the race front.

bikemig 

I've never lost a lot of sleep over the bar end, brifter, downtube thing for touring. I've used them all and I like them all. I tend to stick with bar ends but that's probably out of habit more than anything.

A bit pricey but the retroshift audax might be a good choice; I've been thinking of trying them out. CX rides seem to like them and they look like they'd be good for touring as well:

Shifters - Gevenalle

Vintage_Cyclist

Microshift bar-ends on my 2014 LHT. So far, so good.

Dia-Compe bar-end friction shifters on my 7 speed Centurion. Work great.

SunTour Barcons still going strong and outlasting several bikes they've traveled through over the last 35 or so years.

robert schlatte

I have 8 speed Ultegra bar ends on my recently built Soma. Probably got no more than 3,000 miles on them but they seem sturdy and work very well.

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hybridbkrdr

I've posted this before but I guess people can't find old posts that easily so here it is again:

(NOTE: I see they are currently out-of-stock which I know is probably temporary. This has happened before.)

Microshift BS-T09 bar-end shifters (9 speed) $70 at AEbike
MicroShift Bar End Double/Triple 9 speed Shift Levers - AEBike.com

Microshift BS-T10 bar-end shifters (10 speed) $74 at AEbike
MicroShift Double/Triple 10 speed Bar End Shift Levers - AEBike.com

Shimano Ultegra 6480 bar-end shifters (8 speed) $65 at Chainreactioncycles
Shimano Ultegra 6480 Triple 8sp Bar End Shifter | Chain Reaction Cycles

I read the Shimano Ultegra 8 speed is still solid. And the Microshift posted above are the ones that you can choose between indexed or friction (last time I remember anyway).

EDIT: I could make it clear that the AEbike site was out of stock, not Chainreactioncycles. (At the time of this writing.) Also, the Shimano Ultegra bar-end shifters can also change from index to friction.

Rifleman

I've got the Shimano not sure which model bar-ends nine speed they came on my 2011 surly LHT the click shifting went out on it but it still works and friction I'm looking for downtube shifters.

fietsbob

RE Shimano Bar ends .... So what wears out? any one done any autopsies?

anybody?

I just resold mine still in the box, un mounted.

the whole 9 speed thing never appealed to me ..

sticking with the Sun Tour ratchet friction ones , never failed in 30 years .

shelbyfv

I can't think what else could be said in addressing OP's specific problem. For 9 or 10 speed it's Shimano or Microshift. Can these asploding shifters be disassembled and checked to avoid on the road failure?

martianone

A bar end alternative - SRAM TT bar ends - three years so far on my set, still working well

hybridbkrdr

I never saved the links to the messages but I did read for the 9 and 10 speed Shimano bar-end shifters that there was a part inside that could break and no replacement parts were available. However, there's a post in this thread stating that there was a shop that fixed the problem. I wouldn't mind seeing the solution to see how they did that.

Anyway, to the person saying they were looking for downtube shifters...

Shimano 8 speed downtube shifters
Shimano Tiagra R400 8 Speed Down Tube Shifter | Chain Reaction Cycles

Shimano 9 speed downtube shifters
Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 9 Speed Down Tube Shifters | Chain Reaction Cycles

Shimano 10 speed downtube shifters
Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 10sp Down Tube Shifters | Chain Reaction Cycles

I haven't read reviews on those though.

Northwestrider

I've around 7100 miles on my 2012 Surly LHT, so far it's bar end shifters are just fine ( knock on wood )

seeker333

Please explain exactly what happened to your old shifters that "failed".

The only high quality current-production replacements for Shimano barends that I am aware of are Microshift, Dia Compe sold by Velo Orange and Silver shifters sold by Rivendell. So it's a short list.

There is also a newer Microshift barend, the BS-T09, which gives you the option of friction or indexed shifting on the right (RD) shifter. These are hard to find.

tarwheel 

Doesn't SRAM make bar-end shifters now?

bransom

Yes. I can't speak to durability but they do shift nicely. They came on my Randonee that I bought in April.

hybridbkrdr

Some SRAM are at amazon but I don't know if you can switch between index or friction. (Friction shifting may be a challenge with 10 speeds anyway.)
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