mosquito

Anyone ever used thumb shifters like these

https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...hifters/17-097

What are your opinions on them?

BarracksSi

Not exactly like that, but some Suntour shifters were on my 10-speed ATB about eighteen years ago. Worked great. Since they don't try to index for me, I could trim the shifting each time. Each shift took longer than with modern indexed shifters, but then again, once shifted, it didn't suffer jumping chains or anything like that.

Personally, I never wanted multispeed bikes in that era because I didn't like having to take my hands off the bars to use either stem- or downtube-mounted shifters. Once I saw these in the store, I wanted the bike for myself.

RT

I use this exact product on my 1x9 bike (no left shifter). It clicks like an index shifter, but is friction. For the price, you cannot go wrong, and once you get used to the friction shifting it's awesome. Image shows chain on the smallest rear cog, and the lever moves up 180 degrees for the full range of motion on the cassette.

FreddyV

Not these very same, but I had them on my old MTB. It was a nice ride, and it functioned nicely. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing very special either.

mosquito

Sweet. How do you think the SunRace would compare to these:

https://www.velo-orange.com/fafrthsh.html

My main concern is ease of shift. The SunRace seems to have a longer lever which implies more leverage for an easier shift. Which shifter do you think has the better placed lever position? I would want to shift with my hand still on the tops of the bars. Would I have to take my hand off the bar considerably for the SunRace or Falcons?

squirtdad

I use these https://www.velo-orange.com/fafrthsh.html (or very close.... orded through the catalog at LBS)

well I use the right hand one for shifting my 1/8 setup on my commuter utility. They are not fancy but work great.

I grew up using friction so no reall learning curve......

and with my English 3 speed style handles (Nitto...don't know the eact model) the location is perfect...right there for a shift with the thumb with my hand on the grip

and they are dirt cheap

jefferee

Had a similar shifter on the RD of my old winter-beater, after the original grip shifter gave up the ghost.

It was actually a front shifter, meant to mount on the left side of the bar, so I mounted it under the bar on the right-hand side instead. That put the lever right between my thumb and index finger, and turned out to be pretty much idiot-proof, even with thick winter gloves. Even on the bar tops, the levers are pretty easy to access but it might be worth a try to put them underneath the bars and see if that works for you.

I've used a couple different friction shifters and liked the ones with longer levers better.

politicalgeek

I have those on my 1x8 and like them. The indexed shifters on my mountain bike were not working with the trekking bars. The thumb-shifters have been great. Just make sure the screw is tightened. My shifting was pretty off when the bolt was loose, to the point that I was holding the shifter to keep it on the right gear, at least until I realized what the issue was.

mikeybikes

I have the falcon ones, which work just fine. Inexpensive and durable.

sonatageek

Or for super cheap, this Falcon model from Nashbar
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000_200468

modernjess

I still have Shimano XT thumb shifters on my mountian bike and they still are the best shifters ever. I had a spare set which I never used because well, they never break... So I put them on my wife's commuter. I can't vouch for the ones you are looking at, but the concept is sound.

RT

The SunRace shifters are much smoother than I expected, and being the only ones I've used, cannot vouch for the others.

Andy_K 

180 degrees? Seriously?

I was thinking about using something like this as a sort of ghetto bar end shifter on an old bike I'm tinkering with, but I don't know how that would work with 180 degree motion.