DorkDisk

After various interactions with bikey people, I realized that many people do not realize one advantage to Microshift thumbshifters and bar end shifters is their ability to switch gearing via a simple index plate swap. Since shifters are pricey, one can save a lot of money when updating drivetrain parts.

There are two basic patterns for these shifters,easily distinguishable by the barrel size- small diameter and large diameter. The small diameter does 8,9, 10, 10 Tiagra 4700, and 11 road indexing. The large diameter does 10,11, and 12 MTB.

The index plate on all of these are replaceable, meaning that if one has the 9sp and wishes to index 8, one just has to acquire and swap out the index plate. This is one way to get 8sp indexing (not offered), by buying a 9sp and swapping out the index plate. For 7sp, one can use 8 and have one empty click.

small barrel





index plate

dsbrantjr

I have been getting to like Microshift products more and more lately, and this is just another example of the reasons why.

noglider 

Where do you get the part?

DorkDisk

For wholesale, Im not sure. For retail, my op has links for ea, click on the number

onsay99

Campagnolo synchros had a similar setup back in the day where
you could change out the rachet ring to get 6,7,8 speed variations.

Good on microshift for this setup.

Marylander

This is good to know, thanks! I've got their 11 spd mountain bar end paired up with an SLX rear der and love it. I actually bought the set and put the front shifter on my daughter's bike. She has trouble shifting with the stock 105 R7000 front shifter (tiny hands).

rzldzl

Thanks - I have 3 bikes with microshift thumbies/bar ends. Had no idea parts were available.

hokiefyd 

I have Microshift friction/9i shifters and find them to be very nice. It's great to know these parts are available. Thank you for the heads-up!

DorkDisk

I've noticed that the large barrel front shifter requires less cable pull on a conventional front derailleur. This sounds obvious, but this helps people with small hands as the lever throw is smaller as well.

Since the parts are available, one can also purchase the clamps and switch from [flat bar] thumby to [drop bar] bar-end and vise-versa. For example, the schematics of the large barrel shifters:

CraigAustin

Campagnolo synchros - do you mean the bar end shifters, or the indexing on the brake lever? Or something else.

Thanks.

rosefarts

Thumbs up!

Andrew R Stewart 

No, Syncros were down tube mounted levers. Usually on braze on lever bosses. They were Campy's initial response to the Big S's SIS levers, late 1980s IIRC. Syncros were known to not index well. But as the rest of their drivetrains were not yet indexed optimized and most were from pre indexing designs that was no surprise. Andy

ShannonM

Campy really had a great idea with Syncro. Match the lever insert to the rear derailleur and freewheel, and it was supposed to index. Didn't work then, because of too many variations in parts specs.

Now?

it would work perfectly, since there's only a few standards to work with, and they're actually internally consistent. Microshift could offer the appropriate inserts and have their stuff index perfectly with every combination of parts made since the mid 1990s. You could even have spares on hand, in case the only rear wheel you could find was SRAM, and you have a Shimano rear derailleur and Campy shifters.

--Shannon

Andrew R Stewart 

And I vote Shannon provide the funding to test out all those combinations as well as the manufacturing and distribution Andy (who in theory agrees but who has both feet based in reality)

ShannonM

Well, I can't provide the funding for such testing, but I'd be happy to be a beta tester... all I need is a couple dozen test bikes... and boxes of parts.

I will be reaching out to Microshift to propose this. I expect a positive response in short order.

--Shannon