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Your Favorite Downtube Shifters. Post some pics

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Your Favorite Downtube Shifters. Post some pics

Old 06-26-16, 05:14 AM
  #101  
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I didn't go through the whole thread, but I have to add these because you don't see them too often and they are a bit elegant:
[IMG]P1020910, on Flickr[/IMG]
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Old 06-26-16, 02:03 PM
  #102  
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[IMG]IMG_0058 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]
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Old 06-26-16, 03:47 PM
  #103  
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Originally Posted by crank_addict
[IMG]IMG_0058 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

I was going to guess that one lever was for shifting and one was for tensioning the pulley cage, but then I checked pictures from last fall. I was a little surprised that one lever is for the front derailleur, and as indicated, the cable is routed on the right side of the bike.
Yeah.. I'm surprised.

Here's a photo of this bike, showing the drivetrain. See attached file.

Steve in Peoria
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Old 06-26-16, 05:21 PM
  #104  
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Suntour Superbe Pro SL-SB00

Originally Posted by mikemowbz
There is indeed a set of friction-only Sprint or Superbe levers with the ratcheting mechanism. I believe they are the LD-4850 shifters, though I am not sure (and can't find on Velobase either). Very elegant. I don't have a pic, but I do have an NOS set in my storage locker.

Here's a pic of the beautiful friction-only (non-ratcheting) Superbe levers I have on my girlfiriend's Atala build (currently stored 5000km away), certainly my favourite to look at, and perfectly functional:

On my 1970 Fuji Newest I installed the final generation Suntour Ratcheting Friction levers model SL-SB00. As pictured I used one of those NOS Huret modified clamps (sold on eBay) as all SL-SB00 sets I've come across are designed for braze-on installation. Albeit they did make a clamp-on version per the catalogs but I have not found a set yet! Noticed the major difference between the LD-4850's and these later SL-SB00's is in the labeling. BTW, I'm shifting a 1981 Suntour Suberbe Pro RD-3100.

I am thoroughly enjoying this thread. Some of those levers are just plain beautiful. Keep them coming!
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Shifters SL-SB00.jpg (93.7 KB, 285 views)
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Old 06-26-16, 05:24 PM
  #105  
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Not actually my faves, but black Suntour Edge are cool:

Last edited by artclone; 06-27-16 at 10:59 AM.
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Old 06-26-16, 05:31 PM
  #106  
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i have faves of course (campy), but, in the words of the great Will Rogers, "i never met a set of down tube shifters I didn't like."

to me, dt shifters define vintage. good thing i love them.
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Old 06-26-16, 08:06 PM
  #107  
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only have a couple downtube shifted bikes


On this classic. 1989 Centurion Ironman Expert
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Old 06-27-16, 09:56 AM
  #108  
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Originally Posted by Don Buska
On my 1970 Fuji Newest I installed the final generation Suntour Ratcheting Friction levers model SL-SB00. As pictured I used one of those NOS Huret modified clamps (sold on eBay) as all SL-SB00 sets I've come across are designed for braze-on installation. Albeit they did make a clamp-on version per the catalogs but I have not found a set yet! Noticed the major difference between the LD-4850's and these later SL-SB00's is in the labeling. BTW, I'm shifting a 1981 Suntour Suberbe Pro RD-3100.

I am thoroughly enjoying this thread. Some of those levers are just plain beautiful. Keep them coming!
I've never seen those before!

I guess it makes sense that they'd use that ratcheting system- as it was better than most any other ratcheting system. I just wouldnt think a group that already had Accushift in place- unless these came between the logo change but before the hardware changed.

https://equusbicycle.com/bike/suntour...Pro-page-2.jpg

No- they were out at the same time... Interesting...


I took the band clamp from my "New Suntour Superbe" shifters to use my Sprint shifters on a bike without bosses.
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Old 06-27-16, 10:48 AM
  #109  
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I have these on a couple of bikes. Hard to beat,as far as friction shifters go..



Campagnolo tried to replicate the Simplex units. They're almost as good, in my opinion.




7402 shifters are my favs for indexed gear levers.

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Old 06-27-16, 03:00 PM
  #110  
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Great thread!
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Old 06-27-16, 03:57 PM
  #111  
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Haven't seen too many Simplex.....these ones have been on this bike since I got it in 1973 from a friend who got the bike new in 1969 or 70.....unusual in that they hadn't been replaced by the plastic ones yet....



These came off my first 10-speed - a gas pipe Chiorda from about 1971.....pretty nice for an entry level bike.

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Old 06-27-16, 04:03 PM
  #112  
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Originally Posted by crank_addict
[IMG]IMG_0058 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

Those are freaking cool!
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Old 09-11-23, 06:20 PM
  #113  
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What's not to like?



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Old 09-11-23, 11:02 PM
  #114  
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No such thing, can't stand em, no use for them.

Except maybe on this.


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Old 09-12-23, 06:12 AM
  #115  
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Thread resurrection approved

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Old 09-12-23, 08:15 AM
  #116  
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Old 09-12-23, 08:33 AM
  #117  
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Cast another vote for Simplex Retrofrictions…..




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Old 09-12-23, 11:23 AM
  #118  
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Old 09-12-23, 11:55 AM
  #119  
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Aero mounted and pantographed….

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Old 09-12-23, 01:21 PM
  #120  
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I'm surprised the Rivendell Silver shifters haven't turned up yet! This is from 2006, when I first installed them on my long-since-sold Joe Starck-built Road Custom -

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Old 09-12-23, 02:24 PM
  #121  
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Wow 11 year old thread back to life, but still good. All my bikes with down tube shifter work well, but my favorites, which has more to do with tactile feel, and looks are these 2.
Tim



Suntour Superbe Pro, 84 Schwinn Supersport

Modolo Carbon fiber, 85 Trek 670
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Old 09-12-23, 07:51 PM
  #122  
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The Riv Silvers are very nice

the Campagnolo Doppler shifters take it to a whole different level.

Silky smooth. I have several sets including a non-catalog RH shifter with increased cable take up for a wide range rear derailleur.

/markp

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Old 09-13-23, 09:31 AM
  #123  
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Originally Posted by mpetry912
The Riv Silvers are very nice

the Campagnolo Doppler shifters take it to a whole different level.

Silky smooth. I have several sets including a non-catalog RH shifter with increased cable take up for a wide range rear derailleur.

/markp
Mark, can you remind me of what the story is on the Campy Doppler shifters? i.e. what is unique and special about them?
I'm only familiar with the classic & basic Campy levers.

Steve in Peoria
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Old 09-13-23, 09:40 AM
  #124  
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Speaking of classic and basic Campy levers... there was a long period when all (edit: "many") of the good bikes used the same Campy Nuovo Record gear, or maybe some Super Record bits too.
One way to distinguish a bike was to pantograph some fun graphics... usually the brand name or logo... into some of the parts.
The Mino Denti bike shown above did that, and my Olmo Competition, circa 1982, does it too...



Olmo might have gone overboard, though. The brake levers are panto'ed, the crank arms and rings are panto'd, the stem is panto'ed, the seatpost is panto'ed,
Kinda ridiculous, but still kinda fun.

Steve in Peoria
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Old 09-13-23, 09:59 AM
  #125  
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The Simplex Retrofriction mechanism is a favorite. I have a mint set of the coke spoon version for admiring, a set shifting 3x7


and the Delrin version shifting 3x10
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