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Help! Need to replace my Ultegra 8s brifters

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Help! Need to replace my Ultegra 8s brifters

Old 06-23-21, 03:11 PM
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pipeliner
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Help! Need to replace my Ultegra 8s brifters

I have a tandem we enjoy riding but the 3x9 Ultegra brifters are shot. The front works OK-ish, the rear needs coaxing to get it to catch on up shifts after you have downshifted. Besides that, they are the most uncomfortable torture devices I have ever ridden. They are made for the hands of a small child and I hate them. I have good derailleurs and drivetrain, just need some brifters to upgrade. Any reccs?

Last edited by pipeliner; 06-23-21 at 03:22 PM.
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Old 06-23-21, 09:34 PM
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KCT1986
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Are you asking for 8 or 9 speed rear?
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Old 06-24-21, 09:06 AM
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Originally Posted by KCT1986
Are you asking for 8 or 9 speed rear?
9 speed. Typo in the thread title I can’t change.
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Old 06-24-21, 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by pipeliner
... they are the most uncomfortable torture devices I have ever ridden. They are made for the hands of a small child and I hate them....
Show a picture of how you have your bar rotated.
The newer brifters like the Sora R3030, are better contoured for riding on the hoods. The Sora R3030 should be compatible with your 3X9 setup.
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Old 06-24-21, 06:40 PM
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KCT1986
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Shimano 9 speed gives you very limited options. The 9 speed 105's (55xx, R600) and first Tiagra (44xx) have bodies that are similar to your Ultegras.

Other 9S model are 45xx & 35xx that have a slightly different shape that may/may not be better.

The R3030 mentioned above is also differently shaped. Note that this one has under handlebar tape routing for the shift cables. Not sure how this will be with your long cable runs.

Forgot to mention DA (770x), similar body to Ultegra.

Last edited by KCT1986; 06-24-21 at 06:56 PM. Reason: Forgot to mention DA
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Old 06-27-21, 12:05 AM
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For older Shimano STI’s the first fix is to flush out the brifter with WD-40 and then lube with Tri Flow. If that doesn’t work they may be worn out.

Generally speaking older brifters tend to have similar issues and can be hit or miss.

Current replacements, for 3x9 road triples, are Shimano R3030 or Microshift R9. Both should have a more comfortable modern profile. You may also be able to find ST-3503 shifters.

I’m not sure what the availability of triple cranks and shifters will be going forward. I believe only Sora (9) and Claris (8) offer road triples.

If it were me, I’d just pick up some R3030’s. I think the set may be R3000 (rear) and R3030 (front).

John
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