Everything You Need to Know About Friction Shifting in 2022

In this vid, I try to share the best friction shifters for modern derailleurs.

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[TheConcreteblock]

I bought a microshift 12 speed bar end shifter about a year ago for this exact reason, at the time I ran it in friction with a 10 speed XT derailleur and cassette, and have just upgraded to SLX 12 speed derailleur and 11-50 cassette, now with the shifter in index mode, works a treat

[johnbrann]

Love that you're educating people on the pros of old tech on new bikes. Been using friction shifting since the early 70's when there wasn't anything else. I still use 6 speed free wheels too so I'm not exactly a cutting edge cyclist. But I don't spend hours and dollars trying to get my derailleur tuned so I'll stick with friction.

[Quevallyn]

Just gone back to friction shifting on my alt bar, 90s ATB commuter. Rear derailleur was always getting knocked in the work bike park so was always needing tweaking. Now, they just work no matter what. Love them.

[johnp]

Thanks for this great info!!! This is one of my favorite topics in your videos (the others are: alternative cycling 'kit', the new ATB series, & shoes). You've been a very positive influence on my having a very healthy contrarian's version of a mid-life crisis--having fun riding a bike and doing practical things with it, all while not looking like I'm dressed for Halloween, or like I'm thousands of miles behind the peloton that's somewhere across an ocean, and on another continent.

[fixedfrank]

I've been using a set of Shimano 8-speed bar-end shifters from I think 1999. Reliable parts. They are perfect for the super muddy cross races when everyone elses brifters are clogged with dirt and gunk!

[amosaiccosmos]

Thank-you for the upload. Friction shifting pros&cons arent covered much on YouTube.

[paolocruz]

I use the $10 dollar friction shifter. It's designed for 8 speeds, but you can modify it by breaking some of the plastic parts that stop it from going all the way round so you can basically extend the travel of the cable.

[Likelybiking]

Friction is soo nice! I got 9 speed microshift bar ends, 10 speed shimano SLX rear mech, 10 speed sram rival Front mech, 11 speed chain, 11-42 11 speed cassette and a 46/30 8-10 speed velo orange crankset. It works amazingly!

[zeguna]

For anyone who hasn’t felt the micro ratcheting in these shifters, you should. It’s clicky but smooth, and very satisfying. Feels like a 108-point freehub driver. There’s a reason the old 70s Suntour Power bar were made for over a decade and still fetch $40-50 a pair easily. When you think about it that way, the expense of the Silver and Ene bar ends is more justifiable. I love mine.

[lostisleminstrel]

Good Video. Friction mode is a fine shifting mode but there is a learning curve. I have modified older MTB shifters for modern deraillers by bending the travel limit tabs on my Suntour shifters and they shift a 10 speed with no problem. Thanks for covering this subject.

[solidairs]

In the mid 1960’s I was riding a London, handbuilt steel frame equipped with Campag Record gear set with Record bar end shifters. Once you had become familiar with the system it never missed a gear. Indexed paddle shifters are fine but it is a similar comparison to analogue and digital cameras.

[SeventhTenant]

Love the 9sp derailleur - 11spd cassette - 9spd shifter hack! Perfect for upgrading older MTBs :)

[jgaugler]

I love my Shimano Dura Ace bar-ends in friction mode. I bought them new about 5 years ago for my touring bike to replace cheaper MicroShift levers that had a lot of slop in their index stops. Comparable in price to the Rivendell and come with extra parts and stops for downtube conversions.

[jamese]

I've been all about Gevenalle + friction shifter for the past couple years. Lovin it! Works well with all derailleurs, even the cable-hungry Shimano 11 speed MTB. But I would say it's best when your ride is "predictable." An indexed shifter is still my choice for tricky terrain.

[YoSpiff]

My 1990 Bianchi Volpe originally had some indexed Suntour shifters very similar to those Dia Compe Wing shifters. I hated them and changed them for Suntour Barcons. (I still have them. If you are interested in experimenting with them, I'd be happy to send them to you) The Barcons are starting to get more difficult to find, so good information here. Thanks.

[ehounshell]

The old Shimano bar ends are also great. Nowadays you can still get the 9sp index/friction model for a good price sometimes.

[jeffandersen]

Russ, you're really into this topic and I like it.. I find I can like most shifters. I have older Shimano bar ends on an old Trek with a 6 spd freewheel, sti brifters kon an old Specialized Allez and indexed Shimano thumb shifters on an old Gary Fischer mtb bike. All do their Job well. The bar cons in friction mode shift well and shift passably in index mode, surprising for 40 year old parts.
I've had a few brifters fail after a bike tipped over and don't really like the extra cable housing for bar cons. But they all work better than down tube shifters, though my Allez came with indixed 8 sp down tube shifters and I thought that was the ultimate years ago.
I really like the ability to mix and match drivetrain components to make a bike feel personalized and reuse great old products beside saving money.
Keep up the creative reports, it's great for all us old bike folks.
By the way I've started riding fat tires more because of your channel. Thanks.

[davidbee]

I have a set of the 10 speed Silver bar ends and an 11 speed cassette, 105 derailleur. Works well without any mods. After changing wheels the "new" Ultegra hubs with a 10 speed freehub that the cassette did not fit. Rather than buy a 9 speed chain, I removed the 13 tooth cog and put the spacer behind the cassette. Making a 10 speed cassette (11-32) using 11 speed cogs and chain. The wonders of friction shifting!

[anielyantra]

LOVE these videos on hacks! It helps me a lot to know which components work together. I too am a friction shifter kinda guy. I am thinking of upgrading my rear wheel to a cassette hub with a drive train to match. Now I know what to buy! Too bad I can't buy through you to support this channel.

[bmi]

Just did first bar ends on 85 Bianchi resto mod and I love it. So smooth and simple and sharp looking.