7/8 Speed Indexed Drop Bar Thumb Shifters

thingiverse

On a budget, after returning a pair of faulty MicroNEW brifters, I decided to design my own. Not brifter, but just a thumb shifter reachable from the hoods. Why does no one make anything like this anymore? Inspired by the Suntour command shifters, it seemed like such a simple concept. May have been a better idea to just make a mount for existing bar-end or flat bar thumb shifters, but those also cost money. Indexing is achieved with plastic dimples and headset ball bearings - ~4mm size, and simple click pen springs. Find the ball bearings on junked bikes. It does require M3 bolts with a smooth top portion, and M3 nylock nuts. This design can probably be adapted for 9 speed, but 10 and 11 would require smaller balls or a complete redesign with larger indexing body. I keep up with the leaders in my roadie group on my 7 speed anyway. Enough tips and I'll upload a 9 speed lever ;) Or just remix and design your own. The rear shifter has indexing compatible with the biggest bike groupset manufacturer in the world... For their 7 and 8 speed derailleurs/cassettes/freewheels. Front is just friction, with only enough pull for a double. I highly do not recommend a cheap front derailleur (i.e. tz and knockoffs) with this setup because of their return spring force. I use FD-2400. Fits modern compact bars (i.e. sharper bend) and were designed to work with a pair of Tektro RL340s, but can be worked with to fit others probably. I've used this latest iteration for about 400 miles or so mostly without issue, first iteration was stolen after a couple hundred miles. Bottom shift lever on the photo with two pink shift levers is after a couple hundred miles, they were still indexing fine. Action force is a bit high, so downshifting (rear, upshifting in front) will require you to move your hands. At least I can't do it without moving my hands to the tops. This might be alleviated with longer levers, go ahead and remix the levers longer if you would like to try. Assembly and installation is a bit involved, read on below.