How hard is it to change to indexed shifting?

[Crowz]

Pretty much as the title suggests, I'm curious as to how hard it is to upgrade a groupset that was friction to indexed? I'm very new to the bike scene and if anyone has some insight that'd be awesome!
Cheers, James.

[RonK]

Well, what groupset do you have? Indexing is performed in the levers, so it may be as simple as a lever change.

[munga]

if it's shimano 6 speed, you need SIS shifters (Shimano Indexed Shifting).
keep an eye out on the kerbside cleanups or drop into bicycle revolution at west end.

[Wal42]

Just run the non-indexed shifting, if you change to indexed then you are stuck using the amount of gears that the indexing is designed for.

I run indexed shifters (but set to friction) on both my commute bikes, but run Suntour non-indexed shifters on the Vertex with an 8speed Shim@no cassette, if I was running indexed then I couldn't do this.


Non-indexed shifting isn't that difficult, it's just a case of getting used to it.


Or just fit brifters & go totally modern, then you can have as many gears as you want (well up to 11 if you run C@mpy)

[gururug]

-Most bikes will go indexed with a shifter swap
-Some downtube shifters can be set to either ( you may not need new parts )
-Less than 9 speed will probably need a trip to the second hand vendors/sites ( not new )

Do you like downtube shifters?
How many speeds does your bike have ( brand of groupset )?
Are you on a budget?
Do you want to try to maintain the period ( running gear )?

[Crowz]

First off I'd like to thank you for your input guys. It was a very broad question and as of this minute do not own a retro bike. The reason I asked is because I think it may be easier for me starting out (having never used, but totally love the look of, down tube shifters). That and I'm just generally a curious fella.

James

[bychosis]

I've had a downtube shift retro ride for a few months now, I don't think the friction shifter were at all hard to get used to. But my legs are taking a little extra time to get used to not changing gears as often as I do on my MTB where I don't need to move my hands off the bars to shift.

[Mulger bill]

Got a pair of x? speed (maybe 7) plastic not so fantastic Shamino DTs gathering dust in the shed. Want 'em for experimental purposes?

[Crowz]

Got a pair of x? speed (maybe 7) plastic not so fantastic Shamino DTs gathering dust in the shed. Want 'em for experimental purposes?

Hey Bill, not sure if you're offering them my way, but if you are I'd have to 1, ask what DTs are and 2, decline at the moment because I don't even have a bike yet! Thanks though

[ldrcycles]

I ride friction, indexed and brifters, for me indexed downtube shifters are great, and very easy to adjust. 2nd hand Shimano indexed downtube shifters are easy to get hold of and work fine.

[Mulger bill]

I was. DownTube. No worries.