SRAM X5 and bar end shifter compatibility?

[JennyB]

I'm  fittiing a Boardman Comp hybrid ca 2009 with an On One Mungo mustache bar. The mech is marked SRAM X5 9-speed (1:1 pull) but the bike had an 8-speed cassette, apparently original, and I see no need to go to nine.

This is, hopefully, going to be a cheap-but-not-nasty build. I have a pair of old Shimano index/friction bar end shifters of 1980s vintage in the bit box. Will they pull enough cable to work, or can the panel suggest an alternative?

[Brucey]

you need about 4mm cable pull per shift for the RD, i.e. ~32mm total. This is a 180degree swing on a shifter which has a 20.4mm diameter cable wrap.  The barrel on the lever needs to be at least 19.5mm dia to get enough cable pull if a 180 degree swing is available.

IIRC this is touch and go with a typical shimano B.E. shifter and many DT shifters too; they need to pull about 22mm as standard and once you get near 30mm that is about it.

One suggestion is to use a Sun Race B.E. friction (power ratchet type) shifter; IIRC this has a larger barrel and wraps a bit more cable. I think it will be about three clicks per downshift with your setup.

Another possibility is to mount a short length of 22.2mm dia tube on/near the handlebars and to mount a flat bar shifter to that.

cheers

[Torslanda]

You can pick up an SRAM X-4 8 speed trigger shifter for next to sod all on eBay.

It will just work.

[Brucey]

IIRC the Mungo handlebar is 23.8mm dia and a flat bar shifter won't fit easily to it.  Having said that some of the less expensive SRAM shifters have a steel band under a plastic cover; these are presumably somewhat amenable to being opened up and fitted with a longer bolt.

cheers

[JennyB]

IIRC the Mungo handlebar is 23.8mm dia and a flat bar shifter won't fit easily to it.  Having said that some of the less expensive SRAM shifters have a steel band under a plastic cover; these are presumably somewhat amenable to being opened up and fitted with a longer bolt.

cheers

Does anyone know if the X4 has such a band? The X5 has a cast alloy clamp that I managed to crack trying to make it fit.

[Torslanda]

Yes. It's removable too.