Shifting 11 speed with a friction shifter?

[LeeW]

Has anyone tried shifting an 11-speed cassette using a friction bar-end shifter. I notice you cannot buy bar-end shifters for 11 speed.
I was wondering if the following setup would actually work: Marchisio 12-30 11 speed cassette on a shimano hub, Campagnolo 11 speed chain, Shimano XTR derailleur with cogs replaced with 11 speed cogs, Shimano Dura-ace bar-end shifter set to friction mode, single 75t chainring.

 

[spandex]

I can not see why it would not work but why go to all that trouble?

 

[LeeW]

To get more gears, I'm currently running 8 speed on that bike but the steps are too big, On another bike I am running a double chainring and a 11-23 9-speed cassette which gives a nice range and nice steps. On this bike fitting a front derailleur would be very arkward and next to impossible due to the large chainring, lack of mounting point for the derailleur, a weird bolt pattern on the chainring and a very narrow (98mm) Q factor.
An 11 speed cassette would give a simular range and steps to my other bike with the double chainring.

The other option is 10 speed which will still be an improvement and simpler to set-up as I can just use a standard shimano dura-ace 10-speed shifter, S10 chain and S10 cassette.

 

[spandex]

I see let me know how it goes?

 

[Will1985]

I take it this is for a recumbent? There aren't many people in the country who can turn 75xanything.

 

[MartinC]

How about a SRAM dual drive - 3 speed hub with a cassette too?

 

[spandex]

How about a SRAM dual drive - 3 speed hub with a cassette too?

What about Dual drive. Will it work with friction shifters? if you get the comdo right yes.

 

[fossyant]

Try it, may be a little tricky. Also add in the 11 speed chain issues = specific tool, and do you run a longer chain.......go for 10 speed DA on index.....

 

[MartinC]

What about Dual drive. Will it work with friction shifters? if you get the comdo right yes.

The OP wanted more gears without using a front mech. Using an 11 speed cassette seemed to be a complex, expensive and limited solution which required him to use friction shifters. A dual drive would give you 3x8 or 3x9 gears using pretty much any combination of SRAM or Shimano bits you liked.

 

[spandex]

Well the Dual drive is £235 with out ANY of the bits (rods£3, cables£18, shifters£46, cassette£16 going upto£60+ wheel building £40) I think the way he said I could do it for under £50 just to get it to work.

 

[jimboalee]

I suppose it could be possible.

My only consideration would be the fine adjustment necessary to get the chain aligned to the sprockets.

Changing with a friction lever ( as I did on July 13th ) is tricky at the best of times on a smooth tarmac road.

Having a cluster of 11 sprockets, vibration from road through the bars would make it virtually impossible to get a precise position of the rear mech.

The customary movement of using a friction shifter is to take the rear mech slightly too far, and when the chain engages on the sprocket, take the lever back to centre the jockey wheel below the sprocket. Look how a SIS system works and you will see. Shimano et al have designed the shifter to mimic an experienced cyclist.

I wouldn't use a friction shifter with a seven upwards.

 

[nuovo_record]

I suppose it could be possible.

I wouldn't use a friction shifter with a seven upwards.

i use friction with 8 and it's surprisingly easy

 

[simon_adams_uk]

i use friction with 8 and it's surprisingly easy

I use friction with 9 speed and it's fine. If you've got all the 11-speed bits to hand and nothing extra needs buying then go for it!

S

 

[jimboalee]

i use friction with 8 and it's surprisingly easy

When SIS downtube levers became available for six, that was it, no more messing with friction.

I kept the bike with six and D/T levers until I went on holiday and hired a bike with gearchangers on the brake levers. That was it, I returned home and bought a commute bike with Shimano Tiagra brake/gearchangers and a race bike with Shimano Ultegra brake/gearchangers.

I still have a bike with friction six, but just for nostalgia's sake.

 

[Steve Austin]

I use a friction lever on my 20 speed mtb. works fine. no problem finding any gears, can dump the whole block with sweep. its great!