Kelly Take Offs real world use

[Aaron O]

My Suntour Commands have never been perfect for my commuter build. Yes, yes...I know...get Suntour parts. No thanks, and had Suntour just had a real friction mode, there'd be no problem. Anyway, I'm tired of them.

Has anyone here used Kelly Take Offs? What did you think? Was access convenient? I've read mixed reports and am having a hard time visualizing how they'd work for me.

My other option is shimano 3x7 tourney STIs and changing to cantis.

This is the build btw...

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad205/aolk67/Litespeed/A4F56CFA-82F2-48FE-8650-BE7215BF7AE0_zpsdkqj7sh5.jpg (http://s936.photobucket.com/user/aolk67/media/Litespeed/A4F56CFA-82F2-48FE-8650-BE7215BF7AE0_zpsdkqj7sh5.jpg.html)

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad205/aolk67/IMG_0729.jpg (http://s936.photobucket.com/user/aolk67/media/IMG_0729.jpg.html)

[93legendti]

I have them on my salsa casseroll winter bike. I like them. I find them convenient...Especially with mittens...

[cachagua]

What do you want for the command shifters? I love those things.

Seriously, pm me if you want to pass them on.


Also: awesome commuter bike! Solid and reliable, but (if you'll pardon my putting it this way) not so much of a theft target.

[Kontact]

The Take Off won't work as well as a Commands with a Suntour derailleur, but they work pretty well. You do your shifting by reaching with thumb or index finger to where the shifter is located, which is close enough that you don't lose contact with bar or hood. But you do change your hand position slightly.

I used them for some cross and thought they worked okay, but I'm used to downtube shifters so I can't say how they would adapt to people who have only ridden STI, for instance. Great concept and execution, though.

[Aaron O]

What do you want for the command shifters? I love those things.

Seriously, pm me if you want to pass them on.


Also: awesome commuter bike! Solid and reliable, but (if you'll pardon my putting it this way) not so much of a theft target.

Thanks! That was exactly why I put those decals on it!

I'll PM you when I get them off of the bike.

[Aaron O]

The Take Off won't work as well as a Commands with a Suntour derailleur, but they work pretty well. You do your shifting by reaching with thumb or index finger to where the shifter is located, which is close enough that you don't lose contact with bar or hood. But you do change your hand position slightly.

I used them for some cross and thought they worked okay, but I'm used to downtube shifters so I can't say how they would adapt to people who have only ridden STI, for instance. Great concept and execution, though.

I used/occasionally use DT shifters. I'm more worried about the placement convenience if that makes sense.

[Mark McM]

While we're on the subject, and anyone compare the Kelly Take Offs with the Gevenalle (https://www.gevenalle.com/) shifters:


https://www.gevenalle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CX2-Cyclocross-Shifter-Red.jpg

[Aaron O]

Those are interesting...but I'd probably just use the STIs over them.

[Kontact]

I used/occasionally use DT shifters. I'm more worried about the placement convenience if that makes sense.

They work really pretty well.

[Ken Robb]

Suntour Power Ratchet or Rivendell Silver Power Ratchets work great as barends and probably with Paul Thumbies.

[Aaron O]

Suntour Power Ratchet or Rivendell Silver Power Ratchets work great as barends and probably with Paul Thumbies.

Problem with that is that I cheaped out and bought the Gary bars instead of the Salsa/Nittos...and they don't take bar ends. I also don't like bar ends. The Paul thumbies are not a bad idea, but I think I like the Kelly placement better.

[Kontact]

I would rate the Take Offs well ahead of Paul's or bar ends, which I've used. I've never played with Commands, but I imagine Take Offs are most similar to Commands.

[Aaron O]

I would rate the Take Offs well ahead of Paul's or bar ends, which I've used. I've never played with Commands, but I imagine Take Offs are most similar to Commands.

The commands are probably great with the Suntour stuff they were designed for...but those bits are tough to find/replace. There is a Shimano work around on the routing, but it's not perfect. If the friction mode worked, it would be a non-issue. I've heard that if you surgically alter them and remove the bearings it will run true friction.

[William]

While we're on the subject, and anyone compare the Kelly Take Offs with the Gevenalle (https://www.gevenalle.com/) shifters:


https://www.gevenalle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CX2-Cyclocross-Shifter-Red.jpg

I know a few folks running Retroshifters AKA Gevenalle and they seem to love them. I've been contemplating trying them on an old build I'm planning.





William

[Aaron O]

I know a few folks running Retroshifters AKA Gevenalle and they seem to love them. I've been contemplating trying them on an old build I'm planning.





William

Do those run short and long pull by any chance?

[Jaybee]

While we're on the subject, and anyone compare the Kelly Take Offs with the Gevenalle (https://www.gevenalle.com/) shifters:


https://www.gevenalle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CX2-Cyclocross-Shifter-Red.jpg


Never used the Kellys, but I did have Gevenalles on a drop-bar mtb for a while. Similar bar to what the OP is using, was set up to spend most of the time in the drops. They functioned flawlessly, but I never could get the angle quite right to shift from the drops with a comfortable reach. I think they are much better if you know you will be on the hoods >90% of the time.

[William]

Do those run short and long pull by any chance?

From they FAQ page...
https://www.gevenalle.com/faq/

Shifter choice is determined primarily by the type of brakes your bike is utilizing. CX and AUDAX shifters work with short pull brakes, CXV shifters work with long pull and the GX work with short of long pull. Next is derailleur compatibility. CX and CXV work with Shimano road derailleurs, GX work with Shimano Dyna-sys mountain bike derailleurs. AUDAX are 100% friction shifters so they will work with just about anything.





William

[Aaron O]

Never used the Kellys, but I did have Gevenalles on a drop-bar mtb for a while. Similar bar to what the OP is using, was set up to spend most of the time in the drops. They functioned flawlessly, but I never could get the angle quite right to shift from the drops with a comfortable reach. I think they are much better if you know you will be on the hoods >90% of the time.

I'm on the hoods 90% of the time...I wish I knew about these before.

[Aaron O]

From they FAQ page...
https://www.gevenalle.com/faq/







William

Thanks!

[William]

Thanks!

:beer:





William

[gpendergast]

I'm on the hoods 90% of the time...I wish I knew about these before.

Yeah with that style of dirt drop bar i'd recommend the Gevenalle shifters over the Take Offs, because the Take Offs move out perpendicular to the bar angle right below the brake lever. I feel like they'd sit a little too deep/would be angled farther downward than they are intended. I've used both types on bars with some flare but nothing as extreme as the Gary bar. With the Gevenalle you also have adjustability on where the shifter starts it's throw so can optimize for dirt drop

[weaponsgrade]

While we're on the subject, and anyone compare the Kelly Take Offs with the Gevenalle (https://www.gevenalle.com/) shifters:


https://www.gevenalle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CX2-Cyclocross-Shifter-Red.jpg

I just installed some Gevenalle's. I knew I'd be spending most of the time on the hoods so I didn't think I'd mind not being able to shift from the drops. The shifting from the hoods works well. As expected, I can't really shift from the drops. But now I'm finding that I miss that 10% of time I'm in the drops and want to shift. The lever bodies feel somewhat thinner and not as comfortable as the pre-11 spd Campys they replaced.

Also, in my case, the rear brake routing seemed to introduce a lot of drag. Maybe it was my particular bars and placement of the lever on the bars, but the way the housing exited seemed to create a tight enough bend that the rear brake was slow to return. The levers have a return spring, I dialed up the spring tension on the brakes (Pauls), but that still wasn't enough to get a snappy feel. I ended up installing some Aican segmented brake housing. That helped a lot.

[Aaron O]

Yeah with that style of dirt drop bar i'd recommend the Gevenalle shifters over the Take Offs, because the Take Offs move out perpendicular to the bar angle right below the brake lever. I feel like they'd sit a little too deep/would be angled farther downward than they are intended. I've used both types on bars with some flare but nothing as extreme as the Gary bar. With the Gevenalle you also have adjustability on where the shifter starts it's throw so can optimize for dirt drop

This is making a whole lot of sense...I really appreciate your insight. That's exactly why I was worried about the Kellys with dirt drops.

I think I'll just go with tourneys.

[MesiJezi]

I have used the Gevenalle shifter on a 1x build... I agree with the rest, the only way you're shifting through the full range is from the hoods. I also found that in some cases, depending on where the lever is, you almost need to put your palm on the top of the drop to reach over and shift. I think it could be difficult for small hands.

That said, the indexed action was crisp and I didn't find it to detract from the ride experience, but if you were needing to shift under power in a hill climbing/CX/racing/MTB situation, I think these cause you to give up some control while shifting.