Unusual Mirage Ergo Levers?

[oliver1850]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Mirage-8-speed-Ergopower-shifters/163707009936?hash=item261db2bb90:g:pToAAOSwQltc6ma s

These are round top but labeled 8 speed. The 1998 catalog shows Mirage being 8 speed and having pointy top levers. The 1999 catalog shows Mirage being 9 speed and having polished round top levers. These look like 2000-2006 levers but 8 speed was long gone by then, or so I thought.

[Veloo]

Maybe it's all just a....mirage. :)

[oliver1850]

Yeah, I looked at the 8 to see if it was just a smudged 9, but it appears to be an 8.

[fmradio516]

So weird!

[pbarry]

Never seen those, but, Campy made Mirage 9 groups into the late 10 speed era, afaik. Reasonable to assume 8 speed Mirage continued well into the 9 speed/V2 Ergos era, and, Mirage came on a lot of lower end european branded bikes in the early 2000s. These might be from an oem group..

[charliedid]

I thought all the 8 speed levers were all the pointy design and this style was not until 10 speed?

Right? or maybe 9 speed

[charliedid]

Haha I should have read the OP's full post

[pbarry]

The OP has some serious searches saved. ;)

[Mike V]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Chorus-Ergopower-8-speed-Ergopower-Shifters/163707000428?hash=item261db2966c:g:3IgAAOSw1LRc6mV R


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Chorus-Ergopower-8-speed-Ergopower-Shifters/163638058081?hash=item2619969c61:g:AwkAAOSwy7lcqdw E

[Pegoready]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Chorus-Ergopower-8-speed-Ergopower-Shifters/163707000428?hash=item261db2966c:g:3IgAAOSw1LRc6mV R


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Chorus-Ergopower-8-speed-Ergopower-Shifters/163638058081?hash=item2619969c61:g:AwkAAOSwy7lcqdw E

Wow, nice finds. You learn something new everyday. I had no idea the second gen. ergo shape was ever offered in 8 speed, let alone Chorus. At least that is what the listing states, even though the word Chorus isn't written anywhere. The eBay seller seems knowledgeable.

[Pegoready]

Also wondering if this guy is making frankenshifters that were never offered. All his shifters appear to be off, branding wise, highly polished as if at home on a buffing wheel. It seems like a lot of work to make $125. Being in Italy he might have access to a ton of spares to do this?

[oliver1850]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Chorus-Ergopower-8-speed-Ergopower-Shifters/163707000428?hash=item261db2966c:g:3IgAAOSw1LRc6mV R


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Chorus-Ergopower-8-speed-Ergopower-Shifters/163638058081?hash=item2619969c61:g:AwkAAOSwy7lcqdw E

The 2nd link shows a parts catalog page that indicates 8 speed Record round top levers were offered. Odd that they don't show in the group catalogs, but not too surprising given that we are talking about Campagnolo.

The seller does have some other unusual Ergo levers listed, so perhaps is putting bits together.

[Hindmost]

The 2nd link shows a parts catalog page that indicates 8 speed Record round top levers were offered...

The seller does have some other unusual Ergo levers listed, so perhaps is putting bits together.

Maybe the catalog shows that the 8 and 9 speed index pieces were interchangeable, not necessarily that 8 speed roundtop levers were made available.

[oliver1850]

Hard to say. Later catalogs show Chorus and Record 9 long after the groups had progressed to 10 speed. I guess I should have a look at the parts catalogs.

[oldpotatoe]

Hard to say. Later catalogs show Chorus and Record 9 long after the groups had progressed to 10 speed. I guess I should have a look at the parts catalogs.

Plus the 8s disc was offered when shifters were 10s...interesting labeling but as has been mentioned, along with pointy top 10s levers for Ullrich, Campagnolo did a lot of not-in-catalog type stuff. I’m guessing OE also for the Mirage levers.

[charliedid]

The OP has some serious searches saved. ;)

It's all very serious ;-)

[keevon]

Also wondering if this guy is making frankenshifters that were never offered. All his shifters appear to be off, branding wise, highly polished as if at home on a buffing wheel. It seems like a lot of work to make $125. Being in Italy he might have access to a ton of spares to do this?

That's my guess too. In addition to the highly polished levers, the white lettering on the bodies is pretty sloppy - see attached. The 8-speed levers appear to have DIY transfers, which are far less crisp than a typical Campy lever.

[Dasarbule]

This is why this forum is amazing.

[charliedid]

That's my guess too. In addition to the highly polished levers, the white lettering on the bodies is pretty sloppy - see attached. The 8-speed levers appear to have DIY transfers, which are far less crisp than a typical Campy lever.

Good point.

A couple of those made me look twice.

[BubbleWrap]

Also wondering if this guy is making frankenshifters that were never offered. All his shifters appear to be off, branding wise, highly polished as if at home on a buffing wheel. It seems like a lot of work to make $125. Being in Italy he might have access to a ton of spares to do this?

I agree. Most likely just a little but I’d handywork.

[Mark McM]

Also wondering if this guy is making frankenshifters that were never offered. All his shifters appear to be off, branding wise, highly polished as if at home on a buffing wheel. It seems like a lot of work to make $125. Being in Italy he might have access to a ton of spares to do this?

Its possible, I suppose, but like you say, that's a lot of work for a lower end product. I'm more inclined to go with Old Potato's idea that these were an OEM product, since at that time Mirage was aimed mostly at the OEM market.

[Pegoready]

That's my guess too. In addition to the highly polished levers, the white lettering on the bodies is pretty sloppy - see attached. The 8-speed levers appear to have DIY transfers, which are far less crisp than a typical Campy lever.

Agreed. These in particular look sketchy and I don't think the word "Ultra" was ever solely on the shifter like this. It's a really odd devotion to details for low pay out. At the point where a buyer is looking for polished 8 speed shifters, I would think it would be fine if not better with nothing being written on them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Chorus-Ergopower-8-speed-Ergopower-Shifters/163638058081?hash=item2619969c61:g:AwkAAOSwy7lcqdw E

http://www.dollsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/carellpaintingfigures.jpg