Six speed brifters?

[chuckroast]

So I sold my Panasonic today from a CraigsList ad. The main discussion we had was the buyer's intent to change the downtube shifters to brifters which is fine. He asked what would shift a 6 speed freewheel (which is otherwise indexed, Deore rear derailler). I thought back to the 90's when the first brifter I had was RSX on what I think was either 6 or 7 speed. Anyway, I suggested he look on e-bay for NOS or used RSX.

Do you guys think that will work?

[Ken Robb]

Beats me but he might be very happy with Suntour Power Ratchet barends as a compromise. They work with anything I have tried form 6-9 speed freewheels and cassettes.

[Peter P.]

No such thing as 6 speed STI. Minimum was 8 speed, and the cog spacing there is narrower than 6 speed. Nothing will work. Bar ends or Kelly Take-Offs are the nearest solution.

[Bob Ross]

^^^ Shimano Sora brifters (with the thumb lever) will work for 7-speed.

[thwart]

I have a pair of Shimano RSX 7 spds on my Bike Friday... work well still.

[handsomerob]

No such thing as 6 speed STI. Minimum was 8 speed, and the cog spacing there is narrower than 6 speed. Nothing will work. Bar ends or Kelly Take-Offs are the nearest solution.

Actually the Shimano RSX was a 7 speed shifter. Also, 8 speed Shimano is spaced the same as 7 speed Shimano. That was the jump to 130mm rear drop out spacing from 126mm. One only needs to adjust the limiters on the RD to use a 8 speed STI shifter on 7 speeds.

To the OP... maybe try to swap for a 7 speed rear freewheel?

[sychan]

In some states, this might still be illegal, but you can mate Campy shifters with Shimano derailleurs and get the right pull for 6 speed. See this link and look for "S6" under the "Shimano Mechs" table:

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3946

[marcus]

I have used Campy 8 speed ergos with 7 speed freewheels and it was definately acceptable. Some freewheels worked better than others. Best was Shimano.