Vintage Indexed Campy Groups with DT Shifters?

[zacstanley]

I'm putting together an Eroica bike and am wondering about 80's campy group that have indexed shifting. Can any of you historians school me?

Thx.

z

[jtakeda]

The synchro I and II shifters that offered "indexed" shifting didnt shift very well and in my experience blurred the line of index and friction.

I have a vintage downtube campy set up and to save myself the headache, I went with friction. YMMV

[zmudshark]

The best indexed DT shifters of that era were DA 740x.

[bikinchris]

Unfortunately, the first indexed downtube shifters from Campy that actually worked were 9 speed. The last version of 8 speed down tube index shifting was marginal at best. If you go 8 speed, you want the Synchro II shifter with the cable adjuster built into the rh lever. That way, you can readjust while riding.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Indexed shifting is a no no for Eroica bikes. I have Syncro shifting on a total of 4 bikes, 6 through 8 speeds. 8 speed is flawless (not sure if it was still called Syncro by that point) and the other bikes are very good. It’s a matter of using the right shifter insert for your derailleur/freewheel combo.

[Devotion]

In the truest spirit of Eroica, run friction! With some practice, you'll develop the ol' "calibrated hand". With Campy, it's an art form!

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs

Indexed shifting is a no no for Eroica bikes. I have Syncro shifting on a total of 4 bikes, 6 through 8 speeds. 8 speed is flawless (not sure if it was still called Syncro by that point) and the other bikes are very good. It’s a matter of using the right shifter insert for your derailleur/freewheel combo.

Yes, numerous shifter index rings in that era. They are color coded.

I have had hit and miss luck with Campagnolo circa 1990. I have one bike with 2nd generation Chorus that I couldn't get good shifts with until I slightly changed the RD cable attachment point.

[martl]

Originally Posted by Devotion

In the truest spirit of Eroica, run friction! With some practice, you'll develop the ol' "calibrated hand". With Campy, it's an art form!

I fail to see the sense of running friction for the reason of being "truest spirit", while retrofitting the bike with balloon tires, great-great-granny gearing and a riding position that allows almost upright riding, but that's just me.

...more on topic, in my experience the skill/practice requirement to operate the different shifter types would be like STI/Ergo << friction <<<<<< Campy 8 speed indexed downtube stuff

:m

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by bikinchris

Unfortunately, the first indexed downtube shifters from Campy that actually worked were 9 speed. The last version of 8 speed down tube index shifting was marginal at best. If you go 8 speed, you want the Synchro II shifter with the cable adjuster built into the rh lever. That way, you can readjust while riding.

Not really, the 1993, 2 spring version, with the wee barrel adjuster on the RH shifter worked well with the rear ders of the day(1992/3 ERGO era, 8s). The 1995 3 spring were better but both worked far better than Campag's first attempt with Syncro I and II, which with first gen Athena/Chorus/CDA didn't work well. The one with the barrel adjuster, no friction version, was actually 'Syncro III'..1997 was 9s, same shifter, different shift disc is all.

[martl]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Not really, the 1993, 2 spring version, with the wee barrel adjuster on the RH shifter worked well with the rear ders of the day(1992/3 ERGO era, 8s).

this one?

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by martl

this one?

NO..Those were Syncro I, first gen and altho a neat way to make friction with that lever, they didn't work well at all. Coupled with some strange designs of rear ders(A-B Chorus and CDA)The below are the ones.

[Cloozoe]

Originally Posted by zmudshark

The best indexed DT shifters of that era were DA 740x.

Indeed, the only ones that worked. If it must be Campy, get friction.

[Big Dan]

Those Syncro shifters were and are pretty bad.
Go friction better.

[peanutgallery]

I have a syncros 2 setup floating around in my box of treasures. Like OP said, it was opposite day with attaching the rear cable. Worked better with a shimano spaced freewheel, too. The horror. Keep in mind a 24 was like a 42, so you're going to end up with some man gears

Pretty terrible when compared to contemporary shimano or suntour. If you want to find something interesting and unique, go suntour or mavic. What's the age of the parts for these things? Zap should be right about 25 years, along with sti

[zacstanley]

Well, this sees unanimous. Friction it is.

Thanks all.

-Zac