It depends on the groupset that is currently on there. Some grouppos have both flat bar and drop bar options and it’s an easy swap. It is impossible to know what is on the bike since this is a non drive side photo, but it does have the shimano universal groupset caliper, which means you’ll probably need to buy shifters and derailleurs.
If you aren’t a home mechanic with knowhow, I would recommend just buying a drop bar bike.
Duckney on
I would just do the Surly Corner bar. Would be cheaper in that you’d get to keep your shifters and brakes as is
Treptay on
Ok, you buy a drop bar and some STI levers. Now you need to recable the whole bike, rebleed the brakes (this is the tricky part if you have never done it) and then readjust the brakes and shifters a little bit, so that everything functions.
The main issue is the cost and the bike fit.
Brand new STI shifters cost about 120 euros (dollars) per shifter, you will need two of those (cheaper if you find used ones).
The handlebar is cheaper, around 30.
The bike fit may be the biggest issue, since the drop bar elongates the bike.
This means you would need a shorter stem, this may feel more twitchy.
I am not sure about the geometry of the bike, it may also feel off, since this one is probably designed specifically for flat bars.
The main question is, even with all the extra work and cost, is it easier to sell this one and buy a drop bar bike instead?
ValidGarry on
The flat bar and drop bar gears and brakes may have different ratios and need different pulls to activate. This can sometimes be achieved and sometimes not, but mixing flat and drop is harder than you’d expect
Rbgedu on
Not very hard but not worth it. Better sell it and buy a gravel/allroad/endurance road bike. Will be cheaper.
Trendmac90 on
Thanks everyone I’ll get a drop bar bike
MortgageStrange8889 on
N+1
liveprgrmclimb on
Not worth it. I talked to the mechanics at REI for a long time about conversions. It’s super expensive.
wreckedbutwhole420 on
The hard part is picking out parts that will work together.
Actually putting it together is pretty easy
willtobe on
You can get something like a surley corner bar – that will let your transfer your existing stuff onto a drop-like bar. Maybe worth testing out before dropping a lot mre money.
Early-Enthusiasm-636 on
Bro if you wanna go cheap check for aliexpress parts, brands like ltwoo and sensah offer quite good offers, tracevelo on yt has alot of reviews on them and it can be a cheap good solution, even for a new bar!
Good luck and show your final product after!
stonecjy on
I recently thought about doing the same thing, and someone recommended I look at the surly corner bar if I wanted to keep my current bike but get the feel of a drop bar bike
uh_wtf on
Well since you’re not showing us the drive side so we can see what drivetrain it has…
13 Comments
It depends on the groupset that is currently on there. Some grouppos have both flat bar and drop bar options and it’s an easy swap. It is impossible to know what is on the bike since this is a non drive side photo, but it does have the shimano universal groupset caliper, which means you’ll probably need to buy shifters and derailleurs.
If you aren’t a home mechanic with knowhow, I would recommend just buying a drop bar bike.
I would just do the Surly Corner bar. Would be cheaper in that you’d get to keep your shifters and brakes as is
Ok, you buy a drop bar and some STI levers. Now you need to recable the whole bike, rebleed the brakes (this is the tricky part if you have never done it) and then readjust the brakes and shifters a little bit, so that everything functions.
The main issue is the cost and the bike fit.
Brand new STI shifters cost about 120 euros (dollars) per shifter, you will need two of those (cheaper if you find used ones).
The handlebar is cheaper, around 30.
The bike fit may be the biggest issue, since the drop bar elongates the bike.
This means you would need a shorter stem, this may feel more twitchy.
I am not sure about the geometry of the bike, it may also feel off, since this one is probably designed specifically for flat bars.
The main question is, even with all the extra work and cost, is it easier to sell this one and buy a drop bar bike instead?
The flat bar and drop bar gears and brakes may have different ratios and need different pulls to activate. This can sometimes be achieved and sometimes not, but mixing flat and drop is harder than you’d expect
Not very hard but not worth it. Better sell it and buy a gravel/allroad/endurance road bike. Will be cheaper.
Thanks everyone I’ll get a drop bar bike
N+1
Not worth it. I talked to the mechanics at REI for a long time about conversions. It’s super expensive.
The hard part is picking out parts that will work together.
Actually putting it together is pretty easy
You can get something like a surley corner bar – that will let your transfer your existing stuff onto a drop-like bar. Maybe worth testing out before dropping a lot mre money.
Bro if you wanna go cheap check for aliexpress parts, brands like ltwoo and sensah offer quite good offers, tracevelo on yt has alot of reviews on them and it can be a cheap good solution, even for a new bar!
Good luck and show your final product after!
I recently thought about doing the same thing, and someone recommended I look at the surly corner bar if I wanted to keep my current bike but get the feel of a drop bar bike
Well since you’re not showing us the drive side so we can see what drivetrain it has…