Hi, I'm looking to buy a bike, but it comes with drop bars. Is it possible to change the drop bars to flat bars without changing the rear derailleur? I'd like to use regular brakes and normal shifters.
by MrLWIAY
Hi, I'm looking to buy a bike, but it comes with drop bars. Is it possible to change the drop bars to flat bars without changing the rear derailleur? I'd like to use regular brakes and normal shifters.
by MrLWIAY
10 Comments
you‘d have to buy new sram mtb brakelevers and shifters, not sure if they are compatible to the shiftcage.. but all in, since its sram – 2×100€ for brakelevers, 1x 120€ for shifter and flatbar probably another 50€.. not sure if you’re buying the wrong bike?
Sure, technically you can convert it. For the shifting you just need one of these flat bar shifters ([Apex1](https://www.sram.com/de/sram/models/sl-apx-a1) or [S700](https://www.sram.com/de/sram/models/sl-700-b1)). The brakes can be swapped as a system. Just replacing the levers wont make such a differnce in price. And you might need a longer stem because of the shorter top tube compared to a flat bar bike.
Converting between flat and drop bars is almost never worth the effort. Too many components need to be replaced and getting the compatibility right is a pain. It’s possible, but you’ll need new shifters, new brake levers, possibly a new derailleur (depending on pull ratios), new cable routing, and so on.
Unless you’re getting an amazing deal on this bike, it will amount to a pretty expensive conversion. You’ll need to purchase flat bars, grips, an 11 speed flat bar shifter, hydraulic brake levers, and then pay the labor for the installation which will include a brake bleed since it has hydraulic brakes. Granted you could offset some of the cost by selling off the shifters that will be removed, but you’d probably be better off looking for a hybrid style bike.
Ordinarily it’s easy and cheap, but this bike has some complicating factors: flat mount calipers and internal brake routing. If I were doing this, I’d use these parts:
Brakes:
[https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Altus-BL-MT201-BR-UR300-Brake/dp/B07M9T34VW](https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Altus-BL-MT201-BR-UR300-Brake/dp/B07M9T34VW)
[https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Altus-BL-MT201-BR-UR300-Brake/dp/B07MR376NK](https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Altus-BL-MT201-BR-UR300-Brake/dp/B07MR376NK)
Shifter:
[https://www.amazon.com/SRAM-Apex-Trigger-Speed-Black/dp/B01CFSF67G](https://www.amazon.com/SRAM-Apex-Trigger-Speed-Black/dp/B01CFSF67G)
Bar, whatever you want with a 31.8mm clamp, trimmed to 600-650mm.
Grips, I’m partial to Ergon GP1 and similar.
You’ll also (probably) need shift cable and housing and cable pliers, a mineral oil bleed kit, and potentially olives, inserts, a cutting tool if you need to trim the hydraulic lines, and a cable routing set to pull the lines through the frame.
Alternatively, you could leave the existing brake lines and calipers and use a set of Level levers:
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/314712402337](https://www.ebay.com/itm/314712402337)
I’m not sure if the hydraulic connection is the same between the road and flat-bar levers. If it is, you might not need to do any cutting. You would still need a DOT 5.1 bleed kit.
Those ARE normal brakes and normal shifters. If you want a flat bar bike, buy a flat bar bike. Desecrating this bike is not the way to go here…
Possible yes but you will need fairly deep pockets.
New bar, stem, shifters, brakes, cables hoses etc plus a good while to do the work or even deeper pockets if you can’t do the work yourself and have to pay a shop to do it for you.
Total possible. Sometimes you get everything right on the first try and everything works out. Usually it takes at least one or two additional part swaps to make it comfy. A good shop knows this and will work with you here.
By “normal” do you mean trigger or twist shifters? I think you can get either for that system, though I could be wrong.
Plan on getting a few new stems along the way. It’ll take a bit to “dial in” the bike fit to where you want it… Assuming you’ll be as picky as I’d be if I were buying that schmancy bike.
Option b is just find another bike in your price point that has flat bars and ride it. I promise you’ll want to spend money on it before too long.
drop bars are often better unless you’re doing hardcore offroading/downhill/mtb. I might suggest you try and ride drop bars? it’s very popular for road or gravel bikes for a reason.
but if you’re certain you hate it, maybe just buy a bike that has flat bars. there’s some hybrid bikes that might fit the bill
If you don’t own it yet, keep it that way! Just wait for an appropriate bike with the parts you want.