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Hi all - so i have a 2017 Orbea and it is currently equipped with M506/BR-M4447 an SLX shifter. Simple questions - Can i upgrade the brakes without changing the shifters. I have spent ages googling, speaking to shops etc etc - but I am stuck. I THINK i need I-SPEC B levers to then reattach the shifters - but do i? and if i do - do they exist??
If i am on a hiding to nothing - what is my upgrade path??
Any technical Info provided to explain more about I-Spec would be appreciated.
thanks
Do the i-spec compatibility charts on the SHimano tech site help at all?
https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/com/?cid=C-156&acid=C-157
More info required really...
Are your existing shifters and brakes I-spec mounts or band clamps?
What model and version Orbea do you have..
This shouldn't be difficult and its puzzling that 'ages spent speaking to shops' hasn't given you a solution. Problem solvers https://problemsolversbike.com/products/brakes will probably help with any combination of I-spec once you know what exactly you need.
The brakes are clamped to the bars and the have a tapped hole to allow the i spec b bracket to mount up and then the slx shifters are bolted to that.
It’s a orbea alma h10 27.5 2017
I believe I understand what I have and eBay etc has plenty of shifters - it’s the brake part I am struggling to find
Why not a Brake with a clamp on band, that would sort the new brakes out and this https://problemsolversbike.com/products/brakes/i-spec_ii_bar_clamp_-_j1297 would allow the shifter to be attached on it's own separate clamp (I'm pretty sure 2017 SLX would be i-spec II from what I can read from shimano info sheets )
Above is I spec 2 so no good.
I’ve just ordered one of these-
Handlebar Clamp Adapter for Shimano I-Spec B Style Shifter https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08L42SMHC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_QXX7QCV4X9BPWQBKZZ5C
It’s not turned up yet. Coming from somewhere in Europe I think. Only £9.50
Similar problem to op. Got an old saint shifter attached by I spec b to deore 596 brakes. Want to split them to use an 11s slx shifter on that bike and move the 10s over to another bike with non shimano brakes.
Having said that yeah agree 2017 is more likely to be ispec 2. My I spec b brakes are from 2012.
Edit- nope. Ispec b
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/shimano/BL-M506.html
I think it will most likely be i-spec II so my link should be what you would need , but only the OP will determine what i-spec version the shifters are
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/shimano/BL-M506.htmlIspec b
Brakes all have a clamp on band so any brakes will do. Issue is shifters that can only be used with certain brakes. SRAM got it right with match maker. Shimano screwed it up with ispec a b 2 ev
Well good luck to the OP on sorting out his problem, I have nothing more to add to my previous suggestions.
Sounds like an excellent reason to either bin the shifter and put a band-on shifter in its place or buy the band-on conversion for the SLX shifter then you can say goodbye to worrying about compatibility for as long as you keep the bike.
Use a matchmaker adapter to match the shifter to the brake. Covers pretty much every combination of SRAM and Shimano.
I was in the same boat 2 months ago: broke the right XT lever on 2016 Mondraker. I couldn't find ispec-B compatible shimano lever that could accomodate the old XT shifter. At the end I bought M8100 levers, Magura MT5 set for the front and went for Shigura.
At the end I had to buy new 11sp shifter (very few choices). Shifting is crisper now. The old XT had much nicer feel, but don't regret it.
Those plastic 3D printed ispecB adapters are a joke. Just buy new shifter with whatever brake lever you prefer.
Ok - thanks to all that have posted - it is really helpful. from what i can understand from Simon ( https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/com/?cid=C-156&acid=C-157) I have a BL-M506 - thus i can swap out to anything in this list
BL-M987
BL-M988-B
BL-M820-B
BL-M640-B
BL-T780-B
BL-T675-B
BL-T670-B
BL-T610
BL-M506
BL-S700-B
Assuming I can find one.
My other option is to upgrade the calipers - and the only reason I have not done this is my calipers have a thread type hydraulic connection and I think the very next upgrade is a banjo type - so are all brake lines mad equal - Can I cut off the current fitting and install a banjo for 4-pot slx calipers for example.
I would like to thank you all for posting it is really helpful and also note that I don't want to upgrade really for performance or just to get the gucci kit - I have now had 2 caliper piston seal failures which has resulted in new calipers/pads and despite extensive cleaning, new discs.... it is becoming annoying and £££
How do I put images in from my iPhone?
If you can find any the 4 pot 520 calipers should be screw fit
Just stick Zee levers on … cheap and ispec II if you insist on keeping with ispec.
Far better just going bar mount shifters though
The Amazon mount I bought arrived from Estonia. Just fitted it to see what it’s like. It works in that it enables me to mount an ispec b shifter on the bars next to the brake lever. It was cheap enough at £9.50 delivered. Feels very flimsy though so I’m not sure it would survive a crash. And a 2.5mm hex bolt for the bar clamp is asking for trouble. Photo here
That bolt is too small