Shift Lever Modification - Part 2
Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:13 pm
The bike is much more enjoyable with the shifter tab relocated. Ergos are important.
The important parameter is the relationship between the left footpeg and the shift tab. It doesn't matter how the two shifter lever pieces (the "spline end" and the "tab end") reach from the shift shaft to the shift tab. A shorter run would weigh a little less, which is probably desirable as the original shift lever was aluminum and the Touratech pieces are steel. I thought I'd play with different arrangements of the two pieces.
The shortest assembly points the spline end directly at the shift tab position; this is about 30° below horizontal. However, this position causes the spline end (right at the spline) to hit the retracted sidestand on downshifts. The greatest usable down angle is to rotate the spline end one spline CCW from horizontal, still significantly down-pointing. Interestingly, that alignment looked just awful: the spline end's angle clashed visually with the strong close horizontal lines below (the retracted sidestand) and above (the lower frame rail).
Here's what I ended up with:
This layout maintains the same improved footpeg/tab position I originally found. The angle of the spline end doesn't clash visually with the strong sidestand and frame lines. Both pieces are longer than needed; I'll hacksaw and file them (I already sawed off but haven’t finished the last inch of the spine end), then paint them along with the spacer. Overall, the shift lever assembly is now smaller than the original improved layout, and, to my eye, looks better too.
Don't hold your breath for the finished product: we have a non-bike vacation coming up. I'll add a final pic to this page next month.
(Next installment here: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=22469&p=197343)
The important parameter is the relationship between the left footpeg and the shift tab. It doesn't matter how the two shifter lever pieces (the "spline end" and the "tab end") reach from the shift shaft to the shift tab. A shorter run would weigh a little less, which is probably desirable as the original shift lever was aluminum and the Touratech pieces are steel. I thought I'd play with different arrangements of the two pieces.
The shortest assembly points the spline end directly at the shift tab position; this is about 30° below horizontal. However, this position causes the spline end (right at the spline) to hit the retracted sidestand on downshifts. The greatest usable down angle is to rotate the spline end one spline CCW from horizontal, still significantly down-pointing. Interestingly, that alignment looked just awful: the spline end's angle clashed visually with the strong close horizontal lines below (the retracted sidestand) and above (the lower frame rail).
Here's what I ended up with:
This layout maintains the same improved footpeg/tab position I originally found. The angle of the spline end doesn't clash visually with the strong sidestand and frame lines. Both pieces are longer than needed; I'll hacksaw and file them (I already sawed off but haven’t finished the last inch of the spine end), then paint them along with the spacer. Overall, the shift lever assembly is now smaller than the original improved layout, and, to my eye, looks better too.
Don't hold your breath for the finished product: we have a non-bike vacation coming up. I'll add a final pic to this page next month.
(Next installment here: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=22469&p=197343)