What Gear shifter is everyone using?

[XDoubleXA]

My feet are too big this dinky shifter lever.

[Sochin]

Most upgrade to this MSR shifter https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Shift...SIN=B000WJAVJ4

[XDoubleXA]

[QUOTE=Sochin;263290]Most upgrade to this MSR shifter https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Shift...SIN=B000WJAVJ4[/QUOTA

Perfect... Thanks! Anything has to be better than whats comes on these.

[Megadan]

IMS shifter for an xr400. Not much longer than my stock 2017 shifter, but it sits a lot more inboard so it gives my size 14 eee feet room. I shift with my big toe lol

[BigWeld]

[QUOTE=XDoubleXA;263291]

Originally Posted by Sochin

Most upgrade to this MSR shifter https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Shift...SIN=B000WJAVJ4[/QUOTA

Perfect... Thanks! Anything has to be better than whats comes on these.

Fits perfect man, although I STILL wish the MSR was longer...

[LunaTech]

Originally Posted by Sochin

Most upgrade to this MSR shifter https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Shift...SIN=B000WJAVJ4

That's the exact one I have both my Hawks. HUGE difference in room. Highly recommended.

[pcspecialist]

Originally Posted by Sochin

Most upgrade to this MSR shifter https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Shift...SIN=B000WJAVJ4

That's what I have and they don't stay in stock long so grab one while you can.

[XDoubleXA]

Originally Posted by pcspecialist

That's what I have and they don't stay in stock long so grab one while you can.

I ordered one, its on the way.Next on the list is a shorter clutch lever, pod filter, and mirrors. I think i'm pretty much set after that. Of course i say this, and you always see something else you wanna replace or mod.

[Border411]

Originally Posted by XDoubleXA

I ordered one, its on the way.Next on the list is a shorter clutch lever, pod filter, and mirrors. I think i'm pretty much set after that. Of course i say this, and you always see something else you wanna replace or mod.

Ain't that the truth. Welcome to the money suck. Kind of like me with a new paintball gun!

[jimwildman]

Originally Posted by XDoubleXA

My feet are too big this dinky shifter lever.

I cut it in half and welded in another 1 1/2 ",, grind it is smooth painted it and now it looks like its made for american feet.

Another option would be to move the pegs back further and shorten the brake instead.. the peg posistion is wrong in my opinion and makes for more fatigue.

I may do that..

[XDoubleXA]

Originally Posted by jimwildman

I cut it in half and welded in another 1 1/2 ",, grind it is smooth painted it and now it looks like its made for american feet.

Another option would be to move the pegs back further and shorten the brake instead.. the peg posistion is wrong in my opinion and makes for more fatigue.

I may do that..

Yeah, i noticed standing up on the pegs (as you do when trail riding), it felt akward, and i kept thinking it was giving me a heck of a work out. I cut off that rubber crap on the pegs so its just the metal teeth now. helped a lot with my foot sliding off, cause it was extremely slick with any kind of mud or water on them. Id actually like them to be just a tad bit longer.

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by jimwildman

I cut it in half and welded in another 1 1/2 ",, grind it is smooth painted it and now it looks like its made for american feet.

Another option would be to move the pegs back further and shorten the brake instead.. the peg posistion is wrong in my opinion and makes for more fatigue.

I may do that..

Funny you should mention the foot peg positions. I covered that subject a year or more ago. From watching videos of people riding Hawks on deer trails through the woods, I noticed how much effort, and throttle, to get over logs and such. I mentioned that traditional trials bikes had their foot pegs only a couple of inches in front of the swing arm axle hinge. Or less. And yeah, another u shaped piece of metal needs to be welded or bronze welded to the foot pegs that it has, in order to satisfy American feet....ARH

[jimwildman]

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

Funny you should mention the foot peg positions. I covered that subject a year or more ago. From watching videos of people riding Hawks on deer trails through the woods, I noticed how much effort, and throttle, to get over logs and such. I mentioned that traditional trials bikes had their foot pegs only a couple of inches in front of the swing arm axle hinge. Or less. And yeah, another u shaped piece of metal needs to be welded or bronze welded to the foot pegs that it has, in order to satisfy American feet....ARH

I read that post and think of it often when im sliding up the seat toward the tank, or abusing the clutch to get the front wheel up for a log or rock face.

Many trials bikes have the pegs behind the hinge point of the swing arm forcing the use of linkage on the shifter...Makes them proned to wheelying.

B.T.W. Thanks for the tip.. I watched all the build videos on Britannia Motorcycles youtube channel and found them very informative.

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by jimwildman

I read that post and think of it often when im sliding up the seat toward the tank, or abusing the clutch to get the front wheel up for a log or rock face.

Many trials bikes have the pegs behind the hinge point of the swing arm forcing the use of linkage on the shifter...Makes them proned to wheelying.

B.T.W. Thanks for the tip.. I watched all the build videos on Britannia Motorcycles youtube channel and found them very informative.

Yes, Michael Waller explains the why of everything he does. A great teacher. He taught me how to bronze weld, from this series. I already knew how to braze, but bronze welding is a different kettle of fish. Having the footrests back allows you to control wheelies by where you place your weight when giving it throttle. More weight on the handlebars = less anxious to wheelie. Less body weight on the handlebars lets the front wheel come up. When crossing a bigger log, have your weight back to get it on top of the log, then move your weight onto the handlebars, and roll off the throttle a little bit, to let the rear wheel climb the log. Easier to do than explain...ARH

[green_hawk250]

I used longer MSR as many of us.



Its end was too low, but moving the lever up by one or two teeth was impossible because of interference with the engine body at the point shown. Some time ago I tried to reshape the gear shifter lever. As appears I was unable to bend it for the required angle even in vise using a huge hummer. I made a test cut and ... yes, it is very, very hardened steel! What a "genius" design! Now picture this; the bike is falling on the left side and such hard lever would bend the gear shaft like a nail. Sure, I discard it without any regret.

Before ordering a different lever, I decided to get some practice on the stock one, made from the softer steel. Reshaped it as shown.





That exceeds all my expectations. It is way more convenient than the longer MSR lever and than the stock one. A little longer (just 1/2 inch) would be even better.