Shifter Kit

Canon

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Feb 9, 2010
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Seems like a lot of you guys use these, wheres the best place to get them and as far as bang for your buck are they worth it? I'm in college and the only income I'm getting is from a part time job but I love the idea of increased speeds and efficiency. Also in comparison to the installing of the motor kit, how difficult is it to install a shifter kit?
 
Bang for buck, definitely.
Source from Sick Bike Parts
Install: Personally mine was easy but it took me ages and ages to get it setup right and I had to modify a couple of things. I'm sure if I built another though I would get it right first time now that I have had the experience.
 
I've had mine running for a few days now and can't say a bad word.
And I'll never go without gears again.
With derailleur, (derailler), gears, a good wide ratio spread helps. Shimano MegaRange etc, I've learned.
For my purpose, I'm also buying a couple of alternate sprockets, to make pedal-starting easier.
There's a thread in 'Frame-Mounted Drive Trains' with a few ratios and speeds:- SBP Shift Kit - Ratios, Speeds and Pedal-Starting. I've done a few calculations there that might help you decide, but they're only for a 14-28 6-speed.

I'm still getting over that initial buzz of changing gears.

... Steve
 
Hello André. Yeah, I'll second that - I love it too. I can already shift up OK at higher revs, but have been extra-cautious about rolling the throttle off, changing, then rolling it back on, to get the feel of things.
In reality, there's not much need to roll it off too slowly, as long as it's not opened up again too quickly. I've been taking note of the slight take-up when the pressure starts to go back on the rear freewheel cassette. You can feel when it has engaged properly.
As you say, a bit of practice.
I need to get used to selecting the right gear as I slow down, too, since you can't feel it with a freewheel and want to be in the right gear when you accelerate again. Getting better at that.
I'm finding that part of the fun is learning the technique, and I always did like clutchless changes on dirt bikes.

... Steve
 
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I think most people find grip (type) shifters to be the most natural feel for shifting, personally I'm not a thumby guy. Not advising full throttle shifts......but with a little practice, you can slam through the gears very rapidly. Did I say FUN??

Anyways - thanks fellas! Jim and I are still amazed. Just when we think we have the whole stock keeping, JIT, never on backorder thing all figured out, something takes off. We order HD FW's 100 at a time......in very short cycles.....I think White has other priorities (like their "normal" products!)
 
I think most people find grip (type) shifters to be the most natural feel for shifting, personally I'm not a thumby guy.

I agree, Paul. My electric bike has a 6-speed grip shift on the LHS and I'd never go back to another type.
I already have one ordered for my MB, due any time.
I rode a Lambretta motor-scooter years ago when I was a kid that had a LHS grip-shift, 3-speed from memory. It also had a side-car. Great fun.

Another point on the shift kit - I've noticed that I can actually relax finally and not be constantly concerned about that dangerous stock tensioner/sprocket/rag-joint setup, in terms of the LHS chain derailing or the tensioner pivoting inwards, into the spokes.
On a ride, that was my single biggest concern before, with good reason.
Not any more, and no need for the fancy tensioner that I had planned.
Peace of mind.

... Steve
 
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I'll start cutting back on some things to save the money for one of these things, there are 3 kits ranging from standard to premium is the premium a must or could I get away with standard?
 
Here is the simple answer on the differences between the 3 versions of the kit. All of the kits have the same basic parts except for the following.

Standard kit differences
standard freewheel, we do not recommend this on anything larger than a 49cc engine.
standard 3 piece bottom bracket spindle

HD Kit differences
HD freewheel
cartridge bottom bracket

Deluxe HD Kit differences
HD freewheel
cartridge bottom bracket
additional output sprocket to change gear ratios
dual pull brake lever
chain breaker
crank removal tool
 
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