Shifting Gears?

[73VDubb]

Just getting into motorized bikes and looking at my first diy kit. Just curious about using a mountain bike though, if I keep the rear dereailer and don't use the chain tensioner (or use it) would I be able to hit the clutch, shift and release as if it were a manual vehicle? If not, has anyone done something like this before?

 

[professor]

Yeah, it is called a shift kit by Sick bike products.
They are good guys.

 

[Fabian]

Yeah, it is called a shift kit by Sick bike products.
They are good guys.

I agree. No one should ever leave home without a shift kit.

 

[pbeggs]

sick bike parts shift kit,.. the best! i suggest 4 stroke kit,... dont cheap out on the bike!!!!,.. get something with good brakes! (disk or drum)

 

[KCvale]

Just getting into motorized bikes and looking at my first diy kit. Just curious about using a mountain bike though, if I keep the rear dereailer and don't use the chain tensioner (or use it) would I be able to hit the clutch, shift and release as if it were a manual vehicle? If not, has anyone done something like this before?

A shift kit is really not the best way to build your first MB.
A shift kit doesn't just bolt on, you need special tools and a high degree of mechanical skill to make them work right.

I'd recommend just going with the direct drive setup so you can learn all the engine kit parts and make one go.
That for many is challenging enough.

After selling that however an http://www.sickbikeparts.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21&osCsid=ku6o32l7trrsmo5a9vbt5cniq7 Sick Bike Parts 2 or 4-stroke jackshaft shift kit is da bomb.

You don't use the clutch to shift, you just back off the throttle a little and change gears just like you would pedaling.

The main issue with shifters is breaking pedal chain on derailleur type bikes, don't go over a 7-speed and even that is ifffy, I like to use an internal geared hub on shifters so I can run HD 410 single speed bike chain but you can get away with HD Z33 5-speed chain on most 7-speed bikes.

I have some of my 2-stroke shifter builds here.
http://kcsbikes.com/currentBuilds.asp#2-Stroke Shifter

And some 4-stroke shifters here.
http://kcsbikes.com/currentBuilds.asp#4-Stroke Shifter

And this monster I just finished and have up for sale in front of me.

That has a lot of Sick Bike Parts goodies on it.

 

[Fabian]

The main issue with shifters is breaking pedal chain on derailleur type bikes, don't go over a 7-speed and even that is ifffy,

I completely disagree with your statement.
My own experience has shown that 8 speed and 9 speed chains all perform equally well with regards to wear and tensile strength when running a shift kit.

As you know, i haul a lot of weight and have "never" broken a chain from exceeding the tensile strength of the various brands and designs of bicycle chain. The improved wear difference between the cheapest 8 speed and 9 speed chains and the most expensive Wipperman full stainless steel 9 speed chain was only 15%, despite the Wipperman chain costing 500% more than the cheapest chain.

It's no wonder that i now buy (in quantity) the cheapest 9 speed chain i can get my hands on, which typically lasts 1000 kilometers (600 miles) to 100% stretch.

The best advise i can give to anyone installing a shift kit, is to get rid of the 9 speed cassette (if your bike came fitted with one) and install an 8 speed cassette (which still allows an 11T smallest sprocket), but running 9 speed chain on the 8 speed cassette to prevent ghost shifting, especially between the second largest sprocket and the largest cassette sprocket.

The improved 9 speed chain side clearance to next largest adjacent 8 speed cassette sprocket is obvious in this photo.