Folding Shift Lever: <$30 and <1 hour

[Bushyar15]

Reviving this as I had my shift lever bend in a fall yesterday…

This seems like a very good and affordable option. Curious how this mod is holding up after some time has passed now?

I went to the dealer who had the shift lever… 106 bucks new I was thinking like 50 bucks.. Comparing my bent one to the new one, my bent one wasn't way far off. A few hits with a mallet and my bent one was darn close to the new one. I checked for "cracks"… No visible cracks or stress but without doing that heat thing to relieve stress I'm sure it won't handle a hit again…

In any event I want to do this mod but before I sacrifice my new shifter to the mod gods, I want to be sure people have not had any issues with this over time...

 

[scott123007]

Reviving this as I had my shift lever bend in a fall yesterday…

This seems like a very good and affordable option. Curious how this mod is holding up after some time has passed now?

I went to the dealer who had the shift lever… 106 bucks new I was thinking like 50 bucks.. Comparing my bent one to the new one, my bent one wasn't way far off. A few hits with a mallet and my bent one was darn close to the new one. I checked for "cracks"… No visible cracks or stress but without doing that heat thing to relieve stress I'm sure it won't handle a hit again…

In any event I want to do this mod but before I sacrifice my new shifter to the mod gods, I want to be sure people have not had any issues with this over time...

Two points...
Although it is still pricey, there are a number of on-line sites that sell the OEM shifter for under $70.00. Also, the shifter is steel, not aluminum, and it is made that way so if it gets bent, you can bend it back numerous times without it breaking.

 

[14kmtnman]

Bushy - you beat me to this write up. I just ordered mine from the RZ guys. $27 to the door. It will add to the piece of mind on the trail after seeing 3 bikes go down 4 times in the last 2 weekends on the left ::013::

 

[Bushyar15]

Folding Shifter DONE! Was pretty easy to do.

My thoughts… BTW, this is not a knock by any means, just an observation….

1) IMO, you can't use the counter-sunk screw as there isn't enough "material" to counter-sink without possibly making the material on the end too thin therefore weak. As stated earlier there is plenty of clearance between the shifter and the engine case so no need to use that screw

2) I'm wondering how well a folding shift-lever will work if you go down on the dirt with forward movement as opposed to the street… Here's my line of thinking. On dirt/gravel/mud, the shifter isn't going to slide across relatively smooth surface or hover above the ground. There are rocks and uneven ground that might grab the lever and bend it.

3) When folded this still has some size to it… Its not like the whole shifter end (what your toe uses) folds out of the way like some of the pre-made folding ones do. It may still catch and bend…probably less likely…

For the price I think it was worth trying. Hopefully I won't have to find out…

 

[14kmtnman]

I just did my Woodcraft shifter yesterday. I also cut off the 2" useless sidestand knob/extension just in front of the left foot peg. Less stuff to get in the way, if/when I go down. Bushy's pictures are what mine look like too.