The Golden Boy 

While you can get as "bike dorky" as you can about getting any kind of gear/pedal/bass/guitar dorky.

Keep in mind, even if you replace EVERYTHING on an Epiphone Les Paul- it's still going to be an Epiphone Les Paul, even if you replace everything with the finest components ever available. It's going be laminated wood- and that is the heart of what the guitar is. Your World Sport is a "decent" frame, aside from putting on some decent wheels to roll well and stop reliably- you're throwing good money away trying to upgrade the bike into something that it's not.

If you are enjoying the bike and you're thinking you don't like the shift levers- look for something that you do like. But don't just get rid of them because some people on a bike forum somewhere said "stem shifters suck."

If you're enjoying riding and think that it's time for a better bike- your money's better spent on "upgrading" an upper tier bike.


As an aside- after 20+ years of messing with guitars and basses and amps- there's only a small about of "modification" that really make a difference. I replaced the 3 way switch on my G&L L2000 with a 2 way- because I NEVER use the bridge pickup alone. Around 15 years ago, I wanted to get THE BEST bridge for my 65 Jazz Bass, so I picked up a BadassII. I don't know if I expected to hear some sort of magical sound.. but honestly- the only thing I noticed was this big stupid chrome block on my bass. Every couple of years, I switch around from the old stock "bent piece of metal" bridge to the Badass... but unless there's a problem with your bridge- there's no reason to "upgrade."