Bicycle Mechanics - replacing "grip twisT" type shifters

I bought a walmart rode bike the Denali. Alright before everyone jumps in on their criticizm of department store bikes over all it is not to bad for daily commuting. My biggest gripe is the breaks are horrible but i can live with them till i save for decent brakes. I never really liked "Grip Shift" typer shifters as i had them on a mountain bike my mother in law uses. they do not stay tuned for very long. on this rode bike they appear in an awkward place. i am so use to the old days of down tube shifters reaching up to shift seems to throw my rhythm off more that reaching down did. Does anyone have any suggestions as possible replacements for a different type. I have the 80s version of thumb paddle like indexed shifters on my old mountian bike and i like them and they work well. This bike is only 2 months old and had needs frequent adjustments that i understand are part of break in on any bike. The derailers so far shift very crisp so my chain jumping problem and shifting problems are believe are with the shifters them selves. I cant spend 100 on a pair of shifters but something 50-100 dollars i could do.

You could probably replace them with friction shifters if the stem/steerer tube could fit it.
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=16554&category=583

The next cheapest thing would be these:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=5329&item=50-0459&slitrk=search&slisearch=true
But that's already out of your price range.

EDIT: Oh, maybe if you can find cheap bar-end shifters they would be doable too, since they should fit into the handlebars and are easy enough to install/maintain.

If you have grip shifters most likely you have a mountain bike and not a road bike so the aforementioned options are not valid. You could go with some trigger shifter pods, either SRAM or Shimano. Just make sure you match the speds to the cogs in your casette.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23376&subcategory_ID=5143

eBay options are even cheaper.

If you have grip shifters most likely you have a mountain bike and not a road bike so the aforementioned options are not valid. You could go with some trigger shifter pods, either SRAM or Shimano. Just make sure you match the speds to the cogs in your casette.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23376&subcategory_ID=5143

eBay options are even cheaper.

It's my understanding the Denali has drop bars with drop-bar diameter (23.8mm) grip-shifters. However, the bars may actually be 22.2mm. Never seen them in person. See the third pic: http://www.amazon.com/Triton-Workshop-Systems-Denali-Road/dp/B000FDDWB6 And while you're at it, if you want a laugh, see the brake levers on the second pic.

IIRC, these bikes use 2 piece handlebars (because you can't slide grip-shifters around the bends on the bars). If this is the case, I would consider getting an inexpensive set of handlebars and some friction shifters and get rid of everything but the brake levers. The grip-shifters aren't what is causing the adjustment issues, it is the cables/housing/derailers that are the issue. Much of it will go away once the cables stretch and housings compress.

And while you're at it, if you want a laugh, see the brake levers on the second pic.
ZOMG lol. :roflmao2:

Wouldn't it have been easier to just have a orthopedic hand surgeon just reattach the thumb to the other side of the hand v.s. flipping the break levers?

Break levers

Why break them?

Click the pic to read Ken Matthews' expert commentary about his "improvement"...

"I moved and reversed the brake levers. Much more realistic this way, using them with the Revo shifter. Just unwrap the grip. It is a tennis racket type grip and not glued. Reverse and move the levers up a tad to where they are comfortable. Rewrap the grip"

:roflmao2: