Bicycle Mechanics - Internal Gear Shifter.

Hello everyone! I've recently bought shimano's inter-8 hub (8C31) and revoshifter. BUT, it doesn't fit on my handlebar. I mean, the total length of the shifter+grip is just too long. The handlebar isn't straight and the curve prevents the shifter from being placed far enough from the end of the handlebar so that there would be space for the grip. And I'm using an already shortened grip what's more. The revoshifter is SL-8S20.

So, what is the solution of the problem? I don't want to replace my handlebar, I like it. I'm thinking about replacing the nexus revoshifter for alfine shifter SL-S500 which is not a revo, so its mounting place (I mean the length of the tube by which it's put on the handlebar) is somewhat shorter.

Unfortunately, there's no shop here where there's such shifter present. I intend to buy it from chainreactioncycles. But I'd like to know for sure that it would fit, since it's rather expensive. Could anyone who has the same shifter (alfine SL-S500 http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/0/alfine/product.-code-SL-S500.-type-.html) tell me the length of the mounting place of this shifter?

It would help to know what style of handlebar you have. I do have an Alfine shifter on one of my bikes, but it is not here right now so I can't do a measurement for you. It does require significantly less mounting space than the revo style however.
If you're using a swept back touring style bar, a Jtech bar end shifter might be the ticket.
http://jtekengineering.com/jtek_bar-end_shifter.htm

I do use swept back design handlebar. However JTech shifter is way too expensive. Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

You could attach an MTB bar-end to the handlebars and put the shifter on that, or if you have a 1" threaded headset with the stem raised high enough, you could put the bar-end on the stem quill and attach the shifter to it there. It'd look odd, but it should work, provided you use a bar-end with a long enough straight section.

hmm..it would be too inconvenient, I'm used to change speeds when my hand is on the handlebar and no additional movements are necessary.

Cut down your grip? ... or
Get a handle bar to suit your current shifter in hand, then.

If I cut it down it'd be too short (about 2,5"). I searched for handlebar with long enough straight ends but I didn't. So the conclusion is I need a shorter shifter. That's why I'm asking how short alfine sl-s500 is.

E mail the retailer you mentioned, after the holidays
and they may be able to answer your inquiry.

There no retailers here where I live. That's why it's easier for me to ask users of this shifter.

"chainreactioncycles", comes up in search engine as the UK or an Anchorage AK bike shop.

Which one did you have in mind?

like you email this list you can ask them via their websites ..

E mail the retailer you mentioned, after the holidays
and they may be able to answer your inquiry.

E mail the retailer might be an good alternative.

I have that shifter, clamp width is 1/2".

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/dgridley/PC270173.jpg
The black band between the brake lever and the gear display window is the clamp band. I've got about 6" of handlebar sticking out past the shifter (1/2" of brake lever clamp, 5 1/2" of grip).

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/dgridley/PC270175.jpg
As long as the shifter is clamped onto the straight section of the bar, the bar can curve under the shifter body and window. My shifter is mounted right before the curve, so the bar sweeps away beneath the shifter window. In this unused space I decided to mount my bell, so that I've got shift levers, brake lever, and bell lever all within reach from the grip.

GriddleCakes
Thank you very much for the pictures and your advice! Now I'm sure, this shifter is suitable. To tell the truth, I thought the clamp length was greater (stretching under the gear display as well).
By the way, is this trigger shifter comfortable, comparing to revoshifter?

P.S. I don't get why "Shimano Alfine" writing is upside down.

I could really use some pics right now so I don't have to search for the parts you are pairing. however you mentioned that if cutting your grip would make it about 2.5".

OK a Revoshifter is like a 'gripshift'. you do use a smaller grip in conjustion with it. the shifter is intended to be part of the grip hence the term 'gripshift'

put the shifter on the bar then install the grip and trim to fit.

http://www.ebikestop.com//prodimages/LD6083.jpg

GriddleCakes
Thank you very much for the pictures and your advice! Now I'm sure, this shifter is suitable. To tell the truth, I thought the clamp length was greater (stretching under the gear display as well).
By the way, is this trigger shifter comfortable, comparing to revoshifter?

P.S. I don't get why "Shimano Alfine" writing is upside down.
Well, look at the brake levers in the picture, you will see that the logo on them is oriented the same way. These things are made to be read from the front of the bike, not from the rider's perspective.

I could really use some pics right now so I don't have to search for the parts you are pairing. however you mentioned that if cutting your grip would make it about 2.5".

OK a Revoshifter is like a 'gripshift'. you do use a smaller grip in conjustion with it. the shifter is intended to be part of the grip hence the term 'gripshift'

put the shifter on the bar then install the grip and trim to fit.

http://www.ebikestop.com//prodimages/LD6083.jpg


I have an already short grip, so there's no need to cut it down. And still it's too long. If I cut it even more, my hand would constantly be on the shifter and ocassional and unintended change of speed would be inevitable.

I believe your hand is to rest on the shifter. stop by your bike shop and look at some.

try asking these guys for their advice

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Geared_hub_bikes/

By the way, is this trigger shifter comfortable, comparing to revoshifter?

Couldn't tell you, I haven't used the revoshifter, and haven't ridden a bike with grip shifters in so long that I don't remember what it was like. The levers on the trigger shifter are pretty innocuous, you don't really notice them until you need to shift. Although the triggers do take up a bit of grip space, as the longer of the two sticks out about 1 1/2" past the clamp, and sits close enough to the handlebar that you can't get a finger under it. Here's a clearer pic, you can see the trigger sitting between the grip and the brake lever:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/dgridley/PC270165.jpg

I think that the triggers are that long because the shifter is meant to be mounted inboard of a brake lever, so the triggers have to reach past the brake. With the revoshifter, the brake is mounted inboard of the shifter, and the shifter is meant to double as usable grip area. Even with the smaller clamp area, I'm not sure that you'll see that much more usable grip space with the trigger shifter. If this is the case, then the only solutions (all already mentioned) are different bars, the J-Tek shifter, or an alternate mounting area like this (http://sheldonbrown.org/raleigh-international/pages/international-nexus11.html) or this (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/rohloff.html#barend).

FWIW, if the shifting action on the revoshifter is stiff enough, unintentional shifting might not be an issue. It might be worth it to find someone who uses the revo, and ask them how well it works and if they have any problems.

I believe your hand is to rest on the shifter. stop by your bike shop and look at some.

try asking these guys for their advice

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Geared_hub_bikes/

No, it's uncomfortable.


Couldn't tell you, I haven't used the revoshifter, and haven't ridden a bike with grip shifters in so long that I don't remember what it was like. The levers on the trigger shifter are pretty innocuous, you don't really notice them until you need to shift. Although the triggers do take up a bit of grip space, as the longer of the two sticks out about 1 1/2" past the clamp, and sits close enough to the handlebar that you can't get a finger under it. Here's a clearer pic, you can see the trigger sitting between the grip and the brake lever:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy157/dgridley/PC270165.jpg

I think that the triggers are that long because the shifter is meant to be mounted inboard of a brake lever, so the triggers have to reach past the brake. With the revoshifter, the brake is mounted inboard of the shifter, and the shifter is meant to double as usable grip area. Even with the smaller clamp area, I'm not sure that you'll see that much more usable grip space with the trigger shifter. If this is the case, then the only solutions (all already mentioned) are different bars, the J-Tek shifter, or an alternate mounting area like this (http://sheldonbrown.org/raleigh-international/pages/international-nexus11.html) or this (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/rohloff.html#barend).

FWIW, if the shifting action on the revoshifter is stiff enough, unintentional shifting might not be an issue. It might be worth it to find someone who uses the revo, and ask them how well it works and if they have any problems.

There is a different solution. I'm planning to make a straight bar-end and insert it into the handlebar so that 2" stuck out. Then two holes could be made through the handlebar and the bar end and then two screws inserted in the holes to fix the bar end.

Is this problem still alive and kicking?

My $0.02 on this is that the grip shifter on a comfort bike is supposed to be held. Ultimately it's the OP's preference but this is the way they are designed. I had to go out in the garage and compare my mountain bike and my cruiser. The cruiser has a 3-speed. The MTN bike has SRAM gripshifters. On the MTN bike there is barely enough space for your hand to rest without it being on the shifter. On the cruiser with ergo grips the grip is designed for your hand to be right against the flange on the shifter. I have ergo grips designed for cruisers. I wanted cool grips but my hands would go to sleep so I got the ergo grips. The left side is full size and it has gel or something where your hand sits. It even wraps around where your thumb goes. On the right side the grip is significantly shorter and your thumb and finger wrap the shifter.

The other option is to possibly just use an old school friction shifter. Some people do it with 3-speeds. I don't know if the multi-speeds will work but I don't see why they won't.

Thanks's everyone. I have lengthened handlebar so that both the shifter and the grip are mounted on the bar.