Bar ends on twist shift rig?
 

Just got a used tandem (Trek T900) that has twist shifters. I don't know the model number off hand (of the shifters), but I think they maybe be SRAM MRX Plus, according to the Trek website.

The grips have two sections: The twist/shifter section, of course, is closer to the middle of the bars and is about 2 to 2.5 inches wide. On the ends of the bars is a smaller section (1 inch?) that does not twist. I haven't tried to remove this section, but was wondering if it can be removed so that bar ends can be installed.

I've never owned twist grip shifters before, so have no idea how it would work to get bar ends on there. I'm hoping I dont' need to change to thumb shifters, but would do that if need-be.

Thanks for any advice.

You might just try pulling on it, most grips just slide on. They are usually on there pretty good. If there is a dust cap in the end of it, you might remove that and see if there is a bolt. A friend of mine has grips just like that and there is no bolt for the end piece, you just pull it off.

The shop mechanic method is to loosen the mounting bolts on the shifter and brake lever, slide them inward, slide the grips inward, install the bar ends, then move everything back outward as far as the bar ends allow. Look for a small, 2.5mm Allen head screw on the shifter.

Usually, you take a razor blade and cut off an amount of the fixed grip that is the same as the width of the bar end mount. Slip the bar ends on in the newly made space and tighten. Clean neat installation.

I wouldn't recommend that. If the bike has the original gripshift grips then their length is just about enough to allow a decent amount of space for (most of) your hand down on the cylindrical part of the grip. Cutting that down and installing a bar end there would force the rider's hand to sit higher on the conical rotating part that make up the actual shifter.
YMMV, but for me that leads to cramping and loss of sensation in the hands within 20-30 minutes.

+1

Sorry, the advice was for SRAM X.X series shifters where the short fixed grip is 90mm. For these, if even one finger is laying on the brake lever then there is enough grip left over (there is even a cut line for your use) to remove a bar end's width without putting your hand onto the shifter. MRX grips may be different than this however.

Yup, and I just use a hammer to tap the grip inward. That'll cut out the closed portion that covers the handlebar end.

One thing to be careful of is riser bars. You can't mount any kind of shifter on the curve so the rider bar will determine if you have enough space to install bar ends.

That's what I've done in the past with thumb shifters and grips (just loosen the shifter/brakes and slide inward). I've also done the cut off the end of the handgrip style the very first time I did it, but prefer moving the whole kit and kaboodle inward if possible. I wasn't sure about how to proceed with these grip shifters because there are two segments, one rotating, one fixed. Plus, the end of the fixed part doesn't look like a separate plug, but rather a single grip piece with a closed end.

So now I know how to proceed - MANY THANKS.

By the way, I have already ordered some flat bars which I will use to replace the current riser handlebars, so that will solve one issue. I certainly don't need the riser since the bike comes with an adjustable rise stem and from the first look, I will probably have close to horizontal anyway. Also, in taking off the shifters, I probably would have figured this all out, but thanks anyway. Your advice will not only make the job more efficient, but far less hand wringing and over-thinking will be involved!