Gear shifters with removable display

nonnac85

I recently bought a new bike and Im trying to get the brake lever to the right place so can brake with just one finger.
My current shifters are Deore and the gear display doesn't seem to be removable. This means that if I have the grips then shifters then brakes, the shifters are in the way of my hand too much.
If I have grips, brakes, shifters, I cant get the leverage on the brakes even with the reach adjusted.

Basically I want to change the shifters for some with no / removable display.
I have seen SLX which would be ok.
What about LX - do they have removable display?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=15214

Any other alternatives for about £40 for a pair (I know thats not much but Im not looking for a massive upgrade particularly)
Rest of the gear system is all Shimano Deore except rear derailleur which is XT.
Thanks

ilovedirt

The windows on those LX ones seem to be removable. I never keep the windows on mine, they're pointless and annoying, why do you need to see what gear you're in?

stubs

I have LX shifters on 1 of my bikes and you can remove the gear indicators there is 2 small cross head screws to remove it. Dont remove the two screws that are right underneath the indicator (if you do you will regret it) remove the 2 screws that are visible as you look down. The only problem is you will have a hole on the top that will fill up with dirt so you need to make 2 plastic covers.

I chopped up and filed down a DVD case and sealed everything with a smear of silicone sealant.

ilovedirt

nice idea, i just left mine open, it's been like that for a while ( just the one as i'm just running 9sp) and it's been fine, no dirt etc in there as it's mainly covered by the brake lever

nonnac85

Cool thanks. I'll have a go at modifying some lx shifters then.

nonnac85

One other thing - the Deore shifters I have can double shift i.e. you can push with your thumb and release two gears in one go.

Do LX and SLX do this? Have heard mixed reviews over whether they do this or not.

stubs

nonnac85 wrote:

One other thing - the Deore shifters I have can double shift i.e. you can push with your thumb and release two gears in one go.

Do LX and SLX do this? Have heard mixed reviews over whether they do this or not.

The M580 LX shifters I have can multi shift

ilovedirt

the M571 LX shifter i have can't, though it is quite old

ropey

Tasty job on the covers there stubs 8)

nonnac85

OK Im pretty much decided on these as long as they can multi-shift
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=15214

Have emailed CRC to ask but yet to hear back.
Can anyone confirm either way if they multi-shift i.e. 2 gear changes are possible in one movement on the thumb lever?

Thanks again!

ilovedirt

stubs wrote:

nonnac85 wrote:

One other thing - the Deore shifters I have can double shift i.e. you can push with your thumb and release two gears in one go.

Do LX and SLX do this? Have heard mixed reviews over whether they do this or not.

The M580 LX shifters I have can multi shift

do you want it engraving or what?

nonnac85

do you want it engraving or what?

:roll: it depends on the year of the shifters

I have just checked with Stubs to see if those on sale at CRC were ther same year and luckily they are so I'm all sorted. Good job I didn't buy last years as it seems that they have taken that feature off!

stubs

ropey wrote:

Tasty job on the covers there stubs 8)

Cheers 8) I made a template out of cereal packet then roughly chopped the shape out of a game DVD case with tin snips then whittled them to shape with a file and a Stanley knife drilled the screw hole with a 1/8th drill bit. Took me half an hour to do the 1st one and about 5 mins to make the 2nd.

ilovedirt

nonnac85 wrote:

do you want it engraving or what?

:roll: it depends on the year of the shifters

I have just checked with Stubs to see if those on sale at CRC were ther same year and luckily they are so I'm all sorted. Good job I didn't buy last years as it seems that they have taken that feature off!

I'm pretty sure the number changes when the design changes

Barrie_G

If you get the shifters, when you remove the indicators there is usually a disc clipped to the indicator where it would be closest to the bars, this unclips and is the blanking plate for when you remove the indicators

stubs

Barrie_G wrote:

If you get the shifters, when you remove the indicators there is usually a disc clipped to the indicator where it would be closest to the bars, this unclips and is the blanking plate for when you remove the indicators

That is only with the SLX and new XT shifters. I think nonnac85 is planning to buy the old stock LX shifters from chainreaction which are on a clearance sale at £23 for the pair. They dont have the blanking plate.

nonnac85

Yes I'm getting the old lx shifters so I'll have to do a bodge on the backing plate.

PaceFace

I'd go for the SLX M660. I've just sold a pair to upgrade to the XT model. I think the SLX are a bit more forgiving, possibly better than the XT IMHO. And I believe they have the same internals as the current LX levers, multi-shift DOWN the gears (eg 9th to 1st, but a couple or three at a time) , and also have the option of the display removal and cover which Barrie_G has mentioned.

Rich

nonnac85

LX ordered sunday and arrived this morning. Now to get the gears set up in time for a race at the weekend!