I have just had a failed experiment with using a twist grip gear shifter as a clutch release. After success using thumb shifters I thought I'd try a L.H. twist grip to match the R.H. twist grip shifter I used as the throttle. I hacksawed of all the ratchet teeth except the last one and refitted the little spring. It worked and I could choose to pull it in till it clicked and stayed pulled in or just up the stop but not clicked in, but it was rather too hard to pull the clutch in and the was no way to limit the travel of the grip so if I let the clutch all the way out and then continued turning the grip further the cable end was prone to fall out of the clutch arm(should have left the first ratchet tooth uncut too!).
So I have gone back to my favourite which is an old right side friction thumb shifter mounted on the left. This gives greater control than a L.H. shifter as I use my thumb pushing away from me when easing out the clutch to take off. I have the friction screw just tight enough to hold the clutch in when I yank the gear lever toward me for neutral.
I have cut the gear shifter part off the original shimano left brake lever and plan to remove the brake splitter/dual brake cable that I fitted and go back to independant front and rear brakes for greater safety.
I considered the neat option of using the original 3 speed trigger shifter as a clutch release so that it would match the R.H. 7 speed trigger shifter, but I don't like the way it releases- way too sudden for clutch take offs!(I use shift kits on all my bikes by the way)
So I have gone back to my favourite which is an old right side friction thumb shifter mounted on the left. This gives greater control than a L.H. shifter as I use my thumb pushing away from me when easing out the clutch to take off. I have the friction screw just tight enough to hold the clutch in when I yank the gear lever toward me for neutral.
I have cut the gear shifter part off the original shimano left brake lever and plan to remove the brake splitter/dual brake cable that I fitted and go back to independant front and rear brakes for greater safety.
I considered the neat option of using the original 3 speed trigger shifter as a clutch release so that it would match the R.H. 7 speed trigger shifter, but I don't like the way it releases- way too sudden for clutch take offs!(I use shift kits on all my bikes by the way)