Longer shift lever

[pketchum]

I think the throw on both of my KTM 250's (79 & 80) must be all of 4".  I've heard about longer shift levers but don't know where to ask. Can anyone direct me to the correct resource?


Thanks,

Phil

[peter kane]

Phil, check out Al's catalog pp. 19+24


http://www.pentonpartsusa.com/catalog.php?pagenum=19

http://www.pentonpartsusa.com/catalog.php?pagenum=24

P.S. You need to use Internet Explorer browser as it won't open with Mozilla Firefox.

Peter Kane
V3442
Plainville, Massachusetts
[email protected]

[pketchum]

These fit the '72-'78 KTM motors, although they do look like they have the correct bend.  I wonder if these will fit my '79 or my '80 KTM 250's?  I'll have to measure my shift shaft.

I'm looking for a longer throw lever as it's difficult sometimes to put one's boot underneath the lever because it's so short.  I've had to move the lever down a notch.  I find that if adjusted level with the footpeg, I'm accidentally downshifting when landing from a jump or dropoff.

Phil

[pketchum]

Several years ago I bought a Hodaka shift lever from Al, at Mid-Ohio, only to find it didn't fit properly.  If I'd tried it would have ruined a perfectly good shaft.  I saved it for a year, returned it to Al at Mid-Ohio, but Al refunded my money, or swapped it for something else, I can't remember exactly.

Phil

[Mike Lenz]

When KTM moved the footpegs farther forward, first in 77 on the duel position frames and then from 78 on, you need the longer shift lever which measured 145mm, or 35mm longer than the ones AL made up. Just take your short ones to a good welder and have them add 35mm.  If you have an extra one they could cut that one for sections to weld in. If you need a junk one for that let me know.

[James]

Phil I finally used a shifter with a broken tip-cut it in half and welded it to a used aftermarket sfiter with chewed spilnes. Put them both together and it worked great-looked bad though. James

7" and 4" travel? Hmm-that makes 11" Hey! I can live with that.

[AndyL]

Hey P3 (phase plant phil),
I am right there with ya on needing the longer shift lever.  These size thirteens barely fit between the footpegs and the shifter.

Sounds like we need to team up on Randy from Topeka and get a couple made.

Andy

[Steve Minor]

Andy...Ever seen Rik Smits on his Maico?.....It's crazy. His feet are stupid big...I guess being 7'4" you need a big base...They got to be 13+......

[pketchum]

Andy,

It's Phininish Phirst Phil (not Phace Plant Phil).  For the rest of you, I finally raced my '79 KTM 250 MC (turned GS) last weekend.  In the first moto I led our group of 10 riders, flag to flag!  What a great feeling that was.  In the 2nd moto, I was 2nd into the first turn, and chased one guy on a 82? red Honda 250 Elsinore the whole time.  We were perhaps 6-8 bike lengths apart the while time.  He was the only rider in the first moto who challenged me.  Now I can see why Teddy Landers loves chasing the National Championship series!

Ok, back to shift levers. I'd bought a spare lever from a trials rider from England on eBay.  I finally found time to measure it and to my dismay it's shorter than the one that I have one.  After talking to Andy at the races on Sunday, I've decided that some additional cutting/welding/grinding are going to be necessary.  I noticed the Honda rider had his shift lever pointing to 11 o'clock.  He said, "I ride on the pegs all the time anyway".  I've never seen that setup before.  Maybe that's what Rik Smits does??

P3

[AndyL]

P3,
You were on FIRE on Sunday!  Several spectators along the fence commented on how good the race was between your KTM and that CR.  You pulled him coming out of every corner and every straight.  Good Job outta you!

I think you may have also shed some light on why you had that nasty get off the last time you rode the KTM.  After seeing how that kickstand kept coming out dispite all the attempts at securing it, I bet it came out and sent you reeling.

Andy

[pketchum]

Andy,

It's Phininish Phirst Phil (not Phace Plant Phil).  For the rest of you, I finally raced my '79 KTM 250 MC (turned GS) last weekend.  In the first moto I led our group of 10 riders, flag to flag!  What a great feeling that was.  In the 2nd moto, I was 2nd into the first turn, and chased one guy on a 82? red Honda 250 Elsinore the whole time.  We were perhaps 6-8 bike lengths apart the while time.  He was the only rider in the first moto who challenged me.  Now I can see why Teddy Landers loves chasing the National Championship series!

Ok, back to shift levers. I'd bought a spare lever from a trials rider from England on eBay.  I finally found time to measure it and to my dismay it's shorter than the one that I have one.  After talking to Andy at the races on Sunday, I've decided that some additional cutting/welding/grinding are going to be necessary.  I noticed the Honda rider had his shift lever pointing to 11 o'clock.  He said, "I ride on the pegs all the time anyway".  I've never seen that setup before.  Maybe that's what Rik Smits does??

P3

[AndyL]

P3,
You were on FIRE on Sunday!  Several spectators along the fence commented on how good the race was between your KTM and that CR.  You pulled him coming out of every corner and every straight.  Good Job outta you!

I think you may have also shed some light on why you had that nasty get off the last time you rode the KTM.  After seeing how that kickstand kept coming out dispite all the attempts at securing it, I bet it came out and sent you reeling.

Andy