Fitting Ergon GP5 grips

[Matt2matt2002]

Thanks chaps.
Very interesting.
Bike at the workshop now so unable to view shifter as I write.
However I am 99.9% sure both retaining screws came out cleanly.
Good thinking though.
Matt

[alcyst]

I'm curious, my bike DIY is limited to changing chains and brake blocks.

In reply #22, middle photo (and first photo) is the paintwork/metal bubbled where it emerges from under the shifter?

[Matt2matt2002]

That wasn't my picture but when I shifted mine as far as I could there wasn't any evidence of corrosion.

[Matt2matt2002]

Bike back today.
Just had time for a very short spin before dark.
The new set up with the Ergon comfort end and Thorn bars gives the bike a very err... sedate posture.
I like it.
But will much enjoy the many small tweaks to the set up I will undobtably make.
Pictures to follow.
Shifter looks great. Its the new version/ edition.
Matt

[Danneaux]

Yay, bike's back! 

Looking forward to the photos and your further ride impressions, Matt.

Best,

Dan.

[Matt2matt2002]

Many thanks for everyone's input, comments and interest on my little err... project.

Raven back safe and a short 6 mile test run yesterday. Weather here in Aberdeen UK - awful, hence short ride.

Shifter would not come off the old bars. I tried and failed. The bike shop had to cut the bars.
Looks like some kind of metal fusion has caused the problem.



New set up with the Thorn Mk2 comfort bars.
Feels much wider than the old Humpert bars and gives me a more up-right sitting. Like the 'soft' hand-grips.
I was concerned about being able to fit a mirror but my old one can be strapped around the end bar fine.



A better view of the left side.



And the right



Close up of the new shifter.
I find it more grippy - if that's the term. Easier to twist n shift.



Off topic but...
I took Dan's advice about the curly wrist strap for the Defender key - but still managed to loose it one day in the supermarket - so it now has bells on. A gentle tinkle follows me as I ride.



And finally...
A present from my daughter on my 61st b/day last week.

[Danneaux]

Terrific followup, Matt.

Now, you're all set for your big tour!

All the best,

Dan.

[Dave Whittle Thorn Workshop]

Your bar ends are on upside down by the way... 

[Matt2matt2002]

Are you kidding?
What with all the coming and going you could be right.
Before I took the bike into the shop I quickly clamped the bars on.
The old bar bits were hanging on to the left brake/ cable and the right bit of bar and brake and shifter.
The bike shop just carried on fitting the new shifter.
I guess they thought that was his I wanted it!

What do I need to remove the shifter? Is it a Torx fitting? What size?

Oh dear, this is never ending!

Matt

[Dave Whittle Thorn Workshop]

The grips are ok, its just the bar ends have been put on the wrong side of the bike, the allen key bolt should be pointing at the floor not the sky.

[rualexander]

You only have to remove the bar ends and swap them left for right, the allen key bolt should be on the underside. No need to remove the hand grips or shifter.

[DAntrim]

Seat cover put a smile on my face 

[Matt2matt2002]

Phwee!
Thanks. I had visions of me having to..........
Start all over again.
Right. So tomorrow I'll swap those pesky bar ends and try to put in 30+ miles.
The saga continues.

Matt

[Danneaux]

I just figured that's how you preferred them, Matt. No worries; you'll get there, and soon enough!

All encouragement your way.

Best,

Dan.

[David Simpson]

Hi Matt --

Glad to hear that your bike is back on the road.  I think one of the most useful abilities of a mechanic is x-ray vision, so that you can see why something isn't coming apart.  It can be very frustrating.

Just because those bar ends are designed to be mounted in a certain way doesn't mean that they must be.  You might find that they are more comfortable mounted upside-down (although probably not, after all they are designed to be mounted a certain way).  But it is good to know that they do fit upside-down, in case someone finds them more comfortable that way.

Let us know how the new Chainglider is working out.  To get the Chainglider on my Nomad, I had to trim some of the plastic away from the rear portion of the Chainglider to get it to fit past the seat stay.  Did you need to do that?  And how is the noise?  I've never been able to make mine silent, but I have read of people on this forum that talk about the almost-silence of it.  I want to know if this is a goal that is still achievable for me, or if I should stop fussing with it.  There is nothing worse than the nagging feeling that a situation could be made better by just fussing a bit more with the setup.  It never ends...

Thanks for the update and photos.

- Dave