Levo Gen 3 Thumb shifting levers on 2023 Levo, anyone else dislike them?

[713Fmhs]

I have a 2023 Levo and am overall pretty happy with it, with the exception of cutting down the bars a bit, adding a skid plate, different grips, and shimming the rear brake pads, it's all OEM. I never have liked the thumb shifting levers as they are horizontally in line each other which requires you to really sweep your thumb down and back up a lot in order to shift. This creates more of a challenge if you have smaller hands.

I had an old Trek years ago that had what I'd call a trigger shifter arrangement that used both your index finger and thumb to shift and it was perfect as you didn't have to reposition any fingers at all when shifting, just align the shift triggers under your index and thumb and you were good.

Does anyone else find this to be a problem with their Levo? I also have a Tero 4X and it's the same way. I'm reluctant to change it out as it shifts like butter and I'm from the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" family but I'd be interested in hearing form anyone that encountered this issue and how they may have fixed it. Or, if a thumb/index finger shift mech could be adapted to this bike.

Thanks very much

 

[RebornRider]

I'll have to check which model I have, but I replaced the OEM 11-speed SRAM shifter with a model that has an adjustable down shift lever (down shift = moving to a larger sprocket). Up and down shifts are both thumb pushes, and the adjustable lever means that I can dial in their relative positions to my liking. This shifter also lets me down shift up to 3 sprockets with a single push. Obviously, I have to be a bit careful with that feature.

So, to answer your question, I like using my thumb for all shifting. I maintain a good finger grip on the handlebar.

And FWIW, my right thumb was reattached after being severed in an accident several decades ago. It does not have full range of motion. Despite this, I still like thumb shifting.

 

[713Fmhs]

I'll have to check which model I have, but I replaced the OEM 11-speed SRAM shifter with a model that has an adjustable down shift lever (down shift = moving to a larger sprocket). Up and down shifts are both thumb pushes, and the adjustable lever means that I can dial in their relative positions to my liking. This shifter also lets me down shift up to 3 sprockets with a single push. Obviously, I have to be a bit careful with that feature.

So, to answer your question, I like using my thumb for all shifting. I maintain a good finger grip on the handlebar.

And FWIW, my right thumb was reattached after being severed in an accident several decades ago. It does not have full range of motion. Despite this, I still like thumb shifting.

Thanks for the reply, if you can find out the model#/brand of the shifter you went to I'll give it a look, thanks.

 

[RebornRider]

I guess it must be SRAM X0. Sorry about the lousy image quality. I have not gotten good with this smart phone.

 

[steve_sordy]

I haven't owned that many bikes, nor made a study of shifters, but I thought that all SRAM shifters were thumb only and Shimano were thumb and forefinger. I preferred the Shimano set up because the thumb was used for the heavy moves up to larger gears and the forefinger was used as the trigger release for the spring to move to smaller gears.
The additional feature of the Shimano shifter was that if you preferred, the forefinger lever (the one that moved to smaller gears) could also be operated by thumb. However, if you really preferred the thumb only design then get the SRAM version as it is subtly different to the Shimano shifter in thumb only mode and is ergonomically better. Thumb only Shimano is a compromise. One that can be lived with, but if you have a choice......
The benefit of the thumb only Sram, is that your grasp of the bar remains unaltered, ie all four fingers maintain contact with the grip.

I have used Sram shifters for a number of bikes and also Shimano on a number of bikes. They both have their positive features, but I prefer Shimano.

 

[Dax]

I thought that all SRAM shifters were thumb only and Shimano were thumb and forefinger. I preferred the Shimano set up because the thumb was used for the heavy moves up to larger gears and the forefinger was used as the trigger release for the spring to move to smaller gears.

Agreed. I also like the ability on the shimano shifters to go down two gears at once. Overall I prefer axs thou.

Suspect the OP is thinking of a shimano drivetrain. Yes, it can be retrofitted, I probably wouldn’t bother until I had destroyed the cassette or knocked the mech off. Although if it’s still almost new, the sram drivetrain would sell.

 

[RebornRider]

Agreed. I also like the ability on the shimano shifters to go down two gears at once. Overall I prefer axs thou.

Just two? My SRAM does three. ;-P

Edit: Of course, that depends on what you mean by "down".

 

[Dax]

Just two? My SRAM does three. ;-P

Edit: Of course, that depends on what you mean by "down".

Oh I have that the wrong way round. I mean on shimano if you push the little lever, it’ll do two gears. On my various sram shifters, it only does one

 

[RustyIron]

Does anyone else find this to be a problem with their Levo?

It's not a Levo problem, it's a matter of what shifters you have. It's been a long time since I've had to deal with this, so I can't say with certainty, but I think my old Shimano shifters used both thumb and index finger. I really liked that.

This might not be what you want to hear, but the ultimate solution to your problem is spelled A-X-S. And if you want to go top-shelf, get the newest "Transmission" style. It only uses your thumb, but you can set it up for minimal movement.

 

[venturavin]

Moving your thumb between paddles is not nearly as annoying as moving your index finger between shifter and brake lever. I believe that is why (many years ago) Shimano added the ability to shift thumb-only to match Sram. Notice Sram never added the ability to shift with your index finger... making it pretty clear that thumb-only shifting is the popular choice. Not that popular is always right, but give it some time and I bet you'll get comfortable with it.

 

[Chicane]

I have a 2023 Levo and am overall pretty happy with it, with the exception of cutting down the bars a bit, adding a skid plate, different grips, and shimming the rear brake pads, it's all OEM. I never have liked the thumb shifting levers as they are horizontally in line each other which requires you to really sweep your thumb down and back up a lot in order to shift. This creates more of a challenge if you have smaller hands.

I had an old Trek years ago that had what I'd call a trigger shifter arrangement that used both your index finger and thumb to shift and it was perfect as you didn't have to reposition any fingers at all when shifting, just align the shift triggers under your index and thumb and you were good.

Does anyone else find this to be a problem with their Levo? I also have a Tero 4X and it's the same way. I'm reluctant to change it out as it shifts like butter and I'm from the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" family but I'd be interested in hearing form anyone that encountered this issue and how they may have fixed it. Or, if a thumb/index finger shift mech could be adapted to this bike.

Thanks very much

SRAM AXS easily solves that problem and a good selling point for me early on. I have a bad thumb and a 2mm shift is more than worth the money.

 

[PNWmtnBKR]

SRAM AXS easily solves that problem and a good selling point for me early on. I have a bad thumb and a 2mm shift is more than worth the money.

I came here to say that the AXS has that. I shift with my thumb and index fingers.

 

[Soupamoto]

I’m Grip shift all the way. Swapped my Gen 3 Levo trigger to the SRAM GX gripshift before it left the dealer.

 

[markloch]

I’m Grip shift all the way. Swapped my Gen 3 Levo trigger to the SRAM GX gripshift before it left the dealer.

I hyperextended my thumb crashing after a bee flew into my mouth and stung me - I stopped paying attention while scraping the stinger out of the roof of my mouth. It took a long time to heal (a side effect of being in your 60’s) so I got a grip shift, got me back on the bike, but I was happy to get rid of it once my thumb was strong enough. I keep it just in case I need it again …

 

[Soupamoto]

I hyperextended my thumb crashing after a bee flew into my mouth and stung me - I stopped paying attention while scraping the stinger out of the roof of my mouth. It took a long time to heal (a side effect of being in your 60’s) so I got a grip shift, got me back on the bike, but I was happy to get rid of it once my thumb was strong enough. I keep it just in case I need it again …

Yep, I’ve got “trigger finger” in my thumb from years of dirt bike crashing. Twist is less painful to use. I have zero problem with it. I know they are not popular.

 

[SoloZ06]

I have a 2023 Levo and am overall pretty happy with it, with the exception of cutting down the bars a bit, adding a skid plate, different grips, and shimming the rear brake pads, it's all OEM. I never have liked the thumb shifting levers as they are horizontally in line each other which requires you to really sweep your thumb down and back up a lot in order to shift. This creates more of a challenge if you have smaller hands.

I had an old Trek years ago that had what I'd call a trigger shifter arrangement that used both your index finger and thumb to shift and it was perfect as you didn't have to reposition any fingers at all when shifting, just align the shift triggers under your index and thumb and you were good.

Does anyone else find this to be a problem with their Levo? I also have a Tero 4X and it's the same way. I'm reluctant to change it out as it shifts like butter and I'm from the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" family but I'd be interested in hearing form anyone that encountered this issue and how they may have fixed it. Or, if a thumb/index finger shift mech could be adapted to this bike.

Thanks very much

I don’t like the shifter on my gen 3 comp. I struggle with the reach and find myself hitting the wrong one when something comes up fast. I really don’t know of any options, so hopefully someone out there knows of some different options.