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HACK: AMain Doubles up on Sprint Switches with Shimano Di2 hack

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amain shimano di2 sprint switch shifter hack install how to

If you give something to most cyclists, inevitably they will find a new way to use it. Shimano already offers a fairly versatile shifting set up with their Di2 electronic drivetrains. Thanks to the extra ports on the shifter, you can run the climber’s switch which is a dual button shift pod to be mounted at the bar top, or the sprint switch which are two small shift buttons to be located in the drops. Both auxiliary shifters operate the rear derailleur making it possible to shift up and down the cassette without moving your hands. But what to do if you don’t like the form of the climber’s switch up at the bar?

Inspired by the mechanics of the Etixx-Quickstep at the 2015 Paris-Roubaix, AMain figured out a way to make a dual (quad?) sprint switch set up that allow you to shift both at the drop and at the tops, all with the minimal form factor of the smaller buttons…

Other than voiding the warranty on a pair of sprinter’s switches, the hack looks fairly easy. With the right wire, you could put them anywhere!

From AMain:

WARNING: This hack does involve some basic wire splicing and it is possible to damage the wires if not done carefully. This is not a Shimano approved procedure and may void warranties.

Materials and tools needed:
-A bicycle equipped with Shimano Di2
-2 sets of Shimano SW-R610 “sprint switches.” If you already have a set installed, you’ll only need to get one set, not 2.
-roughly 25 inches of electrical wire
-replacement bar tape to wrap the handlebars when you are done
-a hole punch to create openings in the bar tape for access to the sprint shifters
-electrical tape for finishing off the bar tape, holding wires and cables in place and to cover the exposed ends of the wire
-scissors to cut the electrician’s tape
-solder (optional). These wires should not get much strain on them, but if soldering them makes you feel more comfortable with the hack, fee free to do so.
-angled pliers or dikes for cutting the wire
-wire strippers (optional). We found our wire strippers to be too aggressive and actually cut the wire instead of stripping it. We used our finger nails.
-box cutter or knife for stripping back the insulation from the wires

Thanks to Ryan for sending this in!

amaincycling.com

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traildog
traildog
8 years ago

But now we all know the real use for sprint switches….

56625899844
56625899844
8 years ago
Reply to  traildog

…zoom zoom…

Chefdog
Chefdog
8 years ago

Still working on installing a clapper.

Old School
Old School
8 years ago

Put them on the down tube!

Bossman
Bossman
8 years ago

Awesome video! Gonna try this on my bike…

ononecog
8 years ago
Reply to  Bossman

could those power up the electric motor in the seattube?

DJ
DJ
8 years ago

Di2 needs a wireless hack, something like integrated controls in gloves in half/full finger gloves.

fabiano
fabiano
8 years ago

i see switches .. switches everywhere and all the time

Geoff Smith
Geoff Smith
8 years ago

I bought momentary switches from eBay and a standard EW-SD50 Di2 wire and soldered stealth climbing shifters for less than $20. No need to buy 2 sets of expensive sprint shifters for this hack.

Ross Leuterio
Ross Leuterio
4 years ago
Reply to  Geoff Smith

Can you please elaborate more on how you achieve this? I am looking into making one myself. Don’t you need a circuit board to configure the upshift and downshift. If not, how do you know which ones shifts up or down? Thank you

Necromancer
8 years ago

what’s wrong with the climber’s switch? Looks like a solution to a non-existent problem.

caliente
caliente
8 years ago
Reply to  Necromancer

So true! why the need to split the buttons out?
TT shifters as bar-ends would be more interesting to me anyway…

Chefdog
Chefdog
8 years ago
Reply to  Necromancer

So not aero. It is just bulky and gets in the way. This is a way cleaner solution.

Geoff Smith
Geoff Smith
8 years ago
Reply to  Necromancer

The climbing shifter is too bulky and requires zip ties to hold in place. Makes the front end too ugly. I made this tiny climbing shifter that are held in place by the electrical tape that holds the bar tape end. Here’s a photo (see the brass buttons close to the stem). https://goo.gl/photos/DFevkbvTSj5v4oZT8

Burton
Burton
8 years ago

Di2 is so last week.

Rentedshoes
Rentedshoes
8 years ago

“Hack” seems accurate. I didn’t see a soldering iron.

Nicholas
Nicholas
8 years ago

Shimano suggests trimming a small piece of bar tape for the sprint switch cut-out, laying it over the switch, and then wrapping the final wrap of bar tape of that. I have installed Di2 both ways, and the Shimano way proves to be much neater with less room for error of punching the hole in the incorrect spot.

This process could be refined quite a bit, and used to appeal to an Uber-neat customers requests. Thanks guys.

Jim
Jim
8 years ago

Jesus, how about a soldering iron an some heat shrink tubing? Maybe I’m just too picky.

John
John
8 years ago

Seriously, how do the guys at Shimano *not* realize how clunky and bulky their R600 “climbing shifters” are?

And while I’m on a good rant, why *not* combine their EW90 front junction box with the D-Fly ANT+ wireless transmitter?

/SMH

Ben Rasnick
Ben Rasnick
7 years ago

maybe a rookie question here, but where does the down shift come from?

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