Anyone know how easy/possible it is to remove the gear indicators from current year SLX shifters, and what extra parts are needed?

Thanks,

Andy

You just remove the indicators with a little screwdriver and use the little blanking plates.

Nothing else needed. (unless they are old OEM stock)

Genuinely curious…. why would one want to do that?

yep dead easy – just done this myself, i got the blanking plates from singletrack bikes:

http://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m7b0s571p27815/Shimano_Spares_Sl-M670_Left_Hand_Base_Cap_And_Bolt

http://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m7b220s571p27812/Shimano_Spares_Sl-M670_Right_Hand_Base_Cap_And_Bolt

New ones (i think I remember) have the blanking plates attached to the back of the indicator.

Genuinely curious…. why would one want to do that?

I never used mine, they just get scratched and look untidy.
Also they can stop you setting your controls “just so”.

Genuinely curious…. why would one want to do that?

Aesthetics.

Genuinely curious…. why would one want to do that?

It allows you to put the brakes in board of the shifters where they should be (unless you have tiny little hands).

I doubt SLX come with the blanking plates any more. Think you have to buy them separately.

I doubt SLX come with the blanking plates any more. Think you have to buy them separately.

They do, look at Assembly 3 on this link. You can see the blanking plugs nestled under the indicators.

And also on the far right hand side of these service instructions.

Your first link is 9-speed which definitely did come with them.

Your second link does suggest they are included though, which would be odd considering they don’t come with XT.

I doubt SLX come with the blanking plates any more.

The one I bought from a German e-tailer did 6 months ago.

10 speed ones did at the beginning of the year.

Genuinely curious…. why would one want to do
that?

It allows you to put the brakes in board of the
shifters where they should be (unless you have
tiny little hands).[/quote]

Bought my SLX 10 speed shifters from Germany 3 years ago – came with the little blanking plates hidden away behind the indicators, but never felt the need to use them. Put the brakes inboard of the shifters from day one, and never found the indicators to be in the way.
It’s just a matter of whether you like your shifters with or without indicators, really.

Ispec shifters don’t come with indicators at all.

Just curious…do you check your shifter indicators before changing gear?

Just curious…do you check your shifter indicators before changing gear?

Current bike has X9, so no, as there aren’t any. Can’t say I’ve missed them.

I have LX shifters with non removable indicator windows so I just sawed them off with a hacksaw and screwed on a couple of guitar plectrums. Jobs a good un.