I just got an email from act-labs telling me about their new shipment of shifters. It says they're only making 500 of them for now but they might make more in May.

Link:
http://www.act-labs.com/script ... .asp?catcode=New-Shifters

Don't let people rip you off with their beat up second handed gpl shifter from ages ago. PREORDER YOURS NOW!

..looks exactly the same to me.. im kinda surprised it doesnt even say whats different about it.. imo.. looks like a rip off until further notice

..hope they fixed the front to back spring.. if not, make sure you buy a few extra sets of springs cause.. they will break

there doesn't need to be anything different about it since it's the only affordable shifter out there. it's not a rip off because as hard as it is to find one it's usually around the same price as retail, so you might as well buy it new.

It was explained that the new shifter has the same base design, but it has new parts that do not break or malfunction like the previous model. (Like coil springs now instead of leaf springs that usually snapped)

http://forum.rscnet.org/showthread.php?t=233038

Read that thread for more details

Yeah you can put on other knobs, just as long as the knob has a simple screw to tighten down onto the shaft. The shaft is smaller in diameter than an average one in a car, but it has a flat notch on it so you can screw on a real knob.

If that is what you were asking?