My son broke the shift lever on his 06 and replaced it with one of these - ZETA RACING - it's forged aluminum so should bend or break easier than a steel one.

 

I don't think that one is nearly as soft as the stock steel. Those forged aluminum ones are pretty tough and stiff. I wouldn't use that one.

 

As has been said, DON'T run a stiffer than stock shift lever! I had a steel MSR XR650L shift lever on mine...and snapped not one, but TWO shift shafts, on two consecutive days. The first one was just from riding off a rock ledge - I guess the shifter must have snagged the rock as I dropped off the edge. I was barely able to grab the stub of the shaft with vice grips enough to wiggle it into third gear. Then had to ride out stuck in third.

So that night I "borrowed" the shift shaft out of a friend's KLX300R...and the next day I low sided and snapped that shift shaft off as well. Again, barely enough shaft to grab with a vicegrip to get into a "useable" gear...this time in 5th gear I think...the clutch took a phenominal beating.

In both cases, while the shaft snapped clean off, the lever was barely bent. The design of the KLX shift mechanism not strong enough to withstand a stiff shift lever...unless you're lucky.

 

Yamaha Banshee shifter. I put a folding shifter on it. EZ to bend and no missed shifts[so far].

 

I'm on board with the softer shifter. I'd rather have to bend it back than have the shift shaft snap.

 

This looks terrific! Any specific years on the banshee?

 

No they are all the same. I put after market shifters on my two Banshees. I had trouble getting my moto boot under the stock shifter and my feet ain't that big[9s].

 

Off topic, sorry but looking at Zeta site. I broke my countershaft sprocket cover and Zeta has one, but what? No Green?

 

Turnsleft,
Hey that's great to know there is another option.

Looking at your tape measure, the Banshee part extends the shifter a full 1-1/2"

The XR650L shifter adds about 3/4"

TC

 

That shifter is only 1/2 way onto the shaft. Doesn't look like a very good fit to me. But, I'm glad it works for you.