Acuity Instruments' RSX & Honda K-Swap Adjustable Performance Shifter
Advanced testing & high-end components result in a unique, user-tailored performance shifting experience.
It might come as a surprise to many but Honda's beloved K-series engine—the 2.0 and 2.4L mill that spawned a whole new subculture within the enthusiast market upon its introduction and, most notably, its high demand among the engine swapping crowd—is almost 20 years old. And as the parts bin has grown exponentially deeper over that time period with some good and some remarkably bad, when a group like Acuity Instruments spends over a year and half in the lab developing their Performance Short Shifters, the end result is a stark reminder about how much potential is still on the table for this segment.
Swap Options
Just a few years ago, the Honda crowd was introduced to some much-needed adjustable short shifter options to update the mundane versions that had come early on, along with the adaptation of OEM shifters to complete K swaps that often have a magical way of running well over budget. It should be noted that there's nothing inherently wrong with using a good 'ol Honda-issued shifter to get the job done, but when you experience something that's been engineered specifically for shifting performance and is fully capable of being tailored to suit your individual wants and needs, there's really no looking back.
You hear "short shifter" and your mind automatically turns toward snappy gear selection that's not only quicker than the factory offering but also more pronounced. Some rely on changing the height of the shift knob in relation to the pivot point, while others, like Acuity, completely redesign every inch of the factory shifter to create something far more adaptive and user-friendly.
Grabbing ahold of the Acuity Instruments Performance Short Shifter's aluminum and stainless-steel frame, it's obvious there aren't any short cuts in materials. In fact, scan the entire assembly and you'll notice spherical joints, bronze bushings, and high-quality hardware throughout.
Pick Your Poison
Two shifters were debuted, the first being a 2-way adjustable version with a solid stainless lever that is situated higher than stock. Gear throws and gate spacing are both independently user-selectable, with throws able to be reduced by up to 50 percent and a spacing reduction up to 36 percent compared to a factory RSX shifter.
The 4-way adjustable version carries the shift throw and gate spacing adjustability as well, but also incorporates a height adjustable shaft for the shift knob and the ability to rotate the shift knob's positioning. The gear throw and gate spacing reductions with this shifter kit are a bit more extreme, up to 55 percent and 41 percent, respectively.
Customizing the shift throws and gate spacing are the most sought-after options for end-users, but you should also consider the centering force of the system. This helps in gear location and selection and the centering action of the Acuity shifters are three times greater than that of the stock unit. The "snap" doesn't come at the expense of excessive noise as the carefully selected polymer spherical joints, self-lubricating bronze bushings, and polymer/rubber spring perches all work together for smooth operation. The large-diameter, aluminum pivot ball sits inside of a wear-compensating, spherical race and the result is minimal friction, so you get a smooth experience from behind the wheel.
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