Abu Garcia revo handle upgrades

[casts_by_fly]

Hi all,

 

I have a couple STX/SX plus an MGL.  I really like the handle and feel of the MGL.  I know part of it is the aluminum main gear, but part is the carbon handle.  Is there a worthwhile carbon fiber handle upgrade available?  I see a couple on Amazon and the Lixada in particular looks almost the same. Anyone added carbon handles on the cheap and been happy with them?

 

thanks

rick

[bulldog1935]

What's limited in aftermarket Chinese handles is they're just about all 120 mm long. 

That's a long handle, 60 mm pitch (even 50 mm pitch). 

You don't get a choice, and can't tune the handle length to the reel gearing. 

You may get tired of cranking lures on that long handle, and with a low-geared reel, may actually lose the ability to keep up with a charging fish. 

That happened to a friend who put a Gomexus double handle on a small low-geared spinning reel, and he was losing both trout and bass because of it. 

 

Gomexus, btw, offers an 85-mm or 95-mm length carbon baitcast handle. 

They also offer the handle without the knobs, and length choice, so you can pick your own knobs. (Matches Shimano A and Daiwa S knobs, but not Abu/Lew's knobs, which take 5-mm spindles)

Handle length choice is new to Gomexus - they're getting smarter, and these are worth recommending. 

 

Admitted high-grade reels and high-grade handles, super-light, with titanium spindles and carbon knob tubes - here are examples of Japanese handles, available in different lengths, and tuned where I like reels with different gearing: 

88 mm Studio Composite handle on Steez 6.3 gears, and 105 mm Avail handle on Zillion 8,5 gears. 

 

Here's a 60-mm pitch handle on my offshore jigging reel, low-geared, but large diameter (23 IPT), and where you want extra leverage for lifting big fish.  Also note, this single handle lets you choose between 60-mm and 75-mm pitch when you install it. Not recommending this, just using the example. 

They're not tuning parts unless you think about it.  And you can tune your reel in the wrong direction if you don't think about it. 

A handle that bends?  Totally Unacceptable.  Don't Even Consider It. 

Form should follow function - don't get hung up on looks. 

[Tatulatard]

Most of the chinease carbon handles are 90mm from shaft to shaft and pretty much the norm in length.  They are also usually take daiwa/shimano knobs but that's not a big deal unless you want to put your original knobs back on. I would look at what Kawa has too.  The lixada is fine but the cheapest out there at like $11 when I got mine.  

[PressuredFishing]

Okay I have a lixida and gomexus handle, I will review both

1. Lixida) the lixida handle has a nice light carbon handle however it will bend easily, the knobs are a cheap  eva foam, it is not near as nice or durable as other Eva foam knobs such as the KK lineup of Eva foaming or SKs foamies.foaming. also the tolerances are in the knobs are  OK, but will be a ABSOLUTE downgrade from your stock shimano handle tolerances. The tolerance have just minimal wiggle, but (slightly) noticeable when fishing). This causes that feeling were instant anti reverse is not as crisp.

 

2. Gomexus handle. The gomexus handle WAS amazing, light carbon handle and excellent aluminum knobs that spun for a long time and had super tight tolerances relatable to your stock handle, however the handle knob ended up pulling off. Now I put this reel handle  through alot of stress, so take that with a grain of salt. My only gripe is the price being 30ish in comparison to the 10$ lixida. 

 

Conclusion: If you are looking for a cheap handle replacement, go with the lixida, if you are looking for an expensive nice upgrade, the gomexus is nice but you will most likely like a jdm one more, and if you don't want to spend 30+ on a new handle, the stock one is really good

[redmeansdistortion]

10 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

What's limited in aftermarket Chinese handles is they're just about all 120 mm long. 

That's a long handle, 60 mm pitch (even 50 mm pitch). 

You don't get a choice, and can't tune the handle length to the reel gearing. 

You may get tired of cranking lures on that long handle, and with a low-geared reel, may actually lose the ability to keep up with a charging fish. 

That happened to a friend who put a Gomexus double handle on a small low-geared spinning reel, and he was losing both trout and bass because of it. 

 

Gomexus, btw, offers an 85-mm or 95-mm length carbon baitcast handle. 

They also offer the handle without the knobs, and length choice, so you can pick your own knobs. (Matches Shimano A and Daiwa S knobs, but not Abu/Lew's knobs, which take 5-mm spindles)

Handle length choice is new to Gomexus - they're getting smarter, and these are worth recommending. 

 

Admitted high-grade reels and high-grade handles, super-light, with titanium spindles and carbon knob tubes - here are examples of Japanese handles, available in different lengths, and tuned where I like reels with different gearing: 

88 mm Studio Composite handle on Steez 6.3 gears, and 105 mm Avail handle on Zillion 8,5 gears. 

 

Here's a 60-mm pitch handle on my offshore jigging reel, low-geared, but large diameter (23 IPT), and where you want extra leverage for lifting big fish.  Also note, this single handle lets you choose between 60-mm and 75-mm pitch when you install it. Not recommending this, just using the example. 

They're not tuning parts unless you think about it.  And you can tune your reel in the wrong direction if you don't think about it. 

A handle that bends?  Totally Unacceptable.  Don't Even Consider It. 

Form should follow function - don't get hung up on looks. 

That's the way to do it.  I see a lot of posts of people swapping to a long handle regardless of gearing.  There's a balance that must be struck between the handle length and gear ratio. 

[casts_by_fly]

Fine, fine, fine.  You mean I can't have Cheap, nice, durable, and tomorrow all in the same package?  Sheesh.  I thought you guys were going to help me. 

 

This is largely what I thought the consensus might be.  There is a reason why they are $11 handles and if they were fantastic everyone would be raving about them (and then they wouldn't be $11 handles).  I certainly don't need new handles- the stock ones are just fine.  I thought if there was a cheap and cheerful upgrade I'd try it.  Flex in a handle is an absolute no no for me too.  

 

thanks,

rick

[Tatulatard]

I only notice flex on my cheap carbon handles when pushing on the knobs.  Never notice any when reeling.  The $11 one likes to unscrew and lose knob caps but thread tape cures that.

[newapti5]

I have tried out several brands of Chinese made carbon handles, and I agree with others -  Lixida is cheap but so-so on quality; Gomexus is great quality but expensive.  Other than those two, you can also try Kawa, Ray's studio, and other brands. 

 

The one I like the most is this less-known brand of HEIGHTEN. Their carbon handle is well made with good quality material, strong but the lightest one that I've used. And it's only $15, with all the accessories you'll need. 

 

 

 

If you also need the knobs, this ARTSEA brand provides a good quality handle AND knobs at a low price as well. Each knob has 2 bearings inside, and there's zero gap/flex between the knob and the handle, a production detail that is better than most Shimano and Daiwa reels.