4 Reasons You Need A Hybrid Racing Short Shifter
Posted by Matthew Marks on 28th Mar 2025
I'm Matt, the owner of Exoracing, and today I'm going to give you four reasons you need a Hybrid Racing short shifter.
If you don't know who Hybrid Racing are, they are an American company that specialises in K-Swap parts and has done so since 2003 after seeing the potential in K-Series engines.
Since then, they have manufactured a considerable product line and their world-class short shifters.
So we've been a Hybrid Racing dealer for 6-7 years, sold thousands of their parts, had zero issues with them, and even used one of their shifters in our own B-Series AWD Civic.
Today, I will go over the four main reasons you need a Hybrid shifter for your build, running through the adjustability, fitment, Aesthetics and feel.
If you prefer to watch the video, I will add it below, but please subscribe to our YouTube channel while you are there for more videos.
1 Adjustability
The first place we will start is adjustability, which is the main selling point for most people.
You can adjust the throw and gate spacing of most of their shifters between 10-50%, a fantastic feature to fit your driving style.
The throw isn't the only part you can adjust, though, as most of the shifters allow you to change the gear knob height and position.
The adjustability was essential when choosing a shifter for myself, as I wanted the shortest throw possible and to feel as tight as possible.
Everyone is different and prefers different things from driving, so being able to cater to everyone is a huge bonus.
2 Fitment
Let's move on to the fitment side. Regarding OEM bolt-in shifters, Hybrid Racing makes it incredibly easy.
If you want to replace the shifter without purchasing new cables, etc., you can do so!
All of their shifters are model-specific, so they will work with the OEM parts, such as shifter cables, and will bolt up in the OEM location.
This is a major plus for many people as you don't need to modify anything, and you can install the short shifter as quickly as an hour.
If you decide to go with some fancy new shifter cables or even a base plate, they also offer these so you can upgrade your whole system in one go.
These parts are also packed with upgraded aftermarket features, such as the cables with spherical bearings that remove the play.
Most customers I speak to want to upgrade either because their old shifter is worn or they want the adjustability, and knowing you can bolt it straight up is a game changer.
There are currently around 15 shifters, with a few universal for K-Swap applications.
We do have a video going over how to do a K-Swap, so if you're interested, I'll link it below, or you can read our massive K-Swap guide here.
3 Aesthetics
Right, let's move on to the aesthetics. This is where Hybrid Racing shines, as its shifters don't look like anything else on the market.
Other options, such as Acuity, are great shifters, but this is usually down to personal preference.
The fact that you can choose between dust black or dust red is an excellent option because, as we all know, the Type R accents are generally red so that they will fit perfectly in an Integra DC5, for example.
Next, from an aesthetics standpoint, would be the materials and finishes they use.
The frames are made from A6 steel, folded, welded, and powder-coated black for a long-lasting finish.
The links are machined from 6061-T6 billet aluminium, which is then anodised.
The last part would be the stainless steel shift levels and ball bearings for a strong, long-lasting finish. Anyone will agree; these shifters look beautiful in most setups.
4 Feel
Driving your race car is always fun, but what makes that experience even better? How it feels.
Smashing through gears with an OEM shifter is fine, and it does the job; however, smashing through gears with a Hybrid Racing shifter elevates that experience tenfold.
Not only will a Hybrid racing shifter give you the confidence to know you will hit the correct gear without money shifting your pride and joy, but the positive feedback provided on shifts is unmatched.
Knotchy, confidence-inspiring gear changes are what you will receive when using a Hybrid Racing shifter.
Having the option of adjusting the height and throw of your shifter will increase the feel even more.
One of the reasons that the Hybrid Racing shifter feels so great is the adjustable height and positioning of the gearstick, ensuring you're in the most comfortable and ergonomic position possible for quick shifts, a comfy ride and a great big smile on your face every time you change gears.
Conclusion
To summarise, purchasing a Hybrid Racing shifter is the best way to improve the reliability, feel and speed of your gear changes.
Hybrid Racing has an almighty selection of shifters for almost any Honda chassis and engine/gearbox configuration, available in red or black to suit your interior.
Look through our website's catalogue of available shifters from Hybrid Racing, and I'm sure you will not be disappointed!
If you are interesting in buying a Hybrid Racing short shifter, then make sure to use our specific reader code for discount on your order.