Recently changed out the stock shifter knob for a VooDoo spun aluminum with the clear powdercoated pearl finish (no gear pattern) on an '04.

It compliments the brushed aluminum radio door and console treatments quite nicely, has a nicer tactile feel, shortens up the throw quite a bit, and I suspect the "pearl" finish will prove to be quite durable.

As for the Ti, it lost out to the $40 pearl knob based on a quick value assessment.

 

CoralDoc, bless you. Facts and the ability to communicate -- are you sure we deserve all that?

I do have something to add, though. I switch back and forth between my MY02 OEM (the half leather one) and my Ti, so I know a bit about the feel:

- The additional mass of the titanium version does not significantly affect the feel of the shifting -- I believe the "more positive engagement" folks either screwed it down lower, or are feeling a placebo effect.

- The throw length is also the same (or indistinguishably close), for a given mounting height; see above re effect on shifting.

- The texture of the titanium is noticeable, and to my hand very pleasant, but it's a little hard to describe. Note that this is a consequence of the fabrication method, not of the element used.

- The appearance -- well, you can see that for yourself. Don't guess -- look at pictures. The titanium is much darker than stock. In a blue MY02, I believe each shifter looks right in its way, as each roughly matches certain other interior components (e.g., the titanium is about the same shade and hue as the instrument pod).

- I prefer my titanium because of the feel, but find that the leather is nicer to the hand in very cold (by Texas standards) weather, so I switched back for a couple of months. I don't know yet whether I'll also switch in mid-summer -- I got the Ti as a gift last fall.

 

i splurged and bought the Rick Ti

I had the stock Ti on my old s2000 and the Al/leather on the current s2000.

Hands down the Rick Ti is the best knob, IMHO. Throw is even shorter, effortless. Never a mis-shift. This is due to the countersunk and the extra weight of the Ti.

Took me about 5mins to get used to the shape, I won't be trading back

 

The titanium shift knob isn't solid titanium, I'm pretty sure it's stainless steel with a titanium finish.

 

This topic hits home as I just purchased Ricks voodoo knob.

The problem is that it's the aluminum knob and although it looks great, I hate the light weight and the extra umph I have to put on it to snick.

This being said, I'm in the market for another knob. I prefer HEAVY.

I love the look of the spoon but it's too light.

Which knob weights more? Ricks ti? or ARC ti?......and what other knobs are out there that weight more than OEM?

 

I have the Honda stock '02 Aluminum knob and the optional Honda Titanium knob. Note, the stock Al knob has a leather wrap around that I think was added in '02, whereas the Ti is all metal.

It's certainly a matter of personal preference. I love Ti, though!

 

In my car, I have stuck with the original equipment leather covering over aluminum shift knob. I do know that titanium is quite expensive [more than $15/lb in raw ingot form], notoriously hard to machine and quite strong. For this reason, it is extensively used in commercial aircraft. I have had the good fortune to own a Citizen Eco-Drive watch with a solid titanium case, and in more than seven years, it has accumulated neither a scratch or discoloration, and has survived many hours in swimming pools, and in ocean bathing. A couple of my lumbar vertebra have been decorated, for nearly two years, with four screws, two rods and a cage made of titanium. As far as I know, they are doing fine, and may even look perfect 1000 years from now, when they dig me up.

I find it hard to imagine why titanium would be appreciably better than aluminum for a shift knob, although it obviously is much more expensive to manufacture. They both can get pretty hot in the sun, which is one more reason to stick with the original leather covered knob. The ability to shift faster or smoother is a matter of manual skills, and not the weight and shape of the shifter knob. Some folks may disagree, but they may also be the same folks who can be convinced that if they simply buy the "Biggest Mutha of a Bertha" titanium driver for $1000+, their golf scores will improve.

 

The optional Honda Titanium shift knob has the same shape as the standard MY00/MY01 Aluminum knob (egg shaped). The standard shift knob from MY02 onward has a different shape (mainly the leather wrap).

 

get urself a voodoo ti

 

Maybe the titanium knob would resist scratches(from rings and such) and wearing (from hands rubbing the leather every time you shift dozens of times a day) a lot better than leather-wrapped aluminum. When they changed to the 04+ knob I began wondering how that leather wrapped knob would look in 7-8 years...