[GadgetmanKen]

Whats the back side look like? Are those ports inside the control shaft or are they out the front of the shaft? Maybe a small radio shack type enclosure box with a computer or printer cable connector going into the bottom and the serial ports plug into the top side. I think that would look much cleaner. Paint the box black or gray, and its small enough it would fit between handlebar and monitor. You could put toggles on it too if liked or needed.

With the computer ribbon you could make at least make one or two wrapped spirals inside the control shaft, that way they would be able to extend up and down easily.