Can't Put It Off

[ISP-FL]

Been shifting gears with my toes under a peg for over 46 years. Got two pair of shoes and one pair of boots with the black mark on the left one to prove it.

A couple days ago I decided it was time to "grow up" and learn something new. Got into my spare parts box and after examining 4 different heel shifters I picked the one that most likely came off my 2019 (they all looked about the same).

Installed it and then we did about a 150 mile plus run that afternoon. By the end of the day I could almost upshift without thinking about it. I'm thinking I'll need another few hundred miles to really change over.

I suspect that I just gave up a good anti-theft devise though. There could be a crop of younger riders out there that have always had a heel shifter.

[David792]

I've never used a heel shifter. First bike I ever bought ('67 305 scrambler) had one but I took it off. Tons of other bikes in between and now my '18 had one, but took that off too. Heck, I don't even clean my boots anymore. I guess the day might come when I put it back on, but not yet. Guys in Montana use 'em so they can ride with their flip flops. (we called 'em "shower shoes"). I'm almost afraid that if I try it I might like it.

[andyjr11]

I'm just the exact oppisite, I haven't had my foot under a shifter in 40 years. Just might try it today and see if I remember how it works. I will not be wearing my good boots.

[rhino 2]

I only used the heel shifter to find neutral....Other than that it was a waste of space.....

[David792]

might be fun to rig up my trike with a foot clutch and a suicide shifter. How long would it take me to wreck a very expensive trike like that? Oh.... it would also void my warranty

[TrainingWheels]

Toe shifters are a good way to ruin a nice set of Lizard Boots. After 44 years of toe shifters I was more than happy to go to a heal / toe shifter. Whatever - Just ride:-)

[ultrafxr]

I cannot ride a bike / trike with the stock heel shift lever. Way, way to short and takes up too much real estate on the footboard. Ah but putting an extended lever makes all the difference and makes it very convenient and useful. I've run with an extended lever for the entire twenty plus years I've had a Harley.

I adjust both the front and rear shift levers down as far as they can go and still function. That way I have to move my foot very little in order to upshift or downshift. And as was said finding neutral is so, so much easier using the heel shift lever.

[kwkride]

I left mine on for over a year to give it a legitimate try. Never did like it and took it off. It seems like less work to me to just lift up my toe to shift. I can also move my feet further back without the heel shifter in the way.

[1dn5up]

Got hammer toes. Heel toe for me.

[DDubya]

Grew up on Limey bikes and a '46 Indian. No heel shifters. Suicide shift on Indian. First thing I did on all 4 of my Harleys with the heel shifter is to take them off.

[paws]

I have had a heel/toe shifter on this GW trike almost since I bought it in 2012. Hubby ordered one for each of our trikes rather than asking me if I wanted it and let me “try” his first before we spent money on 2 of them.

I didn’t care much for it originally - took some mental adjustment - still don’t care that much for it, but its on there, I’m used to it now... C’est La Vie! I do like the floor boards that came with the set.

I did ride a friend’s GW trike in San Angelo - it still had the original shifter peg.... I loved it... was like old times.

[Jack Klarich]

I wouldn't have a bike with out a heel toe shifter

My Freewheeler shifts with less clunk

[Sunman]

I have taken the heel shifter off every bike that had one almost as soon as I got home. I did try a heel/toe with floorboards on one of my Goldwings one time. Liked the floorboards but didn't like the heel shifter. To me they just get in the way. Might have to try an extended heel shifter sometime just to see if I like it better. I always wear the same plain old boots when I ride so don't have to worry about messing them up.

Sunman

[Trampas]

When I got my 2002 road king I took off the heel shifter and never looked back, my 2016 triglide I left it one, bought some fancy on and got rid of the stock ones, never used the rear shifter at all, my 2018 I just ordered a extended length rear shifter and thought I would try that, otherwise I will keep doing what I have always done, use the toe shifter, I have over 50 years of just a toe shifter, kind of hard to break the habit but with the extended I'm going to give it a try at least.

All for now Trampas

[ultrafxr]

When I got my 2002 road king I took off the heel shifter and never looked back, my 2016 triglide I left it one, bought some fancy on and got rid of the stock ones, never used the rear shifter at all, my 2018 I just ordered a extended length rear shifter and thought I would try that, otherwise I will keep doing what I have always done, use the toe shifter, I have over 50 years of just a toe shifter, kind of hard to break the habit but with the extended I'm going to give it a try at least.

All for now Trampas

The extended heel shift lever makes all the difference. I can't ride without it!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I must be a flip flop guy ... I wear mesh shoes in the summer ... can't imagine them without the heal shifter ... Although ... never bothered me on the Gold Wings ... even with the mesh shoes ...

[paws]

I must be a flip flop guy ... I wear mesh shoes in the summer ... can't imagine them without the heal shifter ... Although ... never bothered me on the Gold Wings ... even with the mesh shoes ...

Your memory is failing! You were not enjoying the heel/toe shifter on my GW trike at the TT Kerrville meet last October. As I recall there was a lot of coaching coming from the backseat...

[Fearless]

I wouldn't have a bike with out a heel toe shifter

My Freewheeler shifts with less clunk

Same for our 09' seems just natural wouldn't mind trying an extended one gotta have the heel lever

[ISP-FL]

I may have to get an extended one. My darn size 12 barely fits in between the toe and heel shifter and it isn't leaving much room. My permanent passenger (DW) got a good laugh yesterday when I missed two upshifts.

I never said you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks, it just might take 10 times as long!

[GARYD]

Put me down for a heel lever lover. I have the extended one and I lowered it to just above the floorboard. Makes sure solid shifts enjoyable and precise. They make an excellent emergency replacement for the toe shifter. Years ago on one of our chapter rides, the gal in front of me lost her toe shifter - sailed about a foot past my head. We took the rear shifter off and reversed it. She rode for a day and a half like that until we got to a dealer.

I will NEVER give up my heel shifter. You'll have to pry it from my cold dead Trike.