Death Wish: Ever Had a Bike With a “Suicide” Shifter?
A couple of weeks back I was riding down Sunset, just past Hollywood, and a group of about five riders passed me going the opposite direction. The bikes looked—and sounded—like the ’70s CBs that’re so popular around here now, so nothing unusual there. But as they went past, I noticed at least two of the guys were rocking suicide shifters.
Now, I realize there are plenty of semantic arguments about what constitutes a “suicide” shifter. But for the sake of this question, let’s just say the term refers to a hand shifter, rather than the conventional foot set up which became standard around the end of the Eisenhower administration.
Personally, while I love some of the design idiosyncrasies of old bikes, this has never appealed to me. It irritates me to see guys riding along with one hand on standard set ups—looks like macho posing—and I’d never elect for a system which required taking a hand off the bars to shift. The only exception I’d make would be to preserve a classic which was factory equipped that way. But how about you?
Ever have a bike with a suicide shifter? Would you? Head over to the Forum and sound off! >>
