Shifting help
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 254
From: US
Don't worry too much, you'll be back soon enough asking why you can't find neutral.
I took the advance riding courses 2 months ago from both ABATE and HD/MSF. Each course was a mirror of each other and I didn't think I left either having learned anything, as I've been riding for over 40 yrs. But since then, I've noticed I'm doing things now that were taught in those courses, making my riding more enjoyable, predictable and understandable. Up until this winter, I never heard of 'countersteer', target fixation, or the phrase of 'go where you look'. That last term will save your life!
Good Luck and ride safe
I took the advance riding courses 2 months ago from both ABATE and HD/MSF. Each course was a mirror of each other and I didn't think I left either having learned anything, as I've been riding for over 40 yrs. But since then, I've noticed I'm doing things now that were taught in those courses, making my riding more enjoyable, predictable and understandable. Up until this winter, I never heard of 'countersteer', target fixation, or the phrase of 'go where you look'. That last term will save your life!
Good Luck and ride safe
Last edited by CVO SG; Jun 27, 2016 at 09:47 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
My sons took the free Harley Course offered to Veterans/LEO/EMS. The instructor was excellent, and they learned how to ride. They are 32 and 34 and have been driving a manual since they were 16. Which I really think is a big help, when riding a motorcycle.
I'm surprised how many people like the heel shifter. I learned on a bike without a heel shifter, so I hate my heel shifter. I try it every once in a while, but I don't see any advantage to it.
If you can borrow a small motorcycle from any one or rent a Street 750, that would make it easier to practice.
I'm surprised how many people like the heel shifter. I learned on a bike without a heel shifter, so I hate my heel shifter. I try it every once in a while, but I don't see any advantage to it.
If you can borrow a small motorcycle from any one or rent a Street 750, that would make it easier to practice.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 104
From: Prescott, AZ
Hate the heel shifter. on my 4th Harley since 96
fatboy-40K wide glide 50K, FLHTCI in 04 82K and now a 15 limited - first thing to go was the heel shifter. I do not like my foot being caught between the two..
shifting is a 'Feel' ride enough and you will get it...
agreed do NOT be looking at that tach..
Look down - Go down..
head up and ride - ears and just that feeling when to shift.
you started on a big bike - that's history... ride easy and often to get used to the bike.. the bike and you really need to become one... Hard time explaining but when it happens You Will get it..
fatboy-40K wide glide 50K, FLHTCI in 04 82K and now a 15 limited - first thing to go was the heel shifter. I do not like my foot being caught between the two..
shifting is a 'Feel' ride enough and you will get it...
agreed do NOT be looking at that tach..
Look down - Go down..
head up and ride - ears and just that feeling when to shift.
you started on a big bike - that's history... ride easy and often to get used to the bike.. the bike and you really need to become one... Hard time explaining but when it happens You Will get it..
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 399
From: Vancouver, BC
Great advise and opinions here. All I'd add is that if you have a huge boot you might want to take a look at HD's folding shifter. Heel shifting is great IMO. Took no time to get used to and with the floor boards it's just a natural way to go. BTW this is the 1st bike I've ever ridden with a heel shift and it was easy to learn. The reason I suggest the folding shifter is that the extended ones typically are 1.5" max extension from stock. If you leave the folding shifter in the "out of the way" position it gives about 2" extension from stock to the tip of the shifter. That extra 1/2" makes a world of difference. When in that position the shifter is still very easy to find with the boot heel.
BTW good move in taking training. I had an absence of many years from when I last rode a street bike to this year when I bought my Limited. I took a beginners course as if I was starting over again...because I was. While the skills came back quickly I did learn a lot. Don't forget to spend a lot of time in a parking lot practising slow speed maneuvers. You get those down and you'll be fine on the road. I was also really fortunate to meet a guy who was a retired police mc instructor. He spent a 1/2 day 1:1 with me and the experience was invaluable.
BTW good move in taking training. I had an absence of many years from when I last rode a street bike to this year when I bought my Limited. I took a beginners course as if I was starting over again...because I was. While the skills came back quickly I did learn a lot. Don't forget to spend a lot of time in a parking lot practising slow speed maneuvers. You get those down and you'll be fine on the road. I was also really fortunate to meet a guy who was a retired police mc instructor. He spent a 1/2 day 1:1 with me and the experience was invaluable.
Last edited by hamah; Jun 28, 2016 at 03:00 AM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 187
Likes: 10
From: Minneapolis
My sons took the free Harley Course offered to Veterans/LEO/EMS. The instructor was excellent, and they learned how to ride. They are 32 and 34 and have been driving a manual since they were 16. Which I really think is a big help, when riding a motorcycle.
I'm surprised how many people like the heel shifter. I learned on a bike without a heel shifter, so I hate my heel shifter. I try it every once in a while, but I don't see any advantage to it.
If you can borrow a small motorcycle from any one or rent a Street 750, that would make it easier to practice.
I'm surprised how many people like the heel shifter. I learned on a bike without a heel shifter, so I hate my heel shifter. I try it every once in a while, but I don't see any advantage to it.
If you can borrow a small motorcycle from any one or rent a Street 750, that would make it easier to practice.
We rode street 500's and I was in physical pain at the end of the day, they were brutal on my hips/legs. I'm 6'5 350 though.. which is the main reason I bought the road king, I even have trouble fitting on that.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 424
Likes: 36
From: El Paso, TX
I have had my '15 Road King for 9 months and I still find myself shifting into neutral, and I use the heel shifter. This happens more when I am doing a hard acceleration now, but when I first picked it up, I did it all of the time. I grew up riding dirt/street bikes but took a break for a long time and just picked it up again last year, so I put myself in the new rider category. As has been stated by many, keep your head up and eyes where you want to go, especially since on the RK, the RPM indicator is small and on the gas tank, so you really have to look down at it.
With practice, you will learn at what point to shift down/up based on the sound of the engine. I know you said don't tell you to listen to it as you don't have a frame of reference but you do need to do that. You do not want to take your eyes off of the road. Where you look is where you will go. Just keep practicing in parking lots and listen to/get a feel for where the engine is at as you shift.
With practice, you will learn at what point to shift down/up based on the sound of the engine. I know you said don't tell you to listen to it as you don't have a frame of reference but you do need to do that. You do not want to take your eyes off of the road. Where you look is where you will go. Just keep practicing in parking lots and listen to/get a feel for where the engine is at as you shift.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 406
From: Hurdle Mills NC
Ill sound like a parrot ... Get the Ride like a Pro dvd and read Proficient Motorcycling by Hough.
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Joe Kucinski
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 490
Likes: 107
From: Bremerton, WA.
I'm a little surprised that no one so far has mentioned something that I learned a long time ago called .... pre-loading the shifter.
I don't remember who taught me this .... but for me now it's a habit I don't even think about anymore.
The concept is pretty simple. When you know you're getting ready to shift into a higher gear, with your toe under the shifter, you put just a small amount of up pressure on the shifter. When you pull in the clutch, your foot has ... pre-loaded the shifter ... and you shift smoothly into the next gear. There's no lag ... no accidently going into N from 1st ...
When I say a small amount of up pressure I mean small. It doesn't take much. Somehow it's keying the brain and muscles relating to the upshift to all work together simultaneously.
Like I said ... I've been doing this for 20 years and I don't even think about it anymore.
Give it a try. It's a pretty neat trick.
I don't remember who taught me this .... but for me now it's a habit I don't even think about anymore.
The concept is pretty simple. When you know you're getting ready to shift into a higher gear, with your toe under the shifter, you put just a small amount of up pressure on the shifter. When you pull in the clutch, your foot has ... pre-loaded the shifter ... and you shift smoothly into the next gear. There's no lag ... no accidently going into N from 1st ...
When I say a small amount of up pressure I mean small. It doesn't take much. Somehow it's keying the brain and muscles relating to the upshift to all work together simultaneously.
Like I said ... I've been doing this for 20 years and I don't even think about it anymore.
Give it a try. It's a pretty neat trick.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 691
Likes: 35
From: Colorado
What Crabio said is good advice. It's a good habit to start getting into!
I came in here to tell you, however, to look at adjusting the shifter a notch or two lower( it's easy, since you removed the heel shift, do the same thing to the front and turn it forward a notch) and also to shift up at 3,000, and finally, don't be shy with it; give it a shove upward and get used to it, then you can relax once you've made it a habit.
Good on you for taking advantage of the course. You should look into continuing the training, more beginner classes, or intermediate (don't worry, they won't go outside of your skill limits, but they'll push them, which is good practice) and also ask about repeating 2nd days of training for the same classes, they'll give you a discount and it's always advisable to practice; and these classes are great fun!
I came in here to tell you, however, to look at adjusting the shifter a notch or two lower( it's easy, since you removed the heel shift, do the same thing to the front and turn it forward a notch) and also to shift up at 3,000, and finally, don't be shy with it; give it a shove upward and get used to it, then you can relax once you've made it a habit.
Good on you for taking advantage of the course. You should look into continuing the training, more beginner classes, or intermediate (don't worry, they won't go outside of your skill limits, but they'll push them, which is good practice) and also ask about repeating 2nd days of training for the same classes, they'll give you a discount and it's always advisable to practice; and these classes are great fun!