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Heel shift / toe shift

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Old Mar 21, 2015 | 06:45 PM
  #31  
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Seemed to be in the way. Grew up on dirt bikes and never got accustomed to heel shifting when I got my first tourer.
 
Old Mar 21, 2015 | 07:00 PM
  #32  
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Heel shifting sucks. There are two reasons:

First, lifting your heel requires you to lift your entire leg, which in my case causes a cramp in my hip after the second or third shift. It is FAR easier to simply lift a toe instead of your whole leg. When I got rid of the heel shifter, the amount of effort went down big time.

Second, the rear shift peg takes up valuable space on the floorboard and doesn't allow any choice of foot position.

Suit yourself, but I tried to get used to it and absolutely hated it.
 
Old Mar 21, 2015 | 07:08 PM
  #33  
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I've never had a heel shifter, on any of the three bikes I've owned. It just seems awkward to me, to shift with my heel. Luckily, my current bike didn't have one but if it had one, I would have taken it off PDQ.
 
Old Mar 21, 2015 | 07:20 PM
  #34  
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I only use it if I'm riding with sneakers. A lot easier to shift.
 
Old Mar 21, 2015 | 07:22 PM
  #35  
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I use the heel shift and love it.
 
Old Mar 21, 2015 | 07:26 PM
  #36  
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I hated it from the get go but gave it two months and many hundreds of miles. Finally had enough and ditched it along with the rubber foot board pads too. Felt way too cramped before but now I can finally ride relaxed. Added extended foot pegs off the foot boards too and that really helped a lot! Now I'm just working on the cosmetics of the set up.
 
Old Mar 21, 2015 | 07:39 PM
  #37  
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I hated the heel shift, I got rid of it and I am happier for it!
 
Old Mar 21, 2015 | 09:04 PM
  #38  
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I like moving my feet around the boards more than the heel shifter.
 
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Old Mar 21, 2015 | 09:28 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by Bohemka
For others,
Thank you for your response. I am still confused by those that say they don't need to move their foot for the heel shift.
On toe shift my foot doesn't leave the board. For heel shift I physically need to lift my entire foot to press down with heel.
As for finding neutral on a 48 hour old bike.....that is an entirely different post
This post made me remember that I once had a Vulcan 1500 Classic, and I adjusted the height of heel shift pedal in-line with the floor board. The shaft was actually below the board so this adjustment was possible & I could enjoy the entire length of the floorboard & not lift my foot to heel shift. Unfortunately, with the Harley above the board design, I don't think it's possible.
 
Old Mar 21, 2015 | 09:38 PM
  #40  
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Funny you mention this, I was just getting ready to start a thread on this. I recently lowered mine and am using it (when I remember to) to see if I can get used to it. We'll see how it goes.
 



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