Heel or Toe?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
I explain it as best I can in the second paragraph of post #23.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,736
Likes: 17,577
From: Driftless Area
If the f#$%ing MOCO would use decent materials on the shifter components, it wouldn't be an issue.
I use both, but mostly toe.
I had just put in a new spline and levers about a month before I went out west. I don't stomp gears, but I noticed it was worn.
Upon entering the Big Horn mountains, my new toe shifter just flopped down. The lever wasn't loose, the teeth were stripped. I went through the rest of those mountains with only the heel shifter. Downshifting was interesting, but I was glad to have it.. When I got to a small town, I found a local guy with a welder. We ran a small bead between the heel and toe levers. The heel lever was still good. It remains that way to this day. If it ever has to come off, it will go through from the other end.
I have also fixed a buddy's shift lever on the tranny end during a trip. What the hell is it with that soft material MOCO uses for the shifter splines?
I use both, but mostly toe.
I had just put in a new spline and levers about a month before I went out west. I don't stomp gears, but I noticed it was worn.
Upon entering the Big Horn mountains, my new toe shifter just flopped down. The lever wasn't loose, the teeth were stripped. I went through the rest of those mountains with only the heel shifter. Downshifting was interesting, but I was glad to have it.. When I got to a small town, I found a local guy with a welder. We ran a small bead between the heel and toe levers. The heel lever was still good. It remains that way to this day. If it ever has to come off, it will go through from the other end.
I have also fixed a buddy's shift lever on the tranny end during a trip. What the hell is it with that soft material MOCO uses for the shifter splines?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,083
Likes: 19,245
From: The Wasteland
I've owned 3 HDs with heel toe shifters and I used it on all 3. My method was to raise my heel off the footboard while keeping my toes on the footboard then just step down onto the heel shifter and click it into the next gear.
3 bikes and many many miles and never had an issue or broke anything shifting it that way.
3 bikes and many many miles and never had an issue or broke anything shifting it that way.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,186
Likes: 17,837
From: In a van down by the river
Had a heel toe, got rid of the heel. Few times as I was coming up to a stop and, maybe the cut of my jeans, maybe the way I rest my foot, I don't know, but more than once the cuff was caught up in the heel and on the rubber. Few oh **** moments trying to get my foot down in time to stop the bike from toppling over. Once resulted in a torn pants cuff but no dropped bike thankfully. I've used them, I get the advantages and enjoy the advantages, but not enough to re-install it.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 1,968
From: Lake of the Ozarks
I prefer h/t shifters but I've had 49 1/2 years to get used to them. I have bikes with forwards and use my toe with no problem, same with dirt bikes. I have a couple bikes with mid controls and highway pegs, I usually keep my feet on the highway pegs and shift up/down and brake with my heels. Done it that way for years, only use the mids(pegs) for real twisty roads or heavy traffic.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 10,767
From: SE Michigan
first bike did not have one, neither did the second...so it's weird to me
it's like eating with chop sticks....give me the sticks and a plate of food and I'll get the job done, but it won't be pretty
it's like eating with chop sticks....give me the sticks and a plate of food and I'll get the job done, but it won't be pretty
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 7,709
Likes: 7,850
From: New York
I consciously avoid using the heel shifter on my Ultra and Softail because I occasionally ride bikes (borrowed or rented) without a heel-shifter and I don't want to develop that muscle memory. Just to mix it up, though, I will sometimes use the heel-shifter in stop & go traffic just to stretch my ankle/calf.