Heel shifter -- do you use one?
 

Got a stupid problem: My 20-year-old Red Wing Engineer boots (the 2268s made in USA) need a rebuild so I bought another pair from the Minnesota factory -- big pain as Red Wing only sells the Chinese ones in the USA. Then I got a great deal on some Wesco boots and last a terrific deal on some Chippewa Engineers. I wear these boots every day for all occcasions.

Problem is I hate heel shifters. This means my left boot looks like hell -- like it should. But I'm not wild about tearing up my Wesco's so I guess I'll put the damn heel shifter back on the Streetglide.

Otherwise every pair of boots I have will be trashed on the left, and I want to look a little decent on some occasions. Plus the bike is my transportation -- I drive the old pickup less than 400 miles a year and that's to Costco and the dog park.

Anyhow..you guys get used to these shifters? Can you learn to live with them?

Busted a couple of toes last spring and it hurt like heck to toe shift. Got used to heel shifting in a few rides. Find it it quicker to heel shift when I really get on it pulling out. But, my dang brain got confused once in a while and wanted to down press the toe shifter instead of the hell shifter occassionally.

Not sure if this is fact or fiction. But, I have heard the heel shifter was to prevent the same boot damage to motor cops.

They make shifter peg covers. I've seen some pretty lame ones but Amazon has one that might work....


Or maybe even better

Negative on the heal shifter. In fact, I actually removed the heal shifter and cut/polished the portion of the shaft where it attached. I couldn't add it back now without a new front shift shaft.

Like anything if you use it you will get used to it. Just one word of caution, don't get in the habit of stomping on it or you will strip the spline.

I changed mine to a heel shifter and I love it. I did forget a few times I changed to a heel shifter but I got used to.

I use the heel shifter every time I down shift ....you'll learn to love it if you give it a chance

Love my heel shifter. I came from a Honda Shadow to the Harley Softail Deluxe. My boots got shiny on the left toe when I had the Shadow(no heel shifter). It took me no time to "learn"/get used to the heel shifter as I used it from ride one and it felt natural to me. I did end up changing the heel shifter shaft to one that has a pivot for the peg to swing back for more foot room. Something like http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...g-heel-shifter

You know the first heel shifter I had was on my 1997 arctic cat bearcat 454 full time 4x4. It was the hardest thing ever to get use to but I finally did. So when I bought my 07 ultra classic and saw the heel shifter on it i knew it was going to be so easy to use!!! It seems so smooth while your going through the gears and it is so much quicker! Once you get use to it you will never wont to go back!!! Good Luck !!

Almost have to due to my injury. On the dirt bike I have to lift up the left leg to shift because my ankle joint doesn't cut it.