I am not too familiar with some of the older Ironheads and am looking to buy one for my local bar hopping runs. One I'm looking at is a 72.

My questions is: does anyone make a kit to transfer right side shifting to the left and left side brakes to the right?

There is no way I'm gonna try to re-learn shifting and braking patterns.

 

You could buy the parts HD cobbed together when the gooberment forced them to make the change. You won't like the results, any more than we did back in the 70s. Shifting was rubbery feeling at best, and as soon as a little wear happened, it often changed from rubbery to not shifting at all.

If you aren't willing to cope with the right side shift, I recommend a pass on the bike.

Besides, some of us old farts might just have to kill you for such desecration!

 

I do not have direct experience with this myself, but i have read a lot of discussions about it over the past few years. The majority concensus is that:

1. the bike rides much better with the shift on the right as it was designed
2. it is not a problem to learn to use right side shift
3. it is not a problem having two bikes at the same time, one each side.

You just have to commit yourself to it, and do not listen to any naysayers.

 

my 76 had that cobbled up mess for the left hand shift i changed back to the right side

 

Thanks for the info it was very helpful.
I can see myself going for the brake and splintering the gears or going to shift and nothing happening. I guess I'll pass.

 

Guys that used to work at the HD shops way back when rode both rights and lefts every workday. I asked several HD mechanics if it was a problem they all told me that it was not. In the early 70's I rode both including a "tank shift" or two, only takes a few minutes to adapt.

 

Don't pass up a good bike just because it is a right side shift. There is a brief learning curve, but nothing that a couple of rides won't cure. At one point, I owned a Buell (left side shift), 73 Ironhead (right side shift). and an 07 Deluxe that I converted to a foot clutch/tank shift. I had no problem switching between the bikes.
One your butt gets educated on which bike your are on, it becomes automatic to shift it correctly.

 

how 'bout passing on the sale info....I'm looking for one to jockey shift with a hand clutch. this would be ideal...

 

I have both '72 Shovel and IH.

I have forwards on the Shovel and Mids on the IH. I believe that helps when switching.

Pat

 

My 75 has the shifter output shaft on the right with the factory mechanism switching it to the left. Never had a minutes problem out of it. However; I would not try and change over the shift on that 72 to the left.