Was thinking about adding a heal shifter to my Slim. Never had a bike that had one. What are the advantages and disadvantages to a toe/heal shifter setup?

 

Advantage: You up-shift by pressing down with heel which is eaiser than finding the shifter with the toe and lifting (in some riders opinion including mine).
Disadvantage: For those with large feet, the heel hifter constrains the movement of the left foot on the foot board (for some riders this is anoying).

 

Advantage: No more wear marks/holes in the top of your boots.
Once I went to heal shifters, I never looked back. Size 11 boots no problems when adjusted for me.

 

 

My bike came with one. I figured I'd give it a try for a couple of days before removing it. By the time I'd ridden the bike home from the dealership I was sold. I'm not sure I could ride without one (or want to).

 

Love my heel shifter on my 17 Heritage.

Biggest disadvantage? Riding my wife's Sportster 1200C and damn near driving my foot through the ground. Multiple times, until I get used to not having a heel shifter.

 

I have an extended rear lever and it gives me all the room I need on the boards........love it!

 

Love it. My only disadvantage was it rattled off on a trip to Maine this summer. Somewhere on the highway, sits my heel shifter! Quick stop to Laconia HD, bought a new one, put it on-problem solved!!!
I love them. Any bike I own going forward will have one.

 

It can be the difference between riding and not if you have a gout flareup in your left big toe.

Personally though I don't care for them. Had heel/toe on my VTX for nine years and never used the heel lever, except for one or two occasions when it was either that or not riding. I'm glad they did away with them on the Fat Boy.

 

I first used a heel/toe shifter on my '89 Heritage.... I previously had a mid control '79 FXS, and then a mid control '80 FXS, that I switched to forward controls. Both those bikes had toe only shifters. After about a day on the '89 Heritage, I was sold on the heel/toe... I don't stomp on the shift levers, but find it easier, more comfortable, to shift.

I have the heel/toe on my current bikes; '16 Classic & '03 Heritage. They both have footboards

I recently bought an '01 FXSTS... Love the bike. It has forward controls, foot pegs instead of floor boards, and a toe only shifter.... I rode it around for about 2-3 months, and then added a heel/toe shifter to that bike. Makes it a lot easier switching between bikes.... and works just as well, for me, on foot pegs as it does on footboards..

If it's for your 2018 FLSB, you'll need two shift levers and a longer shifter shaft... then you'll be set!