Heel Shifter
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Heel Shifter
MY 05 15th 95 C.I. Fat Boy had the heel toe shifter and I HATED it but tryed to get used to it but every time I thought I had it down I would try to toe shift! But this bike was nice but started leaking OIL, I thought they had fixed oil leaking bikes, and this leak was between cases so the whole motor had to be re built, that is not new bike to me and this bike cost $21,000.00, so I wiped it down and went to other dealer and traded for 06 SCREMIN EAGLE 103 FAT BOY and it had aTOE SHIFT the buckshot edition, I took a major hit on trade but happy after allmost 2 years, but look in catalog buy a toe shifter and take off the other rig and sell it or keep it! GOOD LUCK! PURPLE HAZE.
[IMG]local://upfiles/24725/CDDE17F71DB049DEB221DD0F29D2E343.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/24725/CDDE17F71DB049DEB221DD0F29D2E343.jpg[/IMG]
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
RE: Heel Shifter
I'm old too and never had a heal shifter and always wondered why Harley's had one.
When I first got my bike I rode if for a couple of weeks and the next time I was in the Harley shop I asked does anybody ever really use that thing?
The shop manager said he uses his all the time, so I said I'd try using it.
Well it just took a couple of day trips, but I use it all the time now and I love it.
When leaving a stop light, I shift into 2nd before I even put my foot on the floorboards.
Just raise my foot on and stomp on the back, before I put my foot on the boards.
It's amazimg how many things I've seen in the past, that I said I'd never use that,
but after riding my Harley for six months, I can see where and whymost of that sh&t comes from now. [sm=confused06.gif]
When I first got my bike I rode if for a couple of weeks and the next time I was in the Harley shop I asked does anybody ever really use that thing?
The shop manager said he uses his all the time, so I said I'd try using it.
Well it just took a couple of day trips, but I use it all the time now and I love it.
When leaving a stop light, I shift into 2nd before I even put my foot on the floorboards.
Just raise my foot on and stomp on the back, before I put my foot on the boards.
It's amazimg how many things I've seen in the past, that I said I'd never use that,
but after riding my Harley for six months, I can see where and whymost of that sh&t comes from now. [sm=confused06.gif]
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 312
From: Out of Commiefornia!
RE: Heel Shifter
Like many of you here, this is the first bike I've had with the heal/toe shifter. I wasn't sure about it, but before I got a couple of miles down the road with the bike I was already used to it. I really like it myself and it feels quite comfortable - almost second nature now. As mentioned above, the only time I up-shift with the toe shifter is to find neutral.
Roger
Roger
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
RE: Heel Shifter
I just bought an '07 Springer today and bought the cap before I even rode it out of the dealership. I'd done a couple demo rides on a Deluxe and a RoadKing and couldn't quite get the hang of the heel shifter then. After the 17 mile ride home this afternoon from the dealership I still wasn't sold, so off the heel shifter went. I can definately see it as being useful for some folks, but I've been riding for a year now on a motorcycle with a toe shifter and forward controls, so my heel is really not used to doing anything but resting on a peg. If I had started riding on a motorcycle with a heel/toe shifter it would probably be a different story, but I'm a creature of habit I guess.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: NJ
RE: Heel Shifter
ORIGINAL: Bowtieman31
I took mine off too. I like to change position of my feet on the boards, especially on long rides. Damn heel shifter was always in the way. I got my chrome cover from HD.
I took mine off too. I like to change position of my feet on the boards, especially on long rides. Damn heel shifter was always in the way. I got my chrome cover from HD.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Heel Shifter
When I first got my FLSTC, I used the heel shifter all the time "because it was there". Never had any problems with it except for the ocassional scratch on the primary cover from my boot moving over too far. For whatever reason - can't remember exactly why now - I stopped using the heel shiftera couple of years ago and only use the heel once in a great while...I left it on the bike and it doesn't bother me at at all as far as foot placement goes...
Some of my friends took their heel shifters off and put it back on the shifter spline on the inside and moved their toe shifter to the outside. Both shifter levers are in line with each other and I never gave the look of it a second thought.
There are a couple of advantages doing it their way:
It's free.
Moves the toe shifter out a bit so it's a little bit easier to get to...they seem to like it that way anyway...
enjoy...
Some of my friends took their heel shifters off and put it back on the shifter spline on the inside and moved their toe shifter to the outside. Both shifter levers are in line with each other and I never gave the look of it a second thought.
There are a couple of advantages doing it their way:
It's free.
Moves the toe shifter out a bit so it's a little bit easier to get to...they seem to like it that way anyway...
enjoy...
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 719
Likes: 35
From: SE New Hampshire
RE: Heel Shifter
Harley has the absolute dumbest engineered heel shift. It's completely in the wrong position to efficiently use. Go drive a Victory touring bike, or a Kawasaki Nomad, and now you will feel a perfectly designed heel shift. I put 20 miles on my heel shift, and then threw it in the trash. Keep in mind there is 2 ways to go with eliminating the heel shift, one is a "spline cover" that keeps the shifter to theright (which gives you more room to hang your feet off the front of the floorboards, and two a "chrome spacer" which keeps the shifter to the left which makes the shifter a bit more accesable with your toe. I have the spline cover style, and it's perfect for me.