Widow maker shifter
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,042
Likes: 12,326
From: Arkansas
For any person with a damaged or loss of limb that needs something like this then great! Anything that enables someone to keep riding is great for that reason!
And further more anyone who keeps riding with this situation, then a big fair play to them! I really admire them 100% & will easily call them real men or women for that case!
My opinion is for me & I don't need this to enable me to ride (thank god!) & what I am saying is, if it was that good & the way to go, all bikes would have them & all bikes produced would have them?
Scared? Far from it, 160mph on a sports bike around back roads is what scares me nowadays, that's why I've sold it & give up Doing it! Awkward, pointless & ugly, don't make something scary?
As for modern?? I'm referring to evolution, you know, the way things improve, move on, then you look back & say, what were we thinking?
You still on dial up, cause its old skool & cool?
You can't & don't do things to be cool, you either are or you ain't!!!
And further more anyone who keeps riding with this situation, then a big fair play to them! I really admire them 100% & will easily call them real men or women for that case!
My opinion is for me & I don't need this to enable me to ride (thank god!) & what I am saying is, if it was that good & the way to go, all bikes would have them & all bikes produced would have them?
Scared? Far from it, 160mph on a sports bike around back roads is what scares me nowadays, that's why I've sold it & give up Doing it! Awkward, pointless & ugly, don't make something scary?
As for modern?? I'm referring to evolution, you know, the way things improve, move on, then you look back & say, what were we thinking?
You still on dial up, cause its old skool & cool?
You can't & don't do things to be cool, you either are or you ain't!!!
Harley hasn't put one on any of their bikes since the 70's.
I put it on for comfort and no other reason. It moved me up, and it moved me back which was the original reason I put it on. The smoother ride is just a bonus.
Just because something is no longer made doesn't mean it's not a good idea. I guess one could say that the belt drive is something that should not be used simply because it's old technology. The original early Harley's all had belts. They switched to chains and then went back to the belts (I also run a chain on my 05).
Your argument doesn't hold water in my opinion.
I've got a pogo seat on my 05 Softail. I guarantee it gives a ride 5 times as good as the stock shocks with a frame mounted seat such as you have.
Harley hasn't put one on any of their bikes since the 70's.
I put it on for comfort and no other reason. It moved me up, and it moved me back which was the original reason I put it on. The smoother ride is just a bonus.
Just because something is no longer made doesn't mean it's not a good idea. I guess one could say that the belt drive is something that should not be used simply because it's old technology. The original early Harley's all had belts. They switched to chains and then went back to the belts (I also run a chain on my 05).
Your argument doesn't hold water in my opinion.
Harley hasn't put one on any of their bikes since the 70's.
I put it on for comfort and no other reason. It moved me up, and it moved me back which was the original reason I put it on. The smoother ride is just a bonus.
Just because something is no longer made doesn't mean it's not a good idea. I guess one could say that the belt drive is something that should not be used simply because it's old technology. The original early Harley's all had belts. They switched to chains and then went back to the belts (I also run a chain on my 05).
Your argument doesn't hold water in my opinion.
Just read my old posts! & I'll wait to see HD change 'all' their bikes back to it? Oh & I'll 'still' wait for the next MotoGP champion to be sporting one!?
Can't we all just get along.....or at least agree to disagree!! 
Some like a foot clutch, some like a hand clutch. Some ride Harleys, some ride crockets. It's like arguing which flavor of Doritos is better. No one wins, and everyone wins. I run a foot clutch/jockey, don't judge me or my sled because I use something you're too scared to try. End of argument.
But I think we can ALL agree (except for that one dude) that whatever "Moto GP" is doing has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with what I put on my Train.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important business to attend to.
Some like a foot clutch, some like a hand clutch. Some ride Harleys, some ride crockets. It's like arguing which flavor of Doritos is better. No one wins, and everyone wins. I run a foot clutch/jockey, don't judge me or my sled because I use something you're too scared to try. End of argument.
But I think we can ALL agree (except for that one dude) that whatever "Moto GP" is doing has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with what I put on my Train.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important business to attend to.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,472
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
Reckon I'm done with this piece, except to say that the Widow Maker shifter appears to be well-made. My personal preference does not include the clutch lever on the shift lever; it doesn't lend itself to my riding. But good on the guy for the design and production of a product. Great to see someone follow through with an idea.
Yet again!! & only because I think you are just not understanding & may actually finally get it??
The ONLY reason to mention MotoGP! Although I do understand a lot of you may not like it? You 'Surely' have to except they use the best items they possible can for the motorcycles! & also 'Surely' have to agree & except that these guys are far from 'scared' (ha), well they 'don't' actually use these widow makers! So my point of not being as good as the now standard set up, was best explained by this! If you want to bury your head in the sand or even the toilet for that matter & keep thinking these systems are the best, then carry on, I don't think there's any help!
The ONLY reason to mention MotoGP! Although I do understand a lot of you may not like it? You 'Surely' have to except they use the best items they possible can for the motorcycles! & also 'Surely' have to agree & except that these guys are far from 'scared' (ha), well they 'don't' actually use these widow makers! So my point of not being as good as the now standard set up, was best explained by this! If you want to bury your head in the sand or even the toilet for that matter & keep thinking these systems are the best, then carry on, I don't think there's any help!
Last edited by chap!; Feb 5, 2012 at 12:06 PM.
And I suppose you wear the power ranger outfit too, because blue jeans and t-shirts are REALLY old technology.
It's kinda fun gettin you all riled up!
It's kinda fun gettin you all riled up!
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 564
Likes: 3
From: Orange County, CA
I'm all for jockey/tank/WMI shifters, especially since they can help those with injuries or disabilities get back on a bike. In my case, a number of years ago I messed up my left elbow really good, but continued to use the stock hand clutch. Despite therapy, the pain worsened, so I tried a Muller Power Clutch, lubing the cable, etc., as I commuted to work every day on my bike. At one point I couldn't pick up a 1lb package of ground beef without intense pain and I even considered selling my bike. My doctor wanted to operate and I was leery, so we decided on a compromise: injections, and I told the doc I wanted to work on the cause, not the symptoms. I stopped riding for a month, did some research on the InterWeb, and found some D-I-Y foot clutch solutions for the Sporty. I threw a shifter together using an old Hurst shift lever from my junk pile, then early one Sunday morning did a herky-jerky ride to a large parking lot a mile down the road and spent an hour getting used to the starts/stops, and especially tight left & U turns. I'd found the solution, and I was just happy to be back in the saddle again!
My setup has since morphed into what I have now, but I can't see going back. No one asks to ride my bike, and it tends to stay parked where I last left it.
My setup has since morphed into what I have now, but I can't see going back. No one asks to ride my bike, and it tends to stay parked where I last left it.