Heel toe
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 534
Likes: 321
From: Tampa FL
You have to try it more than once to get used to it.
You have to do it, not talk yourself out of it.
Just because you guys never got used to it doesnt mean the OP shouldnt get a heel shifter. It takes a few rides to get used to it but once you do, you wont want to give it up. From your posts neither of you guys gave it a fair chance.
You have to do it, not talk yourself out of it.
Just because you guys never got used to it doesnt mean the OP shouldnt get a heel shifter. It takes a few rides to get used to it but once you do, you wont want to give it up. From your posts neither of you guys gave it a fair chance.
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 565
Likes: 471
From: Sapulpa, OKlahoma
I've been firmly in the heel-toe shifter camp since 2005 when I bought my first touring bike that came with one and I've put one on every bike I've owned since. I get that it's purely personal preference but for me it's just easier to use, especially once I got used to it and had it adjusted properly.
I recently replaced the H-D heel shift lever on my 2021 Ultra Limited with an extended shift lever from SoftBrake that's 1.5" longer than stock. With the extended length the heel shift peg now sits farther back, giving my foot more room on the floorboard, and slightly lower, which reduces how high I have to raise my heel to catch the shifter.
I recently replaced the H-D heel shift lever on my 2021 Ultra Limited with an extended shift lever from SoftBrake that's 1.5" longer than stock. With the extended length the heel shift peg now sits farther back, giving my foot more room on the floorboard, and slightly lower, which reduces how high I have to raise my heel to catch the shifter.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,168
From: SE Michigan
I've been firmly in the heel-toe shifter camp since 2005 when I bought my first touring bike that came with one and I've put one on every bike I've owned since. I get that it's purely personal preference but for me it's just easier to use, especially once I got used to it and had it adjusted properly.
I recently replaced the H-D heel shift lever on my 2021 Ultra Limited with an extended shift lever from SoftBrake that's 1.5" longer than stock. With the extended length the heel shift peg now sits farther back, giving my foot more room on the floorboard, and slightly lower, which reduces how high I have to raise my heel to catch the shifter.
I recently replaced the H-D heel shift lever on my 2021 Ultra Limited with an extended shift lever from SoftBrake that's 1.5" longer than stock. With the extended length the heel shift peg now sits farther back, giving my foot more room on the floorboard, and slightly lower, which reduces how high I have to raise my heel to catch the shifter.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 859
From: B.C.
I made a conscious effort to use the heel. Did it feel awkward? Hell yeah, but I kept going. After a couple of weeks or rides (cant remember) I became used to it.
I have never heard of anyone who regularly used the heel and toe say they wanted to switch to the toe only. I know someone with an old injury who cant upshift with the toe.
If you are going to try, do not stomp on the heel. Just a light click.
One of lifes little pleasures.
Thread Starter
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Stage IV
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 4
Likes: 7
From: OH
Heel toe
I toe shifted for years also and still do if I am on something without the heel.
I made a conscious effort to use the heel. Did it feel awkward? Hell yeah, but I kept going. After a couple of weeks or rides (cant remember) I became used to it.
I have never heard of anyone who regularly used the heel and toe say they wanted to switch to the toe only. I know someone with an old injury who cant upshift with the toe.
If you are going to try, do not stomp on the heel. Just a light click.
One of lifes little pleasures.
I made a conscious effort to use the heel. Did it feel awkward? Hell yeah, but I kept going. After a couple of weeks or rides (cant remember) I became used to it.
I have never heard of anyone who regularly used the heel and toe say they wanted to switch to the toe only. I know someone with an old injury who cant upshift with the toe.
If you are going to try, do not stomp on the heel. Just a light click.
One of lifes little pleasures.
Last edited by GinCincy; May 6, 2023 at 07:34 AM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Went and looked up your bikes shifter, it should be a two-piece unit.
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...davidsonmc/40#
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...davidsonmc/40#
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,214
From: San Diego, CA
It would all depend on the sizes and spacing of the two shifter assemblies involved.....
You would have to compare the measurements between the two....
There is no guarantee that the shafts needed are the same length, diameter, and the splines are spaced properly, for the two shifter assemblies to be interchangeable....
The newer system would not only need to fit the older mounting, but it would need to be the right size to allow for proper alignment of the shift shaft to the transmission shift arm. If it fit, but didn't align properly, you could have some binding that would cause shifting issues.
I'm not saying it couldn't work, but that you need to compare the parts and their measurements carefully to decide if it is feasible....
Good luck with your decision and your mod...
NOTE: You may want to spend some time checking things on an online parts finder. On a quick check, the parts list posted by foxtrapper for your year/model bike, uses the same shaft between the forward gear shift levers as a 2005 Electra Glide... That's promising, and worth looking into...
Last edited by hattitude; May 6, 2023 at 08:36 AM.
Supporter
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 4,844
From: Colorado
Went and looked up your bikes shifter, it should be a two-piece unit.
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...davidsonmc/40#
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...davidsonmc/40#
As foxtrapper said:
