heel toe shifter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I'm riding a Street Bob and this weekend I rode several demo bikes that have the heel toe shifter. I found that I had to pick up my leg and move it back in order to put my heel on the shifter, also i found that my feet were extended further forewords than I am used to, which made up shifting with my toe "unFun"
Back in the 60s, I would go rent bikes in Corpus and they also had the HT shifters; however all that I did was pivot on the ball of my foot and I could easily use my heel on the shifter.
My question is; is the "normal" method really having to raise my leg up to be able to shift, or would there be some sort of adjustments made to be able to simply pivot my foot to reach that heel shift lets say on a Heritage and wearing EMT boots?
Thanks for any advice.
Back in the 60s, I would go rent bikes in Corpus and they also had the HT shifters; however all that I did was pivot on the ball of my foot and I could easily use my heel on the shifter.
My question is; is the "normal" method really having to raise my leg up to be able to shift, or would there be some sort of adjustments made to be able to simply pivot my foot to reach that heel shift lets say on a Heritage and wearing EMT boots?
Thanks for any advice.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 710
Likes: 7
From: Colorado
I'm riding a Street Bob and this weekend I rode several demo bikes that have the heel toe shifter. I found that I had to pick up my leg and move it back in order to put my heel on the shifter, also i found that my feet were extended further forewords than I am used to, which made up shifting with my toe "unFun"
Back in the 60s, I would go rent bikes in Corpus and they also had the HT shifters; however all that I did was pivot on the ball of my foot and I could easily use my heel on the shifter.
My question is; is the "normal" method really having to raise my leg up to be able to shift, or would there be some sort of adjustments made to be able to simply pivot my foot to reach that heel shift lets say on a Heritage and wearing EMT boots?
Thanks for any advice.
Back in the 60s, I would go rent bikes in Corpus and they also had the HT shifters; however all that I did was pivot on the ball of my foot and I could easily use my heel on the shifter.
My question is; is the "normal" method really having to raise my leg up to be able to shift, or would there be some sort of adjustments made to be able to simply pivot my foot to reach that heel shift lets say on a Heritage and wearing EMT boots?
Thanks for any advice.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 28
From: Living in open carry state :D
That is because from the factory they are mounted like 4" above the footboard. I moved mine and now it is easy to shift.
I'm riding a Street Bob and this weekend I rode several demo bikes that have the heel toe shifter. I found that I had to pick up my leg and move it back in order to put my heel on the shifter, also i found that my feet were extended further forewords than I am used to, which made up shifting with my toe "unFun"
Back in the 60s, I would go rent bikes in Corpus and they also had the HT shifters; however all that I did was pivot on the ball of my foot and I could easily use my heel on the shifter.
My question is; is the "normal" method really having to raise my leg up to be able to shift, or would there be some sort of adjustments made to be able to simply pivot my foot to reach that heel shift lets say on a Heritage and wearing EMT boots?
Thanks for any advice.
Back in the 60s, I would go rent bikes in Corpus and they also had the HT shifters; however all that I did was pivot on the ball of my foot and I could easily use my heel on the shifter.
My question is; is the "normal" method really having to raise my leg up to be able to shift, or would there be some sort of adjustments made to be able to simply pivot my foot to reach that heel shift lets say on a Heritage and wearing EMT boots?
Thanks for any advice.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 403
Likes: 14
From: Tennessee
I picked up an extended shift lever from ebay and now I have plenty of room for my size 14 boots. 
Blue Loctite and no worries.
Blue Loctite and no worries.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: Fly Over Country
Ditto....
Any helpful hints??
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 8
From: General Sherman's Christmas Location 1864
No big deal.
I took mine off to give a good cleaning over the winter.
Found a few washers and cut a rubber spacer out of a piece of heater hose.
It's still loose enough to move without linkage hooked up, but no rattle at all.
plus I packed it with grease as it looked like it was starving for lubrication.
I took mine off to give a good cleaning over the winter.
Found a few washers and cut a rubber spacer out of a piece of heater hose.
It's still loose enough to move without linkage hooked up, but no rattle at all.
plus I packed it with grease as it looked like it was starving for lubrication.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 698
Likes: 13
Had a HT shifter on my last three bikes since 2000 and never had any issues with them. None ever came lose or fell off.
Course I do check them every time I clean the bike. My latest bike I did have to put an additional urethane spacer I made at work on there. But that was just for my own peace of mind.
Course I do check them every time I clean the bike. My latest bike I did have to put an additional urethane spacer I made at work on there. But that was just for my own peace of mind.