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1st Harley - Started out of the parking lot in 1st and put my big size 12 boots on the footboard - hit the heal shifter and popped it in second without even using the clutch. Supprised the heck out of me so the first thing I did when I got home was remove the darn thing. Lots more room without it.
After 35 years of non-HD bikes, I don't think I could get used to it. On long rides I'm always adjusting my feet position and the lever was just in the way. So I trashed it.
Tried using it, but when I had to start thinking about which one to push down figured wasn't worth it and off it came. down shifted when was trying to upshift didn't like that feeling, luckily was just from 3rd to 2nd.
Depends on which bike I'm on.... When I first got my FLH I was returning from work, and as I slowly rolled into the garage my left pant leg got caught on the heal shifter and I could not free it. as we came to a stop, the bike & myself slowly rolled to the left and down to the concrete floor. I pulled that heal shifter off & it now lives in a box on my workbench. I will use the heal shifter on my TriGlide now & then just to keep options open.
I started riding 42 years ago at the age of 14 on motorcross bikes. Lots of hard enduro riding on an old Yamaha 175cc. I put that bike in too many tight places and relied on quick accurate shifting. So to switch to a heel shifter is really like teaching the old dog a new trick. The response action on an upshift is just too ingrained in my brain. It just does not seem right. Plus, I like more room on the floorboards.
Tried using it, but when I had to start thinking about which one to push down figured wasn't worth it and off it came. down shifted when was trying to upshift didn't like that feeling, luckily was just from 3rd to 2nd.
What he said +1
For some reason back in my roadracing days I was able to adapt to reverse (aka GP) shifting on my racebike - after the first race never missed a shift. But the HD heel shifter thing completely throws me for a loop - can never remember which way is up.
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