View Poll Results: Do You Give A Shift????
Yes Heel Shifter
238
58.05%
No Heel Shifter
172
41.95%
Voters: 410. You may not vote on this poll
Do you Give A Shift????
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 130
From: Now Western TN
I use it all the time. I really don't understand the reasoning behind needing more room on the floorboard, if I put my foot back where the heel shifter was my knees would be bent up underneath me, but I'm 6'1" and maybe the shorter leg guys feel comfortable that way.
Heck, I wish I could get rid of the toe shifter to give me more room up front
Heck, I wish I could get rid of the toe shifter to give me more room up front
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
I've used heel-toe shifters since my first Gold Wing in '86 and I had to add it myself because it's not standard on Wings. My RKC is adjusted to make toe shifting easy and I find that I don't use the heel shifter that much anymore. It depends mainly on the shoes I'm wearing so I use the heel shifter with tennis or dress shoes and the toe shifter with boots. Since I wear western boots the heel is tall enough that it requires a little extra effort to lift it over the heel lever.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 983
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
heel shifter YES
When I test rode my first bagger in 97 it took all of 2 miles and less than five minutes to fall in love with the heel shifter.
I have been riding since 1967, on metrics till 93 when I got a Dyna
So it didn't take long for this old dog to learn something new.
1966 CB160 Honda
1972 H2 Kawasaki (750 triple)
1976 Honda Goldwing
1993 FXDWG
1997 FLHTCU
2002 FLHTCU
2006 FLHXI (won it :-))
2008 FLHTCU
I have been riding since 1967, on metrics till 93 when I got a Dyna
So it didn't take long for this old dog to learn something new.
1966 CB160 Honda
1972 H2 Kawasaki (750 triple)
1976 Honda Goldwing
1993 FXDWG
1997 FLHTCU
2002 FLHTCU
2006 FLHXI (won it :-))
2008 FLHTCU
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: White House, Tennessee
The original heel/toe shifter was originally designed for the police bikes. The police needed someway to keep from scuffing their hand polished boots. They were constintly scuffing their toe while upshifting. Harley put on the heel shifter to avoid the scuff marks on their boots. Now that there are clorifram style boots that dont scuff it isnt a big deal but the legacy still continues on.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 7
From: The Great Northwest
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 997
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte, N.C.
I prefer not to have one. Plus i think its harder on the shift linkage, I noticed b4 i took it off when i kicked with the heel shifter i was kicking a little too hard esp when i was on a power run really gettin into it, I think this is the reason the stock shifter rod breaks on so many of these tourers
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
Just read 9 pages and find it hard to believe I am the only one to mention the practical use (for me). Scenario is you are coming to a red light and have already shifted into neutral but light turns green. If I try to shift up to second or even third with my toe shifter I have to grind it. By tapping with my heel it goes very easily into the gear I want.
