View Poll Results: do you use heel shifter?
yes
678
58.55%
no
381
32.90%
sometimes
99
8.55%
Voters: 1158. You may not vote on this poll
do you use heel shifter?
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Took it off when I first bought the bike, then using the toe only started wearing on my boot ( could be a badge of honor but paid too much for the boots ). I bought the folding heel shifter and have it at the lowest position. This seems to work good. I much prefer a heel shift.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Originally removed it because it cramped my foot (if I wanted to keep my feet in one spot I'd put on foot pegs). When I installed the Harley Goodies floorboard extenders I put it back on because it gave me more room.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: germany
Being in the military and riding to work every day...I use the heal shifter every day....I push down with my heal to up shift and push down with my toe to down shift.....that way my boots don't get scuffed on the toe.....it took about a week to get used to it.....but after that it's a muscle memory thing....I love the heal shifter.......
I rode dirt bikes for many years and it was a little awkward at first.....but it didn't take as long as I thought to get used to it.....now I love it.....
I rode dirt bikes for many years and it was a little awkward at first.....but it didn't take as long as I thought to get used to it.....now I love it.....
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From:
I'd be curious how the responses break down by height. I didn't read the whole thread so maybe this was already brought up.
I'm 6'6" and will never use it. Gonna remove it when I order my extended shifter. My 5'8" buddy uses it a lot.
I'm 6'6" and will never use it. Gonna remove it when I order my extended shifter. My 5'8" buddy uses it a lot.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Heel shifter? Are you kidding?
Heel shifters trap your foot in ONE position. Heel shifters require the heel to be raised, resulting in a very un-natural motion and feel. You have much less dexterity shifting when using a heel shifter. You cannot shift as fast using a heel shifter, and you have less feel for how the transmission is shifting. Bottom line, there is no good reason for a heel shifter. Why don't world champion riders use heel shifters? Gimme a break. Usually the only folks using a heel shifter are those guys that don't know now to take it off in the first place...or guys that use it cause their "buddies" use it. Or guys that simply do unexplainable things.
This is of course simply my humble, albeit correct , opinion on the subject.
Heel shifters trap your foot in ONE position. Heel shifters require the heel to be raised, resulting in a very un-natural motion and feel. You have much less dexterity shifting when using a heel shifter. You cannot shift as fast using a heel shifter, and you have less feel for how the transmission is shifting. Bottom line, there is no good reason for a heel shifter. Why don't world champion riders use heel shifters? Gimme a break. Usually the only folks using a heel shifter are those guys that don't know now to take it off in the first place...or guys that use it cause their "buddies" use it. Or guys that simply do unexplainable things.
This is of course simply my humble, albeit correct , opinion on the subject.
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