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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?

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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 08:40 PM
  #121  
Port Dawg's Avatar
Port Dawg
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
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My first heel/toe shifter was on my VTX. Coming off of a sportbike it took a day or so to get used to it...I like it a lot now.

Leaving the dealership the first day I got the VTX I looked like PeeWee Herman tooling down the road...all that was missing was going through a billboard.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 08:44 PM
  #122  
pargenz's Avatar
pargenz
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,183
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From: Fennario
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Originally Posted by Lowcountry Joe
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.
You're right lowjoe... those are your opinions.

How many positions do you keep your foot in now that you don't have a heel shifter?

I know how to remove it, I choose not to. I don't care who uses it or not.

World champion touring bike riders?
I'll agree that you wouldn't have one on a sportbike...

It works for me... obviously it doesn't for you.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 08:49 PM
  #123  
TxCowboy's Avatar
TxCowboy
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 600
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From: La Vernia (San Antonio), Texas
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Originally Posted by Harley99
Took mine off,and put a cover over the shaft,
Found the part number for the heel/toe shifter shaft cover.

It is 35471-05.
 

Last edited by TxCowboy; Oct 30, 2010 at 10:06 PM.
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 08:51 PM
  #124  
Teardrop's Avatar
Teardrop
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 20
From: Salem, Or
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This is my 3rd bike that has come with a heal shifter. I wouldn't own a bike without one.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 09:05 PM
  #125  
FloridaFLHX's Avatar
FloridaFLHX
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 931
Likes: 11
From: Orlando, FL
Default

Originally Posted by Harley99
Took mine off,and put a cover over the shaft,
Me too. Sprained my ankle. Kinda wish it was still on there now. But the ankle will get better, so I'm leaving it off.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 09:07 PM
  #126  
TheRainMan's Avatar
TheRainMan
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 190
Likes: 2
From: Milton, Georgia, USA
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Got used to it a couple of bikes back - wouldn't/coudn't go back to the toe scraper. It's the way these bikes roll...
 
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 09:11 PM
  #127  
KutenFLHX's Avatar
KutenFLHX
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 585
Likes: 3
From: Holland, Ohio
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I use mine. I've got bad ankles which makes it hard to shift without it (ankle doesn't bend much anymore)
 
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 09:14 PM
  #128  
xdanman's Avatar
xdanman
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont,SC
Default re

I use it!! That doesnt make me some kind of wuss does it?

I dont care!!!!
 
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 09:21 PM
  #129  
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RKC Traveler
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From: N. Chelmsford, MA
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Use it all the time. The stock position was awkward but after adjusting the heel end downward it's fine.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2010 | 10:57 PM
  #130  
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spuddogg
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From: Abilene, KS
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Use mine most of the time. The toe shifter doesnt feel right to me with the floor board, maybe i need some adjusting too
 
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