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I wear size 12 boots and I use the heal shifter. I have been riding since I was 8 years old and bought my 1st Harley at age 52. I couldn't believe anybody would use it but after two weeks I fell in love with it..................and when I test drove a Victory at a demo day I really missed it.
I've always had the floorboard extenders (moves them out) but after 6 years I have put an extended lever on the heal/rear part and I really like it with my size 12 foot.
It does become second nature. Had it on my last bike once I got used to it I couldn't imagine not having one. Funny thing is when I bought my (new to me) EG didn't even think to look at the shifter...well of course on my first test ride shifting from 1st to 2nd...down goes my heel and WOAH!! No heel shifter!! The previous owner removed it. Thankfully this guy was retired and came to the dealer once or twice a week to have coffee with the guys and he was able to drop off the shifter to my sales guy. I did position it a bit lower than normal when re-installing it. Plus my riding boots are steel toed and sometimes that makes it hard to fit under the toe shifter. Positioning the toe shifter up to easily clear the steel toe made it feel awkward lifting up that high to downshift. So I'm a Plus 1 for the heel shifter but to each his (or her) own and our Scoots STILL scoot with either one or both shifters!
I use mine! I lowered both the toe and the heel as far as possible, I barely have to lift my foot to shift. Comfy for me. I have friends that hate them, to each his own.
Hated mine at first and was going to take it off then started using it and now love it...as for strain on the linkage using the rear, that's probably true but I have added a grease fitting to my primary so I can easily lube the pivot point and check the linkage regularly. 50k and fine so far.
I love the heel shifter for bikes with floorboards, if the bike had pegs, I'm not so sure. My Ultra was the first bike that had it. It took about a day to get used to it.
For those that say the heel shifter portion puts too much stress on the shifter shaft and splines, try lowering it a spline or two....makes all the difference in the world. It's only natural the higher you half to lift your heel to start the shift, the faster and harder you will come down on it.
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