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Scrolling around, looking for old bike parts, I came across this picture. It’s claimed to be a heel shifter.
I thought it was interesting and, odd at the same time.
Not to mention, worth sharing. Thoughts?
Pretty popular on street bikes, semi auto quads, and trikes. Could see it working for sand drags but would be a big limiter in moto.
I’ve never seen it before. It was on a KDX.
Been around for years....
That would work great for supercross, Ask Tomac
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Obviously it's just a concept stolen from a ct110 or similar. But I've seen it a couple times on mx or road bikes. Old dudes with a bad knee or ankle that can't lift there toe. Easier with a heel.
I was just trying to figure out a practical use for it in MX.
I could see Tomac using it through the whoops now, that you mentioned it lol.
I've never seen one on a "dirt bike".
My Softail Springer had a toe/heel shifter (as do most Harleys)
Yeah pre 2019 all FL models came standard with a heel toe. 2019-current they do not. Also went away with the hydraulic clutch.
If I’m not mistaken the bike in your picture is an FLSTB which also came standard with them.
Did you use the heel shifter much? I always took mine off.
Crazy the value some FL springers and FX springers still bring! Cool bike for sure.
I had a crash in late 2014 that left me with nerve damage in my left lower leg. I have very little dorsal flexion now, so I cannot shift gears traditionally any longer
I have been using my heel to pull up the gear shifter for years now. I'd love to give this a try!!.
I saw that for the first time like 3years back, shift down at the front and up with the heel, gf had a old honda vespa from the 90s. I was blown away just like you 😆. They seem to be normal in south East Asia.
I agree with the street bikes and don’t forget the semi auto trail bikes. But I don’t think it has a spot in sand drags. Would be just as much of a limiter as moto.
Necer seen it on a dirtbike, but definitely have seennit on many Harleys
I stand corrected, I did not know they stopped with the heel/toe shifters starting @ 2019. I pretty much lost interest with HD after they stopped manufacturing the Springer models. Damn shame. The Crossbones model was the FLSTSB. I customized mine quite a bit. It did come with the heel toe shifter and yes, I used it/loved it. Sold it in 2020 and got a very pretty coin for it, I can only imagine what they're going for now.
Probably should have kept it....that bike got so much attention everywhere I went, people always asking questions about it and taking pictures.
What it looked like off the floor.
After the custom bug got a hold of me...
This is something I would really like in concept, but doesn't seem like it would be practical on a dirt bike (probably too easy to accidentally upshift). I'm not really an aftermarket gadget guy but I would pay good money for a left thumb controlled upshift button/lever (no idea how something like that would or could be done from a technical perspective).
Shift kits have been around for quite some time. Don’t know if you have seen any drag bikes but almost every one has some kind of clutchless shifting at the touch of a button.
Looks like they make them, but not sure for which bikes. This pic is obviously not a dirt bike.
https://www.cyclegear.com/parts/dynojet-power-commander-v-quick-shifter…
Why wouldn't you use an air shifter on a sand drag bike, or any drag bike?
Money. The serious guys run air shifters but there's guys out there using a heel toe.
Pit Row
I’d never go back in time, the only way I wouldn’t run an air shifter is if I was running an auto-shift trans or possibly an override. Although I’d still run one with the override and just eliminate the engine kill.
Yep, would put a crimp in riding on the balls of your feet. Maybe work fine for someone with limited ROM due to some kind of ankle injury?
Very nice Briggs and Statton😘
break your ankle and then have ankle joint fused. then u see where the idea come from
Hahaha the old "Nobber 90s" god I had some fun on those as a kid, wish I had saved them now instead of trashing them, worth a fortune!
My 1974 Honda ST90 has a heel shifter. It's really handy when you're in flip flops
Post a reply to: Have you guys seen this before? Heel shifter.