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Mar 2nd, 2007, 07:23 PM
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#1 | | 200+ posts and climbing
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 215
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I kinda like the look and the idea of up-shifting with the heel and down-shifting with the toe, or having the option of just using the forward lever like a stock shifter.
Anyone have anything goood or bad to say about these before I convert? (Does it get in the way of your left foot when cruising, etc.??)
This would be for my XLH 883 Piglet.
Thanks in advance! | 
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Mar 2nd, 2007, 07:50 PM
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#2 | | Moderator Has posted 500+
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 1,049 Model: 2004 E Glide Standard, Stage 1. Interests: Riding, fishing, hunting, camping, spending time with wife and daughter Occupation: Air Force Nurse
| I have heal/toe shifter for my bike.....(E Glide Standard).....not sure how it will work on the 883, but I know that it takes a day or 2 for getting used to it....NOW, am not sure I could go back to just toe shifting!!  One thing I like, is that now I am not carving up/dinging up the top of my shoes/boots with the toe lift. Tops of all footware is in great shape now days!! there is something like 11 or 12 inches (maybe a bit more) between shift pegs, so not in the way for me...now if you wear size 15 shoes.....not sure!..I would go to the stealer, sit on some of the floor bikes that HAVE it, see how your foot fits....then make sure that if/when you put it on piglet, that you get the same type of placement and lengths. | |
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Mar 2nd, 2007, 10:58 PM
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#3 | | Administrator Frequent Posting Club
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,213 Model: Harley FLHX Occupation: Web Developer by day, 25+ years of carb building by day, hey what happened to my day?!
| I have them on my Heritage but also have floor boards. Not sure how it would work on a sportster. I've riden for so many years with toe-only shifters that I've never really gotten into using the heel on this bike, even though its been on my ride for the past 4 years. | 
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Mar 2nd, 2007, 10:59 PM
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#4 | | Has posted 500+
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 782 Model: 2004 Yamaha FJR1300 Interests: riding... Occupation: RN
| I'd have to say it's personal preference. I had a heel/toe shifting on my Royal Star and got tired of not being able to put my left foot further back like my right foot when I got in the twisties and wanted to sit more upright with my feet more under my butt. I changed it to a toe shifter only and prefer it. My lady friend has a new Softtail Deluxe and she's only 5' tall..so really likes the heel/toe shifter now that she's gotten used to it..didn't like it at first because it was different. So it's really personal preference overall.
One thing to be wary of is the ability to upshift too hard with your heel and damage the internal workings of the shifter. You need to be able to just click it into gear and not jam it as it'll wear it out. Don't use too much force with your heel on a consistent basis. | |
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Mar 3rd, 2007, 05:40 AM
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#5 | | 200+ posts and climbing
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 215
| I appreciate all of the replies. As I thought, I did get a mixed bag because it is a personal preference thing.
My local Harley Stealership has free pizza at noon today, so I may use that as an excuse to sit on a ride and see what I think, but only by cruising for a few hours do I think I'd get the "real feel".
I too move my legs around a lot, sometimes even using the rear passenger pegs just to uncrink things. (I also have the forward controls and pegs which I find much more comfortable than the straight down pegs). I have a feeling that I may stay with what I have.
Thanks again. This group has never let me down and I really enjoy the polite replies!
Ride safe and watch out for road turtles! | |
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Mar 3rd, 2007, 06:16 AM
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#6 | | Moderator Has posted 500+
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,110
| mine came with heel/toe....eglide....after about 6 months i removed it for a toe only. i would hit it with my foot or catch it with my chaps....it never switched gears getting untangled with it, but.................
it is a personal preferance tho...... | |
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Mar 3rd, 2007, 01:42 PM
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#7 | | Has posted 500+
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 602
| I haven't taken mine off yet, probably should cause the only thing it doe is get in the way of moving my left foot around. I tried the heel thing but it's too much like work | |
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Mar 5th, 2007, 06:24 AM
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#8 | | Has posted 500+
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: middleburg, pa
Posts: 662 Model: 06 FLST hertiage, stage 1 1450 pc111 Interests: hunting,wood working Occupation: medical asst. tech/DPW
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i have them on my softtail and love them. they're really great for cruising wiih your feet up on the highway pegs. you just slap it down with with your heel | |
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Mar 5th, 2007, 06:48 AM
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#9 | | Has posted 500+
Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alvin TX
Posts: 1,475 Model: 03 E Glide X cop bike Interests: My family Old Dodge truck's Riding My Glide Occupation: Retired truck Driver
| I have them on my E glide , never use the heel to shift , but do use it to keep my foot from sliding back , so it stay's & i'am looking into the heel stop for my right foot ,
Do you have the heel rest for your forword controls ? My son had them on his wide glide & they are great for riding  | |
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Mar 5th, 2007, 09:33 AM
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#10 | | Moderator Has posted 500+
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Shores of Tonto Creek
Posts: 689 Interests: Guns, Hunting, Fishing, 4 wheeling and riding Occupation: Network Administrator
| I just have hiway pegs on mine and ride like they were forward controls. I up shift and down shift with my heel. Kinda hard to find nuetral thogh. I have to use my toe for that. | |
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Mar 5th, 2007, 11:05 AM
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#11 | | Moderator Has posted 500+
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,110
| i do that sometimes.....also use my heel for the rear brake..... | |
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Mar 5th, 2007, 06:22 PM
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#12 | | 200+ posts and climbing
Join Date: May 2006 Location: Galveston, Texas
Posts: 332 Interests: ridin my harley Occupation: constuction
| leave it to me, to be stuck in the middle.....
i took my heel shifter knob, and cut it more than half off,leaving just a nubb.gives me the room,to move my foot around,although i still use the toe shifter mainly, but i love the heel shift when finding or looking for neutral, lets just say,me finding neutral , somtimes leads to jesters and rude behavior!!!
TRG | |
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Mar 5th, 2007, 07:11 PM
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#13 | | Has posted 500+
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stanton, NJ
Posts: 1,287 Model: 04 Dyna WG (with a 240 rear tire) Interests: Harleys, drag racing, family, fishing, my rottweilers, the UFC Occupation: Carpenter/Builder
| I got forward controls on my Dyna and I put a set of heel rests on there as well. Don't know if I'd ever use the heel shifter though, too used to toe shiftin'..... | |
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Mar 6th, 2007, 05:03 AM
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#14 | | Moderator Has posted 500+
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,110
| many years ago, ya could tell a guy that rode his bike by looking at his left boot top......cant tell ya how many boots i went to due to wearing through the top of my left boot.... | |
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Mar 6th, 2007, 06:12 AM
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#15 | | Very Active Poster 50+
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chucktx  many years ago, ya could tell a guy that rode his bike by looking at his left boot top......cant tell ya how many boots i went to due to wearing through the top of my left boot.... | Hi All
I screwed some nice dress boots to on the old BMW. I would tie a rag on the shifter when I had to go someware slicked up.
Got a Question? What month will the 08 HD bikes come out.
Thanks Ted. | |
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Mar 10th, 2007, 03:07 AM
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#16 | | More than 100 posts!
Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 149 Model: 07 SE ROAD KING, 04 LOW RIDER Interests: MOTORCYCLES, NASCAR Occupation: TRUCKER , OWNER OPERATOR
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WHEN I BOUGHT MY RK I RODE AND RODE IT HOME THE FIRST THING I DID WAS TAKE THE HEEL SHIFTER OFF, I AGREE WITH SLEEPY IT GETS IN WAY , WITH IT OFF I CAN MOVE MY LEFT FOOT AROUND A WHOLE LOT MORE  | |
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Mar 10th, 2007, 03:57 PM
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#17 | | 200+ posts and climbing
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mankato, MN
Posts: 381 Interests: Motorcycles, Mountain bikes, guns, Hunting, fishing
| I LOVE having heel/toe shifting. I wouldn't want it any other way; but I wouldn't mind if the heel lever was back another inch or so.
For a bike with footpegs, I'd go with one of Dewey's 'heel hammer' shift levers... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adqfRuuPxsQ
scroll down the page and you will see them.  | |
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Mar 10th, 2007, 04:02 PM
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#18 | | 200+ posts and climbing
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mankato, MN
Posts: 381 Interests: Motorcycles, Mountain bikes, guns, Hunting, fishing
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Hi All
I screwed some nice dress boots to on the old BMW. I would tie a rag on the shifter when I had to go someware slicked up.
Got a Question? What month will the 08 HD bikes come out.
Thanks Ted. |
Ted, the new HD lineup comes out every year in August...just in time to unveil for Sturgis....you've only got a few more months to wait.  | |
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Mar 10th, 2007, 06:29 PM
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#19 | | Very Active Poster 50+
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 54
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Seahag Ted, the new HD lineup comes out every year in August...just in time to unveil for Sturgis....you've only got a few more months to wait. | Thanks Sea hag
tThat might be a good time to pick up an 07
Later ted | |
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Mar 13th, 2007, 02:45 PM
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#20 | | Has posted 500+
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: cheyenne wy
Posts: 756 Model: 06 flhxi Interests: family,fun, fast chrome Occupation: causing hate and discontent
| got the heel toe thang going but it took some getting used to I used the toe only for the first couple thousand then decided to try the heel and it does take some getting used to and I also agree it needs to be another inch or so back | |
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