Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[deldago]

Just wondering if it does any harm leaving your foot resting on the heel shifter after shifting and keeping it in the down position after completing a shift. Some background: I had back surgery last year to fix a bulging disc that was causing sciatica and drop foot. The sciatica is gone with a lot of the pain but the numbness and drop foot persist so I  have to use the heel shifter as my foot just slips out from under the shifter if I try to use the front shifter. I have started to make a habit of leaving my foot on the shifter after making my last upshift and just want to know of any potential problem with doing this. Any input would be appreciated, don't want to make a habit that could potentially cause undue wear down the road.

[timtoolman]

I'd say it would put pressure on the shifting forks and cause premature wear. Not a good thing

[Cvostu]

I don't use the heal shifter at all. . But I wouldn't think that would be a good thing to do. . I wouldn't do that. . Stuart. 

[ACfixer]

If you wear yours out, you can have mine. I have them stacked like firewood in my garage attic.

[OBB]

Does your bike have black or chrome shifters? I have an extended chrome heel shifter that came off my '11 in the garage if that will give you more room if you need/can move your leg around.

[Cvostu]

I get rid of mine for just that reason. . . 

[2k]

As a old fart, while I can't speak for all..........senior citizen's love the "Heel-Toe shuffle

[skycat]

Heel shifter was removed as soon as i got the bike home. I hate them......

[ultrarider123]

To answer the question, it is not a good idea to rest your foot on or ride with your foot on the heel shifter.

On the discussion for the use of a heel shifter, I personally enjoy the heel/toe shift.  While some may remove their heel shifter, I reposition/lower the toe shifter making it easier to heel/toe shift.  It is my preference and has been for years long before (as Jimmy stated) I became an "old fart"....

[JCZ]

To answer the question, it is not a good idea to rest your foot on or ride with your foot on the heel shifter.

On the discussion for the use of a heel shifter, I personally enjoy the heel/toe shift.  While some may remove their heel shifter, I reposition/lower the toe shifter making it easier to heel/toe shift.  It is my preference and has been for years long before (as Jimmy stated) I became an "old fart"....

I do the same.  It's a whole lot easer (and faster) to lift the heel 1/2" than to lift the left leg pulling up with the toe.  Been doing it since my 86 Heritage but maybe that was in preperation for becoming an old fart. 

[grc]

I wasn't aware it was necessary to lift your entire leg to make an upshift with your toe JC.  I just slide my toe under the lever and lift my toes upward by pivoting my ankle.   

I've removed heel shifters on every bike I've owned that came with one, going back to my first bike in 1966.  That one was cast in one piece so removing it involved a hacksaw.  It's all in what people get used to, but I absolutely cringe when I see (and hear) people stomping on the heel shifter as they shift up through the gears.  I assume these are the same people who complain about poor shifting and noisy transmissions, and somehow think abusing the shift linkage, shift forks, and gears is going to make things better.

As for the original post, I would not ride with my foot on either the heel or the toe lever.  Doing so keeps the shift forks pressing against the shift rings.  If it's a case of having difficulty actually lifting your foot, I remember seeing a system that uses the footboard as the shift lever.  In other words, the foot just sits on the board and you rock it forward to downshift and rock it rearward to upshift.  I just can't remember where I saw it, but I'm pretty sure we discussed it around here in the past few years.  Anyone?

Jerry

[deldago]

Thanks for the input guys, just didn't want to get into a bad habit. I too have always removed the heel shifter for more room to move my foot around but with this foot drop me ankle does not have the strength to lift the front of my foot at all. I tried to lift my whole foot up off the floorboard to shift but the resistance of the shifter just causes my foot to droop and slide out from under the shifter. The first time I rode after release from my doctor I pulled out of the driveway and started down the road and when it was time to upshift I found it impossible. I pulled back in the driveway and my wife said that sure was a short ride, I TOLD YOU YOUR BACK WASN'T READY! After explaining that I just came back to put the heel shifter back on that made her feel much better. Maybe a jockey shifter is in order, and while I am at it, a sidecar.

[timo482]

i have been using a heel shifter since my 77.

i have problems with my left foot sort of going to sleep when riding - [one of the reasons i run a sidecar] and toe shifting is real difficult when the foot checks out.  i can always feel the foot - just can't do much with it every so often.

almost always limp about 4 steps after i get out of a truck and can walk a mile with no issues after the four steps. so for me a heel shifter is a godsend.

still want a hand shift on my sidecar bike - but nothing is even sort of right... *sigh*

to

[Dan_Lockwood]

If you haven't had a ruptured disc and droop foot, it's hard to understand the issue.

I blew a disc and was in tremendous pain.  I went to the doc and it was a wait and see for me.  I still have the blown disc that's like eating a jelly donut and have the jelly squirt out the side and just stay there.  This was back in '00 and it's eventually gotten better, but I still have a slight cadence difference if I'm wearing hard sole shoes and walking on a hard surface, you can hear the difference between the two feet.

In my case it was my right foot.  I had just finished my '40 Willys coupe and when driving it to let off the gas I had to literally lift my whole leg to slow down.  I could not lift my toes with any force at all.  Most people can stand on their heels and have the ball of their feet lifted up off the surface.  Even today I can only do this with my left foot.  My right will still have just a bit of down pressure.  Just after the blown disc and a little rehab, I went to many car shows.  Most were in mowed grass lots next to larger venues.  When I walked around early I'd get back to my Willys and my left foot would be nice and dry, but my right foot would be all wet on the toe and top of the foot.  The foot was dragging in the dewy grass.

So for the OP, raising the toes is impossible.  The ONLY option is to use the heel shifter and for him it's lift the whole leg to do it.

I agree with the heel resting on the shifter after the shift, it will wear out the shift forks.  In the old days with floor 4 speeds, a lot of people used to cruise with their hand on the shifter.  It was a great source of income to the dealership I worked at.  It took out many shift forks.

On my old '76 FLH, the 4 speed has a VERY long shift stroke.  I used only the toe for years and always had to lift my leg to get the up shift to happen.  I just recently went back to a toe/heel shifter and it's MUCH easier to shift the old best.

Sorry for rambling guys...

[JCZ]

Jerry at 6'4" I want my feet to go as far forward on the floorboards as possible.  That means my front shifter rod is pretty high.  That coupled with the foot damage from my accident means I have to lift from the hip. 

It sounds like you have your forward shifter arm resting just above your toes.  Even before my accident....with long legs that was never a comfortable position but I can understand where it might be for a person with shorter legs.