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[Kidd_Funkadelic]

I've been thinking for awhile that I'd like to swap out the heel shifter linkage on my '12 SG for the '13 part. I've always felt it was too short and doesn't give my room enough play on the floorboard. I can from a Yamaha Road Star that extended back much further, which also allowed it to be configured lower as you could press down on it and it could go below the surface of the floorboard being behind it not over it.

Anway, I priced it out and at $70 decided last fall I wasn't quite ready for the expense.

I'm giving it another thought now. Can someone post an up close pic of the 2013 heel shifter so I can see how far back it goes? I have a Street Glide, though I assume the CVO heel shifters all look the same.

Thanks in advance.

[RetSUBLDO]

Here are a few views that may help.
My heel shifter will not clear the footboard.

Eric

[RetSUBLDO]

2

[RetSUBLDO]

3

[Kidd_Funkadelic]

Thanks! Now I need to go home and do a real close comparison to see if it's worth the cash

[blacktop]

Check out the HD website as well - you can zoom in on the picture (a bit).

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_CA/Motorcycles/cvo-ultra-classic-electra-glide.html#!gallery

[Kidd_Funkadelic]

Good point!

Comparing & zooming way in on the '12 and '13 right on the web site, it definitely appears that the shifter 1) looks exactly the same as far as style, and 2) the important part- the stock linkage height on the '13 is quite a bit lower indicating the extra length is enough that it falls behind the floorboard when pressed, which is what I'm looking for. I'm a bit short, so my heel is always against it when riding and wishing I could move back another inch or two like my right foot... (If only it wasn't friggin' $70!)

[GregKhougaz]

... the important part- the stock linkage height on the '13 is quite a bit lower indicating the extra length is enough that it falls behind the floorboard when pressed, which is what I'm looking for. I'm a bit short, so my heel is always against it when riding and wishing I could move back another inch or two like my right foot...

Kidd,
It is easy to adjust the height of the front and rear shifters. Take a closer look at the two allen bolts that hold the shifters to the shifter hub. If you loosen and or remove those bolts, you can either remove the shifters and reinstall at your prefered angles or sometimes you can just rotate them.  if you can get a bike off the ground, you can reinstall the bolts upside down for a cleaner look.  If you do make sure you use Loctite.  Hope this helps.

GK

[grc]

The easiest and cheapest way to deal with the problem is to eliminate the heel shifter completely.  No more worries with foot placement, no more jabs in the ankle, etc. 

Jerry

[Kidd_Funkadelic]

Kidd,
It is easy to adjust the height of the front and rear shifters. Take a closer look at the two allen bolts that hold the shifters to the shifter hub. If you loosen and or remove those bolts, you can either remove the shifters and reinstall at your prefered angles or sometimes you can just rotate them.  if you can get a bike off the ground, you can reinstall the bolts upside down for a cleaner look.  If you do make sure you use Loctite.  Hope this helps.

GK

Thanks, I've done this already, lowering as much as possible but the issue is two fold on the '12 - One you can't go much lower than it comes stock or the shifter hits the floorboard before you change gears, and two, it's not far enough back for my foot to comfortably lay where I'd like it to. I must not have been the only one, as in '13 they made the length of the linkage longer.

Ideally, w/ it behind the floorboard, I can rest my foot more where I want, and also can lower the shifter height even more so that I don't have to lift my heel very much and the gear shift occurs just barely before my foot comes back to floorboard height if you know what I mean. This makes the heel shift operation feel more 'effortless' if you know what I mean. Not that it's hard now but it felt more 'natural' on my old bike.... It's all about the little things

[Kidd_Funkadelic]

The easiest and cheapest way to deal with the problem is to eliminate the heel shifter completely.  No more worries with foot placement, no more jabs in the ankle, etc. 

Jerry

You have a point as far as foot placement, but at the end of the day I like the heel shifter too much to give up!

[Cvo dude]

The 12 and 13 shifter linkage is the same. I have a 12 and was looking at the 13 this last weekend only change is the floorboards but I don't think there any shorter. There are companies out there that make what your lolling for but IMHO pretty pricey.

[Cvostu]

I always take off the rear shifter.   First mod I do.   

[Kidd_Funkadelic]

The 12 and 13 shifter linkage is the same. I have a 12 and was looking at the 13 this last weekend only change is the floorboards but I don't think there any shorter. There are companies out there that make what your lolling for but IMHO pretty pricey.

I don't think that's accurate.  I only figured this out from the Harley site directly last fall. The dealership has confirmed the part number changed in '13, and I just double checked. This is a direct quote in the RG CVO features in the Comfort sub-section:

"New for 2013, we've added even more comfort with a redesigned extended reach heel shift lever that makes getting through the gears quick and easy and gives your foot more room on the left-side board."

Edit: Look here: http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/cvo-road-glide-custom.html#!keyFeatures

[grc]

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