Gear Shifter Modification

[pekingduck]

Another Forum member asked about some particulars of a gear shift modification I posted in http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2938.

I like having the shift lever above my foot, others have their foot angled out alongside, even some above the shifter.

The first pic shows the foot positions above the shifter for downshift, and below for upshift. Changing between means you move your toes around the shift pedal tip, and articulate your ankle through a wide range of motion, about 35-40 degrees.

What I did was to add a little tab to the shifter for downshifts only, (seen in the pic above in red oval). The rubber shift lever tip would be for upshifts, though you could still use it for downshifts. The advantage is your foot is in the most comfortable position, and just a flick of the foot for up and down shifts. The feel becomes very natural and intuitive.

The next pic shows the ones I made for my 2013, then for my 2014 which I moved to my 2017, and the last for my Triumph Bonneville.


I made mine from scrap pieces, drilled into the shifter, and put a bend in the tab portion so it accommodates various shoe thicknesses. The bend is about 30mm from the drilled hole, but the measurements are just approximations.


You could bend the tab to suit, or even rotate the strap for best fit. I've used both 5mm and 6mm bolts and nuts. The rubber or the covering on the tab is not necessary at all. If I were to make another, I would move the bolt hole 10mm forward to give more clearance on the backside.

[the Ferret]

Interesting

[GoldOxide_imp]

Hmm, neat mod.

On some bikes, and possibly on the CB1100 - do you sometimes get your toes caught on knee-draggin' cornering?

[pekingduck]

Hmm, neat mod.

On some bikes, and possibly on the CB1100 - do you sometimes get your toes caught on knee-draggin' cornering?

On my Triumph, I actually scraped my boot a couple of times, which is what inspired me to do this mod. It allowed me to put the shifter a spline higher and still have a comfortable angle for downshifts. Haven't had the problem on the CB1100s, but always had this mod on them.

[j3gq_imp]

@pekingduck,
have a few questions ... one by one, while I try to copy your design.
For today only this: does the tab added somehow / ever interfere with operating the side stand,
in other words is it more difficult to get the side stand out ?

[pekingduck]

@pekingduck,
have a few questions ... one by one, while I try to copy your design.
For today only this: does the tab added somehow / ever interfere with operating the side stand,
in other words is it more difficult to get the side stand out ?

The tab doesn't get in the way of the sidestand, but I always have to look down for the sidestand tang, then kick it away with my heel. It's the only bike I have with the sidestand tang ahead of the footpeg

[GoldOxide_imp]

@pekingduck,
have a few questions ... one by one, while I try to copy your design.
For today only this: does the tab added somehow / ever interfere with operating the side stand,
in other words is it more difficult to get the side stand out ?

The tab doesn't get in the way of the sidestand, but I always have to look down for the sidestand tang, then kick it away with my heel. It's the only bike I have with the sidestand tang ahead of the footpeg

Does the custom shifter have a "name"?

Like, "King Shifter", or sumthin'?

It is sneaky.

[pekingduck]

@pekingduck,
have a few questions ... one by one, while I try to copy your design.
For today only this: does the tab added somehow / ever interfere with operating the side stand,
in other words is it more difficult to get the side stand out ?

The tab doesn't get in the way of the sidestand, but I always have to look down for the sidestand tang, then kick it away with my heel. It's the only bike I have with the sidestand tang ahead of the footpeg

Does the custom shifter have a "name"?

Like, "King Shifter", or sumthin'?

It is sneaky.

Does the custom shifter have a "name"?

Like, "King Shifter", or sumthin'?

It is sneaky.
I didn't originate this idea. Back in the mid-'70s, someone came out with a cast aluminum version with a wide pad for upshifts. It was called a "shif-Tee", and it's main selling point was that the wide pad on top would not scuff your dress shoes. The shop bought a couple to sell, don't know if they ever did, and never saw another on a bike.

Everyone is so familiar with the "single-point" shifter that this is the answer to the question nobody asked. (Well, one person asked). But after using it for years, it just seems so much easier and more logical. I tried adapting it to my V-Strom, but the lever length or pivot location wasn't right, never got it to work properly.