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Which do you like better; Toe shifters, or Heel-Toe shifters?
Hi folks, for those folks who have used both just toe shifters and heel-toe shifters, which do you like better please?
Last edited by Peter Aawen; 04-20-2024 at 03:37 PM.
Reason: Expanded title to briefly ask the question... ;-)
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I prefer heel/toe. Took a couple years to find one and boards for our 2013 RT. Rivco came through in 2015(?) with some. Was not much available in 2014.
2021 F3 Limited.
Sold but missed, Our 2013 RTS "Evil '13".
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Very Active Member
I don't like them. But it's like nearly everything else. It just depends on the person.
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Very Active Member
I am a foot pegs and toe shift guy. Probably because my preference has always leaned towards sportier machines instead of the large touring rigs.
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Very Active Member
2022 Petrol Metallic RT Limited
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I was going to put a heel to toe on a Goldwing some years ago and was at the shop talking to the mechanics and he said he seem people have transmission problems because of them because the way they would put more pressure on the lever not realizing the we're doing it and also rest there foot on the shifter so I didn't put one on don't know if he was right but he had been working on GW for years and was very good
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Very Active Member
I have a "dead" left foot from the ankle forward. I had to give up playing the steel guitar because I could no longer work the foot pedals with my left foot. The SE transmission on the spyder was "friendly" to my situation.
My last two wheeler had heel/toe. That made it easy for me to shift through the gears by putting the weight of my heel on the shifter. Eventually though I had to give up the two wheeler altogether because I could no longer support the bike with the dead left foot.
For me, I liked the heel/toe shifter method. I only had one SM transmission. My first Spyder a 2008 SM/5. Heel/toe shifters were not available at that time, but it was before my foot went dead.
Last edited by ARtraveler; 04-20-2024 at 05:33 PM.
Currently Owned: 2019 F3 Limited, 2020 F3 Limited: SOLD BOTH LIMITEDS in October of 2023.
Previously : 2008 GS-SM5 (silver), 2009 RS-SE5 (red), 2010 RT-S Premier Editon #474 (black) 2011 RT A&C SE5 (magnesium) 2014 RTS-SE6 (yellow)
MY FINAL TALLY: 7 Spyders, 15 years, 205,500 miles
IT HAS BEEN A LONG, WONDERFUL, AND FUN RIDE.
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Heel/toe for me! Way more comfortable on long trips. Had it on both of my wings.��
Don’t know why there r question marks at end of my post. Suppose to b thumbs up emoji.
Last edited by Peter Aawen; 04-20-2024 at 09:16 PM.
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Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie
2013 RT Ltd Pearl White
Ryde More, Worry Less!
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Very Active Member
After years of toe only shifters my last Royal Star came with a heel/toe shifter. After I got used to it I really liked it. Now that I am on a SpyderRTL I really like the thumb shifter.
Happy TRAils/NSD
Paul
2012 RT L
AMA 25 years Life Member
TRA
PGR
Rhino Riders Plate #83
Venturers #78
TOI
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Very Active Member
Loved the heel/toe shifter on my H-D bagger, but I really enjoy blipping my down shift paddles
2022 RT Sea To Sky
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Very Active Member
All the bikes I have ever owned were toe shifters and I have had a few over the last 45+ years. I recently bought a used 2014Triumph Thunderbird Commander and it had a heel/toe shifter on it. I just couldn't get comfortable using the heel shifter. So I removed the heel shifter portion. It was a simple fix, since the Thunderbird just had a bolt extending the toe shifter to the heel shifter. Now life is good.
Last edited by Peter Aawen; 04-21-2024 at 03:19 PM.
Reason: hell/toe... ;-)
2017 F3 Limited in Intense Red Pearl
2008 Triumph Rocket (SOLD)
2002 Honda VTX 1800 C ( SOLD)
2014 Triumph Thunderbird Commander
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Very Active Member
Retired U.S. Coast Guard 76-97
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Active Member
2021 RTL Marsala Dark Edition 4.13.2021
Lamonster Riser
Spyder Extras Docking station
Zumo XT (my own Plug & Play cable)
WrapMySpyder Carbon fiber partial kit.
Baja Ron ultra performance sway bar and end links
2015 RTS SM6 Intense Red
born on date 3/2015 (mine on 9/12/15)
Sold on 4.13.2021 33k of fun.
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Very Active Member
As Ron said earlier, we are all different. I found I had to install heel/toe shifters on all my bikes, because a size 15 riding boot is pretty tall at the front and had trouble getting under the toe shifter. I really grew to like them, but of course, I don’t need one on my SE.
Pete
Harrington, Australia
2021 RT Limited
Setup for Tall & Big.... 200cm/6'7", 140kg/300lbs, 37"inleg.
HeliBars Handlebars
Brake rubber removed to lower pedal for easier long leg/Size 15 EEEEW boot access.
Ikon (Aussie) shocks all round, with sag adjusted for extra 3/8” clearance up front
Russell Daylong seat 2” taller than stock (in Sunbrella for Aussie heat & water resistance)
Goodyear Duragrip 165/60 fronts (18psi) - provides extra 1/2” ground clearance.
Kenda Kanine rear.
2021 RT Limited , Brake pedal rubber removed for ease of accessing pedal with size 15 boots. Red
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I am in the Toe Shifter family. That's because my first bikes were a Honda 750 Shadow then a Honda Goldwing. They were toe shifters and that's what I got used to. When I went to my Harley Ultra Limiteds I had heal shifter removed. Couldn't get used to it. Now I love my Paddle Shifter.
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Very Active Member
I've had both on my many 2 wheelers and I prefer the heel/toe shifter.
2015 RTL, BajaRon Swaybar, LaMonster LED Headlights and Foglights, LaMonster Spydercuff, LaMonster LED mirror wrap, Magic Mirrors, HMT Brake Light
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Very Active Member
Toe shifter all the way. (Not counting thumb shifting)
2020 RTL SE6
Previously 2008 GS SM5 and 2014 RT SE6
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Dean O
Gran Pa Hoon
Founder San Jose BMW
Builder of the Motorcyclist Cafe Barn and Bunkhouse
Alamogordo, NM
'20 Spyder F3 L
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Toe shifter for me. Maybe because I learned to ride with that type of shifting and as it is said, its hard to teach an old dog new tricks. The one bike I tried with a heel/toe shifter had me accidentally hitting the heel lever several times. The one conventional bike I own now has a traditional toe shifter and I find that it works just fine for me and there is no need for something different. And I prefer the paddle shifter on my RT to a conventional transmission, I guess a sign of laziness in my old age.
2021 Spyder RT
2023 Royal Enfield Hunter 350
Retired U.S. Army
Life Member, NRA
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Active Member
2014 RT
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Active Member
I converted my Valkyrie to a heel/toe and never looked back. To me it was a huge difference in ease of shifting. Also, enjoy the ease of paddle shifting on my spyder.
GLIDE-ON>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Blue Belle" 2021 RTL Chrome in Petrol Blue
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Heel/Toe shifter for me rode past 35 years with one until I bought the Spyder......
own: 2022 Spyder RT. purchased rear trunk seperately
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Very Active Member
Funny how we're all so different. I do not like the paddle shifter. Sure, I could get used to it. But it feels artificial and disconnects me from the machine. I can finesse it to approach the feel and control I get with a standard clutch. But if I get it wrong it's annoying and can put me out of shape in a curve. Carving through the mountains with a clutch is so rewarding. I don't even have to think about it. I hate to give that up. That's why I really enjoy my 2008 GS and 2015 F3S with a clutch. You can really feather the power transfer seamlessly even with quick, unexpected situations. Maybe some of you have managed to obtain this with your SE. But I'm too happy with my manual to put that much effort into what I've already got.
Nothing against the SE. It's obviously the go-to choice as not enough people were wanting the manual for BRP to keep making that option. I'm not trying to be different. It just comes naturally, I guess.
Last edited by BajaRon; 04-26-2024 at 09:33 AM.
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