Heel vs toe

[jamiep24]

Did anyone have any trouble getting used to the heel shifter and does everybody use it? I've been shifting my whole life with the toe shifter and thought it might feel kinda weird going to a higher gear by pushing down? Just another curious question from a soon-to-be Nad owner.

[jamiep24]

My first motorcycle, though!

[timebandit]

I like the heel shifting more then toe shifting.

I find it easier to just give it s shot with the back of the boot then to try to slide the boot underneath the toe part

[kenb]

My Nomad was the first bike I have owned with H/T shifter. Gotta love it! No worries about getting a big foot under the lever to shift. (even though you can if you want) Took me about 5 miles of in town riding to get used to it. Now its like 2nd nature. If I had to ride a traditional shift bike, I am sure it would be "like riding a bike" You never forget. Oh yeah, I forgot about the quads! Traditional shift!

Get on it and ride!

[cactusjack]

Man had to adapt to use a telephone and computer mouse, too. Keep working on it.

I jest, I jest. I wouldn't own a bike like this without the heel-toe shifter.

[biscuitsngravy]

I used to have only the toe shifter on previous bikes. But now it is easier for me to use the heel shifter on my Nad. My size 14-wides sort of get in the way when I use the toe shift.

I like the heel shot too, like TimeBandit says.
BnG

[dabull]

LOVE IT!!!

[coacha]

I'm a toe shifter for the most part. I've fiddled with the adjustment for the heel but I don't really use it much.

[darthvulcan]

I like the heel shifting more then toe shifting.

I find it easier to just give it s shot with the back of the boot then to try to slide the boot underneath the toe part

Me too. I find the heel shot gives a nice, clean, positive shift - every time. Love it.

[audiogooroo]

Heel to upshift, toe to downshift. I love it!

[Top Cat]

I guess I'm the minority here. I hate the heel shifter. The Yamaha I had before I bought the Nomad had one. It was one piece, not like the Nomad's seperate pieces. I cut the heel part off with a sawzall.
The Nomad has enough room between the toe and heel levers to move my foot around so I left the heel shifter on but don't use ti.

[waterman]

Love the heal shifter. Wouldn't go back.

[timebandit]

Heel to upshift, toe to downshift. I love it!
It would be king of hard to downshift with the heel! http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif
Lol!

[hollywood]

I had trouble with the gears grinding when going from 1st to 2nd - started using the heel shifter and solved that problem. I was babyin' the darned thing. Also ruined a very expensive pair of boots on the toe shifter........Now I use the heel all the time - Love it

[skeeter]

Only used the heel shift when I wore insulated boots that wouldn't fit under the toe shift. Now that I have bar chaps (sort of) no need for heavy boots, may never use the heel shift again.

[schoeney]

Took about a week to get used to the heel shifter...but now it is simple and preferred.

[dkdixie]

First bike I've had with a heel shifter and it took some time getting use to it. Now its all I use. Can't remember the last time I used the toe.

[dandolfn]

I tried to use the heel shifter, but it was too much work. The toe shifter works fine for me, altho sometimes when my foot isn't positioned just right, I wish I had steel toe shoes.

[meat]

I use the heal shifter going from 1st to 2nd. Toe shifter after that.

[watchman]

So there you go, it is about a 50-50 split. Personally I like the heel shifter. It sure saves on boot wear. I would suggest you try it for several days and make your own decision.

[caddman11]

This is my first bike with a heal shifter and I really like it. It seems like a more positive way to shift.

[VulcanE]

Heel to upshift, toe to downshift. I love it!

Same here. This is the first bike I've ever ridden with a heel shifter, and from now own, I'll always have one.

[radco]

My 2 cents,, the Nomad is the first H/T Shifter.. in the Stock set up my size 13 hept hitting the pedal,,, I adjusted it a tad higher,, I use mine mainly as a boot stop... but when I use it it does offer a positiive shift... BUT I use the toes most of the time,, been using the toe shift since 71 LOL so hard to adjust,,, BUT practice will kame perfect :)........Rich

[taranis]

My last bike, an '07 Vstar 1300 Tourer, had the H/T shifter and I could never get used to it. Once I got the Nomad though, I just started using it out of the blue. Now it's habit.

I think a lot depends on the ergonomics.

[ells]

I use the toe shifter only, probably because former bike didn't have the heel shifter. Except, when I go to the fat insulated boots like mentioned by someone else OR if the engine guard gets bent back a little forcing the foot pad up so there is no room for a normal size shoe to get under the toe shifter, and you have about forty miles to go to get home - Don't ask how I discovered this last part.

[misunderstood]

My 1st bike ( my 3rd ) with a heel toe shift was my C50 boulevard and I swear I won't have a bike without one now. I love them. Your mind will start to associate the front (toe) down push with downshifting and the back (heel) downpush with up shifting. 1 ride and I just loved it and don't even give it a 2nd thought now.

[dmspike]

I wondered if I would like the heel toe set up when I bought my Nomad. The use of the heel and toe shifter seemed to simply come automatic to me. I think I would now be all screwed up if I got on a bike with only a toe shifter and probably be wondering why the foot peg would not up shift..... Got to love them heel shifters.

[misunderstood]

I guess I'm the minority here. I hate the heel shifter. The Yamaha I had before I bought the Nomad had one. It was one piece, not like the Nomad's seperate pieces. I cut the heel part off with a sawzall.
The Nomad has enough room between the toe and heel levers to move my foot around so I left the heel shifter on but don't use ti.

Man....................quiet pipes and now this. You're just different #9. http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[bigdave]

I use the heel shifter love it

[sarge1057]

I use theme both what ever I'm in the mood for.

[dantama]

When I bought my first Nomad it was my first experience with heel shifters. I thought they were for lazy old men and didn't think I'd like it at all.

I love it.

Of course the toe and the heel shifter are adjustable, so you could get either of them just right for your own personal preferences.

I adjust my heel shift down pretty low so that I don't lift my heel much at all to tap it down, but it is up high enough to keep my feet from blowing off the boards at high speeds.

Now I'm wondering if my perception changed, or if I just became an old man???

[goldstar225]

My first four bikes were toe shift so when I bought my C50 the heel shift feel, well awkward aat first. After about a week though it became very natural. I'm comfortable either way so I guess you could call me switch hitter shifter.

[Todd]

I guess I'm the minority here. I hate the heel shifter. The Yamaha I had before I bought the Nomad had one. It was one piece, not like the Nomad's seperate pieces. I cut the heel part off with a sawzall.
The Nomad has enough room between the toe and heel levers to move my foot around so I left the heel shifter on but don't use ti.

Man....................quiet pipes and now this. You're just different #9. http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif


Damn Misunderstood....we put a Amber Alert out on you.....where you been ??? ???


oh, Heel shifter all the way....from 2nd to 5th...everytime, all the time.

[misunderstood]

When I bought my first Nomad it was my first experience with heel shifters. I thought they were for lazy old men and didn't think I'd like it at all.

I love it.

Of course the toe and the heel shifter are adjustable, so you could get either of them just right for your own personal preferences.

I adjust my heel shift down pretty low so that I don't lift my heel much at all to tap it down, but it is up high enough to keep my feet from blowing off the boards at high speeds.

Now I'm wondering if my perception changed, or if I just became an old man???

Your perception hasn't changed "old man" http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[oldbikers]

I am like TC I also had a Yamaha and had to cut the heal shifter off and removed it on my Goldwing and the Nomad also just don't like the heal shifter.

[misunderstood]

Man....................quiet pipes and now this. You're just different #9. http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif


Damn Misunderstood....we put a Amber Alert out on you.....where you been ??? ???


oh, Heel shifter all the way....from 2nd to 5th...everytime, all the time.

Witness protection plan also known as life. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[jd01]

Heel to upshift, toe to downshift. I love it!

Same here. This is the first bike I've ever ridden with a heel shifter, and from now own, I'll always have one.

+1
Same here.

[jasperboy]

Count me with the heel up shift, toe downshift crowd. I rode dirt bikes and sport bikes for my first decade on two wheels. The one time I rode a buddies Harley the heel shift through me for a loop. Now after almost 5 years of Nomad heel/toe riding I'd never choose to ride a cruiser without it.

[misunderstood]

Count me with the heel up shift, toe downshift crowd. I rode dirt bikes and sport bikes for my first decade on two wheels. The one time I rode a buddies Harley the heel shift through me for a loop. Now after almost 5 years of Nomad heel/toe riding I'd never choose to ride a cruiser without it.

Only thing that threw me on a harley the 1st time was the turn signals.

[Top Cat]

I guess I'm the minority here. I hate the heel shifter. The Yamaha I had before I bought the Nomad had one. It was one piece, not like the Nomad's seperate pieces. I cut the heel part off with a sawzall.
The Nomad has enough room between the toe and heel levers to move my foot around so I left the heel shifter on but don't use ti.

Man....................quiet pipes and now this. You're just different #9. http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif I'll take different 395. I have been called a lot worse http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[socwkbiker]

The heel shifter is great! Took no time at all to get comfortable with it.

[bosko]

The Nomad is the first bike I've owned with a heel shifter.
I thought I would like it. Tried it for a couple of weeks and decided to remove it to allow more leg room. I will not be putting the heel shifter back on as I'm enjoying the extra room to move around.
My inseam is not overly long (30-32) and I find I use the rear of the floor boards quite a bit, even have my heels hanging off the back at times.

[flavor]

Like many others, this is the first bike I've owned that has a heel shifter. Tried it the way it was set up from factory, didn't like it, re-adjusted up one notch on the teeth and now I love it. One motorcycle I owned you couldn't get lazy shifting up. With the heel shifter on the Nomad that'll never be an issue.

[phenrichs]

Now I'm wondering if my perception changed, or if I just became an old man???

I here that. I am getting pretty lazy as life goes on and while at first wasn't sure about the heel part it took all of 2 days before I was using it primary.

I rode a friends bike once after getting my Nomad and felt like a doofus. I couldn't shift for sh*t without the heel. Ha Ha.

[novijoe]

I had the same thought when I got my first Nomad. My 750 Yammi had just the toe shifter.
Try it...you'll never go back. ;)

[unwind2]

My other bike (Moto Guzzi) was the first to have heel/toe shifter so have on both my bikes. Yes I use it...love it...didn't take too long to adjust. One of those features I would always want now.

[Blue Rebel]

I have been looking for a H/T shifter and haven't seen one yet. Where can they be found?
I rode home from work one night with a pair of steel toes and could get the boot under the toe shift.

[pirate]

I always use the heel shifter. This is the first bike I've owned that has it, and I was reluctant to try it. I was hooked after the first time I tried it.

[jamiep24]

I appreciate all the replies. This is an awesome forum.

[rksaw]

Like many others, I have found the heel/toe shifter easy to use and it has become second nature.

Also, if at first you don't feel fully comfortable with the heel portion, try adjusting it. (This is one of the great advantages of the Nomad over the Road Star.) I found that by lowering it to a height just 1" above the floorboard I can rest my heel against it until I get to 5th and can rest my boot on it afterwards when I adjust my riding position.
Rich

[Top Cat]

I have been looking for a H/T shifter and haven't seen one yet. Where can they be found?
I rode home from work one night with a pair of steel toes and could get the boot under the toe shift.

I thought they came standard on all Nomads ???

[paul]

I've got a little twist on the heel shifter I just experienced.

This is my first bike with h/t shifter. Wasn't sure about it for awhile, but used it, and came to love it. Tried the toe only for a day just as an experimental control. Couldn't do it, felt too awkward and was more work than using the two together.

Now, for the twist. I just replaced the pads with the Kury units friday. Went out on the bike to day, just normal riding and noticed my shifting was smoother and easier. I started paying attention and noticed the Kury heel pad grabs my boot better and is just a hair taller which makes contact very posative and sure. I also have mine set damn near level with the board and the Kury unit has made that possible.

[qvcjim]

use the heel shifter...........like it.....

[mrfuni]

Heel when I think about it.
Toe when I forget about it...

[markusmaximus]

I'm a toe shifter. Tried the heel shifter, but just can't get past the awkward movement. Maybe in time...

[dogdoc]

Love the heel shifter. if you don't you can just take it off, simple.

[kawgirl]

Heel shifter for sure and very spoiled by it and the floorboards!