Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Advice about heel toe shifters?

My husband says this is the best place to get advice since I'm buying a 2006 America. It has floor boards which I hope will help stabilize my feet so my hips won't tire too fast, and a regular shift lever. I'm wondering if it would be better to get a heel toe shifter. (My left foot got broken once, so I might have to go that way due to arthritis later) I'm told I may also want to consider taking the floorboards off and use pegs again. So many options and not enough cash to try all of them. What has been the experience of other riders here?

I personally have never used a heel toe shifter, so I can't offer concrete advice in that respect. I can tell you I've heard negative reviews concerning how the heel/toe shifter works on these bikes. I do run floorboards however, & they give you a whole range of places to position your feet that stock pegs don't. This makes a big difference when out on a long ride & you need to reposition. Using stock pegs, your feet are stuck there with no options.

IMHO, switching to a stock set-up without first trying the floorboards would be a mistake. If you really want to experiment with a stock peg set-up, I'd suggest mounting them in the standard riding position. That way at least, if you need to stretch while riding, you need only stand up on them. Can't do that the way the America's pegs are set up.

Love to see a woman riding her own bike. Good for you.

Well...Howdy-doo Ms. Winslow!!! So, you're gettin' your own bike, huh?!

Lemme guess here...Soren finally caught ya sneakin' back into the garage after takin' his bike out for those spins on the sly, right?!

That's cool!!!

(and BTW...I tend to agree with Thomas above...ride it a while as is, and then first maybe try a heel/toe shifter and see if you like it better...that shifter shouldn't be all that costly...OH, and BTW, I like the handle you've chosen...very clever!)

Yeah, I got that nickname as soon as I started riding...Had a habit of playing little pranks even as far back as high school and the name has followed me ever since. ;-)

Also, Soren probably was a little tired of me threatening to trade with him. Ever since I rode his Speedmaster, my little Honda Shadow felt like it had training wheels. At least I'm getting the America, which is a good all around bike. Still drool over the Rocket III though. If I won the lottery I'd have a garage to rival Leno's and fill it with my favorite bikes! Hee hee hee!

Thanks Thompson for the compliment about riding my own bike. Couldn't live without my own ride. I like the Scorpion slogan..."I'm a rider, I don't take a backseat to anyone!" Can't imagine not wanting to ride my own bike.

I'll ride the America with it's current set up. Thanks for the advice.

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My husband says this is the best place to get advice since I'm buying a 2006 America.

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Soren, 'er, I mean your husband is right! All ya gotta do is cut through all the bantering joking and teasing and underneath it all ya can find some pretty good stuff.

I ride with a pair of those floorboards and I really like 'em. And although I coulda gone with a heel-toe I chose to stay with the stock shifter and it works just fine with the boards. I too have no experience with a heel-toe but like Dwight said, they can't be that expensive and maybe worth trying out. You can always sell it in the Classifieds later if you have to. Oh, and you can do a great write up for the rest of us once you settle one way or the other. (don't forget to take pics... I forgot recently and got razzed pretty good for it).

So much of what I've done with my bikes has been trial and yes... sometimes error. But in the end everything's pretty much to my liking and it was all worth it. Welcome aboard and happy riding to ya!!!

Hi Laurie. We've met a couple of times...RAT breakfasts, and the Chehalis ride last year (bald guy... beard... ask Soren if you don't remember).

Anyway, I've got pegs and a heel/toe shifter on my '03 Speedmaster. I like the configuration. I've heard people say that they couldn't get used to the shifter, but it became second nature for me in no time. I haven't tried floorboards, so I can't offer any advice there. I had to get my shifter online because Liz at Cascade said it was an obsoleted item... so you may have to do some searching to find one. You're certainly welcome to try mine out if you'd like to see how it feels to you. Just let me know. You can try it at the next breakfast or the back-in-the-saddle ride... Whenever, just let me know.

I think I have a brand new one, bought it during the RAMP 50% off sale back on 03/2007. Never got around to install it.

Let me find it and I will send you a PM.

I have a set of stock America pegs If you decide to go that way.

If she doesn't go for it, let us know. I'm looking for one, used, as I can't afford one @ the new price.

Hi, I have both the boards and the heel/toe shifter. I like the combination, got used to it pretty quick. Only drawback I have is with the heel part your foot has restricted movement front to rear.

I have seen a 'fold up' of the heel but it was on a Harley.

I also have both and would not go back
I removed the rear rubber thingy to get more foot room and it works great

Thanks! I am really interested to know how it feels as it is, then switch. I'll be picking it up in St Helens and riding it to Beaverton, so I think that will be a good test of how I like it. Then I'd like to switch to a heel toe shifter for some of the planned rides. All that needs to happen before our ride to California...

It kept me up for a while last night wondering how Dwight knew I was looking to grab my husband's Speedmaster. Never met you and you had me pegged FAST.

Lance, I need to take another look at your bike too. Thanks. Hope you willl be at the dinner? Maybe not riding, but it will be a good night.