Heel/Toe Shifter on the C50 - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

trini0 · 03-19-2005, 12:18 PM

Its been quite a while since I've ridden a bike.
If I remember correctly, shifting up through the gears is done by clicking the shifter up, and vice-versa.
When I sat on a C50 earlier this week, I was trying to make sense of the heel/toe shifter.
How does it work?

c50tiger · 03-19-2005, 03:19 PM

Same was as a regular shifter, only you also have the option of pushing down with your heel instead of pulling up with your toes to upshift. I've gotten to where I only use my heel for the upshift. Downshift is the same - tap down with your toes. From the bottom, it's 1-N-2-3-4-5.

trini0 · 03-19-2005, 06:47 PM

Thats what I thought.
Im probably getting ahead of myself, and I'll see when I actually ride the beast.
But with the size of my foot (size 13), when I sat on the bike earlier
this week, my foot felt like it was getting tangled between the heel and toe shifters.
i.e. I felt that I had to slide my foot sideways to the left away from the bike
in order to reposition my foot to either stomp on the toe shifter or heel shifter.
It felt uncomfortable...

c50tiger · 03-20-2005, 01:06 AM

Eh - My feet are a quite a bit smaller (size 9 US). and I have plenty of room. I think I have heard others with larger feet comment that it wasn't a problem, but you probably need to sit on it again to make sure.

trini0 · 03-20-2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c50tiger

but you probably need to sit on it again to make sure.

Yeah, I'll give it another chance, and sit on it, after I take my MSF course.
Do we have any big

footers out there with the stock C50 heel/toe shifters?
Would like to hear your experiences...

chizy · 03-20-2005, 08:44 AM

I have a size 12 foot and I felt that before I bought one, sitting on it in the show room I was going to need to cut the heel part of the heel toe shifter off because my foot is also too big to fit in the space provided, but now after putting 200 miles on my c50 it is incredibly comfortable. I suggest you try riding it the way it is for a couple hundered miles and see how you like it before you make any modifications or changes.

Charlie

trini0 · 03-20-2005, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the bout of confidence.
But my concerns not only deal with comfort.
Im thinking worst case scenario here, but what if I were to low side (even worse, high side) a C50.
I have the thought that my foot would be caught between the heel/toe shifters,
and you can imagine the rest...

c50tiger · 03-20-2005, 01:49 PM

Anything is possible... seen a few posts of guys getting shoelaces caught on footpegs, for example. But I think it's a very remote possibility.

trini0 · 03-20-2005, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c50tiger

Anything is possible... seen a few posts of guys getting shoelaces caught on footpegs, for example. But I think it's a very remote possibility.

DakotaRider C50 · 03-20-2005, 07:29 PM

13 here also....No problem.....

trini0 · 03-20-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DakotaRider C50

13 here also....No problem.....

Thanks for the input.

b94me · 03-21-2005, 07:10 PM

Size 13 here too + heavy duty motorcycle boots + C50 + beginner biker like you. Nooooooo Problem. Takes bout a day to get used to, then its the best thing since sliced bread! Actually, when shifting up, its a lot easier to use your heel than trying to slide the heavy boot tip under the shifter.

trini0 · 03-21-2005, 09:32 PM

When DakotaRider C50 said it wasn't a problem for him, I figure,
that the way you described how to use the heel/toe shifter might be the best way.
Thanks for your input...

**Uncle Bob** · 03-22-2005, 10:32 AM

Depends on how the shifter is positioned, this is a fairly straightforward ajustement you can do that takes only a couple of minutes.

I've ridden many bikes with heel/toe shifters and have found that if you ajust the lever so that the heel part is lower ( just above the floorboard, leave enough height so that you can move the heel shifter enough to downshift with out going below the floorboard level ). Then the trapped feeling goes away.

trini0 · 03-22-2005, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Depends on how the shifter is positioned, this is a fairly straightforward ajustement you can do that takes only a couple of minutes.

I've ridden many bikes with heel/toe shifters and have found that if you ajust the lever so that the heel part is lower ( just above the floorboard, leave enough height so that you can move the heel shifter enough to downshift with out going below the floorboard level ). Then the trapped feeling goes away.

Thanks for the tip. I had asked if it can be adjusted, and the salesman told me that it couldn't.
But I'll take your word for it, as we all know that sales people knowledge usually are questionable...
I'll check it out when I sit on the bike again...

**Uncle Bob** · 03-23-2005, 09:23 AM

The shifter is ajustable, at least it was on the Volusia.

k3new · 03-24-2005, 11:00 PM

Haven't ridden in a long time, and bought a 2005 C50. I just got some decent Rockaports, and now have to use the heal shifter. Seems like I could get used to it.

trini0 · 03-24-2005, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k3new

Haven't ridden in a long time, and bought a 2005 C50. I just got some decent Rockaports, and now have to use the heal shifter. Seems like I could get used to it.

What shoe size are you?

k3new · 03-24-2005, 11:20 PM

They are ankle high size 11s

trini0 · 03-26-2005, 12:20 PM

Well I was in the area of the last dealership I went to, so I stopped by to sit on it again.
Apparently this time, it seems the heel section was lowered like how UB described it (just above the floorboard. The last time it was about 2 inches higher).
So it definately feels better that way, and my 13s was able to move around stompping on the heel and toe sections with better ease.
So Im satisfied.

03-19-2005, 12:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
trini0 Needs an Identity Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: Bad C50 blk Location: Ft. Lauderdale FL, USA Posts: 436	Heel/Toe Shifter on the C50 Its been quite a while since I've ridden a bike. If I remember correctly, shifting up through the gears is done by clicking the shifter up, and vice-versa. When I sat on a C50 earlier this week, I was trying to make sense of the heel/toe shifter. How does it work?

03-19-2005, 03:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
c50tiger Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: 2005 C50 Location: Selma, Alabama Posts: 2,058	Same was as a regular shifter, only you also have the option of pushing down with your heel instead of pulling up with your toes to upshift. I've gotten to where I only use my heel for the upshift. Downshift is the same - tap down with your toes. From the bottom, it's 1-N-2-3-4-5. __________________ Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all. - Douglas Adams COGITO EGGO SUM: I think, therefore I am... a waffle

03-20-2005, 01:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
c50tiger Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: 2005 C50 Location: Selma, Alabama Posts: 2,058	Eh - My feet are a quite a bit smaller (size 9 US). and I have plenty of room. I think I have heard others with larger feet comment that it wasn't a problem, but you probably need to sit on it again to make sure. __________________ Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all. - Douglas Adams COGITO EGGO SUM: I think, therefore I am... a waffle

03-20-2005, 01:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
c50tiger Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: 2005 C50 Location: Selma, Alabama Posts: 2,058	Anything is possible... seen a few posts of guys getting shoelaces caught on footpegs, for example. But I think it's a very remote possibility. __________________ Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all. - Douglas Adams COGITO EGGO SUM: I think, therefore I am... a waffle

03-20-2005, 07:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
DakotaRider C50 Newbie Joined: Oct 2004 Bike: Sazuki C50 Location: Eastern SD Posts: 20	13 here also....No problem..... __________________ Over 50 and enjoying it.....

03-19-2005, 06:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
trini0 Needs an Identity Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: Bad C50 blk Location: Ft. Lauderdale FL, USA Posts: 436	Thats what I thought. Im probably getting ahead of myself, and I'll see when I actually ride the beast. But with the size of my foot (size 13), when I sat on the bike earlier this week, my foot felt like it was getting tangled between the heel and toe shifters. i.e. I felt that I had to slide my foot sideways to the left away from the bike in order to reposition my foot to either stomp on the toe shifter or heel shifter. It felt uncomfortable...

03-20-2005, 08:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
chizy Newbie Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1	I have a size 12 foot and I felt that before I bought one, sitting on it in the show room I was going to need to cut the heel part of the heel toe shifter off because my foot is also too big to fit in the space provided, but now after putting 200 miles on my c50 it is incredibly comfortable. I suggest you try riding it the way it is for a couple hundered miles and see how you like it before you make any modifications or changes. Charlie

03-20-2005, 09:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
trini0 Needs an Identity Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: Bad C50 blk Location: Ft. Lauderdale FL, USA Posts: 436	Thanks for the bout of confidence. But my concerns not only deal with comfort. Im thinking worst case scenario here, but what if I were to low side (even worse, high side) a C50. I have the thought that my foot would be caught between the heel/toe shifters, and you can imagine the rest...

03-21-2005, 07:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
b94me Newbie Joined: Dec 2004 Bike: Suzuki Boulevard C50 Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Posts: 10	Size 13 here too + heavy duty motorcycle boots + C50 + beginner biker like you. Nooooooo Problem. Takes bout a day to get used to, then its the best thing since sliced bread! Actually, when shifting up, its a lot easier to use your heel than trying to slide the heavy boot tip under the shifter. __________________ What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

03-21-2005, 09:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
trini0 Needs an Identity Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: Bad C50 blk Location: Ft. Lauderdale FL, USA Posts: 436	When DakotaRider C50 said it wasn't a problem for him, I figure, that the way you described how to use the heel/toe shifter might be the best way. Thanks for your input...

03-22-2005, 10:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
Uncle Bob Site Admin & Squeegee Boy Joined: Dec 1969 Bike: 2003 Volusia SE Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada Posts: 107	Depends on how the shifter is positioned, this is a fairly straightforward ajustement you can do that takes only a couple of minutes. I've ridden many bikes with heel/toe shifters and have found that if you ajust the lever so that the heel part is lower ( just above the floorboard, leave enough height so that you can move the heel shifter enough to downshift with out going below the floorboard level ). Then the trapped feeling goes away. __________________ Yadda yadda yadda, whatever, they ain't going to listen anyway.

03-23-2005, 09:23 AM	#16 (permalink)
Uncle Bob Site Admin & Squeegee Boy Joined: Dec 1969 Bike: 2003 Volusia SE Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada Posts: 107	The shifter is ajustable, at least it was on the Volusia. __________________ Yadda yadda yadda, whatever, they ain't going to listen anyway.

03-24-2005, 11:00 PM	#17 (permalink)
k3new Where Am I ? Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2005 C50 (black) Location: Eldersberg, MD Posts: 38	Haven't ridden in a long time, and bought a 2005 C50. I just got some decent Rockaports, and now have to use the heal shifter. Seems like I could get used to it.

03-24-2005, 11:20 PM	#19 (permalink)
k3new Where Am I ? Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2005 C50 (black) Location: Eldersberg, MD Posts: 38	They are ankle high size 11s

03-26-2005, 12:20 PM	#20 (permalink)
trini0 Needs an Identity Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: Bad C50 blk Location: Ft. Lauderdale FL, USA Posts: 436	Well I was in the area of the last dealership I went to, so I stopped by to sit on it again. Apparently this time, it seems the heel section was lowered like how UB described it (just above the floorboard. The last time it was about 2 inches higher). So it definately feels better that way, and my 13s was able to move around stompping on the heel and toe sections with better ease. So Im satisfied.

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