Hey just finished the fab on this shifter. Works great just need to paint, etc. I am new so I hope I do this picture posting thing right... Here goes!

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/1533Suicide_clutch_4-med.JPG

I hope I do this picture posting thing right...
Nope.. :frownthre See shark's "idiot's guide to.... It's in the search.

Well, shux. Can't seem to figure it out, but I did get it to work as a hyperlink??? I will figure it out when I get a chance and hopefully post some more pictures the right way.

Nick :chop I like this little smiley!

How do you clutch?

Nick,
If you have the pic on your harddrive, when you post a reply, before you submit it, scroll down and there is a button that says "manage attachments". Click on that and you can upload a picture to the reply. It will be in a thumbnail. Then submit your post and your done. The shifter does look pretty cool. I think that I would get too confused with the whole foot clutch thing though.

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/1533Suicide_clutch_5.JPG

Ok I think I've got it!http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/1533Suicide_clutch_3-med.JPG

Thanks for the assistance with the pictures everyone. To answer the question...I clutch with my left foot! It's great I think. I've only had it this way for three days now and I think I'll keep it. Really not that bad, just lean to the right at the stop light or put it in neutral (but that got old quick).

A friend on mine did the same thing on his Sporty in S. Cal...he even made it look more chopperish and removed the front brake and fender...worked great til he went up to San Francisco...let's see...left foot clutch, right foot rear brake, and nothing for his hands to do! It was funny to watch on the really steep hills when he had to stop! :D

'm still tryin' ta figure out why.... but to each his own.

i like it my self! :D

I think you did a great job on the mod. I do have a question though...
With your fulcrum point so far away from the "business end" of the handle, does it require a bit of effort to operate?

No, not really. Expecially when the bike is running. When it is not running it is a little hard to get it in neutral! The final product will be a little longer than what you see in the pictures. I ordered a pistol grip handel that will attach to the top of the bar. The black grip on there now is only temp for test purposes untill my real handel gets in the mail.

Looks way cool. Nice work. Seems like it should have a skull or dragon head for a shift knob though. Maybe an eght ball or sword hilt.?

Funny you mentioned that... A friend of mine wants me to do a jockey style shifter for his (behind the left leg) and he wants to use a fake shrunken head with hair as the shift ball. Imagine the hair in the wind while in motion!

Man that's pretty cool !! I've only seen a few Sporty's w/ tank or Jockey shift, I've always liked 'em, don't know if I'd do it myself, but I like it. My 53 Pan had tank shift set-up when I got it but I switched to foot shift soon after I started riding it, since 52 was first year they offered foot shift on BT's the parts were readily avail, driving in traffic is why I switched, bike looked better w/ tank shift by far...Mike 74xlh

There's a classic look about the old tank shifters that can't be denied. Of course that was with the added convenience of the shifter gate (stops) and before the days of the suicide (spring clutch) :yikes .

i thouhgt about that but went to the preformnce side of things i wants to make it cluch with a bicycle brake lever atached to the "shifter shaft"

Those look cool, but I would rather have both hands on the bars during "take off". Of coarse I have only been riding for about nine months.

I'd like to do one, but jockey shift....ofcourse after I'm riding a bit longer than I have so far...

I Like It!! How'd you do the Clutch Cable??

Very different but definitely not for me. I'd kill myself trying to ride like that!! :yikes

Interesting seat on that bike. It looks like twice around the block would have me yelling "uncle"....
Myke

Looks awesome! I would love to do that but I don't think I would be coordinated enough :tour

For the clutch I used the stock cable and shortened it. I drilled and tapped a hole in the side of the stock foot shifter where I inserted a bolt. In that bolt I drilled a hole near the hex end just big enough for the cable to fit. I used two lock nuts to pinch the cable so it couldn't come out of the hole in the bolt. I will have to take a picture when I get a chance.

The seat really isn't bad, but I guess my opinion is a little bias since I made it myself. :) In its defence it does have about an inch of padding! Was thinking if I made another one I would use a Dr. Scholl's gel insert under the foam padding across the middle where most of your weight goes. Then I'd be "gellin" like on the commercials!

Need to find a new place for my horn! Yesterday when I went to the bank a car was backing out and almost ran into me. Lucky for me my pipes are real loud. Figures... the only time I have ever needed my horn.

pics would be good!

looks good. gotta work on shortening my clutch cable too. guess i'll try ur method if you dont mind

Interesting seat on that bike. It looks like twice around the block would have me yelling "uncle"....
Myke
Ditto! :frownthre

Here's a picture of the clutch cable. Little bit ghetto, but works perfectly and didn't cost me a dime!

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/1533Suicide_clutch_.JPG

Nick

maybe it just (me) but i cant see any thing.

can't see it either

kinda looks like a red X :D

Looks pretty good man, there's nothing like hand shift!!! I bet that is cool with a tank shift, I run jockey, here's mine on my Sporty and on my Buellchop...

Need to find a new place for my horn!

I put mine on the front of the frame under the voltage regulator. Had to do a little constructive rewiring, but it works when hooked up (inspections).

Jamie

Both simple yet effective. Kudos.

Sorry, don't know what I did!!??? :frownthre

http://xlforum.net/photopost/uploads/1533/Suicide_clutch_1.JPG

lets see the rest of it... what did u have to do to make that work. i've been thinking of doing that to mine also.

thanks,

Pilot, thanks for the photos. A friend of mine with a sporty wants to rig his jockey and we will probably do it like yours.

I just put on the shift handel yesterday that I ordered and I will post some updated picks when I get a chance.

Hey just finished the fab on this shifter. Works great just need to paint, etc. I am new so I hope I do this picture posting thing right... Here goes!

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/1533Suicide_clutch_4-med.JPG


Naaaaa. You're missing something really important in this mod to make it perfect.

The number 8 black billiard ball on top of the jockey shift! :laugh

What is the shift throw distance at the handle?

I thought about an eight ball, but instead went with a pistol grip shifter (I'll post pictures tomarrow).

The handel throw is about an inch and a half I would guess, but the bike is at home and I am at work.

Nick

check this web site out for some cool shifter tops.
i'm getting my shifter cut tomorrow. i'll send ya some pics when i get done.
its flameball.com

i can't remember how to put the link in. but that will work.

That's going to look really cool on a bike! Can't wait to see your photos. Are you going to have it light up? If so, will it light up all the time or just when you have it in neutral?

Nick

Got a pistol grip!!! :D

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/1533Shift_Handel.JPG

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/1533Shift_Handel_2.JPG

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/1533Shift_Handel_3.JPG

Never saw the pipes side of the bike before. What pipes are those, did you make them?

Yea, I made them myself. First set ever. They turned out ok, but I think I will make a new set when I finish the shifter project.

By the way, Engine, do you think my pipes are too short? I don't want a burt valve! :cry1

They do look a tad short, but it must be cool how flames shoot out of them at WOT at night, heh? I want to make my own one day, mine might be upsweeps and goose-necked...:D

Get some antireversion cones and they ought to be fine. Someone out there is also running short ones like that I just can't remember who makes them. Hope you applied for the patent on the design. If not it is bound to be stolen soon. Good job. Don't personally like the idea of hand shifting but it looks cool. Would be nice with some twisted square stock as well or maybe welded chain like the Indian Larry bike on biker buildoff. Nic work.

i'll probally just put a solid pearl ball on the top. I went and cut the shifter today.i'm making it out of aluminum. it's gona look sick when i get done....

the pistol grip looks good by the way.

you really want to make that bike look old school put you a set of fat white wall tires on. it will bring the tank and the fenders out and really give it that old school look.

if you don't mind what is the size of the handle bars on your bike. (rise, width, etc.

also what lengths on the cables did u have to go with?

Thanks for the advise about the pipes guys. I will get some cones ASAP. And yes, they do shoot small flames! :smoke

Outlaw- My bars are nine inch rise and they came stock with, I mean the same with as the drag bars that came on the bike factory. I did weld on four inch extensions under the grips to give a little extra with. I like them because at my height (5' 9") my arms are about parallel with the ground and it feels alot more comfortable to me on the highway than the stock drag bars. :tour

Sorry, almost forgot... the cables are all stock except the brake line. I honestly can't remember the extended length, but I will look for the package and if I find it I will let you know.