EV1100 shifter ergonomics

[Burkslaw]

Shortly after I acquired my '04 EV1100 a couple years ago I lucked into finding an aftermarket extended brake pedal that has the pad in front of the floorboard, allowing application of brake without lifting my foot off the board and without the need to put my heel on some rinky dink little rubber nub. A glorious improvement over the worst brake pedal I have ever used.
Now, with a couple years' use and some lower back problems I am finding it difficult and uncomfortable to have to lift my left toe so high to downshift, and to lift my heel so high to upshift. I'm tired up Kegel exercises every shift.
Has anyone come up with a cure for the worlds' worst heel/toe shifter design?
I'm thinking about lowering the toe as far as possible while still being able to engage a lower gear, and then cutting the heel portion of the lever and welding it in a lower position that just allows upshifting before contacting the floorboard.
Anyone done this or have a photo of another cure? Thank you.

[Ncdan]

Shortly after I acquired my '04 EV1100 a couple years ago I lucked into finding an aftermarket extended brake pedal that has the pad in front of the floorboard, allowing application of brake without lifting my foot off the board and without the need to put my heel on some rinky dink little rubber nub. A glorious improvement over the worst brake pedal I have ever used.
Now, with a couple years' use and some lower back problems I am finding it difficult and uncomfortable to have to lift my left toe so high to downshift, and to lift my heel so high to upshift. I'm tired up Kegel exercises every shift.
Has anyone come up with a cure for the worlds' worst heel/toe shifter design?
I'm thinking about lowering the toe as far as possible while still being able to engage a lower gear, and then cutting the heel portion of the lever and welding it in a lower position that just allows upshifting before contacting the floorboard.
Anyone done this or have a photo of another cure? Thank you.

That would be my fix also. I have always removed the rest heel shifter when accompanied with floorboards. The room means a lot more to me than the heal got up shifting 👍

[LowRyter]

I like the gear and brake pedals set up, so I don't consider them to be the world's worst.

I might ask, have you tried to upshift and downshift by toeing down?    That's the way I do it, I toe the heel shifter to upshift and toe the toe shifter to downshift.  That way I never have to use my heel to upshift and can downshift conventionally. 

I can't help you with the brake but I like the nub.

[guzzisteve]

Think Convert.  There also is electric shifters.

I've never used my nub as I found it a pain, never had a problem.

[s1120]

Ive never liked heal/toe shifters myself..  I still have the one on my cali stone, but never use it. Granted that has pegs not boards. I really just need to cut it the heal part off.

[Wayne Orwig]

I have about 300,000 miles on it. There is something wrong with it?
I never knew.

[Vagrant]

there are adjustment holes that let you shorten the length of throw. I also made an additional one for mine and am very pleased with these locations.




remove repeated lines

[JC85]

I have an extended and lowered heel toe shifter that came on my '07 Calvin. Made out of round bar and rubber tubing for the pads. The heel and toe each sit about 1/2"-1" in front of/behind the edge of the floorboard, and if I remember correctly, a fair bit lower than on the stock one. I can send you a couple of photos, this evening, if you like. I have no need of it....

[larrys]

I am not enamored with the shifter and brake pedal on my Cal. I bought a shifter and a brake pedal from Eldomike and had them stripped at the chrome shop. I welded a 2" extension on the brake pedal similar to what the OP did, test drove it and like it. Need to finish the welding and shaping then off to the chrome shop. I plan on cutting and reshaping the shifter to fit me then that will get replated, too.
Larry

[ampm7]

I agree that the brake pedal and shifter are not to my liking either. I have a real bad left leg so using the heel to upshift is not on the menu. I use the toe shifter exclusively except when coming to a stop and I use the heel for neutral. Sometimes I will miss a shift and it will go into a false neutral so, I just have to follow through. On the brake pedal I eliminated the nub because that is a nuisance. Luckily if you are coming to a slow rolling stop, the front brake is sufficient to stop the bike especially if one has good brake pads on the bike. For a panic stop, yes you have to use the brake pedal. I do however, like the concept of linked brakes a Guzzi design which work well. Another thing that is problemsome, is the kickstand as I am fitting a kickstand extender to it as we speak.

[ampm7]

It's a no-go on the kickstand extender.