shift foot lever extender

[steve68]

Anyone have luck with using a shifter extender?  If so, which model?  I've read mixed reviews.

 

Steven

[dirtrider]

17 hours ago, steve68 said:

Anyone have luck with using a shifter extender?  If so, which model?  I've read mixed reviews.

 

Steven

Morning  Steven

 

Define extender?

 

I haven't ever made a shifter that sticks out farther work for me personally. Most of those type extenders take way more foot articulation & foot lateral movement between upshifts & downshifts than I want to use.

 

I just find riding boots that allows me to use the side of my boot to upshift.

 

An extender would probably work OK for slow lazy shifting but I ride kind of aggressively (lots of up & down shifting) so don't want to keep moving my foot around on the foot peg to be able to get above & below an extension.

 

If you are talking about a longer shift lever (extends farther forward from the foot peg) then, yes  I have extended (or shortened) a few for cause. In most cases I have extended (or shortened) the shift lever if I have moved the foot peg position. 

 

About all you can do is try what you are thinking of to see if it works for you, if it doesn't then go back to what you have now. 

[Jim Moore]

I slid a long-reach 3/4" socket over the shift lever. Made it longer and thicker.

[steve68]

Jim - how did you secure it to the lever?

 

Dirtrider - this is what I was thinking of:

 

https://www.wunderlichamerica.com/brake-gear-levers.html

[dirtrider]

21 hours ago, steve68 said:

Jim - how did you secure it to the lever?

 

Dirtrider - this is what I was thinking of:

 

https://www.wunderlichamerica.com/brake-gear-levers.html

Morning  Steven

 

Fitting a dedicated (store bought) extension is a bit of a problem as your foot shifter is a one piece assembly. Difficult to screw anything new onto it.

 

You can do as Jim did & press a piece of pipe or tubing over your existing rubber sleeve.

 

You will just have to try something to see if you can live with the extra effort in getting your foot from above the extension to below it for every change from upshifting to down shifting. 

 

I presume that you have no problems down shifting now, it is the upshifting that you are trying to deal with. 

 

You might try using the side of your boot (top edge of sole) to upshift. After while it sort of puts an indent in the boot that makes using the side of your boot easier.  

 

The distance you need to twist & move  your foot from below the shift lever to above the shift lever is a LOT shorter between the bottom of the boot sole & the top of the boot sole than between the bottom of the boot sole & the top of the boot toe (in some cases 2" or more)

 

Here is a slide-over extension if you want to try one_____________   https://www.shopbmwmotorcycle.com/collections/bmw-f800r/products/ilium-works-large-shift-lever-pedal

[Jim Moore]

7 hours ago, steve68 said:

Jim - how did you secure it to the lever?

 

Dirtrider - this is what I was thinking of:

 

https://www.wunderlichamerica.com/brake-gear-levers.html

It just fit perfectly over the rubber. It was snug enough to stay put. This was an R1100RS, btw. Idk if the RT has a different shifter assembly.

[Stiggy]

I've got this stuck over my 1600B's shifter rubber, and it works just fine.

 

(I may try one on my '17 RT but I notice that the rubber on the RT is about 1/4" shorter than on the1600, Maybe an issue, only one way to find out I suppose!)

 

About $30

 

 

 

[wbw6cos]

Wrap tool drawer liner around the lever and jam the deep well socket over.   

[steve68]

Stiggy I ordered that today.  We'll see.

[RK Ryder]

I slide a clear plastic tube, cut to the correct length, over the shifter. Works for me. 👍

[steve68]

May be next step.

[Paul De]

I’ve always thought the Oilhead’s longish shift lever throw to execute a clean shift was a big part of the complaints about shifting this vintage transmission.  I had considered the ilium shift extension, but instead opted for steel toed work boots. Having the unyielding toe brought everything a thicker shift extender does and retains the smaller profile to allow easier toe movement to execute up and down shifts which is an advantage when riding frisky on a twisty road.

I also had the bonus of my then employer providing funds for a set of steel toed shoes/boot once a year so it was a net zero cost way to improve shifting. While I would need these boots for plant visits which was a couple three times a year meant the work shoes actually saw 99% of their life on the footpegs rather than the plant floor   Another upside to the work boot as a riding boot is some industrial work shoes also have thicker soles and heals to absorb shock waking around on hard concrete plant floors which gives a bit of relief for riders with shorter inseams reaching the ground.

[steve68]

That makes a lot of sense.  My issue is that my footpeg-lowering kit also moved the L footped like an inch away from the bike.  I love having the lower pegs - easier on the knees - but I find I have to internally rotate my L foot to slip under the shifter.  That is starting to bug my ankle.  Getting older doesn't help either.

[dirtrider]

11 hours ago, Paul De said:

I’ve always thought the Oilhead’s longish shift lever throw to execute a clean shift was a big part of the complaints about shifting this vintage transmission.  I had considered the ilium shift extension, but instead opted for steel toed work boots. Having the unyielding toe brought everything a thicker shift extender does and retains the smaller profile to allow easier toe movement to execute up and down shifts which is an advantage when riding frisky on a twisty road.

I also had the bonus of my then employer providing funds for a set of steel toed shoes/boot once a year so it was a net zero cost way to improve shifting. While I would need these boots for plant visits which was a couple three times a year meant the work shoes actually saw 99% of their life on the footpegs rather than the plant floor   Another upside to the work boot as a riding boot is some industrial work shoes also have thicker soles and heals to absorb shock waking around on hard concrete plant floors which gives a bit of relief for riders with shorter inseams reaching the ground.

Morning Paul

 

The shift lever looks long but the effective shift lever is actually pretty short as the linkage attaches closer to the front  (see picture below).

 

It does gain some of the effective length back by the length of the lever on the trans shift drum stub shaft.