What is Heel Toe Shifting on a Motorcycle?

Many Harley-Davidson® motorcycles have been equipped with a heel/toe shifting mechanism, a feature that is almost exclusive to Harley-Davidson® bikes. Many riders prefer the function and the look of a heel/toe shifter. But what exactly is a heel/toe shifter? Here’s what you need to know about heel/toe shifting on a motorcycle.

Heel Toe Shifting History

Before 1952, all Harley-Davidson® Big Twin and 45 cubic inch motorcycles had a hand-operated gear shift lever located on the left side of the fuel tank. The clutch was controlled with a heel/toe “rocker” forward of the left side foot board. In 1952, Harley offered for these models the option of a hand clutch and shifting through a left foot control – the set-up that is standard today. That foot control featured two levers, one positioned near the rider’s toe or the ball of the foot and the other positioned to the rear, which was actuated by the rider’s boot heel. The forward lever shifts the transmission down while the rear lever accomplishes upshifts.

The reason Harley-Davidson fitted a heel/toe shifter, rather than just a toe shift lever, is lost to history. The design may have seemed logical given that the foot clutch had heel/toe levers and footpads. This design also prevented scuffing the top of the left boot that would occur when upshifting with the toe. Many veteran riders still preferred the foot clutch/hand shift set-up, and Harley-Davidson continued to offer the foot clutch and hand shift as an option on Big Twin models until 1978, when a new transmission was introduced. By then it was almost exclusively ordered for police motorcycles, as officers could operate a radio microphone with their left hand and clutch with their left foot.

How Does Heel/Toe Shifting Work?

To up-shift the transmission, the rider taps down on the rear shift lever with their heel. Downshifts are made by tapping the forward shift lever with the toe of the boot. If they prefer, the rider may also upshift by lifting the forward shift peg with the top of their boot.

Both shift levers fit over a splined shaft and the angle of the lever can be adjusted up and down in small increments to best fit a rider’s foot size or preference. Because the heel/toe shift feature has been almost exclusive to Harley-Davidson® touring motorcycles, riders coming off other bike brands may find the two-lever control requires an adjustment in riding habits. Riders who don’t care to use it simply can remove the rear shift lever and just use the front lever for up and down shifts.

Harley-Davidson has only offered heel/toe shifting on motorcycle models equipped with rider footboards because the rider may need additional flexibility to move their foot forward and back to reach the two levers.

Riders who prefer heel/toe shifting – either for convenience or for the classic look it offers – can install a heel shift, choosing from several styles, including extended reach levers that may be a better fit for tall riders or those with larger boots.

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Learn To Shift

Shifting motorcycle gears is simpler than you might think. All you need to do is learn the three basic controls and what to do with them to shift your motorcycle.

Watch video to learn more about how to shift on a motorcycle.

Learn more about motorcycles and the freedom of riding from Expert Advice articles or visit the experts at your local authorized Harley-Davidson® dealer.