Gear-changing technique?

[m in sc]

the design on street bikes as far as hondas implementation ACTUALLY stemmed from not scuffing 'dress' shoes or open toed womens shoes when they were being used for daily transport to an from work in Japanse reconstruction era after ww2. doesn't have a thing to do with 'flip flops' or 'sandals' but it does work in that application. This carried over to the US ads of the time. Look at the footwear... and the selling points(for what they were selling them for.. cheap transport) .

 

[AZ7000']

open toed womens shoes doesn't have a thing to do with 'sandals'

Jumbo Shrimp anyone??? FWIW my 1973 CT-90 had this shifter. No toe under the front possible or needed.

 

[MisterB]

If all of this is correct then for once I'm doing something right! I just lift my foot off the peg and stomp on the rear of the shifter when upshifting.
It adds to the overall physical experience that is missing from sitting in a car pushing a couple of pedals.

 

[Tjdemarco]

Well I tried the toe/toe method, and it's not gonna work for me. I couldn't find the darn thing without looking down, so after a few attempts I gave up.

 

[MisterB]

TJ, went out for a ride tonight and checked my method, it's more of a toe/arch method.
Trying to get right to the toe is too far and missing it would be a bummer.

 

[Hansi]

Well I tried the toe/toe method, and it's not gonna work for me. I couldn't find the darn thing without looking down, so after a few attempts I gave up.

For me personally, I think the so-called heel shifter would be easier to reach and use if it was shaped something like this... with maybe a slightly larger plate? I guess, at the end of the day, it all comes down to foot size, chosen footwear, and flexibility in the ankle...

 

[AZ7000']

You “stomp”, I “tap”…. Same same but different

 

[Hansi]

You “stomp”, I “tap”…. Same same but different

I do neither... I only use the toe shifter, up and down, much easier for me...

 

[DJ427]

I finally replaced the shift levers on both my 125's with toe only, no heal, and the shifter rotated up from the pedal. Had to do it to both bikes, they were the same. So much nicer and easier to shift

 

[jilted32]

When I first start my Trail, the first start of the day, I always have a hard time getting from first gear to second gear, but only on the first shift. In other words, when the Trail has been sitting overnight, or several days, I start it, move into first gear and start rolling. As I go to shift into second, the lever doesn't want to budge. Then after a moment, when I pick up some speed and rev the engine a bit, it goes into second and no difficulties shifting after that. Does anyone think that I should adjust the automatic clutch as shown in the video above?

 

[AZ7000']

Yes, I do. No downside

 

[SneakyDingo]

Does anyone think that I should adjust the automatic clutch as shown in the video above?

If in doubt, adjust the clutch. It's a 30s job once you're used to it and it removes that question from your mind of, "is it the clutch, or is it just me?"

 

[KiwiGravelRoadieRick]

Ok I have an interesting question. Everybody here talks about using the heel shifter to go from say 2 to 3 to 4. On my 2023 CT the shift pattern is completely reversed. IE. N to 1 push down on the toe shift like a normal bike, but then 2 to 3 is another push on the toe shifter. Has Honda deliberateley reversed the shift pattern on the 2023?

 

[dmonkey]

Ok I have an interesting question. Everybody here talks about using the heel shifter to go from say 2 to 3 to 4. On my 2023 CT the shift pattern is completely reversed. IE. N to 1 push down on the toe shift like a normal bike, but then 2 to 3 is another push on the toe shifter. Has Honda deliberateley reversed the shift pattern on the 2023?

The USA model bikes (all years) have a different shift direction than the rest of the world bikes, and that's likely the talk you're seeing.

 

[ssaigol]

Ok I have an interesting question. Everybody here talks about using the heel shifter to go from say 2 to 3 to 4. On my 2023 CT the shift pattern is completely reversed. IE. N to 1 push down on the toe shift like a normal bike, but then 2 to 3 is another push on the toe shifter. Has Honda deliberateley reversed the shift pattern on the 2023?

The Canadian versions have the forward rotary shift pattern. N to 1 -2-3-4 are all forward on the toe. And if the bike is stopped then forward from 4 will go to N. Otherwise heel to go from 4 to 3-2-1.

This pattern is prevalent in most of Asia on the Wave, Dream etc.

 

[KiwiGravelRoadieRick]

The Canadian versions have the forward rotary shift pattern. N to 1 -2-3-4 are all forward on the toe. And if the bike is stopped then forward from 4 will go to N. Otherwise heel to go from 4 to 3-2-1.

This pattern is prevalent in most of Asia on the Wave, Dream etc.

Bugger i would prefer the USA shift pattern. Surely it should be easy enough to swap over internally with a new part from US market bike.

 

[ShieldArc]

The Canadian versions have the forward rotary shift pattern. N to 1 -2-3-4 are all forward on the toe. And if the bike is stopped then forward from 4 will go to N. Otherwise heel to go from 4 to 3-2-1.

This pattern is prevalent in most of Asia on the Wave, Dream etc.

What do you mean forward with your toe? It's up or down with your toe.

 

[SneakyDingo]

The USA model bikes (all years) have a different shift direction than the rest of the world bikes, and that's likely the talk you're seeing.

I'm adding this to my list of "upside down" jokes I can use being an Aussie in America. "You even shift backwards in Australia"

 

[ROGER4314]

With 50+ years of riding, I didn't think the heel/toe shifter on the CT125 would be a problem. I was wrong! My shoes are size 12EEEE and they just get tangled up in the shifter. I fixed that with an angle grinder so the back 1/2 of the shifter arm is now residing in my scrap metal box. The shifter arm is restored back to the standard toe shifter that I'm used to.

Flash

 

[vintagegarage]

Big mistake. You should have been using your toe on the heel shifter, and then you wouldn't need to fit your monster foot under the front of the toe shifter either. See:

and this one where a pro mechanic does it:

While the shift pattern is the opposite of the USA version, where up is down and down is up, the technique is the same.