Toe shifter installed

[Backwoods]

Put on the Fork tube caps and toe shifter today, also got my first oil change done and needed to adjust chain. I was getting used to the heel shifter, but I never had a heel shifter in all the many bikes I ever owned. This improvement makes the riding more enjoyable and the first oil change makes the shifting easier, less applied force to change gears. Backwoods Recommended 100%

 

[KYtrailfan]

Looks good. Curious as to the oil change making the shifting easier? Did you go to a multigrade full synthetic?

 

[SneakyDingo]

Curious as to the oil change making the shifting easier?

I've had this experience as well on all my bikes but it's definitely not the case for all bikes. Shifting tends to get rougher towards the end of the oil life and I start to experience missed shifts on this bike (and was worse before the shift support was installed). At a cursory level this makes sense to me, all my bikes have been multiplate wet clutch without separate gearbox oil, so the spinny and shifty bits are all working in the oil and are subject to the oil's condition.

I use Honda GN4 on this bike but I experimented with the oil a fair bit on my old Ninja 250. I think that bike had a 6000 mi service intervals but I never made it that close; had to double check they didn't mean kilometers because I only ever made it to around 5400 km or so. I just do them every 1800-2100 mi now or whenever shifting gets a bit sticky. Yeah it's more frequent than the service interval calls out for but GN4 is pretty cheap, it's incredibly easy to do and it only uses 0.7L of oil per change.

 

[Backwoods]

Looks good. Curious as to the oil change making the shifting easier? Did you go to a multigrade full synthetic?

I use what the manufacturer recommends, GN4 and I will be changing my oil at 1000 miles intervals. If it comes out looking like fresh honey, I’ll extend the service interval accordingly. I had to rotate up the toe shifter about 30 degrees and now it’s just where I like it. Every time I ride I’m glad I bought that toe shifter, it’s that nice having the heel shifter gone. This bike is used extensively in Asian countries and they all wear sandals, so an Asian market motorbike with a toe shifter would not sell well, that’s what I’m thinking on why the bike has that contraption to begin with.

 

[TrailSnot]

Put on the Fork tube caps and toe shifter today, also got my first oil change done and needed to adjust chain. I was getting used to the heel shifter, but I never had a heel shifter in all the many bikes I ever owned. This improvement makes the riding more enjoyable and the first oil change makes the shifting easier, less applied force to change gears. Backwoods Recommended 100%

Would you mind sharing brand/part # for the shifter? Is there anything specific to the splines etc that need something model specific or is it a generic aftermarket part?
The heel shift is VERY new to me (as in today) and while I may get used to it I'm skeptical right now. Wouldn't mind having an option on hand. TIA

 

[Backwoods]

Hammerhead or Moose Racing, Honda CRF250L 2013-2020 is the shift lever you want. It fits perfect, and I ditched the OEM bolt and used the Moose supplied bolt, I think it was 8mm OEM to 10mm Moose bolt. Anyway, the lever is an upgrade you will enjoy. jt-cycle on ebay has the part you want. $36.95 and free shipping.

 

[TrailSnot]

Hammerhead or Moose Racing, Honda CRF250L 2013-2020 is the shift lever you want. It fits perfect, and I ditched the OEM bolt and used the Moose supplied bolt, I think it was 8mm OEM to 10mm Moose bolt. Anyway, the lever is an upgrade you will enjoy. jt-cycle on ebay has the part you want. $36.95 and free shipping.

Thanks

 

[G19Tony]

I'll be changing mine every 1000 miles on the Scooter Cannonball, as it will be most likely WFO for 3100 miles. I'll do that for this bike in normal riding too. It's cheap.

I also put the Hammerhead shifter on mine. Love it!

 

[TrailSnot]

FWIW for anyone else reading, that Moose aftermarket shifter isn't compatible with the '23's. The shift shaft is set further back on the '23 and aftermarket pedal doesn't clear the motor properly.

 

[Backwoods]

Different engine. Let us know if you find one that works. I was going to order another one , as I’ll have my 23 here in 9 days.

 

[Backwoods]

FWIW for anyone else reading, that Moose aftermarket shifter isn't compatible with the '23's. The shift shaft is set further back on the '23 and aftermarket pedal doesn't clear the motor properly.

Looks like you could cut the original right at the shaft lever, get a shaft that connects that piece to the new shifter, weld them together, then place the splined area of oem part back onto shaft. The brings the shifter out maybe enough to have clearance.

 

[TrailSnot]

Looks like you could cut the original right at the shaft lever, get a shaft that connects that piece to the new shifter, weld them together, then place the splined area of oem part back onto shaft. The brings the shifter out maybe enough to have clearance.

I'm just gonna leave it as is. Have gotten used to it and no longer feel a need to change it.

 

[dmonkey]

If you still want a fold away toe lever and don't mind the heel shifter being there as well (or want to hack it off), Honda make an OEM accessory one for the Japanese (and probably other markets) that fits the 2023 JA65 CT125.

HONDA : folding change pedal [08U72K2EJ10]

 

[TrailSnot]

If you still want a fold away toe lever and don't mind the heel shifter being there as well (or want to hack it off), Honda make an OEM one for the Japanese (and probably other markets) that fits the 2023 JA65 CT125.

HONDA : folding change pedal [08U72K2EJ10]

Thanks. I did see that online. When I got the bike I thought it would bother me but I haven't noticed it since I started riding it toe up/down and got some miles in. Always good to have options tho.

 

[TheAtom26]

Apologies for resurrecting this old thread - but curious if anyone has come across an aftermarket toe-only shifter to fit the '23 JA65 bikes?