Has anybody put a suicide shifter on there bike? I was looking at mine and it looks like it should be fairly easy to do but I'd thought I'd ask the experts.

Not an expert but changing the way you drive (foot clutch) could be interesting. Awesome looking though.

greyphart

It would definitely take some getting used to but I think it would fun to do something different

Definitely agree there. For me it's a no go. Right knee ain't working too well no more. Maybe on my trike? Some pretty creative setup's out there.

greyphart

My brat bike is going to have one on it. Never driven one with it, but looks like fun.

Spare Change wrote:
Has anybody put a suicide shifter on there bike? I was looking at mine and it looks like it should be fairly easy to do but I'd thought I'd ask the experts.

I have a customer who has a 2000 R* with a foot clutch and a hand shift. It couldn't be easier than on the R*. Remove the clutch lever & cable. Shorten the shift pushrod and give it a slight bend and hook it to the clutch lever. Bolt a rod to the shift lever and put a knob on the top.

Why you would want to make the change I can't imagine! I have a customer who has a 2000 R* with the foot clutch/hand shift; one time when he left the bike for some work, when it was ready he didn't have anyone available to help. So I suggested that he come and get it, I could drive his cage and follow him home then he could bring me back to the shop. We went through 5 traffic lights with every one of them red. When we stopped he would put it in neutral so he could put his left foot on the ground. When the light turned green the traffic behind me would get POed because he didn't move instantly! He would have to put his foot up on the pedal to operate the clutch to put it in gear and get going. I just don't see the point for the modification! If you want an antique why not buy one? Why try to make a beautiful modern top of the line bike into an antique? I feel that the mod does not have any antique value and it destroys the value of the bike as it is! And it is a bit dangerous; what we do has a bit of inherant danger to it, why do you want to increase the danger?

Clifford

Yeah...I agree.
I thought about hand shift on the WARSTAR, but then
opted for something more modern. LOL

It was cool in the 30's.
Well, hand shift was the only option until the early 20's. The English machines at least were hand clutch-
tank shift...
They are named for a reason!
If they were called 'fun' clutches or 'easy' clutches...
it wolud be different. The first time the mousetrap spring disengages while in traffic and you climb a garbage truck. WOW.

Having said that...I was thinking, I took one of the best riding motorcycles and removed all of the suspension. LOL shhhhhhhhhhhhh nevermind.
-Warstar

Actualy it's a suicide clutch and a jockey shift. I think they call it a suicide clutch for a reason. The first ..and only time I rode one It was petty sporty! I think I'm too much of a "spaze" to ride one!

Actually there are differences between suicide shift and a jockey shift but look it up in wikipedia, easier than me explaining.

I've ridden them and considering one right now for a winter project. Not for the fiant of heart or those in heavy stop and go traffic. Looks cool but frankly doesn't feel that way when riding them.

guy named Marty makes a nice kit for converting the Roadie. I beleive somone here on the clinic has one.

Suicide clutch originated with harley choppers .... there`s nothing suicide about the handshift ...my 1953 harley had a factory handshift . that was shortened to about 12 inchs above the gearbox, when you made a chopper out of it ... The clutch pedal was safe when it was kicked out with the factory spring (mousetrap) ... but when young fools.... (me and my buddy) cut off one half of the rocker pedal and threw away the retaining or safety spring ... it became suicidal!! I recall the bottom of my boot being wet.. it slipped off the clutch pedal (bare chrome pedal, no rubber, for looks of course!) bike drug me across the the yard into the next yard then into thorny bushes ... AH! the good ole days??
How many old farts in R.S.C. remember this good stuff??

Mike .....