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TOPIC: Jockey or Suicide Shifters
#74972
ericking99 (User)
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Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
I'm getting ready to switch to a jockey shifter with a foot clutch. Anyone have the same set up that can give me adivce or warnings before doing so? Thanks

Eric
 
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#74973
newroadie (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
I changed my Silverado to a bobber in December. Changed to a foot clutch and hand shift. It was a snap on my Road* because of the location of the clutch cable and shifter shaft. You can use the original clutch cable, cut it and run the inside cable through a hole you drill in the little ball on the shifter rod to depress the clutch. I cut the heel part of the heel/toe shifter off. I used the shift lever from a 100 Yamaha dirt bike for the hand shift lever. I drove a 1/2 inch (I think) stainless steel rod over the ground down shift lever and added a snooker ball as the shift knob. The picture I have is not very clear but it was a snap to do.
 
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#74974
ericking99 (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
Any close up pics you have would be greatly appreciated. I have a hurst shifter rod of a 68 camaro which i was going to weld to the linkage that the foot shifter controls now. Then i was going to modify the foot shifter to be a foot clutch by altering the shift linkage to engage the clutch.

Maybe i'm over thinking it.

Eric
 
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#75059
HoustonCH73 (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
Thats ONE way for sure to keep your bike from getting stolen!!! Most people (including myself) would be clueless & likely get myself killed while trying to make a getaway. I've always been intrigued by those....
 
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#75121
newroadie (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
You are not over thinking it. That is almost exactly what I did except I used an old shift lever from a dirt bike instead of welding to the existing linkage. I'll try to get a better picture of mine. Great looking bike.
 
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#75129
asmcgoose (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
There's a reason they call them things 'suicide shifters' ya know...
 
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#75140
StarCruiser06 (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
I've always admired those old Harleys and Indians with suicide shifters... So classic! And, oh so macho... (Marlin Brando comes to mind imediately)
But, back in those days things seemed to go a lot slower, there just seemed to be enough time to use a tank mounted shifter...
You just have to remember... Left side clutch, right side brake!
 
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#75262
ericking99 (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
What price we pay to be cool? I just love the way it looks plus I find myself riding in a style where my left hand jest relaxes in my lap anyway... im keeping my old set up in case it doesnt feel right but i will post pics when I get her set up.
 
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#75376
jsmn4vu (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
A little historical perspective..."suicide" refers to the style of clutch, not the shifter. The old hand-shift Harleys had a clutch pedal that would stay in place -- engaged or disengaged -- by friction, so you could kick it and de-clutch and still have your left foot free to hold the bike up if needed.

Naturally, some riders thought it would be "cool" to have an automobile-style (spring-loaded) clutch that was engaged unless you were stepping on it. With that style, you can't have the clutch disengaged and put your left foot down at the same time. That's why it was (and is) called a suicide clutch.

You don't have to have a suicide clutch to use a jockey shifter.
--
John in Fayetteville, GA
Not older than dirt, but
older than hand clutches
 
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#75445
RIPBiker13 (User)
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Re:Jockey or Suicide Shifters 5 Years, 1 Month ago  
You don't need to use the clutch if you get the RPM in the right spot when you shift. I'm working on a jockey shift that allows me to keep my foot shift for traffic. I was thinking about running an internal clutch so you can't tell it has a hand clutch, and the forward controls will still have the shifter in it but you would look and think it's the clutch.
 
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