Looking at buying a softail that has a jockey shift and foot clutch. I am a well experienced rider with many years riding HD's. However, anyone out there have or at least ridden a bike with jockey shift and is it easy once you get used to it.....any balance issues when getting started in first i.e. holding bike up with only one foot planted??????? any input would be helpful....

 

old guy here yes I have had jockie shift bikes in the past I
personelly had no problems you just have to not want to stop on a hill unless your front brake is good
no problems with balance at that time now I don't know (65) now mine was hard tail but should be about the same
sure looks cool mine was back in the early days knuckle head fully chopped not bobed
never even heard that word till recently does take a little getting used to and depending on the placementof the gear shift
how easy it is to reach mine you just let your arm hang down and there it was.. enjoy whatever you ride

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Let me help you here....the last chopper I had, had a jockey shift, foot clutch, we have done several, we use our Grandeur Auto clutch, and hydraulic foot clutch, and it takes 100% of the work out of a jockey shift. Because when you pull up to a light, you do not have to find neutral etc,. The auto clutch makes the jockey shift very very very easy, and looks way cool. Now if you want to go one step forward, since you wont have a hand clutch, use a proportional valve hooked to your foot brake that works both front and back brake at the same time, and internal throttle and bingo, clean bars. It's a lot easier and more straight forward than alot of people think, and very trouble free.

 

This bike has a hydraulic clutch and hand shift mounted using the upper engine mount on the left hand side. Whats the Grandeur Auto clutch? Can it be added and hoes does this work finding neutral? Website for info????? let me know.

 

Try http://www.grandeurcycle.com/parts/Clutch.htm

 

And if you are worried about streangth and longevity, Snow Machines have been using clutches like that for a LONG time. I read through and the build parts ofcoarse are a bit different but the principle is the same.

To be honest I am really suprised that the Polaris Victory bikes don't have this as a stock option.

 

Jokey shifts are great to ride,Learning isnt that difficult and will become second nature in time.A good frt brake is a plus.Get use to it away from busy areas until you get hte hang of it.Very smooth shifting if using ratchet style trans lid.What kind bike will you be running this on?

 

Pittguy, 2003 Fatboy. Picture attached.

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I've been riding both rocker and suicide clutch + hand shift bikes since about 1981. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes very natural. Have I ever goofed up? Yep! But then I see riders goof up with a hand clutch, too. You'll develop the "suicide lean" when you come to a stop, as you'll find yourself leaning to the right where your foot is on the ground. Somebody was talking about that in here somewhere a few days ago.

One thing nice about a suicide clutch is you never have to adjust the thing!

The red '78 Shovel below is a rocker clutched, hand shift 3 speed w/reverse tranny. Current ride is a suicide clutched, hand shift '87 Sloptail.