Oh..... that thingy is for shifting? I thought it was just a spare shifter in case the front one broke. Mine's in the garbage can somewhere. Cheapest mod I ever did.

 

I have had the folding rear shifter for years and it works great on trips. I usually have my toes up on the highway pegs but sometimes I need my feet on the boards and that shifter folded out of the way gives extra room. I use my rear shifter for all upshifts and even folded it works fine.

 

Here's another possible option. I used the VT Goodies 1" out extension spacers to move my foot boards 1" out and the HD extended foot board pans to move the foot boards 1" forward. This had the unintended consequence of making my heel shifter 1" in and 1" back which gives me more room on the foot boards.

This may not be feasible unless you were planning to do it anyway, but it did make a big difference in the position of my much loved heel-shifter. It also makes a big difference in my leg position and comfort in allowing me to stretch out a little more. YMMV.

 

I learned on bikes with only a toe shift. I tried but just could not get used to the heel shift. Removing the thing as been my cheapest mod also.

 

I am a heel shifter convert (since I got my Limited). I have the folding shifter shown by the original poster. I just keep it folded back and shift it that way. Plenty of foot room on the board and real easy to catch neutral also.