As the opposite of what most people think, Jockey shift and Suicide Clutch were never stock equipment on any Harley-Davidson motorcycles. At the time of the first choppers they were installed by those chopping off everything they could. Gear changing was a jockey shift and foot clutch. The jockey shifter worked off of the transmission (no more shifter linkage & hardware). The suicide clutch replaced the linkage with a simple push-in and let out clutch. Two years ago, it seems that motorcycle controls manufacturers were quite surprised when they saw the big surge of bobbers & choppers equipped with a jockey shift. Result? Even today, not many well known & reputable companies are offering such a setup and our mailbox at the shop is filled with requests for guidance to find such controls. The modern way to do the old setup is to use a hydraulic foot clutch. Most of the time, these foot controls come from small custom builder shops who made them because they needed them for their own bikes. One of them is Grandeur Cycles with forward controls with the left side equipped with a master cylinder. They also offer a choice of shifters & knobs. Of course, you can make yours and it’s not so difficult to create your own cable or hydraulic setup. But this Blog is read by bikers with different levels of expertise. Another good company to help you get started is LaBriola Machine specializing in this setup since 1988.
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Real bikers jocket shift. The others fall trying to.
Once ya switch ya never go back!!!
Jockey shifting is to demonstrate the true art of riding.
I put a tank shifter / foot clutch on a year ago.. It doesn’t replace the standard equipment, but through linkage and a cable arrangement that splits to serve both the hand and foot clutch I can use either system but I just don’t bother with the stock system anymore.
I just learned jockey shifting on my new bobber. Beginners, do some training before you go in traffic. After that, when you are comfortable, it’s very cool.
I have been thinking of putting a Handshift to my FLHST 1990, I wonder if have any photo’s of the set up (”Pop”) I had a ‘59 DuoGlide for 11yrs. and enjoyed the foot clutch and hand shift, as a lot of my mates still bag me out about selling her and buying a Evolution it would be nice to be different again.
Sorry Cyril:
That’s no Jockey Shift.
Pop & Trip have it right, it’s a Tank Shif.
However, you got “suicide clutch” right.
…..it’s all about tradition……:)
am in the process of getting patents on my products. I make hand shifters and foot clutch conversions that are reliable, cheap, easy to install by any novice. send a closeup pic of left side of your scoot and a description of what you are looking for and I can custom make it. I prefer 8 balls and cue ball shift knobs but if it can be drilled, it can a knobby. Although more complex and costlier, I also make tank shift conversions.
dixhil@yahoo.com
I recently converted my custom built old school bobber to suicide shift….I will never go back!!!! It is awsome, you get a lot of people looking……plus one good thing about it your friends never ask to ride it. LOL…………………..If anyone ever wants to see pics of it they are posted on club chopper.com under phstfukr