Market research - any interest in an ST1300 floorboard/rocker shifter?

[Lee T]

Hello all,

One of the few things I really miss from the Wing, is the floorboards and rocker shifter set up. Gets knees and hips past 90-degrees, and you never use the top of your riding boot/shoe to pull up. 1 "toe" and 4"heel".

My company does a lot of machining and custom aviation design work in aluminum. I sat and pondered this afternoon a bit on the location, mounting points, etc., to put an appropriately sleek set of running boards and a shifter on the ST. I think we can do it and make it look good.

Any interest in a product like that? It would need to be able to pivot up if the lean into the curve gets exciting, match the general styling of the bike overall, and be durable and reliable. Any features people would want to see?

I'm going to sketch out a rough design and see what the engineers have to say.

 

[SMSW]

You might include an estimated cost. I think that would have a large impact on interest.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

Just to give you some ideas, below is what some others have come up with.

ST1300 Driver's Heel-toe Shifter

The below isn't a floor-board as much as it is a toe-rest. It might give you some ideas anyway.
ST1300 Driver's Toe Rests

 

[Igofar]

Interesting....most of the Harley's that came with heel toe shifters caused more shifter linkage damage that not.
The weight of a human leg stepping down on that lever, caused quite a bit of wear, and wore stuff out quickly.
Once removed, I never had any issues with shift shafts or linkages again. I've done this on dozens of touring HD's over the years.
I never worried about leaving a mark on my hush puppies
With that said, if you can provide comfort to folks on ST's, and they feel a need for one, I wish you all the best in coming up with a design.

 

[Lee T]

That's interesting. I had them on all three of my wings, for a combined total of somewhere north of 200,000 miles, and never had any issues at all. possibly a design thing?

 

[klaproth]

That's interesting. I had them on all three of my wings, for a combined total of somewhere north of 200,000 miles, and never had any issues at all. possibly a design thing?

Or maybe it was the fact that @Igofsr was referring to Harley’s, which are not famous for engineering design nor durability.

 

[dduelin]

Or maybe it was the fact that @Igofsr was referring to Harley’s, which are not famous for engineering design nor durability.

True or not, there are plenty of people that believe heel/toe shifters are the cause of ghost shifting problems on 5th generation Goldwings.

 

[STRider]

Is it too late to add a poll to the thread?

 

[Lee T]

True or not, there are plenty of people that believe heel/toe shifters are the cause of ghost shifting problems on 5th generation Goldwings.

I lost interest after the 3rd generation.

 

[Lee T]

You might include an estimated cost. I think that would have a large impact on interest.

I'll have to figure that part out. A lot has to do with how much material is used. These would all be machined parts. I need to check with the guys over in the machine shop to get a ballpark on pricing.

 

[Lee T]

Just to give you some ideas, below is what some others have come up with.

ST1300 Driver's Heel-toe Shifter

The below isn't a floor-board as much as it is a toe-rest. It might give you some ideas anyway.
ST1300 Driver'sToe Rests

Thanks!

 

[Lee T]

Interesting....most of the Harley's that came with heel toe shifters caused more shifter linkage damage that not.
The weight of a human leg stepping down on that lever, caused quite a bit of wear, and wore stuff out quickly.
Once removed, I never had any issues with shift shafts or linkages again. I've done this on dozens of touring HD's over the years.
I never worried about leaving a mark on my hush puppies
With that said, if you can provide comfort to folks on ST's, and they feel a need for one, I wish you all the best in coming up with a design.

The issue was when in a job that required big clunky steel toed boots, getting the toe under it required a bit more stretch, and since they were also required to have a mirror-like black polish shine on them, the constant pull up left a distinct mark that would become more or less permanent over time. My bosses already hated motorcycles, so reminding them I rode was a real issue. I remember well when we got a new wing commander, in about 1988, and the first words out of his mouth at his first wing staff meeting were "How many idiots in this wing ride motorcycles?" Charming guy. I had a 10-speed bicycle wreck one weekend that required stitches at the base hospital. When I saw him on Monday, he asked "is that reportable?" -- "No Sir, no duty time lost!" He smiled and walked away. Didn't ask if it hurt. Then later he sent his chief enlisted advisor to come sniff around my office and ask "Are you sure that's not Honda rash?". I told him that if it was Honda rash, it would have taken a lot more stitches, and that since he was questioning my integrity, I would insist that he come to my house where he would see my white 10-speed with blood all over it, and my black Gold Wing immaculately clean and without a scratch. He decided to leave at that point, insisting he was not calling me a liar. Good times.

I don't mind doing "toe shifting" these days, but my right knee doesn't much like being bent past 90 for extended time periods. At present, I just dangle my leg over the foot peg every 15 or 20 minutes and let it almost drag the road. It's effective, but I would like to have a bit more elegant solution. Floor boards are elegant, if done right, but they do interfere with the toe shift thing.

I hope you're doing well these days and getting in some saddle time on the lighter bike. I saw the listing for your former ST too late.

 

[Lee T]

Is it too late to add a poll to the thread?

I'm new to the site, but it looks like I could. I'm 95% sure I will get a set made for me - I'm just curious if this is something other folks would be interested in.

 

[getwhatupay4]

Hello all,

One of the few things I really miss from the Wing, is the floorboards and rocker shifter set up. Gets knees and hips past 90-degrees, and you never use the top of your riding boot/shoe to pull up. 1 "toe" and 4"heel".

My company does a lot of machining and custom aviation design work in aluminum. I sat and pondered this afternoon a bit on the location, mounting points, etc., to put an appropriately sleek set of running boards and a shifter on the ST. I think we can do it and make it look good.

Any interest in a product like that? It would need to be able to pivot up if the lean into the curve gets exciting, match the general styling of the bike overall, and be durable and reliable. Any features people would want to see?

I'm going to sketch out a rough design and see what the engineers have to say.

Think there is more of a need for functional and esthetic footrests since it seems the blade style ones seem to no longer to be made.

 

[Larry Fine]

I don't mind doing "toe shifting" these days, but my right knee doesn't much like being bent past 90 for extended time periods. At present, I just dangle my leg over the foot peg every 15 or 20 minutes and let it almost drag the road. It's effective, but I would like to have a bit more elegant solution. Floor boards are elegant, if done right, but they do interfere with the toe shift thing.

I, too, have right-knee issues. After an hour, or less, my right knee starts burning. I have to dangle it like you do, or just stop and walk around. As the day progresses, it gets worse and I need to stop more often.

It also hurts after walking a lot or working, to the point that I am having total (I think) knee replacement surgery Tuesday morning. Now I am looking forward to the point where it feels better than it does now.

In my opinion, having a second place for your feet, i.e., highway pegs/blades, is more valuable in knee and hip comfort (I've already have both hips replaced) than merely having more foot surface in one place.

However, shifting isn't an issue. I often keep my right foot on the highway blade and my left foot on the regular peg. I did mention in another thread that I'd like a shift lever with two toe (adjustable) toe pegs.

 

[Lee T]

Think there is more of a need for functional and esthetic footrests since it seems the blade style ones seem to no longer to be made.

That's actually the original thing underlying all of these set ups. The floor boards are the primary benefit in that they allow you to move your foot around a bit, and have your feet a bit lower, but in order to do that one has to do something with the shifter and brake so they remain functional, particularly the shifter, since one cannot get under it with floorboards.

 

[Igofar]

Or maybe it was the fact that @Igofsr was referring to Harley’s, which are not famous for engineering design nor durability.

My 2007 Harley Davidson Roadking Classic held up pretty good, with NO engine work needed.
And for those who don’t know anything about Harley’s, the speedometers do NOT have tenths of miles on them, only actual miles

 

[Igofar]

And not to think I am biased, my Honda ct125 trail does have a heel shifter!

 

[Igofar]

And my current 03 CVO road king had its heel arm removed so I could move around more.

 

[STRider]

@Lee T actually, a heel-toe shifter is totally antithetical to my style of riding on an ST whether 1100 or 1300. So I won't be expressing interest. However, I *currently* lack any compelling physical need for that on my ST1300.

But when I bought a used 250 Nighthawk for my kid, the current owner had significant ankle problems and her husband had added a heel to the toe shifter which made that bike rideable for her. I immediately removed that once we got it home. But even on that small bike, it had a place with that rider.

Yeah, it was pretty sketch...