I suggest we don't tell them about the wooden disc brake?
Question on making a 74 .. 850cc into a left foot shift
- Thread starter bikerboy108
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Other than the post on page 1 by a different Alan. That one asks the exact question-
" Why would you want to do that?"
And one other post that states-
"There's a reason it's called the right gear change - because the other one is wrong"
Then there are a few posters that advise the OP to buy a right hand shift bike and " just get used to it"
None of those posts are what one would call offensive, however they do show that Alan has a wee point.
There are also plenty of straightforward answers to the op's question.
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Flatspot
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Ah fork ‘em all.
Mind you, I can't see the problem given the ambiguity of the original post. There was neither a hint that the bike was already bought/owned and the jobs were required/desired, nor that it was pure conjecture or speculation on a 'what if' situation (until post #29)...
IMHO
IMHO
Fast Eddie said:
Yes, Dresda built a couple of pre unit Tritons with special left shifts. And in the racing world it’s quite common for classic race bikes to be converted to left shift to suit the top gun riders who are more used to modern machinery.
Yes, Dresda built a couple of pre unit Tritons with special left shifts. And in the racing world it’s quite common for classic race bikes to be converted to left shift to suit the top gun riders who are more used to modern machinery.
Hi Wartorn (and all),
Yes, I think you have got the point of my blurb.
It definitely wasn’t my intention to be too strident in my criticism of others. If I was, I apologise.
I did feel there was an undertone in some posts that were slightly critical of the question and an inference that a R/H, one up, three down change was somehow the ‘ideologically correct’ set up.
Similarly we could discuss all day whether we should be driving on the left or right side of the road but it’s largely irrelevant as we are stuck with what we have. I couldn’t criticise anyone with a classic American car wanting to convert it to RH drive.
Personally I find the LH change more natural to me because that is what I’m most familiar with, not because it is correct.
As a final thought may I suggest that perhaps if the management of British motorcycles had been a little more proactive for change and not quite so convinced that they knew best and what they were doing was ‘naturally’ correct, it may have assisted them with survival.
Anyway, no big deal, again, apologies to anyone I offended.
Regards
Al
more to it
Should You Reverse Your Motorcycle Shift Pattern?
The pros and cons of running GP shift.
www.cycleworld.com
ashman
VIP MEMBER
Its all about opinions we all have them and that's what forums are all about, if you want a left shift bike then buy one, if you want ES then buy one with ES or spend the money to convert it to ES, the thing is there be a lot more KS models around, it don't take long to get use to the right hand gear change and to me its a better way, its in Norton's blood to have a right hand, race shift patten, they only went to right hand shift to keep with the market, if the OP doesn't have a Norton or is planning on one then all good, just chase up one that will suite him, what would the world be if we didn't do things to our bikes, doing mods and major upgrades is all part of motorcycling, everyone is different.
I completely change my Commando at a young age from new and has had major changes since the early 80s lots of my friends condemned me for it but it was built for me by me, no one else, if the OP wants to know if its possible then all good as with anything there are good upgrades as well bad upgrades, myself wouldn't change a great gear change to one that might not be better, but good on the OP for asking even if we think its a bad idea to change.
Ashley
Time Warp
.......back to the 70's.
baz
VIP MEMBER
It's interesting that when some British bikes went from hand change to foot change it was to left foot change
And then right foot change
Then when America banned right foot change all manufacturers had to change to left foot to stay in business with America being the biggest market
cjandme said:
If I'm not mistaken vintage rebuilds came up with left foot shift linkage, It was part of his own rearset foot controls. I seem to remember seeing a used one for sale, (I remember thinking 1,100 bucks was up there). But I could be wrong, it might have just been a one off custom set.
vintage rebuilds? link?
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Sounds like some simple crossover mods involved.
Lineslinger
VIP MEMBER
To each their own...
if one has the time, mechanical ability, desire, a skilled machinist, a talented fabricator, along with a lot of MONEY more power to them.
if one has the time, mechanical ability, desire, a skilled machinist, a talented fabricator, along with a lot of MONEY more power to them.
Well I don't exactly have a link, but I Googled vintage rebuilds vr880 and a restoration website of dean collinson came up and in his posted photos it's possible to see some of the switched foot controls. Fellow member her Grandpaul dealt with Kenny Dreer and bought some of his spares when he was selling parts off, andmight have some insight into the method Kenny used to switch the controls over feom one side to the other.
Fast Eddie
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Not as simple as done by the racing boys. These were road bikes and looks were important. Modified gearbox inner casing and quite a lot of welding and machining of the primary covers for the pedal to exit through.
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So i guess safe to say the dreer shifter swap, is the only known option, other than the standard 75 bits, which is waaay more involved.
it also shows a doable, simpler option, likely to come up for new folks either to classic Brit bikes or right side shifting.
A starter ad on means either aftermarket, or if going with 75 bits, prob easier finding a complete 75 engine (including primary & gearbox) to swap in, to have both, a left side shift & stock e-start.
it also shows a doable, simpler option, likely to come up for new folks either to classic Brit bikes or right side shifting.
A starter ad on means either aftermarket, or if going with 75 bits, prob easier finding a complete 75 engine (including primary & gearbox) to swap in, to have both, a left side shift & stock e-start.
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