Jockey shifter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The jockey shifter is a gear shifting device used on motorcycles before the use of a foot-operated shift lever. The earliest known use on motorcycles was with the first multi-geared transmission on the 1915 Harley Davidson.[1] It is a mechanical linkage that is typically mounted to the left side of the motor bike's fuel tank and is held in place by a slotted piece of metal welded to the frame or the tank.[2] Through a series of linkages it is connected to the transmission shift selection lever. In terms comparable to a motorcycle of current construction it is simply a way to relocate the shift lever from the front foot controls to the side of the gas tank.
The slap shifter is a variation of the jockey shifter where the shifter lever is directly mounted to the transmission and is just long enough to clear the primary drive cover or belt drive.
[edit] Suicide clutch
The suicide clutch is sometimes referred to as a suicide shifter, which is a common mistake. The suicide clutch is a foot-operated clutch that is mounted on the left side of the motorcycle's forward foot controls.[2] The suicide clutch moniker has derived from difficulties in operating this form of clutch and shifter. On a motorcycle equipped with a conventional hand clutch and foot shifter, the rider places the left foot on the ground when stopped and holds the motorcycle in place with pressure on the rear brake pedal with the right foot, while engaging the clutch with the left hand. On a motorcycle equipped with a suicide clutch, the clutch is held in with the left foot, requiring the right foot to hold the bike in place, with the right hand applying pressure to the front brake.
Many riders have experienced difficulties transitioning from a conventional hand clutch motorcycle to a foot clutch, often stalling the engine when releasing the clutch at a stop.
