Suicide shifter

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A right handed suicide shifter that connects to a left side shifter.

Antique motorcycle with hand shifter.

Suicide shifter is a nick-name for a hand-shifter mounted onto a motorcycle. The name is derived from the fact that to operate one, a rider must perform the risky maneuver of removing one hand from the handlebars while shifting. Suicide shifters are not usually sold as an aftermarket part, but instead, have to be fabricated for the target vehicle. Please see Jockey shifter for a more in-depth explanation.

[edit] Types of shifters

Clutchless Suicide Shifter - This is where the shifter is a regular knob and involves the semi-complex task of two-handed shifting. One hand is used to press the clutch lever on the handlebars and the second hand is used to shift gears. A poorly designed motorcycle will have the clutch and a clutchless shifter on the same side making shifting during operation extremely dangerous or even impossible.

Clutched Suicide Shifter - This shifter has a clutch lever on it allowing one-handed shifting. This shifter is preferred since greater steering control is retained during shifting.

[edit] Usage

Suicide shifters were common on mid-20th century Harley-Davidson motorcycles but are considered obsolete and are not found on modern motorcycles. Some custom motorcycle makers will fabricate a suicide shifter when creating a retro design.

Trikes based on cars (usually the Volkswagen Type 1) usually keeps the original shifter.