[Dexter]

Has anyone who already has a Meteor attempted rotating the shifter assembly on the gear shaft to a different position (rotating clockwise) to see if you can make it work for the toe better on the upshifts, instead of using the heel?

Looking at it, it appears that would move the toe part up higher to allow upshifts easily with the toe. With proper m/c boots on, it is too difficult to bend the ankle enough to achieve toe upshifts. and it looks like only the one part, where the linkage meets the gear shaft, needs to be moved.

[tooseevee]

Has anyone who already has a Meteor attempted rotating the shifter assembly on the gear shaft to a different position (rotating clockwise) to see if you can make it work for the toe better on the upshifts, instead of using the heel?

Looking at it, it appears that would move the toe part up higher to allow upshifts easily with the toe. With proper m/c boots on, it is too difficult to bend the ankle enough to achieve toe upshifts. and it looks like only the one part, where the linkage meets the gear shaft, needs to be moved.

         Get a toe-only gear shift lever?

[GSS]

It will be a simple 5 minute job to remove the bolt and rotate it up by a notch…..you will need to remove a cotter pin and disconnect the linkage otherwise there isn’t enough room to slip it off the gear shaft.

You can’t use an old fashioned toe shifter as the footrest is too far forward and the engine case is bulbous. It would be easy enough to cut off the heel extension off this one. Thanks.

[Dexter]

         Get a toe-only gear shift lever?

AFAIK, RE does not offer such an accessory for this bike.

[Dexter]

It will be a simple 5 minute job to remove the bolt and rotate it up by a notch…..you will need to remove a cotter pin and disconnect the linkage otherwise there isn’t enough room to slip it off the gear shaft.

You can’t use an old fashioned toe shifter as the footrest is too far forward and the engine case is bulbous. It would be easy enough to cut off the heel extension off this one. Thanks.

I do plan to try that, but I was hoping someone else might have found this to be a solution already. The only fly in the ointment could be if that splined shaft has a "keyway" that only allows one mounting position. Haven't inspected it closely enough yet, as I just got the bike on Saturday. One of the first half dozen Meteors now on the roads of the Vancouver area.

I have to say, the bike shifts soooooo smoothly, that I couldn't tell if I had actually made the change until the clutch went back out. Shifting with the heel seems not quite as sensitive on the foot, as the toe shift is.

I was quite impressed with how smooth the transmission shifts are though, compared to all the Hondas I have ridden.

[tooseevee]

AFAIK, RE does not offer such an accessory for this bike.

        I should have known better than to comment on something I've not looked at live and in living color.  I didn't realize there was a problem with just putting a normal lever on it.

         That said, I really do like the look of the Meteor and the fit and finish (AND the out-on-road comments of reviewers who are fair to what the bike is) seems excellent from the reviews I've read and seen. I'd like one in Babylon Taxi black and yellow please and it pisses me off no end that I'm 83 years old 

[Carlsberg Wordsworth]

I just got the bike on Saturday. One of the first half dozen Meteors now on the roads of the Vancouver area.

Hooray, congrats. Hope you managed to get some miles in today

[Dexter]

Hooray, congrats. Hope you managed to get some miles in today

Thanks. Managed to put about 50 km on yesterday getting it back home via a slight "detour" route. Sprinkling rain here and there which kept it short. Over six weeks of solid sunshine (drought) weather here and it chooses to rain on the day the bike is ready!

Going to spend today fitting the RE windshield which I had to order from Hitchcocks, as RE North America said they do not and will not have it in stock, as it hasn't met DOT standards for this side of the pond. Probably RE hasn't applied for that yet, or paid the piper to get it.

[GSS]

It will be a simple 5 minute job to remove the bolt and rotate it up by a notch…..you will need to remove a cotter pin and disconnect the linkage otherwise there isn’t enough room to slip it off the gear shaft.

Tried rotating it one notch today but the linkage gets too close to the footpeg mount and hits it during upshifting. Went back to the stock position for now. This may or may not be an issue with other bikes. Might have to figure out a slightly longer and/or adjustable linkage similar to the 410 and 650 linkages to raise the pedal without repositioning it at the shaft.

[Dexter]

Tried rotating it one notch today but the linkage gets too close to the footpeg mount and hits it during upshifting. Went back to the stock position for now. This may or may not be an issue with other bikes. Might have to figure out a slightly longer and/or adjustable linkage similar to the 410 and 650 linkages to raise the pedal without repositioning it at the shaft.

Yes, I tried it today too and had the same result. Dang! It doesn't need much more clearance to do it either. I'm thinking of going to a metal shop with that offending piece of the linkage and getting one made to the same dimensions, but with a small U shaped bend in the rod right at that point where it contacts the footage mount.. Maybe a winter project.

Moving it up that one spline did make the toe shift quite doable.

Let me know if you come up with a better idea or easier solution.  Cheers!

P.S. Where are you located, as I noted you have a Supernova Blue, but can't tell from your avatar if it has the windshield? Supposedly not available to the North American market, unless you get it from Hitchcocks, as I did for my Stellar Blue.

[Carlsberg Wordsworth]

I think that's GSS's teal classic in his avatar 

[GSS]

P.S. Where are you located, as I noted you have a Supernova Blue, but can't tell from your avatar if it has the windshield?

I am in the tropical climes of Minnesota 

No windshield on the Supernova…..without the windshield all you get is the polished edge on the spokes of the wheel. It doesn’t even have the painted mudguards that you get with the stellar….just black.

That is indeed my chrome-teal Classic 500 with SB/GHG engine mods and a ton of extras that I am unfortunately parting with to make room in my garage for the meteor 

[Dexter]

Just to update this thread:

Hitchcock's has a number of accessory projects in the works for the Meteor and I was recently informed by them that a replacement linkage is fairly high on their list of items to offer, as soon as possible and to watch their accessory pages for the Meteor.

Good news for those wishing to ditch the heel shift.

[mickyd3d]

My solution to the heel-toe shifter problem was simply to cut off the heel part.
I did try to get used to it but I just didn't like it.
I am now enjoying my rides 100%.
I did make one more modification to bring the toe shifter up slightly.
I am absolutely pleased with the way it is now.

This is an old thread so if anyone still interested I will post details of what I did?

[Electra Steve]

I made an adjustable linkage to let me set the lever for toe change, then promptly broke my toe so now I use the heel and toe and I am now used to it and like it.

[Dexter]

As a further update to this thread, TEC Bike Parts in the UK has engineered and is now selling a superb bit of kit that replaces the sloppy - and undesirable for some -  heel/toe shift assembly, for the Meteor.

My installation thread of this item is found here:

https://forum.classicmotorworks.com/index.php?topic=33895.0