How does a suicide shifter work?

Question

Where is the clutch? Do they have front brakes? Was this ever on a stock bike and why would you want to use this type shifter?

Dirt roads? How long ago were these used?

That is a thing of beauty. Love that shifter. Good job!!!!

Answer 1

This is a Harley Davidson thing. It was never a stock item. You can purchase a kit that can be installed, it's a suicide clutch and jockey shifter. Not a suicide shifter. The jockey shifter is mounted to the transmission and does away with the tank mounted shifter. I once owned a Harley with a suicide clutch but I retained the tank mount shift. The suicide clutch---you remove the stock heel and toe rocker clutch and replace it with a lever that is spring loaded, it works like a car clutch, when you release the clutch it stays engaged till you push down and hold the clutch lever. Thus the suicide thing. If you lose your balance or whatever and are forced to put your left foot to ground you have no control over the clutch. The rocker clutch would stay disengaged till you pused it to engage with your heel. I always went to neutral when I stopped to eliminate this hazard.

Answer 2

Well, everybody but tronary got this one wrong. There is no such thing as a "suicide shifter" There is a suicide clutch, a foot clutch that works just like a cars. This set up came about in the 50's when guys would remover the counter springs form a rocker type foot clutch to get off the line faster when street racing. The word suicide refers exclusively to the clutch and has nothing to do with taking your hand off the bars. A suicide clutch is usually run in conjunction with a jockey shifter. A shift handle mounted directly to the transmission top. Called a jockey shifter because when the rider reaches down and to the rear to shift he resembles a jockey whipping a horse.

Answer 3

It works like a car clutch and shifter. You depress the pedal to disengage the clutch to shift, release it to engage the clutch.
Brakes have nothing to do with the clutch/shifter.
It was never stock. It developed out ot the old rocker clutch/tank shifter. Used to be, the clutch had a heel-toe pedal. Rock the pedal back with your heel to disengage the clutch, shift gears with the lever on the side of the tank, rock pedal forward with your toes to engage the clutch.
Why have it? To be different, old time throw back, personal choice.

Answer 4

An early-style gear shift mechanism. Unlike modern motorcycles, early motorcycles used a foot-actuated clutch and the gear shifting was done with the rider's hand via a long gear shift knob that was connected directly to the transmission (much like a manual transmission on a car). Because the rider had to remove one of his hands from the handlebars in order to shift - a dangerous prospect given that most of the thoroughfares of the day were rutted, unpaved dirt roads or brick and cobblestone streets - many people felt that motorcycle riders were literally "taking their lives into their own hands" … hence the term, "suicide shift".

Answer 5

mdcbert,...I had to give you a thumbs up on that one. It really gave me a good laugh.You should have your own tv show like OCC.That is one cool custom cruiser.LOL
I honestly love to see that type of machine.I have all the makings for a mini chopper in my shop.I'm going to get started on it when the snow flies and things slow down around here.
I rode an old Indian with a jockey shift once.Once was enough.

Answer 6

It's similar to a stick shift on a car. The shift lever is on the left hand side. The clutch is used with your left foot originally. Yes they had front brakes just like always. Yes the used to put them on production bikes.
The reason they called it "suicide" shift was because you had to remove your hand from the bars to use it and it required a good bit of coordination to get used to.

Answer 7

LOL!! I MADE one...
http://www.ratbike.org/docs/568.php
and also a better picture...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/mdcbert/scootmaster_Imadeit.jpg