Foot pedals as a shifter & brake?

Beeweldmut

Beeweldmut

Been Around the Block
Has anyone ever setup a bicycle style pedal to rotate as a shifter and rear brake? The motion would be the same so theoretically it will work. I think a pretty large pedal and a snug fitting boot would be necessary for positive shifts. Maybe center the pivot bushings on the shift side, and offset the pivot bushings towards the rider on the brake to maximize leverage.

I guess I can get a fish scale and check the foot Lbs required to shift and break with a normal rearset and the mockup a pedal shifter version to see if its possible and comfortable.

Just trying to think of ways to remove as many visible parts a possible for a really clean look.
 
that is a great idea get some of those rocker off-road pegs and just hook a linkages to them
as long as you are not really gonna ride it,and just look at it, it should work fine
 
Just throwing this out there, but for me I can't see it working. I move around a lot on the bike, and have to lift off the seat for bumps and such. I'd be worried that this movement would unintentionally trigger either the brake action or gear change. Maybe I'm just not visualizing the setup correctly though.
 
HerrDeacon said:
Just throwing this out there, but for me I can't see it working. I move around a lot on the bike, and have to lift off the seat for bumps and such. I'd be worried that this movement would unintentionally trigger either the brake action or gear change. Maybe I'm just not visualizing the setup correctly though.
Click to expand...
he wants a clean look, no more dirty bits
 
Accidental shifts and brake would be the obvious problem. These would be forward controls so Motions would be a bit more intentional.

I would build my own pedals with pivot offsets that make motions ergonomic. Also use adjustable linkages so I can fine tune them.
 
for the shifter you would certainally want the pedal to have its own dual-action return to center springs with a strong,positive, but smooth acting detent at center
i dont see too much of an issue with forward controls as you cannot stand on the pegs like a proper motorcycle anyway
 
I think the dual spring in a good idea, but the detent might cause issues with the detent already in the transmission. This shifter would have a lot less leverage than a stock length shift lever would, so I don't want to add to much resistance.

Less lengthy will require more travel. A normal shifter takes about 10° on a 5" lever. I'm sure there is a calculation, but I'm guessing it will take about 20° of rotation with a 2" lever to achieve the same travel and force. I might twitch my foot a degree or 2 but I'm not gonna make a sudden 20° rotation of my ankle. And if I do then I probably need to downshift anyway.
 
Sorry, didn't realize that this would be for forward controls. The issues I mentioned wouldn't really come into play then. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.
 
I built these as planned. Have not ridden the bike yet, but sitting on the bench they feel great.. No shift levers just tilt your foot on the footboard.
 

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huh looks good
besides not having a rear brake and shifting when you don't want to and burning shift forks it should be fine
 
That may be true, but he has a point. As you ride, almost any flex in your ankle will try to shift gear. Is there any way to split the pedals so that the part you ride on also pivots slightly but allows you to slide your foot off the shifter portion.
 
Still the guy is a jackass, constantly.

Anyway. The ergonomics of body position change of different types of motorcycles. Having my feet forward means I have no weight on them and it's much easier to keep my foot from twitching 10° required to shift. Think about the pressures on your feet when your standing up versus sitting in a lazy boy.

I'm sure I will catch some lazy boy comments, being a chopper. However I'll let a ride through some twistes settle that debate.
 
it is not 10° as soon as you put pressure on the shifter and it takes up slack it is putting side force on the forks
there is a good reason nobody does this and that is because it is a bad design idea
 
Very amusing when new guys step into the forum, vigorously defend their crappy ideas after asking what people think, then start stepping on their dick.
 
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