Hi there,
I was just wondering how many of you have tried one of the electric shifter units that are presently on the market. After many years, I've developed a really bad left leg. I makes it difficult to raise my leg to the floorboards on my HD and also shifting is getting to be a chore. This is one reason that I've decided to get another sidecar, which is on order.
I've seen three units on the market. One is the Pingel which I think is made in the US. Another is the Klicktronic, which comes from the UK. There is a third unit from a company in Arizona but I can't recall the brand name. All of them are electric and utilize a DC solenoid to make the shift.
Does anyone here have any experience with any of these units?
I think I should mention in passing that the Twin Cam Harleys, 1999 to date, seem to have a fairly heavy pull to shift gears on the transmission. I checked mine with a fish scale, which admittedly is not scientific, but it showed a pull of 16 pounds to shift when the transmission is cold. It may be less when hot but that still seems like a lot.
With these units going at $700 to $800 a crack, I certainly wouldn't want to buy one and then discover that it wouldn't pull the transmission into gear.
I've seen pictures of the units mounted on later model bikes but I've not heard any details.
About five years ago I was at the bike rally in Laughlin, Nevada. I met up with a fellow who is paraplegic. He had the Arizona unit mounted on a Honda Valkryie with a sidecar that was adapted to his needs. He let me try the shifter and it really worked beautifully. It was controlled by two buttons. The only thing is that of all of the transmissions on the road, I would have to say that the Harley probably has the highest pull. At least the one on my bike is pretty stiff.
The one on the Valkryie, like the Honda 1500 and other similar bikes has a very smooth and short pull so I guess that any of these units would work on a Honda and probably BMW too.
I'd just like to hear from anyone who knows about these and see what the concensus of opinion might be. I think that something like this would be a great deal for a sidecar in any case.
Comments? Thanks in advance.
gnm109
I have instaled them on about 5 bikes and they do work well. Pingel is very good and the one from Ariz is made by Noel Neff very good also.Highly recomend themRon
That's good to hear. Have you installed one on a late-model HD?
gnm109
We do these all the time and just installed a Pingle on on 06 Harley. We also have the ones from Lowell Neff but they really do not pull as hard as theh Pingle unit.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
866-638-1793
Yes, I remember the name now. The Lowell Neff unit was the one from Arizona.
Regards,
gnm109
Give me a call or send me your phone #, we can talk about itRon970 241 1325
I have experience with two systems. I have a Pingel electric shift on my 04 HD. It looks good and works great. Pingel is an upstanding company that stands behind its products. Only compliant I have is it was not designed to be able to find neutral. I also have an electric shifter from Klicktonics (made in the UK) that was well made and with a quick punch of the button the solenoid would go short of full stroke so you could find neutral. It will work on Harleys and older Moto Guzzis that have a heaver shift throw. www.kliktronic.co.uk
That's what I wanted to hear....someone who has a 2004 HD with either a Pingel or a Klicktronic. Nice to know that they work. I'm gong to invest in one when I get my sidecar rig set up this winter.
Thanks,
gnm109
