Nick-name for a hand-shifter mounted onto a motorcycle. The term refers to the shift operation which requires a rider to perform the risky maneuver of removing one hand from the handlebars while shifting. Suicide shifters were common on mid-20th century Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Some custom motorcycle makers will fabricate a suicide shifter when creating a retro design.
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4 Comments so far
i watch orange county chopper all the time everyday it comes on,and in doing so i saw the suicide shifter. i know about the suicide the suicide clutch, and i have riden a 1956 harleydavidson with this feature, i never have seen a suicide shifter with the clutch lever mounted on the shifter lever, which gave me an idear for my hard to shift 76 sporter, it is hard to get into neutral
I am happy to see this exists . I have never owned a chopper style or a style of motorcycle that allows me to sit back more than a “crotch rocket ” bike . I am disabled witha disease casuing spinal fusion , hurts to raise and lower , or flex my feet , as in changing gears with feet on a motorcycle .
I have been watching Paul Jr. on american chopper , and saw him do a suicide shift !! I have wanted a bike for fuel savings , and also because the vibration will help my hips , circulation to legs and anytime a single dad can save money on fuel , it’s a great thing .
if anyone has advice on best way to get a suicide shift for a “cruiser style bike ” i would love to hear it . I would of course love american made bike if possible , certainly cannot affford a Harely yet , certainly cannot afford a OCC custom bike yet , so I don’t need a big 1100 cc bike , a 250 to mid 500 ’s or so would be fine to get me back used to riding again …i am open to anyone’s ideas for a bike w/suicide shifter , cruiser , with a bar on back and extra seating area suitable for my 6 year old daughter to ride with me on it .
So excited to know i can change gears by hand and not feet , possibly I could be on the road for fall leaf viewing in NC Mountains and B Ridge Pkwy , and just some cool nice easy riding before it get’s too cold to ride for her . Thx to any of you riders out there willing to help a novice like me achieve the dream of being a part of the riding community .I have felt i was rider in spirit for years , now i can literally be on a bike i can drive safely vs a shift that’s dangerous due to my feet not responding because of bone disease , so pumped to show my lil princess , that ” dada is a bike man ” shes excited for me to pick her up from school on my bike .One day it will be a Paul Jr Designs custom made bike w/features for a disabled man such as myself , an easier way to drop k stand , and easier lean towards handle bars ,softer seat for base of spine and who knows , with Paul’s genius even a massager for back and heated seats ??? he can do anything .man i would love to see a huge wide rear wheel , meant to ride smooth and stable anf maybe a walking cane top for a suicide shifter would look pretty cool , a way to remind me that i am one more step closer to not using my cane to walk .
Thx to all you men and women that might reply ,
Mark in S Carolina
For what it’s worth, a suicide clutch also had an open primary with the shifter being just above the primary and behind the rider’s left leg.
The tank mounted shifter was never really referred to as a suicide shifter because it’s within the rider’s field of view.
[...] which sits either behind the rider’s leg or is mounted on the fuel tank. It is shorter than a Suicide Shifter. Associated with custom chopper [...]