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Re: The Parting Shift: Suicide Shifting the Coolest Custom Harley We've Ever Seen
Jockey shift is not like tank shift.
The term "jockey shift" comes from the rider's hand location, behind his leg, like a [horse] jockey reaching back to whip a race horse.
"Jockey shift" additionally has to do with a shift lever directly mounted to the transmission. In the olden days, a problem arose with false neutrals (between gears). The rider could actually shift into any gear while riding. Problem: don't go from, say fourth to first, accidentally. A rider had to keep track of clicks. It took some skill to master the technique.
Some guys used jockey shifts on ratchet-top transmissions, alleviating the FN phenomena. That allowed a [single] gear upshift or downshift per "click".
Suicide shift, or more correctly, suicide bikes got their moniker from builders removing the friction pedals from the tank shift Harleys and and having the clutch pedal connected directly to the [sprung] clutch release arm and removing the front brake. More to follow...
Stock tank-shift bikes could stay stopped in gear with the friction pedal holding the clutch disengaged. If the bike was equipped with a front brake, the rider could put both feet on the ground at a stop without using the right-foot brake pedal. Cops used this technique so they could be on their radio while idling in gear.
Custom or chopped bikes many times had the front brake assembly removed for lightening.
Here's where the suicide term comes in.
Imagine attempting to stop, going uphill or downhill. It's not a problem with a hand clutch, friction clutch pedal, or a front brake.
Suicide bike? Find neutral, use the right side rear brake pedal to keep stopped, and hold the bike up with your left foot.
Time to go? (This is the worst going uphill.) Disengage the clutch, taking your left foot from the ground, quickly engage first gear, engage the clutch and pull forward. If you're still holding the brake pedal down, you have to balance the bike!
A lot of riders mastered the technique. However, if any thing went wrong; well, you get where the term suicide comes from...
I've heard stories of riders stopped on steep inclines waiting for a car to pull up from behind and rolling backward into the front bumper to allow their right foot to balance the bike while they engaged first gear and rode off. Wow!
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