Help with setup, please.

I’ve owned and ridden Harley Davidson motorcycles for decades. All had foot pegs, none with foot boards. I’ve ridden a few friends bikes with foot boards and never had any issues upshifting.

Unfortunately, I find it extremely difficult to upshift my R18 Classic. The rear shift peg is so high that I have to lift my foot off the foot board at least a couple inches to engage the rear peg. I keep missing the shift peg. I’m thinking the rear peg is mounted too high. It’s about 4” above the foot board. Is this normal?
 
BMWryder9,
I had some shifting issues with the floor boards as well. The pegs seem a bit short and the positioning can feel awkward. You can buy "extended" shift pegs from wunderlich for both the heel shifter and the toe shifter. Then you have the option to try and position the toe shifter so it can be pushed up or down and ignore the heel shifter. Alternately, you can loosen the set screws on the shift levers as MengerFan mentions and pull them off the splined shaft and re-adjust them to a lower position and try that.

Just be careful on the heel shifter, you can set it so low that it is tapping against the exhaust shield so make sure it has clearance. You dont need much but it shouldnt touch on a full down push.

Ride safe.
 
Today I removed my foot boards and replaced them, along with the side stand and brake lever, with foot pegs. For me, it made all the difference in the world. With foot boards I was missing 9 out of 10 upshifts and, occasionally, downshifted when trying to upshift. I went for a 60 mile ride and no longer have to think about shifting. I’m sure I’ll be in a minority here but I’ll take pegs over boards.
 
Today I removed my foot boards and replaced them, along with the side stand and brake lever, with foot pegs. For me, it made all the difference in the world. With foot boards I was missing 9 out of 10 upshifts and, occasionally, downshifted when trying to upshift. I went for a 60 mile ride and no longer have to think about shifting. I’m sure I’ll be in a minority here but I’ll take pegs over boards.
Although a lot of guys love them, I've never been a fan of floor boards and much prefer pegs. On all the bikes I have ever owned, I only had 1 bike with floor boards, a Rocket 3 Touring and it only came that way. Not a big fan of forward mounted controls either and have only had 2 bikes with those. I much prefer center mounted pegs where I have my weight on my feet/thighs and sitting up which feels better for my lower back. While center-mounted foot pegs/controls are not for everybody, they work for me.
 
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Me three regarding preference for pegs. My C came with pegs because the boards weren't available at that time, but I'd have swapped them out if it came that way. The pegs still cost me money because they came with a $500 store credit on R18 accessories. Ended up putting it toward a silly expensive jacket that was well over $500.

And me too regarding forward controls. Never got along with them....
 
Today I removed my foot boards and replaced them, along with the side stand and brake lever, with foot pegs. For me, it made all the difference in the world. With foot boards I was missing 9 out of 10 upshifts and, occasionally, downshifted when trying to upshift. I went for a 60 mile ride and no longer have to think about shifting. I’m sure I’ll be in a minority here but I’ll take pegs over boards.
Totally agree: pegs over boards for ever for the R18!!!
 
Today I removed my foot boards and replaced them, along with the side stand and brake lever, with foot pegs. For me, it made all the difference in the world. With foot boards I was missing 9 out of 10 upshifts and, occasionally, downshifted when trying to upshift. I went for a 60 mile ride and no longer have to think about shifting. I’m sure I’ll be in a minority here but I’ll take pegs over boards.
Floorboards on mid controls is a different feel than the floorboards on forward controls (with heel-toe shifting) because of the slight angle of the floorboard on the HDs. Because the BMW floorboards are flat and our feet back, it can create an award feel especially coming off a forward control bike (like my Road Glide). I've adapted quite well to the foot position on my Classic and have no issues with the pegs, braking or shifting. I wish there were more options for our foot pegs. I know Wunderlich makes a set of wider, rubber platform pegs but at $574(?) it's not that critical. Enjoy the ride .
 
I really like the boards and wasn't having too many issues apart from missing the occasional downshift which I put down to me being new to the bike. The heel shifter did feel a little high but was easy to find.

I removed the shift levers to lower them, but the heel shifter when lowered was hitting the seam on the fishtail exhaust. As a result, I reversed the shifters so that the heel shifter now sits on the outside (which is how HD have them fitted) and was able to lower it clearing the exhaust, this also pushed out the shifter peg itself. Lowered the toe shifter and it also now sits slightly further in. Had a long ride yesterday and the difference in shifting experience is remarkable tbh, feel like I have a lot more room above the row shifter and the heel shift is even better. I recommend others with boards try this first before spending out on the extended pegs 👍🏻
 
I really like the boards and wasn't having too many issues apart from missing the occasional downshift which I put down to me being new to the bike. The heel shifter did feel a little high but was easy to find.

I removed the shift levers to lower them, but the heel shifter when lowered was hitting the seam on the fishtail exhaust. As a result, I reversed the shifters so that the heel shifter now sits on the outside (which is how HD have them fitted) and was able to lower it clearing the exhaust, this also pushed out the shifter peg itself. Lowered the toe shifter and it also now sits slightly further in. Had a long ride yesterday and the difference in shifting experience is remarkable tbh, feel like I have a lot more room above the row shifter and the heel shift is even better. I recommend others with boards try this first before spending out on the extended pegs 👍🏻
Great idea about swapping the toe/heel positions. I wanted to lower my rear shifter further but it also hit my Classic exhaust. I'm going to give that a look.
 
I really like the boards and wasn't having too many issues apart from missing the occasional downshift which I put down to me being new to the bike. The heel shifter did feel a little high but was easy to find.

I removed the shift levers to lower them, but the heel shifter when lowered was hitting the seam on the fishtail exhaust. As a result, I reversed the shifters so that the heel shifter now sits on the outside (which is how HD have them fitted) and was able to lower it clearing the exhaust, this also pushed out the shifter peg itself. Lowered the toe shifter and it also now sits slightly further in. Had a long ride yesterday and the difference in shifting experience is remarkable tbh, feel like I have a lot more room above the row shifter and the heel shift is even better. I recommend others with boards try this first before spending out on the extended pegs 👍🏻
Hi Alex
I tried out this mod but didn’t feel like I had so much benefit. Will try again as sometimes it takes a few miles to appreciate the difference.
 
Hi Alex
I tried out this mod but didn’t feel like I had so much benefit. Will try again as sometimes it takes a few miles to appreciate the difference.
No problem, did you alter the lever height as well or just reverse the positions? There are variables I guess with things like how we each sit on the bike and what riding boots we have which will affect the degree of change. Subtle but noticeable for me and haven’t missed a shift since 👍🏻
 
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