SUPERCUB: 2019 Honda Super Cub // Heel-Toe Shift Lever Adjustment
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- čas přidán 10. 04. 2019
- A viewer asked if I could document the process of adjusting the heel-toe shifter angle, so this is that! The process is really simple, and you only need a 10mm wrench/socket and about 2-3 minutes to make the adjustment.
Adjustment procedure:
1. Remove the pinch bolt on the bottom-front of the shift yoke;
2. Slide the shifter toward you to clear the shaft splines, and then rotate counterclockwise 1-2 splines (depending on your preference);
3. Slide the shift yoke about half-way back onto the shaft and re-insert the pinch bolt... be sure to test that you are engaging the indention on the shaft with the pinch bolt;
4. Tighten the pinch bolt until it is very snug, but not overly tight... the bolt threads should be roughly flush with the back of the shifter's mounting collar;
5. Sit on the bike and test the shift lever to see it works better for you... readjust as necessary!
--
QM
quasimotard@gmail.com
#honda #cub #minimoto
2019 Honda Super Cub C125
C125A
Super Cub shift lever adjustment
Super Cub heel toe shifter - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Thanks for this! It made a WORLD of difference on my new C125. The factory setting was miserable and your video drastically improved my enjoyment of my new bike. Thanks a ton.
Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad that this video helped you with your Cub. I fought with mine for several days and knew something had to change. It's such a simple change that makes a huge functional difference in the bike. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
Bought a single toe shifter on Amazon for my cub, huge improvement 👍
Its possible?
Thanks for all these maintenance / modification videos. I'm in the process of getting one of these, and I'm sure I'll use your vids for reference. Stay dry there in the Houston area. We're getting poured on here in DFW (but I'll sure never complain!).
Thx for the feedback! I will be doing most (probably all) of the maintenance on the Super Cub myself, so I will be sure to video as much as I can. Let me know if you have any particular questions or requests and I'll try to help out. Maybe there will be enough Super Cub owners in the Texas area that we can put a group together and arrange meet-ups and destination rides! I just returned from motocamping in Austin on my Cub last night... it was a ~350 mile round-trip and the Cub did just fine! --QM
Sweet. You’re right. Super easy. 👍
Yep, easy enough. I’ll try that first, thanks again. 😎
Excellent tutorial and very useful. Thanks
Glad you liked it! I tried to keep it short and to the point! 👍 --QM
I've been looking for advice on this since I bought an imported (older model) Little Cub. This is the best explanation I've found, and the video quality is superb. Thank you. :)
Thx for the feedback and the compliments! I'm glad that I could help. Which Cub did you get... is it a Honda or clone, and what engine size does it have? I'd love to find an older, genuine Cub to add to my collection. We haven't had the Cub (or Passport) here since 1984, and finding clean/restored bikes from that era can cost almost as much as these new ones! --QM
@@QuasiMotard It's a Honda Little Cub (14 inch wheels), 49cc engine. Imported from Japan. Originally registered in 2002.
@@stephenpower1 That's awesome! I like the top box on there... it matches the bike very well. How are you getting on with the Little Cub so far? --QM
@@QuasiMotard Considering I hadn't ridden a bike for 30 years, not too bad. I did have a fall and bruised my ribs in the first week but nothing since! If you'd consider doing a video on changing gears smoothly, I'd like to see it. Mine are very clunky and going down is very jerky.
Nice. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the feedback! 👍 --QM
Hey while you're riding your bike do you just when you take off in first gear do you only change gears just one time or do you go through all four gears you know by changing it down on the the shifter
I love these bikes & how they look. The only drawback for me is there is no storage on it. ty for the video!
Thx for the feedback! I agree... the lack of storage is an issue that I'm still working on. I have been using a backpack with the Cub, but that's my least favorite way of carrying cargo. The OEM rear rack is a bit of a joke... it's very small (only about 8x8"), so it can't carry much. I'm still working on a pannier solution that maintains the retro aesthetics of the bike while adding some useful cargo capacity to the Cub. We'll see how it goes with a couple of new options in the next few weeks. 👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard ty for the reply, I hope you find some way to figure that out!....(also, it not having a very big gas tank is a problem too)
Your right just got mine and this was all ready annoying. All ready had to do this.
That simple adjustment makes a world of difference in rideability. Watch out for scuffs on your left panel from your boot/shoe... you might want to put some clear protective film on there. Mine is already pretty scuffed, so I just ordered another cover. I'll take the whole body cover off of it and replace that side cover eventually. --QM
After riding it a few times I am thinking about removing the linkage and putting a standard toe shifter on it
Did you try adjusting the angle of the shift lever yet? I rotated mine one spline counter-clockwise and it made a world of difference for me. 👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard I was never really a heel shift guy, and the scoot is doing double duty as I teach my girl to ride so I want her to get used to using the toe shift as I anticipate she will eventually be on a bike with a clutch, unless I buy her the 700 dct Honda makes, just not sure yet
@@QuasiMotard www.shinkotireusa.com/product/sr241-trail-tire/211922 I ordered these in 250-17 , 275-17 and 300-17 let you know how it goes
When you change gears when you first take off in first gear do you have to manually with your foot change gears to all four gears because my back feels like it's not changing gears in the motor
Do you have a USA-model Super Cub? I ask because the EU/UK versions have a backwards shift pattern. Secondly, are you sure that you are pressing all the way down on the heel shift lever to activate the gear change? If the shift lever is in the factory position, it can be very difficult to bend your ankle backward far enough to shift smoothly. You could also try lifting the toe shifter like a traditional motorcycle to see if that's easier for you. Good luck, and congrats on your new Super Cub! 😉👍 --QM
Does your 10mm bolt on the heel/toe shifter sit flush when tightened? I can't even get the bolt head to sit flush if I try to tighten it off the bike/not connected to the shift-shaft. It seems to hold it on plenty tight, but this just seems odd to me.
My pinch bolt comes out just a little past flush when tightened on the shift shaft. Maybe your bolt is a little shorter than it should be? I'll pull mine off of there when I upgrade my front sprocket (today or tomorrow), and I'll measure the length for you. --QM
@@QuasiMotard Thanks! My threads looked a bit funky on the end so I went ahead and ordered a new bolt. $0.60 and should be here at the local Honda dealer this week.
Good deal. I tried to upgrade my front sprocket to a 15T over the weekend, but I had to postpone for technical reasons. I didn't order the thinner chain guide/guard for the crankcase (Webike was out of stock), and the 15T sprocket pushed the chain dangerously close to the guide. So, I ordered the guide on Sunday night (back in stock now), and I should receive it in the next couple of days. I'll revisit that project again this week to see how it works out. --QM
I made the adjustments and it’s much better. What if I reversed it and made the heel lower and the toe shifter higher? Would that make it easier for shifting like a regular motorcycle shifter Or would that be more challenging easing off for the clutch?
I tried the higher toe position on my Cub as well. I found that releasing the shift lever with the toe doesn't offer as much control as the heel does. Your larger rear calf muscles (gastrocnemius) have a longer range of motion and more precise control than the smaller muscles (tibialis anterior) on the front of the calf that raise the foot: myacare.com/blog/why-are-calf-muscles-important .
You might want to give it a try both ways. The higher heel position works much better for my height and ankle anatomy. Cheers, and contrats on your Super Cub! 😉👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard thanks. My wife just bought it for me, and it’s a cool bike. Found your videos and they are great! Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and post all the videos. I sent you a private message and an email to see if I could ask you a couple of questions. Which route would be better for me to communicate?
@@bertandjo You can send an email to me at quasimotard@gmail.com , Instagram (@quasimotard) , or connect with me on Discord: discord.gg/DfC97FU ... I'll be happy to help! Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard thanks
I used to forward gear shift. The C125 rear shift feel unnatural
I’ve really been looking at picking up a cub as my first bike but they’re pretty scarce so I’ve not had the opportunity to even sit on one. I’m a bit concerned about ergos. I’m 6’1” and 180lbs. Size 11 shoe. Is there going to be enough leg room, and is there going to be enough room for my foot on the heel/toe shifter? If needed, can someone just swap out the heel/toe shifter for a traditional toe shifter?
Howdy! Yes, I think you'll be just fine on the Super Cub. You might want to check another owner's channel from the UK, Mr. Fish: czcams.com/users/Thechroniclesofmrfish2015 . He's a tall guy, and he talks about his fit and the Cub's ergonomics here in the initial review video: czcams.com/video/2lP9kGSPbVo/video.html , and again here as an owner of the Cub: czcams.com/video/TpuzD37hOfA/video.html . If you like his reviews, then leave a comment and tell him that Quasi sent you! Cheers! 😉👍
@@QuasiMotard great! Will do! Thanks for the reply.
What about the opposite direction? I’m still struggling with heel shifting, doesn’t seem to come naturally as it did on my c90 many years ago!
You could try going in the opposite direction (heel-down, toe-up), but that means your ankle would need to bend further downward (an acute angle) to activate the shift. My leg and foot position made it nearly impossible to press the heel down far enough when the shifter was in the original position (almost level), so raising the heel fixed the problem for me. 😉👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard Gee, I amost bought the super cub without test riding and today I found a dealer with a cub for a test ride and the heel shifting was nearly impossible with my long legs and ankle angle. Just like you say, very difficult to use the heal shifting. I had to do it sideways or sit at the back limit of the seat to downshift, so I basically decided to buy a scooter instead. Then, being puzzled, I started to google this heel shifting problem and found your video, seems like I am going to buy the cub after all! Thanks!
@@romanryuninvalek487 Thanks for the feedback, and I'm glad that the video helped! I was going to hack the heel portion off of this shift lever before I readjusted it... the angle was just wrong and uncomfortable for me. The older Cub's (and Passports here in the USA) had a different shape to the shift yoke that seemed to be more forgiving in terms of the position/angle. Luckily, a simple adjustment was all that was needed to improve the fit! Cheers! 👍 --QM
Thanks, I find the rear bit too uncomfortable to engage with my heel at the mo - I'll give this a try
The ergonomics of the shifter didn't work out for me at all until I repositioned the shifter. My ankle just wouldn't bend far enough downward to actuate the shift without straining. By raising the heel up just a little bit, everything was 1000% better for me.
The US-spec models have a "normal" shift direction where down on the toe shifts to a lower gear, and down on the heel (toe-up) shifts to a higher gear. Some of the Asian and European Cub's have the opposite (reverse) pattern where toe-down shifts to a higher gear... they also have a wrap-around shift drum that lets you to from 4-N-1 while stopped. That reverse pattern would really confuse me, and I never coast down to a stop from 4th gear! Cheers, and congratulations on your new Cub! 👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard Hi, just tried it - it's now far more comfortable for me to use my heel to shift gears. The scoot doesn't have a very strong pull in 4th so I need to shift from 4th to 3rd quite often and it was becoming a bit of a pain. So, thanks for the tip!
QuasiMotard thanks for the info, I didn’t realise that the USA and Australian versions were completely opposite from the U.K. models. I should have studied the relevant hand book pages more closely!
Is there a way to adjust the ride height- lowering it ? Thanks
I don't know of an easy way to lower the Super Cub's ride height without custom suspension. There are lots of modified Cub's in the Asian markets that are lowered for style, but I think that would hurt the handling and safety of the bike. If you just need a slightly lower seat height, then you might consider altering the seat to remove some of the padding... that's a common modification for many motorcycles. I'm a short rider at 5'7" (170cm) tall with a 29" (74cm) inseam, so a lot of motorcycles are too tall for me to comfortably flat-foot while riding in town. I typically just put one foot down at stops, and I might shave the seat if the reach is too far. Cheers! 👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard thank you for taking the time.
Its an up and down quick shifter?
The shift pattern for the USA Super Cub's is N-1-2-3-4, where down on the toe is a lower gear and down on the heel is a higher gear. The release for the centrifugal clutch is integrated with the lever, so when you press either direction, the clutch is disengaged to allow the gear change. --QM
Is it possible to shift it just by toe ??
Yes, that's how I was shifting the bike for the first several days of ownership (both up/down with the toe). However, when using the toe, it's tricky to release the lever slowly on upshifts to allow for smooth clutch re-engagement (the shift lever also disengages the centrifugal clutch). Rotating the shifter to place the heel portion higher allowed me to use my heel to shift "properly" for the Cub's needs. It's hard to explain, but you can immediately feel the difference when you ride the Cub. Our larger calf muscles have finer motor control than the weaker flexors (anterior tibialis) on the front of the shin, so it's easier to articulate ankle motion. The Cub needs a SLOW release of the lever to prevent the lurching and abrupt clutch action, so using the heel allows that precise motion. "Normal" motorcycles need quick actuation of the foot lever for smooth changes, so retraining my brain after 40+ years took a bit of practice. Cheers! 👍 --QM
QuasiMotard thanks for the reply I get what you mean. Was thinking of getting one for commuting! Already have a big geared bike and just trying to get my head around how to ride this thing! The foot brake is a big bonus compared to a scooter! I really think I would grab hold of the rear brake thinking it’s the clutch if not! Just the heel shift thing! If this had a normal gear box I would own one already
Hey SIR this is a classic bike in Vietnam back in the 90s. Where did you find it? I like your beer haha I drink the same well at least used to . Stop drinking now.
This is a new 2019 release for the USA market. We haven't had the Cub (or Super Cub) here since the early 1983 when it was called the Honda Passport C70. I was really excited to see that it was being released in the USA again with the upgraded looks and the 125cc fuel-injected motor. I placed my deposit on this bike in August 2018, and received it in March 2019... it was definitely worth the wait! --QM
@@QuasiMotard Well I don't have any bike at the moment. Had a 2005 250 Ninja but I sold it while back, thinking of a cruise any recommendation ? I don't like sport bike anymore too tired.
I don't have any cruisers in my stable right now. I tend to prefer the standard and naked bikes over cruisers just because they are more versatile. If I had to sell all of my bikes and keep only one, the winner would be either the Honda CB500X or the CB500F... they are fantastic do-it-all bikes. If you are really interested in a cruiser (e.g. laid-back seating), then two other bikes that you might check out are the Honda CTX700 and the Kawasaki Vulcan S 650. If you are tall enough and don't mind the ADV look, then the Kawasaki Versys 650 can't be beat... it's another fantastic bike that never fails to impress. --QM
I'm thinking you're only half done. The other half involves a hacksaw or a replacement shifter with a single lever. You don't need that rear arm do you? BTW, that's a pretty awesome little addition to anyone's garage.
Rich Glenn Yeah raise it up 2 notches and cut the heel end off!! That was originally thought of So You could wear dress shoes driving to your place of work! Look it up.
NOOOO, don't do that! The shift yoke on this bike is stupid expensive... $133.06! It's better to remove this unit and replace it with a cheap one from a Grom or other similar bike... just need to check the lever length and offset to be sure it will sit in the correct position. --QM
@@QuasiMotard I would love to cut the back of the shifter off. There's just not enough room for my foot. However, a new shifter is now $175. Yikes. I have not been able to find a proper toe shifter that will fit. I would love to hear from someone that found one.
@@QuasiMotard That’s some scary stuff when people talk about HACKsaws, especially on a new bike 💥💣😂😂
I'm about to upgrade mine with suicide shift.
That'll be interesting! Send some pics of that if it works out. Cheers! 👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard I actually like it. My ankle is all jacked up so shifting is very hard. Check out my facebook page HONDA TRAVELERS CUBS MONKEYS GROMS There are some photos on the page. It is interesting getting use to but makes riding these bikes even more fun. :) Thanks for making your video they are a great help.
Why not just cut off the back part and have a normal toe-shift lever?
I considered that option, but then changed my mind when I saw how expensive that shift yoke is. A replacement part is over $130. So instead, I just rotated the shift lever 1 spline counterclockwise to raise the heel portion. Previously the heel was too low to actuate a shift, but too high to rest my foot comfortably near it. Raising it up just a little bit made it useful for both options because I don't rest my heel on top of it by accident. --QM