Quote:
Originally Posted by peteremsley
Left/Right shift thing was all based on sidecar position and kickstarters at the time, right?
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You know, I'm really not sure. Hand-shifted "Big Twin" H-D's always shifted on the left, and when the hand clutch / foot shifter took over, they remained on the left. All foot-shift Brit bikes shifted on the right, as did early Ducatis. Many others as well, like Bultacos, etc. American flat track may have influenced that a bit. Japanese bikes, on the other hand (or foot) as far as I know have always shifted on the left. I think BMW's and Guzzis have as well. Seems like it used to be that big touring bikes shifted on the left, and sport bikes on the right.
Then again, Indian offered a left hand throttle / right hand (hand shifted) shift for law enforcement use. The idea was that most cops were right handed, so it was easier for them to fire their revolvers from a moving motorcycle if the throttle were in their left hand. I kid you not...
So, who knows... our over-seeing nanny did, however, decide in 1974 that it was a matter of national importance that all bikes shift on the left...