imported post
I had never had one before I got my 1100, which had a Markland heel toe shifter on it. My previous bike was a GSXR750, which changed gears if you twitched your big toe, so moving from that to what felt like this big clunky thing that you had to stomp on was a change. I was constantly downshifting instead of upshifting, which made for some interesting results (going from 2-1 when intending to go from 2-3, causing rear wheel lockup). I could never feel if there was another gear, so I tried shifting into 6th all the time. It was next to impossible to shift to neutral (My "switch to neutral" was more like 3-2-1-2-1-2-1-Neutral). I kept swearing I was going to take it off...
But then a funny thing happened. I got used to it. I realized you don't have to stomp on it to shift. I figured out that you could in fact feel when there was another gear, and I even figured out how to shift to neutral easily. I can now shift quickly and effortlessly without thinking, just like I used to. I can do lightning fast up and downshifts with a tiny bit of preload.
So I'll keep it, simply because it works great with the floorboards on my bike, and I'm now used to it.
So if you're prepared for a learning curve, and are willing to stick with it (it took a whole season for me to really get used to it), I think you'll be OK.
That said, maybe you'll hate it and rip it off.
However...one day I plan to get a 1500, and I don't want a heel-toe shifter on that bike.