shifter foot position - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

BEK · 04-22-2007, 11:38 AM

A question for the more experienced riders......

When riding in traffic - maybe up to 45mph with periodic stoplights etc -constant acceleration and decelleration, do you keep your foot under the shifter, ready to upshift, on on top, ready to down shift?

GregR1 · 04-22-2007, 11:54 AM

not TOO experienced, but in my case: neither. i shift, then move my foot back a touch so that it's neutral - can just as readily go under to upshift or stomp from above to downshift. also, for me, downshifting is quicker - i can stomp my foot down more rapidly than i can pivot it up.

on the other hand, if i know that i'm gonna be upshifting through a few gears cuz the traffic lights are spaced far enough apart and the flow is decent, i keep my foot under the peg and flick my way through the gears. when i'm done, i move back.

mind you, this is all coming from a sportbike perspective, which gives me some pretty tall gears and a wide rpm range to play with

Petcop · 04-22-2007, 12:37 PM

I do the same thing, leave my foot under it as I'm quickly shifting up in traffic, but for the most part I shift, and move my foot to the side.

vhmike73 · 04-22-2007, 08:00 PM

I do the same thing Petcop...

How's the recovery going? Ready to ride soon?

Singular · 04-22-2007, 09:09 PM

I honestly dont know...its just natural to me now.

ranger04 · 04-22-2007, 09:32 PM

play around with different positions and do what feels comfortable to you, its all in each rider
ride safe

Uncle B · 04-22-2007, 09:34 PM

I have the toe/heel shifter.

Cimco · 04-22-2007, 09:45 PM

Not experienced, I have the heel\toe shift and have trubble with up and down shifts because of my riding boots....

Just a clumo I think...

NorthernYankee · 04-22-2007, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petcop

I do the same thing, leave my foot under it as I'm quickly shifting up in traffic, but for the most part I shift, and move my foot to the side.

omegajim · 04-22-2007, 10:53 PM

Singular

Quote:

I honestly dont know...its just natural to me now.

+1

I drove over 200 miles today, and honestly I couldn't tell you where my left foot was most of the time relative to the shift lever. It becomes instinctive - you see what's next and accomodate for it. You learn what works best for you.

Don't have a better answer.

Petcop · 04-23-2007, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vhmike73

I do the same thing Petcop...

How's the recovery going? Ready to ride soon?

Going great, thanks! I keep working my hand, to see if I could clutch or not. I think I could, but not hold the clutch in for long, so no traffic. I go to the doctor today, we'll see what he says. I'm itching to ride, got my seat back from BadX and want to see if it's more comfortable.

I may zip around the subdivision later

vhmike73 · 04-23-2007, 10:13 PM

Hey Petcop- good to hear you're on the road to getting back on the road! Hopefully the hand strength gets better really quickly!

And like omegajim was saying- over the last couple days, I've put about 230 miles or so on the bike- and unless I'm in traffic, I just have my foot on the peg to the left of the shifter so it's out of the way. As has been stated before- you're going to find a place that's comfortable. Traffic situation, etc will dictate, and even your boots can have an impact on where you can/are most comfortable letting your foot rest.

Slapshot2286 · 04-26-2007, 02:08 PM

I ride with my left big toe pressed against the side of the shifter lever. That way if I HAD to, I could shift with the side of my foot...but mostly its really easy from this position to move to either shift up or down, without fatiguing your foot by leaving it under the lever or holding it over it. Something I learned when I took that motorcycle class so long ago...

eb77k · 04-26-2007, 02:26 PM

Seeing as how brake pads are cheaper and easier to replace than clutches and gears. I tend to avoid alot of downshifting until I'm actually going to stop (I try to match ground speed to gear ratio). I'm from the era of fragile trannys and clutches and the practice has stuck.

omegajim · 04-26-2007, 09:26 PM

Quote:

I'm from the era of fragile trannys and clutches and the practice has stuck.

It ended? When?

Apertureguy · 04-27-2007, 08:43 AM

I think I keep my foot underneath too...I no longer think about it. Same thing with my break foot...it's just always ready when I need it...don't know how.

hammersfan · 04-27-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Singular

I honestly dont know...its just natural to me now.

I know what you mean there ! I had to give it some thought then I realized that I must keep it under neath most of the time because I find myself making a conscious effort to put it on top when taking a bend and leaning over, don't mind dragging my pegs but not my foot as well

enjoyIT · 04-27-2007, 05:04 PM

well i just sit so i am comfortable and when i need to shif up my toe goes under the shifter and when i shift down it goes on top LOL

just be comfortable when you ride !!!!

rember we r not riding rockets hear

it is a cruiser

04-22-2007, 11:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
BEK Where Am I ? Joined: Apr 2007 Bike: 06 Gray M50 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 43	shifter foot position A question for the more experienced riders...... When riding in traffic - maybe up to 45mph with periodic stoplights etc -constant acceleration and decelleration, do you keep your foot under the shifter, ready to upshift, on on top, ready to down shift?

04-22-2007, 08:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
vhmike73 Fender Buffer Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: '05 M50 Black Location: Watervliet, NY Posts: 403	I do the same thing Petcop... How's the recovery going? Ready to ride soon? __________________ vhmike73 "It's people like you what cause unrest!" Vance & Hines Straightshots ***** DynoJet PowerCommander III USB *** Thunder Mfg. S&S Intake kit *** De-PAIRed with Moccasin Mike's PAIR Valve Removal Kit Küryakyn ISO grips w/Throttle Bosses, Ellipse mirrors & Wide Levers *** MAPAM Foward Controls Corbin Classic Solo & Touring Pillion * Suzuki Low Backrest & Rack, Carbon Fiber Tank Bra, Tank/Speedo & Frame Cover Trim Priority Lites Run-Turn-Brake Controller ***** Clear Alternatives lenses w/LED replacement bulbs (Amber 1157 front/Red 1156 rear) "BlaznBlu50"-inspired Tail Mod w/Radiantz LED License Plate Frame T-Bags "Reno" Tailbag ***** Saddlemen Drifter Slant (Jumbo) Saddlebags w/Easy Brackets

04-22-2007, 09:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Uncle B Want's A New Title Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 06 Suzuki Boulevard C50T Location: Gordon Texas Latitude: 32.54833 Longitude: -98.36889 Posts: 4,423	I have the toe/heel shifter. __________________ Ride Safe, Ride Long, & Have Fun Benjamin Franklin> They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security. http://www.gordontexas.net/ http://www.gordonvfd.com/

04-22-2007, 09:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cimco Fender Buffer Joined: Apr 2007 Bike: 06 Suzuki C50T Location: Roseville CA Posts: 408	Not experienced, I have the heel\toe shift and have trubble with up and down shifts because of my riding boots.... Just a clumo I think... __________________ Older maybe not wiser...

04-23-2007, 10:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
vhmike73 Fender Buffer Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: '05 M50 Black Location: Watervliet, NY Posts: 403	Hey Petcop- good to hear you're on the road to getting back on the road! Hopefully the hand strength gets better really quickly! And like omegajim was saying- over the last couple days, I've put about 230 miles or so on the bike- and unless I'm in traffic, I just have my foot on the peg to the left of the shifter so it's out of the way. As has been stated before- you're going to find a place that's comfortable. Traffic situation, etc will dictate, and even your boots can have an impact on where you can/are most comfortable letting your foot rest. __________________ vhmike73 "It's people like you what cause unrest!" Vance & Hines Straightshots ***** DynoJet PowerCommander III USB *** Thunder Mfg. S&S Intake kit *** De-PAIRed with Moccasin Mike's PAIR Valve Removal Kit Küryakyn ISO grips w/Throttle Bosses, Ellipse mirrors & Wide Levers *** MAPAM Foward Controls Corbin Classic Solo & Touring Pillion * Suzuki Low Backrest & Rack, Carbon Fiber Tank Bra, Tank/Speedo & Frame Cover Trim Priority Lites Run-Turn-Brake Controller ***** Clear Alternatives lenses w/LED replacement bulbs (Amber 1157 front/Red 1156 rear) "BlaznBlu50"-inspired Tail Mod w/Radiantz LED License Plate Frame T-Bags "Reno" Tailbag ***** Saddlemen Drifter Slant (Jumbo) Saddlebags w/Easy Brackets

04-22-2007, 11:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
GregR1 ... Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,308	not TOO experienced, but in my case: neither. i shift, then move my foot back a touch so that it's neutral - can just as readily go under to upshift or stomp from above to downshift. also, for me, downshifting is quicker - i can stomp my foot down more rapidly than i can pivot it up. on the other hand, if i know that i'm gonna be upshifting through a few gears cuz the traffic lights are spaced far enough apart and the flow is decent, i keep my foot under the peg and flick my way through the gears. when i'm done, i move back. mind you, this is all coming from a sportbike perspective, which gives me some pretty tall gears and a wide rpm range to play with

04-22-2007, 12:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Petcop Puddle Runner Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: 2005 Red M50 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 366	I do the same thing, leave my foot under it as I'm quickly shifting up in traffic, but for the most part I shift, and move my foot to the side.

04-22-2007, 09:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Singular Where Am I ? Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: 07 Suzuki M50 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 36	I honestly dont know...its just natural to me now.

04-22-2007, 09:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
ranger04 U.B's LoveChild Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: 2006 Suzuki Boulevard M50B Location: ohio Posts: 1,097	play around with different positions and do what feels comfortable to you, its all in each rider ride safe

04-26-2007, 02:08 PM	#13 (permalink)
Slapshot2286 Newbie Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 12	I ride with my left big toe pressed against the side of the shifter lever. That way if I HAD to, I could shift with the side of my foot...but mostly its really easy from this position to move to either shift up or down, without fatiguing your foot by leaving it under the lever or holding it over it. Something I learned when I took that motorcycle class so long ago...

04-26-2007, 02:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
eb77k Found second gear by accident Joined: Mar 2007 Bike: I'm lucky, I've got alot Location: minnesota Posts: 329	Seeing as how brake pads are cheaper and easier to replace than clutches and gears. I tend to avoid alot of downshifting until I'm actually going to stop (I try to match ground speed to gear ratio). I'm from the era of fragile trannys and clutches and the practice has stuck. __________________ MOTO GUZZI loud valves save lives

04-27-2007, 08:43 AM	#16 (permalink)
Apertureguy Throttle Jockey Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: New York Posts: 3,260	I think I keep my foot underneath too...I no longer think about it. Same thing with my break foot...it's just always ready when I need it...don't know how.

04-27-2007, 05:04 PM	#18 (permalink)
enjoyIT Kickstand Operator Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 2005 red M50 Location: Ont Canada Posts: 280	well i just sit so i am comfortable and when i need to shif up my toe goes under the shifter and when i shift down it goes on top LOL just be comfortable when you ride !!!! rember we r not riding rockets hear it is a cruiser

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