How's everyone get there gearlever set. My boots are slightly chunky being adventure style and shifts just seem a little clunky. I will be looking at clutch bite point to get it maybe a little closer to the start of pulling to engage it a little earlier. The other thought was gear lever end. I tend to ride on the balls of my feet and then slip it under the lever to shift up, just seems like not alot of room. I'll also check/adjust the chain, do cush drives need replacing.
Any thoughts
Cheers
Paul
Put the bike on the main stand, start it & let it run for a minute or so. Holding the clutch lever in throughout this wee test, drop it into gear & see if the rear wheel turns, with any drive. It will turn a bit with the initial putting into gear but then should stop or be able to be stopped easily but sticking your hoof against the tire.
If it does stop easily (99% likely) the clutch is disengaging fully with the travel of the lever. If the clutch is not fully disengaging with the lever travel, you'll feel a constant drive of tire.
These bikes are a bit clunky going into gear at a standstill, but shift smoothly when underway. As for slipping yer hoof under the gear lever from the foot peg for each change, I'd personally find that most awkward as my boots tend to grip the pegs and not allow easy sliding forward to get under the shifter, hence I mostly ride with me boot toe under the lever, except in twisties.
I find that if you hold the clutch in for a count of ten , it allows the plates to warm up and free themselves, then first gear pops in sweet as a nut , no clunking or banging. Clutchless gear changes going up the box on any of the suzi's that I've owned as always been a doddle. IMO Suzuki make the best gearboxes, and I've ridden many a different brand in my time as a m/c dispatch rider.
Have you tried adjusting the linkage? This raises or lowers the lever wrt the footpeg, then the toe of your boot should fit under
Maybe buy proper road boots ?
No laces, no large step into the heel, smoother sole. I have work boots that fit me well but the bikes no where near as nice as with proper road bike boots.
Cheers for the reply everyone.
I will check out the clutch action as suggested when we get a non rainy weekend and see if any tweaks helps. Never had any issues on my old xjr which had a really sweet gearbox. As for boots, I like the ones I have, very supportive with loads of protection, no laces etc.
As mentioned the foot pegs are quite grippy, maybe this is making it slightly harder to move around, it's not like I have large feet either, only size 8 uk.
I'll have a play with the position of the lever and see how it sits,get have the feeling it may need to go down as its possibly too high as it is, hence I keep moving back to the balls of my feet.
:cheers:
Paul
I always move my gear lever on all my bikes to sit just above the level of the top of the sole when I'm just sitting on it. That means to shift up or down I move my foot the same distance each time. When I ride bikes set up differently I have to concentrate more to select gear as up (or down) is greater than the other direction.
I've always set mine to rest on top of my toe as I think it's easier shifting upwards rocking foot back and up. Down shifting I'm usually stomping the pedal by lifting my whole foot. Just the way I learned, probably more dirt oriented when I started. 👍
Quote from: GSXKING on Wednesday, 03 May 2023, 08:06 PMI've always set mine to rest on top of my toe as I think it's easier shifting upwards rocking foot back and up. Down shifting I'm usually stomping the pedal by lifting my whole foot. Just the way I learned, probably more dirt oriented when I started. 👍
Do mine the same, yeah, could be the dirt bike learnings from early on.
I know after I've been riding a fair while (couple of hours or more) & I go to change down, sometimes I can hardly lift me leg to get the hoof onto the lever! Get stuck in 1 position sort of, which is why I quite often (on long runs) stand up on the pegs whilst carrying on with the trip, often good as a stop & stretch.
Some interesting ideas, never thought about it much before, just rode and adjusted it if needed :salute:
I didnt have a clue where my foot position was to gear lever. Checked this morn. Big toe beside or just slightly lower. Makes it fairly equal up or down. Works for me.
Cheers, I will get some pics when I do it to see how it is.
Funny - I'll need to adjust mine as after a wee driveway tumble (ages back) I needed to reset it and its obviously a bit higher than it was and is nowhere near as nice/comfortable/natural to use I just have ridden not much since (working form home) so been lazy.
Will definitely have to sort it out. A job for the weekend perhaps.
Get it sorted Mike, a very important part of life. A beautiful gear change is compulsory on a 14. :grin:
First things I do after the first ride on any new bike, clutch and front brake levers, gear lever and brake pedal positions.
Quote from: Tony Nitrous on Friday, 05 May 2023, 07:19 PMFirst things I do after the first ride on any new bike, clutch and front brake levers, gear lever and brake pedal positions.
I would agree with you but this was my first bike in 12 years so I needed to get the feel of it first before I started playing too much.
Now I have a few miles under my belt I can now start playing, every thing is new, bike, helmet,jacket, trousers,boots and gloves, everything is getting broken in :grin:
Quote from: Phill P on Saturday, 06 May 2023, 02:43 AMQuote from: Tony Nitrous on Friday, 05 May 2023, 07:19 PMFirst things I do after the first ride on any new bike, clutch and front brake levers, gear lever and brake pedal positions.
I needed to get the feel of it first before I started playing too much.
Absolutely!
I'm a huge believer in this.
Almost on a daily basis I hear folk trying to change bike that they just aren't familiar with. Don't like the seat, bars, grips, footpegs etc etc on bikes they just aren't familiar with. Folk saying a bike "isn't comfortable" when their body's just aren't familiar with a new bike.
With Busa's it's not new to me but I was the same with my last Kawasaki and ran it around a while before I decided what I liked and didn't.
Yup like people who ride 25 miles a year modifying a bike to go faster. Learn to use what you've got first.
Quote from: Hooli on Saturday, 06 May 2023, 05:47 PMYup like people who ride 25 miles a year modifying a bike to go faster. Learn to use what you've got first.
LOL Hooli
Very good !
Soooo tweaked the gear lever position down a bit and feels much better, still a little clunky on 1st to 2nd but position is better. Also moved the rear brake down a little to match. As a side comment had a clean of the what I think are black widow down pipes with Dr Downpipe, was initially a little disapointed, but with time and elbow grease turned out actually OK. May try out a scotbrite wheel to make life easier.
Quote from: Phill P on Sunday, 14 May 2023, 05:19 AMSoooo tweaked the gear lever position down a bit and feels much better, still a little clunky on 1st to 2nd but position is better. Also moved the rear brake down a little to match. As a side comment had a clean of the what I think are black widow down pipes with Dr Downpipe, was initially a little disapointed, but with time and elbow grease turned out actually OK. May try out a scotbrite wheel to make life easier.
Shhhh, don't tell Dave Barmy you're thinking of putting a Scotch-brite wheel on your headers, he'll have a heart attack. :onya:
Scotch-brite might be a bit harsh. Metal polishing mop in a drill with some course cutting compound be worth a try first Phill.
Elbow grease with autosol metal polish, gets em shiny evertyime.
Exactly correct Eric.
Tried autosol, and a mop, wouldn't touch it.
The scotchbrite left no marks, I'll get a pic up later, it gone a bit golden now because I took it out for a run, but looks much better.
So outer one has gone a little golden from the heat,but if you compare to the inaccessible inner one that's what I started with. No minor scratching apart from what was already on it.
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Who remember the good ol Goddards Glow, it was a little more abrasive than the then named Solvol Autosol, the Goddards was yellow in colour and smelled bloody brilliant, you could smell it even after polishing something, both had their jobs. Damn shame it's gone, been gone for ages too.
I polished up my stock headers with Autosol, wrap a rag fully around the pipe, bring both end back out, apply plenty of Autosol ( you'll want a good 1/2 tube of the stuff) and pull alternatively on each end of the rag back n forth, choir material again probably but it was easy, no effort at all, polished up a treat in no time at all, that's with the stock pipes though, not sure how an aftermarket single wall pipe would go?
I hate how SS goes brown, I'd rather hit em up with a torch and get that blue look but alas, I only have the boring old stock headers but they hold their shine pretty well.
Autosol hand rubbed keeps my stuff very nice.Probably been using 50 years.
Quote from: grog on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, 05:24 PMAutosol hand rubbed keeps my stuff very nice.Probably been using 50 years.
WD40, Mr Sheen, Autosol... been my 3 for many many years.
Quote from: Tony Nitrous on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, 05:43 PMQuote from: grog on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, 05:24 PMAutosol hand rubbed keeps my stuff very nice.Probably been using 50 years.
WD40, Mr Sheen, Autosol... been my 3 for many many years.
Mr Sheen stinks, I hate it now, I used to use it all the time but they changed it. WD40, hate the smell that shit too. Sorry, I just do. I have a can of it but rarely go there.
And nothing to say about Goddards Glow :rolleyes:
I like Mr Sheen, lots of kero in it. WD40 also always in my shed. Nevrdull, polish cloth in a can a great touch up. Last few yrs for paint, go to is Fully Slick. Bowdens. So easy for a quick wipe over. Inox, Lanox another pair of good stuff, useful around house also, gates, door hinges etc. Wurth head light polish for visor, I Pone for cleaning inside helmet. I love products that work. :grin:
I used Mr sheen on my XJR frame when I first got it back from the powdercoaters before I rebuilt the bike.
Nothing better than fully pulling your bike to bits and putting it back together yourself, happy days
Quote from: Nic on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, 12:59 PMWho remember the good ol Goddards Glow, it was a little more abrasive than the then named Solvol Autosol, the Goddards was yellow in colour and smelled bloody brilliant, you could smell it even after polishing something, both had their jobs. Damn shame it's gone, been gone for ages too.
I polished up my stock headers with Autosol, wrap a rag fully around the pipe, bring both end back out, apply plenty of Autosol ( you'll want a good 1/2 tube of the stuff) and pull alternatively on each end of the rag back n forth, choir material again probably but it was easy, no effort at all, polished up a treat in no time at all, that's with the stock pipes though, not sure how an aftermarket single wall pipe would go?
I hate how SS goes brown, I'd rather hit em up with a torch and get that blue look but alas, I only have the boring old stock headers but they hold their shine pretty well.
single wall stainless headers and link pipe that make up my Akrapovic system, come up nice
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