Gear lever position

[Phill P]

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

[KiwiCol]

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.

[Tally]

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.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Have you tried adjusting the linkage? This raises or lowers the lever wrt the footpeg, then the toe of your boot should fit under

[Tony Nitrous]

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.

[Phill P]

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.

 

Paul

[Mick_J]

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.

[GSXKING]

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. 👍

[KiwiCol]

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. 👍

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.

[Phill P]

Some interesting ideas, never thought about it much before, just rode and adjusted it if needed 

[grog]

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.

[Phill P]

Cheers, I will get some pics when I do it to see how it is.

[VladTepes]

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.

[grog]

Get it sorted Mike, a very important part of life. A beautiful gear change is compulsory on a 14. 

[Tony Nitrous]

First things I do after the first ride on any new bike, clutch and front brake levers, gear lever and brake pedal positions.