Boot dragging on asphalt when cornering

[dwhartwell]

Prior to my FJR I owned an 02 Bandit 1200 and never ran into this issue. I'm 6-2 with 34 inseam, size 13 (US) boots When I sit on the FJR, the front of my toes naturally point out rather than straight. Trying to get them to point inwards is not possible. So if I rest my boots approx in the center of the peg which is about right for braking and shifting, my boots meet the ground rather quickly on moderate cornering. I'm finding that to prevent this, I need to rest the balls of my feet on the pegs. This helps greatly but is uncomfortable and your not going to reach the foot brake or the shifter. Has anybody else got this issue and are there suggestions how to work around it?

 

[cota95]

I had the same problem which went away when I adjusted my suspension according to Ashe's specs.

 

[Knifemaker]

I tend to lift my foot back on the inside peg when cornering out of habit, and my feet are not as large as yours.

Seems to me there is a thread somewhere about "adjustable foot pegs" that replace the stock units. I think some folks got these to lower the peg some, but there is no reason on could not use it to raise the peg up a tad and move it back a bit, which would help your situation.

Try a search on "adjustable pegs".

EDIT...found this thread:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...mp;#entry569631

KM

 

[Karmak]

Prior to my FJR I owned an 02 Bandit 1200 and never ran into this issue. I'm 6-2 with 34 inseam, size 13 (US) boots When I sit on the FJR, the front of my toes naturally point out rather than straight. Trying to get them to point inwards is not possible. So if I rest my boots approx in the center of the peg which is about right for braking and shifting, my boots meet the ground rather quickly on moderate cornering. I'm finding that to prevent this, I need to rest the balls of my feet on the pegs. This helps greatly but is uncomfortable and your not going to reach the foot brake or the shifter. Has anybody else got this issue and are there suggestions how to work around it?

Maybe I'm picturing it wrong, but in moderate cornering, your foot would be positioned above the shift lever any way and if you point your foot up-I do this at times, but with my heel on the pegs and toes pointed up (wouldn't be shifting or braking in corners anyway if your entry is good-and as you fire out you're straightening the bike up and can get your foot back for shifting....I know balls of feet on pegs may feel more balanced, nbut I don't have any problems with my heels.

 

[Ignacio]

With size 15's I ride 99% of the time with my foot on the peg about anywhere, but if I'm going to go into a corner where I risk dragging a boot I observe good peg discipline and move my foot to the ball on the peg...or lift up my foot.

If you're needing to shift gears or stab the brakes mid-corner....I'm thinking you might rethink your corner approaches to begin with.

Short of that....construct peg raisers, raise your seat, different boots, or have Annie get out the sledge.

 

[Kromm]

Prior to my FJR I owned an 02 Bandit 1200 and never ran into this issue. I'm 6-2 with 34 inseam, size 13 (US) boots When I sit on the FJR, the front of my toes naturally point out rather than straight. Trying to get them to point inwards is not possible. So if I rest my boots approx in the center of the peg which is about right for braking and shifting, my boots meet the ground rather quickly on moderate cornering. I'm finding that to prevent this, I need to rest the balls of my feet on the pegs. This helps greatly but is uncomfortable and your not going to reach the foot brake or the shifter. Has anybody else got this issue and are there suggestions how to work around it?

You should see my riding boots. I'm 6'2" also and every bike I have owned I drag my toes, but only when I'm riding aggressive. I just learn at what point in my lean angle I need to lift my foot up off the peg a touch.

 

[Spook]

With size 15's I ride 99% of the time with my foot on the peg about anywhere, but if I'm going to go into a corner where I risk dragging a boot I observe good peg discipline and move my foot to the ball on the peg...or lift up my foot.
If you're needing to shift gears or stab the brakes mid-corner....I'm thinking you might rethink your corner approaches to begin with.

Short of that....construct peg raisers, raise your seat, different boots, or have Annie get out the sledge.

Damn I just lost my lunch.

 

[James Burleigh]

I match your specs exactly, except I'm a lot better looking and more buffed, and oh yeah, smarter an' stuff. But I digress....

After taking the Reg Pridmore CLASS advanced-skills course at Infineon, at his recommendation, and because my buddy JWhite518 also recommended it, I've been riding for a couple years now with my toes on the pegs all the time (I guess some people stupidly call that the "balls of your feet," but my feet don't have balls, and it sounds stupid and is counterintuitive, so I never use that expression. I also never wear white tennis shoes with blue jeans, because it makes a person look like a c lown, and of course it's how you can always tell an American tourist in Europe, but that may also be a digression.... But I do wanna add I also never wear white tennis shoes while riding a motorcycle, but not everyone who rides feels the same way).

When you need to shift or brake you move your foot into position to do that, then get your toes back up there. This lets you move your body around much more effectively. You're more nimble, not flat-footed like a Harley guy. :glare: Also, you're set to go into curves. Like anything, you get used to it and begin to rely on it. Now that I'm taking my 6-1 son to work every day, and he forces me forward, and we have limited shared peg room, I have to ride flat-footed and hate it. I feel vulnerable.

Anyway, give it a try, and remember, it's your toes not your balls, and never wear white tennis shoes with blue jeans. Your wife will thank you, and you will not get laughed at by Europeans.

Jb

 

[dcarver]

With size 15's I ride 99% of the time with my foot on the peg about anywhere, but if I'm going to go into a corner where I risk dragging a boot I observe good peg discipline and move my foot to the ball on the peg...or lift up my foot.
If you're needing to shift gears or stab the brakes mid-corner....I'm thinking you might rethink your corner approaches to begin with.

Short of that....construct peg raisers, raise your seat, different boots, or have Annie get out the sledge.

Damn I just lost my lunch.

Yeah, that's kinda like when you break your femur, you hear the bone cracking, the muscles tearing.. then realize your leg is over your chest and your foot is pointing West while your head is north, torso south.. oh yeah baby, all good stuff..

I match your specs exactly, except I'm a lot better looking and more buffed, and oh yeah, smarter an' stuff. But I digress....
After taking the Reg Pridmore CLASS advanced-skills course at Infineon, at his recommendation, and because my buddy JWhite518 also recommended it, I've been riding for a couple years now with my toes on the pegs all the time (I guess some people stupidly call that the "balls of your feet," but my feet don't have balls, and it sounds stupid and is counterintuitive, so I never use that expression. I also never wear white tennis shoes with blue jeans, because it makes a person look like a c lown, and of course it's how you can always tell an American tourist in Europe, but that may also be a digression.... But I do wanna add I also never wear white tennis shoes while riding a motorcycle, but not everyone who rides feels the same way).

When you need to shift or brake you move your foot into position to do that, then get your toes back up there. This lets you move your body around much more effectively. You're more nimble, not flat-footed like a Harley guy. :glare: Also, you're set to go into curves. Like anything, you get used to it and begin to rely on it. Now that I'm taking my 6-1 son to work every day, and he forces me forward, and we have limited shared peg room, I have to ride flat-footed and hate it. I feel vulnerable.

Anyway, give it a try, and remember, it's your toes not your balls, and never wear white tennis shoes with blue jeans. Your wife will thank you, and you will not get laughed at by Europeans.

Jb

Or, you could just leave it out there, sticking in the wind, and use it as a lean indicator. Oh, be sure to apply hard weld so you don't go broke buying boots? :lol:

 

[mattster31]

With size 15's

15's ????? You must be related to this



Ouch!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dwhartwell]

Yea, I've been doing a bit of that but it is awkward. Likely due to not being used to it. It does work, but for the moment it's not very comfy to say the least

so I've been doing that only when cornering. Oh, by the way. Check this definition out.....

Ball (anatomy)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ball of the foot is where the toes join with the rest of the foot. It is muscular and easily blistered.

Dancers and runners often move with their weight on the balls of their feet for better balance.

When riding a sportbike, this is where your foot should meet the footpeg.

As for sneakers and jeans.... I don't wear white sneakers (tennis shoes) but have been known from time to time to go bare *** for short trips in jeans, sneakers, and T-shirt. Hell back in the mid 70's - 80's that was the most common outfit for the summer. Got old, got spooked by the internet so most of

the time it's MC boots, jacket and Motoport Kevlar overpants. Spoils all the fun.... Welp, perhaps not all the fun.

cheers, Dave

I match your specs exactly, except I'm a lot better looking and more buffed, and oh yeah, smarter an' stuff. But I digress....
After taking the Reg Pridmore CLASS advanced-skills course at Infineon, at his recommendation, and because my buddy JWhite518 also recommended it, I've been riding for a couple years now with my toes on the pegs all the time (I guess some people stupidly call that the "balls of your feet," but my feet don't have balls, and it sounds stupid and is counterintuitive, so I never use that expression. I also never wear white tennis shoes with blue jeans, because it makes a person look like a c lown, and of course it's how you can always tell an American tourist in Europe, but that may also be a digression.... But I do wanna add I also never wear white tennis shoes while riding a motorcycle, but not everyone who rides feels the same way).

When you need to shift or brake you move your foot into position to do that, then get your toes back up there. This lets you move your body around much more effectively. You're more nimble, not flat-footed like a Harley guy. :glare: Also, you're set to go into curves. Like anything, you get used to it and begin to rely on it. Now that I'm taking my 6-1 son to work every day, and he forces me forward, and we have limited shared peg room, I have to ride flat-footed and hate it. I feel vulnerable.

Anyway, give it a try, and remember, it's your toes not your balls, and never wear white tennis shoes with blue jeans. Your wife will thank you, and you will not get laughed at by Europeans.

Jb

 

[Toecutter]

Hangin' ten on a bike? Bad things man, bad things....

 

[FarWestFastEddie]

Who gives a skinny rats *** what the Europeans think?

I like tennis shoes, in white and I like my Levi's .

I do have a tendancy to get up on my toes as the

motorbike becomes horizontal as friction and drag

cohesion combine to maintain forward momentum and

not result in highsiding or flopping like a drunk European!

Farwestfasteddie

 

[johnny80s]

If you're needing to shift gears or stab the brakes mid-corner....I'm thinking you might rethink your corner approaches to begin with.

This is true.

 

[dbx]

+1 to what James B said about resting the balls of your feet (only he calls it toes) on the pegs except for when you actually want to shift or brake.

 

[dbx]

If you're needing to shift gears or stab the brakes mid-corner....I'm thinking you might rethink your corner approaches to begin with.

This is true.

Now that I have an AE, I'm totally loving the capability to shift up or down while in a corner. I don't typically ride at 10/10 so traction changes related to shifting aren't an issue, but it sure feels good to grab a gear while leaned over, all while leaving the balls of my feet firmly planted on the pegs.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

+1 to what James B said about resting the balls of your feet (only he calls it toes) on the pegs except for when you actually want to shift or brake.

I can do this for a while, but with bad knees the bend angle is just too painful.GP suspension helps and I don't touch my 13EEE boots down as often, but some of the curves on the Pacific Coast Highway shaved some rubber off. I use them as feelers and back off -- I don't need to be the fastest but I prefer a quick pace with comfort and safety margins. I'm always working on smoother, and that sometimes varies unfortunately.

 

[Flyguy]

We don't ride with our "toes" on the pegs, or at least we shouldn't as they are for balance and stubbing. The foot is generally divided into the forfoot, midfoot and hindfoot. The forfoot has phalanges (toes) occupying the front and they are connected to five metatarsal phalangeal joints at what the world, including podiatrists, call the "ball of the foot" for short and for clarity's sake.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity here to mention that the AE lends itself to faster shifting and less foot dancing in this position.

Oh yea, what's wrong with white tennies with blue jeans? That is almost a uniform for private pilots. Should I, in keeping with our new presidential posture of sucking up to the EU, change to colored airs or deck shoes when playing east of the Prime Meridian?

So there,

 

[MojaveFJR]

Like others have said, balls of your feet to corner. Need to get those toes up or you are going to lose them some day. Bike has peg feelers on it to let you know when you are getting too low. Scraped them enough on the street and the track to know what they feel like. First time will scare the be-jeezus out of you and that is what they are there for.

Braking/shifting in a corner is baaaaaaaaaaaaad juju. Braking will cause you to straighten up the bike and head out of the corner, best to just tighten/loosen your turn. Shifting can cause the bike to become unsettled. Like they told us in track class, make the gear choice, stick with it, if it was the wrong one, learn from it the next time you approach the turn.

Don't have to be on the balls of your feet alll the time, just when you corner. Doing this also gives you greater control over the motorcycle going into and exiting the turn.