Changing gear while riding in the dirt?

[atadaskew]

My rookie adventures in the dirt continue..
ok, oh learned ones, here's the problem.
Just picked up my playbike, a Yammie TTR125. Awesome, so much fun.  But, how the flip are you meant to shift gears with big old motocross boots on? With my hiking boots no problem (just to make sure the bike worked).  Geared up all ATTGAT, it was really difficult to shift with my motocross boots. On road bikes I'm used to having my entire toe area under the lever to shift up.  On this bike, there's just no room at all.  The lever is (or seems to be according to the manual) correctly adjusted.  
What am I doing wrong?
Dammit, these bikes are fun!!!

[Mac]

Its probably because the MX boots are very stiff compaired to almost any other kind of footwear. Its to better protect your foot, but it does make shifting more difficult.

You may find lowering the shift lever may help. If your feet are large like mine (size 14) a longer shift lever will work better.

Many times I shift with my entire foot, not trying to bend the ankle. Lift up with the leg to shift up, stomp down on the shifter to downshift.


You'll have to ride to get used to the bike and get your gear broken in better. Both will loosen up a bit with time and use, which will help. You'll be able to make better choices in your shifter, rear brake set up with time as well.

Go out, be safe and have fun.

[Mr Sunshine]

you end up not needing to switch gears often and when doing so just use your entire leg.

[RexRider]

And I thought he was wondering how to change his clothing while he was riding...  Thought to myself, "No wonder he's confused!"...  

[bahwolf]

Adjust your shift lever so you can get your toe under -- or at least enough of it to engage the lever. In some boots, I have to shift with the edge of my boot, that "ridge" where the sole extends slightly from the upper boot. As others have said, shift with your entire leg, rather than just your ankle. Once your gear breaks in, it'll get easier.

[thatguy]

You can adjust the shifter up to accommodate the boots.And just lifting your toe isn't going to work with the hefty boots.You'll need to use the whole leg like mentioned earlier.Find a small area where you can ride in a circle.Just ride around and practice shifting up and down.You'll get it down with some practice.

[atadaskew]

ok thanks everybody!  Guess I just gotta get used to these boots.  Plus I'll see if I can raise the shift lever a bit.

[Karl Malone]

Even when you get it its still kind of a pain, raising it is good but sometimes you cant always get what you need, they might sell extrended shifters which make a HUGE difference. Thats whay I do on my yz250f and it works out good.

[marc11]

Yep I had/have the same problem.  I tried raising the shifter, but it doesn't offer a micro adjuster, so you need to adjust it on the teeth of the spline, ended up having to lift my entire leg to shift...not good for me.

So I went back to stock and basically I sort of jam the edge of my boot against the shifter and pop it up.  I sometimes miss a gear, but not often and not a big deal really.

Ain't dirt ridin fun n' stuff  

[Cricket]

I always use the side of my boot to shift. It makes easy and fast.
Good luck with the new toy have fun.
Ken

[steve.ski]

YOur boots will break in after a few rides and flexing the ankle will become possible. MX boots always make the shifter harder to feel; you just get used to it after awhile. Good on you for getting out in the doit!

[atadaskew]

Great replies! The boots seem to be getting a little bit more flexible but I think I just need to work on my technique.
Man is dirt riding fun!  I'm just bouncing around like a dweeb right now but I don't care!  My g/f dropped the Yammie, she looked at me like "oh crap, I've dropped his new bike!", but that 's the beauty. I showed her there was absolutely no damage.
So much fun intentionally sliding it and controlling the slide.  Yup, I'm hooked..

[photomd]

My el cheapo Thors took three days of hitting jumps and whoops before I could feel the shifter. IMHO, this is one of the reasons top of the line boots are top of the line:they have much better feel outta the box. At least the Sidi's I tried on seemed to. I still use my ole crappy boots. They work fine. Slidin', jumpin' and being a squid in the dirt is a blast.  

[Mac]

just don't break any bones out there.  

[Johnny Monsoon]

As a fellow owner of a motorized mountain bike of doom  (ie: TT-R125) I feel your pain.  The good news is, as you should know, extremely little effort is required to actually shift it.  I've been perfecting my use of "The Force" but still get mediocre results.  Having a size 10 boot means that it is a bit of a squeeze to get the toe in there.  

The best bet is to just use the friction on the inside of the toe to shift; that's plenty.  As you get better at that, you'll find your boots will break in a bit and you'll naturally start getting under it a bit more.  However, there really are lots of times where using the inner welt of the side of the toe area is best for up-shifts to a higher gear, where the sole is usually best for downshifting.

Just play, and try not to die.  Relish the moment that you get sweet air and find the limits of your suspension... exhilarating!

[ToadRide]

It's so good to know I'm not alone. I have now had to move my shifter up two positions to get the big, honkin toe of my new boots under it. And now it looks as tho I'm stompin the thing to downshift.

[atadaskew]

It's so good to know I'm not alone.

  that's exactly how I feel!

[thatguy]

I've gotten to the point that I can wear my AlpineStars on the street.You'll develop a feel for it as the boots break in and your skills progress.I have a bigger problem with the rear brake than the shifter though.

[marc11]

Great replies! The boots seem to be getting a little bit more flexible but I think I just need to work on my technique.
Man is dirt riding fun!  I'm just bouncing around like a dweeb right now but I don't care!  My g/f dropped the Yammie, she looked at me like "oh crap, I've dropped his new bike!", but that 's the beauty. I showed her there was absolutely no damage.
So much fun intentionally sliding it and controlling the slide.  Yup, I'm hooked..

Ha ha, yep, the day I got my KLX250s I rode it home and went right back into the woods behind my house, three feet into the mud I was on my butt looking at my new bike laying on the ground.  I quickly realized it just doesn't matter, in fact, it is not a true off road bike until it tastes the ground a few times.

I also remember getting my Berik boots, and then trying to get on the bike, I kicked the side of the bike!  Talk about stiff and heavy!  It took me a few tries to learn how to swing a leg over the highish seat.

[dlrides]

My rookie adventures in the dirt continue..
ok, oh learned ones, here's the problem.
Just picked up my playbike, a Yammie TTR125. Awesome, so much fun.  But, how the flip are you meant to shift gears with big old motocross boots on? With my hiking boots no problem (just to make sure the bike worked).  Geared up all ATTGAT, it was really difficult to shift with my motocross boots. On road bikes I'm used to having my entire toe area under the lever to shift up.  On this bike, there's just no room at all.  The lever is (or seems to be according to the manual) correctly adjusted.  
What am I doing wrong?
Dammit, these bikes are fun!!!

Just wait until you start downshifting while standing up, applying the rear brake and some front brake, using the clutch, blipping the throttle, as the bike is bouncing over some ruts, sliding sideways, all at the same time 

[Johnny Monsoon]

Ha ha, yep, the day I got my KLX250s I rode it home and went right back into the woods behind my house, three feet into the mud I was on my butt looking at my new bike laying on the ground.  I quickly realized it just doesn't matter, in fact, it is not a true off road bike until it tastes the ground a few times.

Hell, it's hardly worth the ride at all unless YOU taste dirt a few times!

[Mr Sunshine]

Hell, it's hardly worth the ride at all unless YOU taste dirt a few times!

it all depends on how you end up tasting the dirt.  

[mxvet57]

Hell, it's hardly worth the ride at all unless YOU taste dirt a few times!

tell me about it.  broken tib and fib, broke both ankles, still have the screws in one, popped the shoulder once and numerous bumps and bruises. all in all good clean fun

[atadaskew]

tell me about it.  broken tib and fib, broke both ankles, still have the screws in one, popped the shoulder once and numerous bumps and bruises. all in all good clean fun

good grief! If I get a hang nail I'm done!

[Mr Sunshine]

Have you seen my xrays from my first time out on the dirt?  

[TexShadow]

MX boots take time to break in; wear them as much as you can to accomplish that. They are like ski boots; you have to get used to that. But they are worth their damned heavy weight in gold for protection.
Shifting? Adjust the shift lever to where it 'works'. I usually pick up my entire foot to shift down, use the outer lip of the boot near the side of toe to shift up. Practice. I can shift quickly and freely while standing on the pegs. It just takes practice.

[black hills]

MX boots take time to break in; wear them as much as you can to accomplish that. They are like ski boots; you have to get used to that. But they are worth their damned heavy weight in gold for protection.
Shifting? Adjust the shift lever to where it 'works'. I usually pick up my entire foot to shift down, use the outer lip of the boot near the side of toe to shift up. Practice. I can shift quickly and freely while standing on the pegs. It just takes practice.

What he said^^^^

[TexShadow]

I solved the break-in issue: I adopted a pair of used MX boots that fit me. Already broken in.  

Alternative ways to break-them in: put them on your dog to wear, run over them with truck tires, beat the neighbor's annoying kid with them, wear them to dinner at a fancy restaurant, bury them in the backyard for a month, give them to your teenage kid to wear to school, tie them to the rear of your bike and drag them down a dirt road....


Well, it's Friday and my imagination is starving..........  

In case anyone wonders what the heck to do with those monster boots if you want to hike or spend time on the trail on two legs, here's what I did:



Bungeed them to the bike on the pegs, changed into hiking boots and hiked  up into the Chisos Mountains for the day. Now that I know that works, I'll be doing the same in a few weeks down in Big Bend hiking Solitario.

[R.Markus]

I walked around for 3 hours in a near freezing creek then walked five miles home to break mine in.  

[hig4s]

My rookie adventures in the dirt continue..
ok, oh learned ones, here's the problem.
Just picked up my playbike, a Yammie TTR125. Awesome, so much fun.  But, how the flip are you meant to shift gears with big old motocross boots on? With my hiking boots no problem (just to make sure the bike worked).  Geared up all ATTGAT, it was really difficult to shift with my motocross boots. On road bikes I'm used to having my entire toe area under the lever to shift up.  On this bike, there's just no room at all.  The lever is (or seems to be according to the manual) correctly adjusted.  
What am I doing wrong?
Dammit, these bikes are fun!!!

I have to assume your feet are too big!!!! seeing as the TTR125 was designed for someone 4' 10" to 5' 2" between 100 and 140lbs.  Basically a mini bike.

That being said, there is no correct adjustment for the shift lever, where ever works best for you is correct.