GG54172 Posted February 22, 2009 #1 Posted February 22, 2009 It's taking me a little bit of effort to get used to the heel-toe shifter. Plus, my current riding boots are worn out and it is time tor eplace. I am thinking about getting a set of cowboy boots, but I am wondering how well the work with the controls. My size 12 foot barely fits between the two shifter pegs as it is. Anyone else ride with forward controls and cowboy boots?
RoadKill Posted February 22, 2009 #2 Posted February 22, 2009 Cowboy boots are about all I wear. I don't use the heel shifter only the toe. Just recently I instaaled the billet toe shifter. Never could get used to the heel
CMIKE Posted February 22, 2009 #3 Posted February 22, 2009 Where did you purchase the billet shifter...I hate that heal shifter...it is in the way. I have been thinking bout geting rid of that thing since I got the bike. I need one of those toe only shifters.
MidlifeVenture Posted February 22, 2009 #4 Posted February 22, 2009 You don't have to use the heal shifter just because its there. Use your toe it works. http://www.leatherup.com/p/Xelement-Biker-Boots/Classic-Motorcycle-Advanced-Engineer-Biker-Boot/41631.html Just got these seemed to be good price here.
Guest Saddletramp Posted February 22, 2009 #5 Posted February 22, 2009 (edited) Toe shifter only is in the Star accessory catalog, pg.71. Part #'s are as follows;STR-4NK38-00-01 smooth and STR-4NK38-00-02 milled. Both retail at $118.95. Star Touring discount is 10% or you can try Seattle Motorsports and I believe their discount is somewhere around 25%. "Cowboy" boots or western boots are all I wear on my feet when riding. I wear a size 11 and have plenty of room with the stock heel-toe shifter. Edited February 22, 2009 by Saddletramp addition
slick97spirit Posted February 22, 2009 #6 Posted February 22, 2009 I'm not crazy about riding with cowboy boots. I've always felt like the leather sole is too slick when I put my foot down. I recently picked up a pair of the black boots that alot of EMT, police, & tactical people wear. I swear by them now. They are like wearing tennis shoes & get good traction. The best kind to get have the laces but also zip up the inside of the leg for ease of putting them on and off.
V7Goose Posted February 22, 2009 #7 Posted February 22, 2009 Cowboy boots are all I wear, and I have been riding with heel/toe shifters since the early 70s with ZERO problems. I know the choice of shifter types is personal, but I would NEVER accept riding with floorboards and not having a heel & toe shifter. The floor boards position the foot high enough that it is difficult for me to use the ankle to raise the toe enough to up-shift, meaning I would have to use my thigh to raise the whole leg enough while keeping my ankle stiff. In contrast, raising my heel and just sliding my foot back a hair to let it down on the shifter is effortless and natural to me. I have noticed that when downshifting through several gears I often unconsciously rest the inside of my heal on the shifting lever just above the pivot bolt. I guess this just makes it easier to keep my foot in place for the next down-shift without having to move it again. Bottom line, for ME anyway, is that I would NEVER accept a touring bike without floorboards and a heel/toe shifter, and the only boots I wear are cowboy boots. And with size 13s, I still have lots of room to move my feet around on the floorboards for different positions during a 1,000 mile day on QuickSilver! Goose
GG54172 Posted February 22, 2009 Author #8 Posted February 22, 2009 I'm not crazy about riding with cowboy boots. I've always felt like the leather sole is too slick when I put my foot down. I recently picked up a pair of the black boots that alot of EMT, police, & tactical people wear. I swear by them now. They are like wearing tennis shoes & get good traction. The best kind to get have the laces but also zip up the inside of the leg for ease of putting them on and off. Got a link or brand name?
OutKast Posted February 22, 2009 #9 Posted February 22, 2009 Bubba only wears cowboy boots, but only the kind with a square toe (Dingo style) and rubber soles. Check Milwaukee for lowest cost, Double H for better quality. Some have rear entry zippers for us old guys. I prefer heel shifters.
CMIKE Posted February 22, 2009 #10 Posted February 22, 2009 I searched several sites including South Seatle with those part numbers and come up with nothing. Anybody have any other ideas for a toe only shifter for the RSMV?
Kregerdoodle Posted February 22, 2009 #11 Posted February 22, 2009 All I wear are "Bates" brand, they have the zipper on the side and are sold at Acadamy Sports and other sports out lets, or uniform shops..around $70.00 Got a link or brand name?
slick97spirit Posted February 22, 2009 #12 Posted February 22, 2009 Yep, Bates are the ones I was speaking of earlier. This is all I'll ever use anymore. Really comfortable!
ahoutzer Posted February 22, 2009 #13 Posted February 22, 2009 I wear cowboy-style boots, but NOT with leather soles. They are comfortable for walking and wearing, not only on the bike. No problem operating the heel-toe shifter -- I out-shift some o my friends who have toe-only shifters on other kinds of bikes. Mine are size 11. http://www.leatherup.com/p/Motorcycle-Boots/Mens-King-Harness-Boot/42215.html
Lynx Posted February 22, 2009 #14 Posted February 22, 2009 All I wear is Cowboy Boots for riding. I too found that the Leather sole was a little slick. I took my boots to a local shoe repair guy and had him add to the sole a rubber piece over the leather for $30 and no more slip. The piece he added is thin enough you don't even see it and it actually helps protect the leather sole adding years to the life of the boots.
Squeeze Posted February 22, 2009 #15 Posted February 22, 2009 All I wear is Cowboy Boots for riding. I too found that the Leather sole was a little slick. I took my boots to a local shoe repair guy and had him add to the sole a rubber piece over the leather for $30 and no more slip. The piece he added is thin enough you don't even see it and it actually helps protect the leather sole adding years to the life of the boots. That's cheating !!! but slick !!! :thumbsup2::thumbsup2:
RoadKill Posted February 22, 2009 #16 Posted February 22, 2009 I'm not crazy about riding with cowboy boots. I've always felt like the leather sole is too slick when I put my foot down. I recently picked up a pair of the black boots that alot of EMT, police, & tactical people wear. I swear by them now. They are like wearing tennis shoes & get good traction. The best kind to get have the laces but also zip up the inside of the leg for ease of putting them on and off. I should have said my riding cowboy boots have vibram lug soles
pegscraper Posted February 22, 2009 #17 Posted February 22, 2009 Anybody have any other ideas for a toe only shifter for the RSMV? The poor boy option is to cut the rear part of the arm off, grind and file it smooth, and put a clear coat on the bare steel. This is what I did. This is the first bike I ever owned that had a heel shifter on it. I tried to get used to it and couldn't and gave it up. It's not needed, and it was really nothing but in my way anyhow. My left foot has a lot more room without it.
cecdoo Posted February 22, 2009 #18 Posted February 22, 2009 All it took was getting my shoe laces caught up on the shifter, one time!! All I wear is cowboy boots now. It took some getting use too, but I like the heel/toe shifter. Craig
Sylvester Posted February 22, 2009 #19 Posted February 22, 2009 Being originally from Nebraska, I wear nothing but "western boots" and they have rubber soles and heels. I prefer good brands...Justin, H/H, and any good quality boot manufacturer. I always buy at a store east of Kansas City (about 40 miles on I-70) called "Klienschmidts". My wife knows that whenever I head west and get close to this dealer that I will buy one or two pairs of boots. They have a huge inventory.
BuckShot Posted February 22, 2009 #20 Posted February 22, 2009 Justin cowboy boot,vibram rubber sole. Bought at a western store near home, $100.00. Great to ride and walk in and no slipping.
Guest Saddletramp Posted February 23, 2009 #21 Posted February 23, 2009 (edited) Check with your local dealer or call Seattle on the phone. I am ready to buy the custom pass. back rest and it doesn't show in their system. When I spoke directly with them they pulled the part # up and it wasn't in their inventory but was on back order. Sounds as if they don't carry it in stock the part# isn't recognized by their system. That is the numbers in the '09 accessory catalog. The black boots that are mentioned are referred to as "duty boots" and there is a fairly large selection in Galls catalog. I have a pair of Bate that I wear at work and the biggest thing I have noticed about Bates boots is that they are slippery when wet on painted concrete floors. The other thing about some duty boots is that they are hot on my feet. I mean extremely warm to the point that I will thoroughly dampen a pair of socks with them on at 70 degrees. That is why I prefer the looser western boots or a wellington style with composite soles. Edited February 23, 2009 by Saddletramp addition
ToRide1 Posted February 23, 2009 #22 Posted February 23, 2009 I have seen lot of people using cowboy boots while riding their motorcycle and the biggest complaint is the dress boots soles are slicker than snail snot. Milwaukee makes a cowboy style boot. My self I'll stick with Milwaukee's time proven Trooper boot.
kenw Posted February 24, 2009 #23 Posted February 24, 2009 Anybody know where you can get boots for wide feet?
ahoutzer Posted February 24, 2009 #24 Posted February 24, 2009 Anybody know where you can get boots for wide feet? I wear boots full time, and the problem that I have is finding boots that are *not* for wide feet. Practically all boots are for width D and EE. Just try to find a B!
miller47 Posted February 25, 2009 #25 Posted February 25, 2009 I've got cowboy boots without rubber on the bottom and about pulled a muscle from being slick on the bottom
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now