Another newbie here

[Dippers]

Hi all. Just joined and have been having quite a look around and it looks like quite a friendly community. Thank you for this, I really have learnt quite a bit here already.

 

A bit about me ...

 

Passed my CBT in December last year. Then did a gear conversion in January 25 and then decided to buy a CB125F (geared). Omg am I struggling with it, so I was really hoping that I can tap into someones thoughts here. 

 

I also tried to look this up on here to avoid asking repeated questions, so please do forgive me if I am asking a daft question as I still am unsure of the answer. It would be really helpful to get the opinion of more experienced users.

 

When gear changing, my boots are struggling to get under the gear lever. I can just about move my big toe under and even that is a big stuggle with the boots. Would it be possible to ask how the foot should be placed when upshifting. I mean are all the toes under the lever or is it just part of the foot? It that is the case, then the lever I have is way too low and probably will need adjusting.

 

I don’t have any issue in downshifting, but upshifting is really difficult. 

 

Really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you all.

 

Dip x

[Bender]

Welcome  

 

Is the foot peg standard, has it been altered, unless you have very big feet or boots std setups don't usually cause probs getting toe under gear shifter.

[Dippers]

hi there. Thanks for the reply. I've done a little bit of research on this on YouTube. I think it might be the positioning of my foot on the peg itself. I've been putting my heel on there, and it looks like what I should be doing is putting the ball of my foot on it. My instructor never taught me about that! It's probably the reason why I'm struggling to upshift. Is this the right way to do it? It will probably explain quite a bit if it is!

[bonio]

Yes, you're right. Balls of the feet on the peg.

Then, when you want to change up, point your toes down a bit and shift your foot a smidgeon forward. And lift.

You should be engaging with the gear lever roughly at the base of your big toe. 

[Simon Davey]

Hi @Dippers and welcome to the forum....

 

Nice choice of bike, by the way.

 

Just to add to the above, you really only need to get your big toe under the lever to shift up. It'll be natural, soon enough. 

[Dippers]

Hi there. I really appreciate your help. Thank you. It makes more sense now!! Feel rather daft but I suppose that’s how you learn! I’ll have another practice run shortly and will report back how well it went

 

Again, thank you for your help!!

[RideWithStyles]

Hi,

 

don’t feel bad about it, asking for help is better than not doing.

 

Most cbf leave the factory level with the peg…most people don’t adjust them as they believe it can’t be but for people over 5ft it’s too high up.

most likly its not what your particularly doing wrong but humans adapt around problems very well but the bikes set up for you! So what im saying its ergonomically not set up for you, while it has been designed so there is some adjustment but you just don’t know about it. 

depending on what year your cbf is but most have a fixed rod (blue arrow) rather than adjustable, but the clamp (in red arrow) that holds onto the toothed gear shaft is adjustable, one hex bolt holds its on in a grooved spline. Rotating the clamp top towards the front of the bike a tooth or two at most will be more than enough to adjust for you. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Last time bought new boots I had the same issue. The new boots were thicker than my previous pair. 

 

As @RideWithStyles says, you can adjust the lever on the splines.  It's usually only a very small adjustment needed.

 

 

[Dippers]

Again. I really appreciate all your help. I haven’t had a chance to practice has had quite a late night yesterday at work! I’ll try again very shortly and see what I can achieve. I have a feeling it’s because I wasn’t using my foot position incorrectly. It could be because of the boots, but I’m not sure. But more than likely it’s my inexperience talking!

 

I’ll let you know how it goes

[RideWithStyles]

Where ever you place your foot naturally is more often than not the correct one (unless we are talking track or off riding etc) , the lever is in the incorrect place for you.

even new boots if you can’t lift it up enough that’s not necessarily the boots (unless you bought flat tracker boots) and feet naturally rotate upward because that’s how we walk with a rotating ankle.

pointing the feet downward is harder to do and the boot will resist that too, so if your managing to down shift well it’s not the boots.

even if the pegs were adjustable and set really high, then the lever would need adjustment too. 

[Dippers]

Hi all. I really appreciate all your help. I’m due for a practice ride on Sunday morning where I will practice this a bit more. Let’s see what happens!!! I’ll report back

[Dippers]

Hi there. I think it worked!! Was able to get on gear shifting up and down ok but it does require a lot of mental effort at the moment. The problem is trying to get the muscle memory now and get it on a subconscious level - I suppose like doing the same thing with a car. Managed to get up to third gear (and accidentally to forth which was a bit embarrassing as I’m not sure what happened there)! 

 

Anyway, I’m going nowhere but going around the block for the time being until I have this perfected! You guys have been brilliant! Thanks

[bonio]

Keep practising and it will come in time.

[bud]

It really is just a matter of practice, practice, practice. You will get there.

Just go at a pace you feel comfortable with. Everyone learns things at a different rate. So don't feel like you you should be pushing yourself too much.