My Boots don't fit the XL600!

[rogerm]

Hi All,

I'm new to trail bikes as I have just bought an old (94) Transalp - which I love having come from sports bikes - brilliant view of the road, great torque from the twin, and pretty good handling too, which I wasn't expecting. Overall I'm very happy to be on the XL....it's quite relaxing not going at sports bike speeds.

Can anyone help if they have had a similar issue. I bought a pair of AXO boots from ebay yesterday - only been used a couple of times and I think they are pretty cool. The issue is that I have just tried them on the bike (stationary) and it is near impossible to hook the left boot under the gear leaver without contorting your leg forwards as if you are falling on your knees....I'm sure that it wouldn't be safe riding like that! There just dosn't seem to be the space for a hard core MX boot to get in there. The only thing I can think of doing is to remove the foot peg rubbers to open up the gap between the peg and lever....has anyone had similar issues?

If so how did you fix it? The pegs don't look adjustable, and I really don't want to sell the boots! That would be a pain...

Any help greatfully recieved

Cheers
Rog

[btbloke]

Welcome to the forum mate,i'd suggest adjusting the position of the lever,move it up a bit. It does mean you have to lift your foot to sort of stamp it down the gears but enables the boot to get under the lever. If htey're new boots you have to give them a bit of time to loosen and soften up a bit,it's a case of looking stupid in front of the mrs walking round in them to break them in.i soak mine in the bath in warm water then wear them while really wet and soft so the leather gives more easily.Once dry they feel miles better.

[Whealie]

Originally Posted by rogerm

Hi All,

I'm new to trail bikes as I have just bought an old (94) Transalp - which I love having come from sports bikes - brilliant view of the road, great torque from the twin, and pretty good handling too, which I wasn't expecting. Overall I'm very happy to be on the XL....it's quite relaxing not going at sports bike speeds.

Can anyone help if they have had a similar issue. I bought a pair of AXO boots from ebay yesterday - only been used a couple of times and I think they are pretty cool. The issue is that I have just tried them on the bike (stationary) and it is near impossible to hook the left boot under the gear leaver without contorting your leg forwards as if you are falling on your knees....I'm sure that it wouldn't be safe riding like that! There just dosn't seem to be the space for a hard core MX boot to get in there. The only thing I can think of doing is to remove the foot peg rubbers to open up the gap between the peg and lever....has anyone had similar issues?

If so how did you fix it? The pegs don't look adjustable, and I really don't want to sell the boots! That would be a pain...

Any help greatfully recieved

Cheers
Rog

I would have thought you could remove the gear lever and move it round one or maybe two teeth. I moved mine on the @ and I imagine it's the same set up. Two minute job.

[rogerm]

Thanks chaps.

Will move the lever tonight, and hopefully have a good ride tomorrow, then perhaps sick them in the bath....great tip.

Regards
Rog

[Mabels Old Man]

Originally Posted by rogerm

Thanks chaps.

Will move the lever tonight, and hopefully have a good ride tomorrow, then perhaps sick them in the bath....great tip.

Regards
Rog

He said warm water!!

[fat-mal]

I was told by my late Dad that peeing in your boots was the answer. fatmal
P.s as you get older it almost becomes automatic

[btbloke]

Goes back to the old cavalry days,the old thigh high cavalry boots were as hard as hell,and when on duty there was no rushing off for a pee so the troopers used to just pee in their boots (they still do on horseguards duty in london unless your sitting on a horse). Made them a bit smelly but soft as slippers at the bottom. I do believe the ladies at the tanning factory use piss as part of the leather preperation at the connoly hide factory.
Can't say i ever did it but did have some really smelly socks when the boots came off.
I always soaked my combat boots and did the first run with them sopping wet and tied tight and they stretched and creased lovely so i never got any blisters. Now I do it with motorbike boots and it works the same,my alpinestars are comfy as slippers and bend in all the right places to change gear and brake etc.

[phil w]

Originally Posted by btbloke

Goes back to the old cavalry days,the old thigh high cavalry boots were as hard as hell,and when on duty there was no rushing off for a pee so the troopers used to just pee in their boots (they still do on horseguards duty in london unless your sitting on a horse). Made them a bit smelly but soft as slippers at the bottom. I do believe the ladies at the tanning factory use piss as part of the leather preperation at the connoly hide factory.
Can't say i ever did it but did have some really smelly socks when the boots came off.
I always soaked my combat boots and did the first run with them sopping wet and tied tight and they stretched and creased lovely so i never got any blisters. Now I do it with motorbike boots and it works the same,my alpinestars are comfy as slippers and bend in all the right places to change gear and brake etc.

We used to use neets foot oil also or I think thats how its said, to soften leathers in the Army, but the river run did it for me

[StumpyFingers]

Originally Posted by phil w

We used to use neets foot oil also or I think thats how its said, to soften leathers in the Army, but the river run did it for me

I used to find that it took a couple of days to dry them properly, at room temp. Some used to put them in the drying room which caused them to crack and wear out faster.

[Lam]

I've been in the same situation and trust me the old saying "horse's for courses" is true here.I've Apinestar tech boots but there no use on my @ but grand on the Dommie.

I've moved gear levers,moisted them, etc etc trying to make them work but in IMO you shouldn't let fashion dictate safety.New boots that work for you is needed