New Boots

Message

Amdonim · #1 Post by **Amdonim** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:15 am

So i bought a new pair of boots the other day. Assuming they'd be the same, I messed up and bought the same model boots by the same maker. Apparently they changed. The top side of the boot is too narrow and makes shifting a chore, especially since I have floorboards, so there's not much wiggle room. Any chance they'll soften up and flatten out like the olds ones? Also, would there be any harm in rotating my shift lever a few degrees clockwise so the boots fit underneath it better?

redwing · #2 Post by **redwing** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:48 am

Hey Amdonim You might try saddle soap. I used it on baseball gloves when I was a kid and it softened the leather a bunch. I just rubbed the soap onto the leather and did two or three times then let it sit over night. The soap comes with instructions and you might try following them but I just rubbed the stuff in. If the boots got really wet the soap might bubble up but if the boots get really wet the bubbles probably won't be the main problem.
Also a shoe maker might be able to stretch them.
Robert

BuzZz · #3 Post by **BuzZz** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:06 am

Shifter height is adjustable for just this very reason.

Depending on your bike, either rotate the shifter one spline on the shaft, or if you have a linkage rod between the shifter and shift shaft, loosen the locknuts and twist the rod until the shifter is at a good height for your booted foot.

TorontoBoy · #4 Post by **TorontoBoy** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:32 pm

For small changes, you might take it to a shoemaker. They have some special spray and foot lasts that can stretch the toe. They do this with bunions and such.

Amdonim · #5 Post by **Amdonim** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:53 pm

As it turns out the problem wasn't the boot, it was that my foot wasn't filling them very well. I have long toes, so I have to buy size 13 boots, but my feet are actually slender and small, so it usually feels cavernous. I bought a second insole and just stacked it on the existing one, problem solved. I may still move the shifter around a bit though.

InAsia · #6 Post by **InAsia** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:42 pm

BuzZz wrote:Shifter height is adjustable for just this very reason.

Depending on your bike, either rotate the shifter one spline on the shaft, or if you have a linkage rod between the shifter and shift shaft, loosen the locknuts and twist the rod until the shifter is at a good height for your booted foot.

Wish I would have known that before I removed the engine gaurds to give my big feet space.