New Rider ... How do I upshift?

[675er]

I have been riding in my Caterpillar boots for a while now without problem. However, I bought some racing boots and now I cannot upshift! The boots are way too stiff. Have I been shifting wrong this whole time, or is it just impossible to shift with racing boots? How do you guys shift with racing boots? Do you shift from under the peg? Do you break in your boots somehow? Or am I the only one with this problem? To me, it seems the shifter is way too close to the peg so that my boot can't quite get under there while my foot is on the peg.

[x1337magex]

The way I have been taught to shift and have always shifted is, you slide your foot under the shift lever and pivot the foot up. I usually ride with sneakers because they are a little more flexible and cooler, but i also ride with my steel toe shoes and, yes it is a little more difficult, but you get used to it. Hope it helps, ciao.

[Ninja500R]

To me, it seems the shifter is way too close to the peg so that my boot can't quite get under there while my foot is on the peg.

This will be the case if you're foot is resting (in your foot arch) on the pegs. Try to keep the balls (front half) of your feet on the pegs while riding. If you do, then it's a simple downward slide into the gap (between shifter and peg). Once wedged in there, a slight upward angle is enough to upshift.

Good luck
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Rubber side down

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