Finger Tip Tip

[Valkpilot]

My riding boot of choice is a military Desert Storm style (unlined.)  It's the coolest summertime boot I've ever used because it flows a lot of air through the vent holes and Goretex uppers while still providing quite a bit of protection.

But, it, and every other shoe I use, gets ugly black marks on it from the shifter peg.  As it ages, the rubber on the pegs oxidizes and transfers to the shoe top and is really difficult to completely eradicate.

I've looked at slip-on shoe protectors and have not been impressed.  They seem a kludgy solution at best and I'd have to remember to take the time to put them on and take them off every time I ride.

So, finger tips to the rescue!  I bought a pair of black, Neoprene fishing gloves from Amazon (of course!) for $6.00 and now have 10, count 'em, 10 shift peg covers at sixty cents each.  

I snip off a finger, slide it over the shift peg and zip tie it in place.  I've been using one on the Wing for a month and have virtually eliminated black spots on my riding boots.  In fact, I rode in a pair of Chuck's old-school tennis shoes the other day, and they stayed clean.  (Berate me about ATGATT later, please.)

As they wear or get dirty, they are quickly and easily changed.

Unobtrusive, cheap, and effective.  What's not to like?


P.S. NOT interested in riding with a heel-toe shifter, which was originated to protect the spit shine on shoes during military and police parades.

[Red Diamond]

I'm a heel/toe shifter fan, sooo, you have gentlemanly eliminated any snide remark I might have thought of responding with. You do have a lot of tips though. (finger)

[Firefighter]

I might try that cause my ugly shot at everyday redwings mar up my shifter peg!

[RainMaker]

No issues with that, but, I am also a kickshifter guy.  Rode it to work and had to have dress shoes.  Now I just like it better.

[Jess from VA]

The Rattlebars kickshifter came with a heel peg of polished aluminum.  I had a rubber peg I thought I would like better, but it wore out so I put on the aluminum one, and it has been on there and working fine for years.  I think an aluminum (or metal) OE shift peg would work fine too.  Of course it would take cutting off the OE peg and tapping the hole, just like using the aftermarket bigger rubber pegs.

This is the rear lathed aluminum peg that came with my shifter.  It really works as good as rubber when all you do is kick down on it. (not my bike, I don't do fringe)



I have some boots with the extra layer of leather on the toe for the shifter.  The thing is, over time, it would take the same amount of damage the boot toe would anyway.... it's just double thickness.

The OE shifter rubber on both my bikes is torn and needs replacing.  The black electrical tape repair is not cutting it.  Course, only pushing down on it, it has no effect on my boots.

I'm glad you are using black rubber glove fingers.  Day glow orange ribbed condoms just wouldn't look right.  

[BnB Tom]

No issues with that, but, I am also a kickshifter guy.  Rode it to work and had to have dress shoes.  Now I just like it better.

Pre Heel-Toe shifter:
    2006, after many years without a bike, I bought my Valk.  Uh oh.  
 After several miles of city riding interrupted by multiple stop lights I began feeling severe pain in my big toe, left foot.  ???  

   Didn't go away even when not on the bike.  Got worse when walking.

    After being treated for Gout (which didn't help) for several weeks, the Docs finally determined that I had tendinitis.  ???
                 They recommended abstinence from riding!    Are they crazy.
 
Post Heel-Toe shifter:
     New Kuryakyn shifter TOTALLY eliminated that problem  

                                                 AND  more than 70,000 miles later...  still not a problem  


        

[Houdini]

I used a heel-toe shifter for a couple of days and removed it.  My feet are too large to fit between the pegs and I had to have my ankle twisted at an uncomfortable angle while riding. 

Bought it cheap and sold it for a profit.

[SideCar]

Another form of shifter condom are those silicone cashier finger protectors that cashiers and bankers often wear to count money.  I don't know how they compare in cost to your own supply. Good news is that you can still wear the unused portion as rain gloves and just get one finger wet (or two if you have already used a second finger). 

[f-Stop]

OK...I'm gonna play the devil's advocate here...if you're wearing designated riding boots when you ride, what does it matter that your shifter peg leaves a mark?   Aren't they your "riding boots"?  I mean, your riding boots are gonna get riding marks on them...right? 

Alright...I don't want to be that troll guy, so I'll stop... 

However, my left riding boot has a worn spot on the top side from the shifter peg.  I see that spot as a well earned mark of pride made from the miles of smiles it represents. 

Of course, on the flip side you could be on to something here.  Shifter peg condoms!  You could offer them in different colors...even camouflage!  (Or Day-Glo orange!)

Just sayin'!

 

[Valkpilot]

OK...I'm gonna play the devil's advocate here...if you're wearing designated riding boots when you ride, what does it matter that your shifter peg leaves a mark?   Aren't they your "riding boots"?  I mean, your riding boots are gonna get riding marks on them...right? 

Alright...I don't want to be that troll guy, so I'll stop... 

However, my left riding boot has a worn spot on the top side from the shifter peg.  I see that spot as a well earned mark of pride made from the miles of smiles it represents. 

Of course, on the flip side you could be on to something here.  Shifter peg condoms!  You could offer them in different colors...even camouflage!  (Or Day-Glo orange!)

Just sayin'!

 

I ride to work every day and I can't look too bad.  The sand-colored suede of the desert boots makes the mark a lot more ugly and obvious than on a dark leather boot.  Even on a tan leather work boot the spot was very noticeable.

So...troll away!

[Rocketman]

Gloves with 10 fingers?  Why would anyone waste material on the extra finger?

Mark

[Valkpilot]

Gloves with 10 fingers?  Why would anyone waste material on the extra finger?

Mark

Two extra, don't you mean?