Gear changing problems - boots?

[Osinjak]

I've had this problem on and off for a few years and I'm hoping someone can solve it for me. I suspect I'm being seriously dim but feck it.

Couple of years ago I had a Hornet and when I picked it up (120 miles away) the weather forecast was ste, I didn't have any proper wet weather boots so took my Goretex walking boots as a back up. Sure enough it hacked it down so pulled over and got changed. Set off and straight away had real issues changing up, couldn't find a gear, it was as if there was excessive play in the selector, it would move up but wouldn't engage a gear. I had to gently move the selector until I felt the resistance of the next gear and then actually change gear. This went on until I got home and although it was properly annoying I just put it down to inappropriate footwear and thought no more about it. I then went and bought some cheapo goretex HG boots although they weren't really proper riding boots as such but they were fine in showers, etc.

So a couple of weeks ago and another change of bike I decided to get some proper boots and bought some Motorrad touring boots and the same bloody issue as above has returned but this time on a different bike. I'll set off, try and change up and there's the same thing again, the selector moves but there's no gear; I have to do the gently thing until I feel the resistance of the next gear and then change up. I find that I have to fettle the selector two or three times to get that resistance. I've just literally hopped out into town but couldn't be arsed to get my gear on so just went out in my jeans and crappy Timberlands and I was all over the place because I discovered I could change gear again with no issues.

What's going on and what am I doing wrong?

[Osinjak]

Cheers all, I suspect it's because my boots are so new although I just can't work out why it does it, very frustrating. When I wear any other kind of footwear, I have absolutely no problems but those new boots just mess it all up. May just have to do as suggested and try and wear them in a bit.

[Osinjak]

bogie said:

I have got new boots before and they are thicker from sole to top, so had to adjust the lever to suit ...its usually really easy to adjust the lever, just take a look first which way it needs to go and try a few mm at a time

Sorry for the stupid question but what am I adjusting for? I've never needed to adjust the gear selector so I'm a bit lost to be honest.

[Osinjak]

Jazoli said:

What bike is it? Adjustment is a 5 minute job on pretty much anything.

2001 BMW R1100S but what am I adjusting for?

[Osinjak]

bogie said:

its down to personal preference really, but you do actually need to make easy gear changes with just a small movement

But this is the problem, if I wear normal boots like my brown leather Timberlands or my HG boots, no problems, I can snick through the gears quite happily but when I've got my tourers on it all goes to ratst. Not sure if adjusting anything is really going to help?

[Osinjak]

Ok, cheers. I'll have a look tomorrow and see if I can adjust it.

[Osinjak]

The Moose said:

My guess is the lever isn't returning fully to it's "neutral" position. Try taking your foot off the peg between shifting to diagnose.

Mate, that was EXACTLY what was going on! Within about 20 yards I realised what I was doing wrong, I was effectively riding the selector and not allowing it to return to its proper position. Thanks, I owe you one!

[Osinjak]

I just didn't realise I was doing it, seems so obvious now when you think about it. Thicker, stiffer boots and all that. I can adjust the selector to compensate so I'll square that away later as well, thanks to those that suggested that as well.