Has anyone else encountered problems with their pant legs catching on the shifter linkage? The incident, new cross traffic stop sign, uphill grade. Usually at this intersection the cross traffic does not stop. I had it timed to let a car pass then breeze on thru. The cross traffic car stopped, I had to stop. Could not get my left leg down because my pant leg was caught on the shifter linkage. To the enjoyment of the onlookers, the bike, passenger, and I acquainted with the black top. No harm done just embarrassment. Has anyone else had this problem of the linkage being over fond of the pant leg? Is there a remedy besides tucking or strapping the pant leg? Have not had this problem on my other bikes. Been riding since 74.
Shifting linkage
- Thread starter timothy.davis
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pqsqac
Bike Name: Blue Spirit
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No sir can't say that I have and with over 6,000 clicks on the odometer I hope not too. Are you wearing really baggy pants or somethiing that would catch? I'm normally wearing straight leg jeans or my m/c pants. I do recall someone complaining that they got hung up on the metal guard right by the shift linkage or you sure it was the linkage and not that guard that caught you?
The problem area is where the linkage, form the foot peddle, connects with the shifter. I wear the Wrangler Carpenter pants. Loose fitting and I guess baggy at the bottom. I have tangled up in this a few times but only temporarily. This time when I needed the foot down it didn't let go. It is also fond of boot laces, but that’s an easy fix. Did not have this problem with the 2009 KLR650 I traded in on the ST nor with my 1988 FXR. Just wonder if anyone else had encountered the same problem. Twenty two years in the Corps left me fond of loose fitting trousers.
tomatocity
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Problems reported in the past have been with the protective cover for the swingarm pivot rubber. It sits out enough where the pant cuff can slide over it. There are a couple people making very nice replacement parts for both sides.
Motor301
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I have had issues with one particular pair of jeans I wear. It is the protective cover for the driveshaft for me. Guess I'll need to look at a modification or replacement.
RIVA
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Motor301 said:I have had issues with one particular pair of jeans I wear. It is the protective cover for the driveshaft for me. Guess I'll need to look at a modification or replacement.
[/quo;D Do not wear these jeans when riding your Super 10. ::025::
Bought a USP 5-In x 1-13/16-In Nail Plate from Lowes, $1.11, and made a cover for the shift lever. It is working well at keeping pant legs and boot laces from getting hung. Replaced hex bolt with a pan head. Cheap fix but working well.
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Don in Lodi
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Ah, I woulda known you were a KLR owner even if you hadn't said so... ::008::timothy.davis said:
Interesting solution. I've never had any problems in this area, but then I don't wear laced boots. One reason I don't is because I almost crashed ten years or so ago coming to a stop on a VF500F where a hiking boot lace got tangled up in the brake pedal - I went to put my right foot down and couldn't. Luckily, I could roll the stoplight I was stopping at staying upright and find a place to stop where I could consciously put my left foot down first, then extricate my boot.
As the resident worry-wart in these parts, I would strike a cautionary note about adding relatively sharp sheet metal edges in the foot/ankle/leg area - it's not uncommon to have body parts get wedged under the bike in low-speed crashes and tipovers, especially off-road. I'm not a fan of Madstad windscreen brackets, dash shelves, etc. in the cockpit area for the same reason.
- Mark
As the resident worry-wart in these parts, I would strike a cautionary note about adding relatively sharp sheet metal edges in the foot/ankle/leg area - it's not uncommon to have body parts get wedged under the bike in low-speed crashes and tipovers, especially off-road. I'm not a fan of Madstad windscreen brackets, dash shelves, etc. in the cockpit area for the same reason.
- Mark
I went over the handlebars when I struck a car turning left in front of me on my KTM 950 several years ago. Among the injuries suffered was severe bruising on the inside of my thighs from striking the handlebars on ejection (I cleared the car and landed in the road on the opposite side). I am glad I had no sharp sheet metal in the cockpit to slice me up.markjenn said:
sparkymcgee
New Member
I got caught twice when the zipper pull on my right leg Motoport pants got caught in the guard near the brake linkage. Luckily they pulled free under panic leg jerking. Needless to say I quickly replaced the plastic pulls with some simple paracord pulls I tied.
Don in Lodi
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Umm, not to rain on your solution... I'm a big guy, baggy pants are the rule... I tried, hard, I couldn't pull my pants in any manner to get the cuff looped up and forward enough to catch. No go. Are you sure you didn't catch the known hang up point of the shaft boot protection?
Perhaps some ties around your pant legs:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Biker-Motorcycle-Pant-Leg-Clamps-Stirrups-ADJUSTABLE-/120784587461
Or the metal cuffs some bicyclists use to keep from getting grease on their dress pants:
http://www.amazon.com/Pant-Cuff-Clips-Bike-Bicycle/dp/B000MM5MSQ
I've never had the problem, but have had a few close calls with boot laces.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Biker-Motorcycle-Pant-Leg-Clamps-Stirrups-ADJUSTABLE-/120784587461
Or the metal cuffs some bicyclists use to keep from getting grease on their dress pants:
http://www.amazon.com/Pant-Cuff-Clips-Bike-Bicycle/dp/B000MM5MSQ
I've never had the problem, but have had a few close calls with boot laces.
viewdvb
New Member
Well, guys, I think this is all about your choice of riding gear. I never ride without full armoured protective pants and jacket, even in the hottest of weather. The "Desert" type clothing isn't so bad in heat because it is fully ventilated. All my pants have the zip on the outside and the velcro flap wraps over to the outside too so there aint nothing to catch. Ride in jeans or lace up boots or baggy trousers? There's your problem!
Yes Don I did own a 2009 KLR and traded it in on the S-10. No I wasn’t catching on the driveshaft guard. Where the linkage for the shifter attaches to the rod is what got me. I replaced the drive shaft guard with one from Alt rider but was still getting those nibbles on the pant leg. So I made up the cover and everything has been fine since then.
Is this a wind up :question:
Are you wearing Elvis Flares :question:
Did you also scuff your Blue Sued Shoes in this incident :question:
The last time I did a similar thing was in 1985 when my trainer shoe lace got caught on my FS1E pedals in front of some School mates so I know the Embarrassment it can cause (toppling off the bike, not sure about how embarrassing Flares are in this year of our lord 2013)
Are you wearing Elvis Flares :question:
Did you also scuff your Blue Sued Shoes in this incident :question:
The last time I did a similar thing was in 1985 when my trainer shoe lace got caught on my FS1E pedals in front of some School mates so I know the Embarrassment it can cause (toppling off the bike, not sure about how embarrassing Flares are in this year of our lord 2013)
Guess I need to stop wearing bell-bottom pants. ::025::