Using your motorcycle’s control levers (clutch, shifter and front and rear brakes) with smoothness and subtlety is an important aspect of adventure riding, and the right setup makes all the difference. This adjustable shift lever from Wunderlich can accommodate boots and feet of different sizes. (Photo by the author and Greg Drevenstedt)
Editor?s Note: The EarthRider blog series focuses on adventure/off-road riding skills. If you haven?t read it already, check out our previous installment, EarthRider02: Stop Anticipating the Stop.
Generally speaking, unless you really push things on pavement?probably beyond safety or legality?you?re a lot more likely to suffer an inadvertent get-off in the dirt. Much of the challenge of off-pavement riding resides in our ability to use the controls with smoothness and subtlety. For this reason, I recommend that adventure riders optimize control lever setup for off-road riding. Read EarthRider 01: Meet Laine MacTague
Some of these adjustments may feel weird on pavement at first. They may even feel awkward off-road. Give it time. As you gain more experience, your riding position and style will evolve, and as they evolve what feels good on the bike will also change.
Let?s start feet-first.
The main challenge with foot lever setup stems from the fact that we?re usually seated when riding on pavement and standing up on the pegs when riding off-road. In general, our toes rest a little higher when we are standing than when we are seated.
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