Lol... your feelings are correct!

Are you referring to the heel plates, built in to the stock pegs of all motorcycles to stop your heel from being touched by the swingarm?

 

Yeah. Does anyone (besides me) purposefully touch them? I have no idea.

 

I find that when you're wearing the right kind of sport riding boots, getting your feet/heel in line happens naturally and requires no effort.

 

i ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs - my ankles don't touch the plates. on the right side there's a small guard by the exhaust outlet, but on the left side sometimes the heel of my boot does touch the swingarm.

 

Same here, freaked me out on the first ride because I assumed my heel was hitting the chain guard, which is close to the moving chain, blah blah blah- but then I see light rub off on the swing arm.

 

I check mine before every ride.

 

My left heel touches the chain guard on occasion due to the fact that I ride on the balls of my feet mostly.

 

Owwww my balls!!

 

I normally ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs too. But I was really moving and had to put the balls of my feet in front of the pegs to keep from getting pushed back. I recommend you guys try it, your toes will be pointed more down. Not really a casual riding position.

Foot Position? : Suzuki GSX-R Motorcycle Forums: Gixxer.com

8 Great Beginner Riding Habits | Best Beginner Motorcycles

 

I don't understand your comment about foot position......putting the balls of your feet in front of the peg to keep from getting blown back. I've been at 176 MPH indicated at Road Atlanta with the balls of my feet on the pegs (proper foot position) and wasn't blown back. As your speed increases, keep your feet in the CORRECT position, but slide back on the seat a bit and tuck your upper body down. It is a really bad habit to ride with your feet hanging down...especially when it comes time to lean the bike into a corner.

Also, good foot position involves not only riding with the ball of your foot on the peg, but also "rotating"your heel into the bike (heelguards, swingarm, etc.) when you are sliding off the seat and getting your upper body down and going into (leaning) a corner. That foot position helps stabilize you on the bike and also allows you to keep a very loose grip on the bars. I'll try to post a good picture tonight when I get to my home computer.

 

These plates are the most worn spot on my bike at this point. My heels are touching there often especially when I'm gripping the tank with my knees.

 

The eyelets on my lace-up work boots scratch the heck out the Tenere's heel guards. Not so much the FZ's. A Scotch brite pad fixes 'em right up, though.

PS: Trivia. Can anyone tell me what's unique about my Tenere's heel guards?
Hint: I got really bored one day.

 

I've had my race boots get caught on the heel guards before (not on the FZ). Either the armour or the zipper flap or something catches on the back edge of the guards. If possible, on some of my bikes, I've bent the guards in so I can turn my heel in more when cornering to avoid twisting my knee.

 

Scuff marks give the bike character!

 

No problems......glad I could help a bit.

 

...and squeeze the tank with your knees to hang on, don't pull on the bars.

 

triplethreat wrote earlier:

Also, good foot position involves not only riding with the ball of your foot on the peg, but also "rotating"your heel into the bike (heelguards, swingarm, etc.) when you are sliding off the seat and getting your upper body down and going into (leaning) a corner. That foot position helps stabilize you on the bike and also allows you to keep a very loose grip on the bars. I'll try to post a good picture tonight when I get to my home computer.

So here is a picture that shows how the heel is "dug in" while cornering....

 

It suckes getting old and not being able to arch that back. I have to make myself do it these days and only have so much bend. My avatar is from 1998, back when I still could bend my back.

 

I hear ya Doug. I could stand to lose about 10 to 12 pounds also, that would help a bit with the "getting the upper body lower" issue.

 

I am just razzing you. Great form for the old guard, but in my case, not only my back, but my neck too.