S4R exhaust question (ergo issue, not performance or modding)

[jeff137]

All the reviews I read about the '07 S4R mentioned how the exhaust made right foot placement uneasy.  Well, today I had my first long ride on my "new to me" '07 S4R and I about destroyed my right boot.  It appears that perhaps the metal exhaust covers, or some other parts, were cutting into my boot the whole time I rode.  It's on the ankle area of the boots.  Has anyone else had issues like this?  I was assuming the exhaust / foot issue was just a matter of being uncomfortable, but my issues is a bit more than that.  Would a carbon cover help?  I don't want the short termi, so I'm open to suggestions here.  I might have the wife take pics of my boot and the exhaust contact to see if it's just a matter of correcting my riding style.  I tend to ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs and my ankles in.  Maybe I can fix the problem simply by repositioning my foot.  So, let's hear everyone's thoughts on this.   

[somegirl]

I never had issues on MrI's stock '04 S4R...I think it might be your foot position.

I ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs and my feet straight front to back.

[stopintime]

Long legs? A tall rider will have a sharper angle at the knees and a steeper foot on the peg. Combined with large feet that can put the heel above the heat guards, or at least one of them.

Pictures will help, if you can take a few. (somegirls posts have a how to link)

Two solutions (I'm sure there are more)
 - extra heat guard(s) http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/LEOVINCESHIELD/Exhaust/LEOVINCESHIELD.html
 - exhaust wrap
http://www.motowheels.com/italian/mySearchResult.cfm?parentcategoryid=&productID=2691&showDetail=1&categoryID=999|Misc%20Exhaust%20Parts&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=exhaust%20wrap&collection=

[Statler]

boot melts at track for me.   On street my feet are more straight back and my right may end up either farther out on the peg or even a little pigeon toed...but on the track it's gonna melt.

rearesets up and back helped but not much as the exhaust goes up and back right there anyway.   need exhaust shield (which would chew up even more space right there).


you can see the start of a little boot melt above the shield here in this older pic.   That's now a fist-sized clump of Sidi heel cup smear. 

[jeff137]

Thanks for the replies.  I may have figured it out this morning.  I think I'm scraping the boot across the allen bolt that holds the stock exhaust shield on.  There was a bit of leather on the leading edge of the bolt.  I sat on the bike and sure enough that's about where I'm resting that part of my boot.  I must be moving it back and forth with pressure against the bolt.  I guess it's a matter of changing my foot position.

Statler even in that close-up picture your bike looks sweet.  The carbon wheel and full termi would look great on my bike.  If you become nostalgic and decide you want to go back to stock just let me know and I'll swap parts with you.   

[derby]

boot melts at track for me.   On street my feet are more straight back and my right may end up either farther out on the peg or even a little pigeon toed...but on the track it's gonna melt.

rearesets up and back helped but not much as the exhaust goes up and back right there anyway.   need exhaust shield (which would chew up even more space right there).

 

depending on the location of your foot pegs, you're either going to have your heel turned out by the guard or you're going to melt your boot on the pipe (if you're riding on the balls of your feet). there's really no way around it on that bike unless you eliminate the exhaust altogether.

with my arrow pipes and cyclecat rearsets, my right boot was getting melted by the head of the top bolt used to hold the carbon guard on the exhaust.

[dbran1949]

Replacing the stock pipes with the full termi system helped quite a bit for me

[EvilSteve]

For me, trying to get my feet straight while riding straight or in the correct position when in a right hand corner, the S4R (I had an '07 S4RS) was impossible. Here's my solution after burning my new boots pretty badly:



And yes, I was using the correct foot position.

[stopintime]

For me, trying to get my feet straight while riding straight or in the correct position when in a right hand corner, the S4R (I had an '07 S4RS) was impossible. Here's my solution after burning my new boots pretty badly:


And yes, I was using the correct foot position.

Do you ever rub against the tire? 

[EvilSteve]

Nope, not unless you try.

The tire is well inboard of the pegs, the pipe wasn't.