an extra layer of material placed over the inside and top of the forepart to protect from abrasion against the shift lever of a motorcycle
Shift patches may be sewn onto the uppers of boots or sold as accessories secured by straps or laces.
Shift patches are often used only on the left shoes of pairs, since modern motorcycle standards put shift levers on the left side. Older motorcycles, particularly British motorcycles, had shift levers on the right.