Sportbike Footwear

[BrknFngrs]

I was just curious as to what everyone that rides sport bikes uses for footwear on here. I've been searching around a fair bit lately trying to find a comfortable boot that will offer some protection.

As much as it would likely be overkill, the most comfortable boot I've tried on has been the Alpinestars SMX-Plus and the thing I really liked about that boot was the internal lace up system. Most other boots felt loose around my foot (yes, the size was correct) but with the lace up system I could get my foot tight in the boot.

Can anyone recommend any boots, or point out any boots to avoid? Also, whats everyones opinions on the shorter (hiking boot style) boots? My initial reaction is that they don't provide enough protection but I may just be overly paranoid.

[Graham_A_M]

I use SIDI. I forget the exact model, but their about two years old. Puma makes great boots I've heard, abiet their expensive though. ($800 or so?) Sidi boots are great, I've used them as regular "shoes" at times when I had to (pulled the pants over the main part of the boot so it doesn't look retarded) and their very comfortable. Although sometimes they creek.

I've heard Alpinestars & Dainese boots dont offer much protection at all.. coming from various racers. I have no experience with them though. Alpinestars leathers are great, I love mine, but I've only heard bad things about the boots.
Sorry to be the "bearer of bad news" so to speak.
One thing I like about the Sidi's though part is that www.newenough.com offers parts to rebuild the sidi boots, so you can bail in them numerous times and just rebuild their parts as need be, to an extent of course.
next boots I buy will be Puma just to try them out.

[BrknFngrs]

^^ Good to know about the apparent poor protection offered from Alpinestars boots, I'll have to look into this. As for the Puma's, I tried on various boots from them but I was never able to find a damn size 8 in the "1000's", which are the ones I really wanted to try.

[kevie88]

Poor quality protection according to who? I love my camo supertech boots, and the inner lace up boot is awesome.

The only boots I've ever hurt my feet in have been SIDI's.. I had some carbon vertebraes a year ago and higsided, when I landed the hinge cut my leg and gave me some damn good bruises. Broke my big toe all to shit too.

Don't focus on abrasion resistance with your boots, unless you get caught under the bike in a lowside you will hardly wear them down in a crash. I've been off 25+ times and have never even put a hole in a boot. Focus more on impact protection like ankle , shin and heel armor.

Pumas are for fashion geeks... never liked those boots at all.

[Graham_A_M]

^ various people from triumph675.net and r6messagenet
I have no personal experience like I say; I'm just passing on what they've said.

man Kevin, 25times and not even a single hole? damn
you rock.
what kind of boots do you now use?

[kevie88]

Originally posted by Graham_A_M
man Kevin, 25times and not even a single hole? damn
you SUCK.

fixed haha

I'm running some Alpinestars Supertecs (last year's).. Urban Moo Cow camo! haha

[SOAB]

i've got a pair of SIDI Vertabrae II from back in 2002. i've crashed in them only 3 times (can't really compare the to 25 times of kevie ) but they've held up great.

comfortable enough to wear all day.

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by SOAB
i've got a pair of SIDI Vertabrae II.

Those are the ones I have, I forgot the name though.

[BrknFngrs]

Originally posted by SOAB
i've got a pair of SIDI Vertabrae II from back in 2002. i've crashed in them only 3 times (can't really compare the to 25 times of kevie ) but they've held up great.

comfortable enough to wear all day.

Hmm those look very similar to the Alpinestars I was looking at, does anyone know what local shops would stock them? I didn't see them at GW last time I was in, maybe blackfoot?

[SJW]

SIDI rocks.

[SOAB]

Originally posted by BrknFngrs


Hmm those look very similar to the Alpinestars I was looking at, does anyone know what local shops would stock them? I didn't see them at GW last time I was in, maybe blackfoot?

i bought them from blackfoot back in 2002 but haven't been in there for a while. they should still sell them.

[3clips3]

I don't think that you can buy the Vertebrae anymore, I think that they are called the Vertigo.... I wear Sidi as well.

[MintRacer]

alpine stars here

[ogie]

I wear vertigo tepor and they rock, Very nice boots.

[sjaswal]

alpinstar smx3+ or something like that

[Kobe]

DC shoes or my Puma shoes

[5hift]

^^

I thought I was the only one who doesnt wear racing boots.


Is this what you guys have on when your using your bike as transport to just go somewhere, or only when your out to specifically ride?

[Graham_A_M]

^ usually yeah. I dont remember the percentage of injuries in accidents that involve the feet, but its surprisingly high. If I'm just going a few blocks, and am not planning on going too fast, then I just wear shoes or whatever, but anything involving deerfoot or any sort of aggressive riding; I'd much rather be safe then sorry. When I pull my pants over the boots, nobody can even tell I'm wearing racing boots asides from (perhaps) other motorcyclists.

Its just too risky. A tumble at 60kph involving a curb can ruin/obliterate so many bones its incredible. I know the pain & physio involved after pulling a tendon in my knee after a high school gym accident; and I dont dare go through all that again, just because it takes an extra 20 seconds to put on my boots, or because my jacket is too hot to wear on a scorching day/ or my hands get too sweaty in my gloves when its really warm out.

[5hift]

you can hide them while riding, but if your going to school or something, most boots arent the greatest for walking around campus all day

[TDA]

I got Oxtar TCS Evo Ti.

Not as well known over here but a very decent race boot.