riding shoes/boots

[T2urtle]

since we seem to have a lot of riders. i figured i asked what is everyone's choice of footwear and why.

I'm starting off and looking for proper shoes for city riding and light highway stuff. There are way too many options and designs out there but mainly price point is all over the place.

Everyone tells me to get a proper boot, but after saying that they mention i could get by with simple boot design that covers the ankles. I want to stay in a $100-150 range.

1. walked into a local store and they only had sidi's in size 12.5 but i'm a size 13. They can order it. I loved it and think its decent for me.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/...gn=Footwear&utm_keyword=sidi-fusion-air-boots $200 price tag on sidi fusions. I tried their higher line the vertigo and loved them as well.


these TCX x-squared are $100 actually $66 on another site.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/boots/sport_street_touring_boots/tcx/x_square_boots.html

shift fuels are $100

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=6672

thoughts on opinions on all these. Since i'm a noob rider, i'm expecting to take a fall in the near future. I have joe rocket leather jacket, scorpion helmet, speed and strength gloves and my final touches are boots. Well pants would be but that is after i recover from spending all money on this gear + bike.

 

[Kelvrick]

Personally, I'd stay away from the bigger race boots because they're just too uncomfortable off the bike. Those shift fuels look pretty nice. Hard to tell unless you're holding boots in person to see how much protection they offer around the ankles and how they are shaped/feel to help with shifting.

I had three pairs.

Icon Super Duty 3: No better than a pair of hiking boots
Tourmaster solution 2.0: I wore these for most things, they looked fine under a pair of jeans
Gaerne GRS: Track/hill rides only. Completely uncomfortable off the bike, but godly on the bike.

For what you're describing and what I had, I liked the tourmasters. Combine it with a pair of moisture wicking socks and I never noticed any overheating problems.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have a pair of Sidi Dohas for urban riding and commuting when it gets colder and I have a pair of Sidi Air Vertigo boots for canyon carving and commuting in the summer.

Both are comfortable, fit me well, and have worn well. I wear one of these two boots pretty much every time I ride.

Never crashed in them though so I can't comment on how well they do their job in a get off but the Sidi name is widely considered one of the best so I can't imagine they would suck when it comes to protecting your foot/ankle if you go down.

 

[wetomb]

I've got some TCX x-cubed boots which are just a higher cut version of the x-squared. I really rate them highly. They are completely waterproof (i ride through winter), not too hot on warm days (our warmest would only be around 28c though) and very comfortable to ride in. They are also easy to walk in which a lot of boot aren't.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I used my army boots. Cheap at any surplus store and they make excellent riding boots.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Get a cheap pair of over the ankle steel toe boots from Wally world and tuck the shoe laces in.

 

[roguerower]

When I'm riding around town, to work, or to the dropzone, I wear my work boots which cover the ankle, have a steel toe, and are leather. When I go out and ride with my friends for the sole purpose of riding, I have a pair of used racing boots that a friend gave me for free. They don't fit exactly right but they're good enough.

 

[JulesMaximus]

A friend of mine caught his shoe laces on his shift lever once and almost dropped his bike because he couldn't get his foot down.

Just something to think about with regular boots/shoes.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

A friend of mine caught his shoe laces on his shift lever once and almost dropped his bike because he couldn't get his foot down.

Just something to think about with regular boots/shoes.

Thats why I said tuck the laces inside the boots. Has happened to me but luckily the shoestring pulled loose and I put my foot down in time.

 

[Occ]

I have a pair of Alpinestars S-MX 5 boots. Find them very comfortable and fit under jeans (though admittedly they look a little weird). They are fine to walk in if you can get past the looks. Held up well when I low-sided, still using the same pair. Can't say the same for the jeans I was wearing at the time. The vented version is nice in the summer but sucks when it's raining.

The benefit of going with a full boot now is when you get riding pants, they mesh together properly. If you get the shoes and try to wear them with riding pants, there's going to be a gap between the pants and the shoes.

 

[hanoverphist]

i wore these when i rode years ago. they were a better brand and 2" taller tho.

when i get my bike up and running again, ill resurrect my boots as well. if you get a good pair of boots the leather is pretty well indestructible in most situations. they are also pretty damn comfy when youre not on a bike too. just really warm in az summers.

 

[Elganja]

Personally, I'd stay away from the bigger race boots because they're just too uncomfortable off the bike. Those shift fuels look pretty nice. Hard to tell unless you're holding boots in person to see how much protection they offer around the ankles and how they are shaped/feel to help with shifting.

I had three pairs.

Icon Super Duty 3: No better than a pair of hiking boots
Tourmaster solution 2.0: I wore these for most things, they looked fine under a pair of jeans
Gaerne GRS: Track/hill rides only. Completely uncomfortable off the bike, but godly on the bike.

For what you're describing and what I had, I liked the tourmasters. Combine it with a pair of moisture wicking socks and I never noticed any overheating problems.

you get used to walking in them, it's not that bad.

Another vote for the Sidi Vertigo Air Boots. I loved mine.

 

[Kelvrick]

you get used to walking in them, it's not that bad.

Another vote for the Sidi Vertigo Air Boots. I loved mine.

Lies! Although, when I was wearing these:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/36/7191/ITEM/Gaerne-G-RW-Road-Race-Boots.aspx

I was probably also wearing these:
http://www.motorcycletoystore.com/s...roo-leather-compression-race-suit/p_2334.html

The combination would make walking around anywhere uncomfortable.

 

[jaha2000]

My Sidi Vertigo Air's are very nice to walk around in...

Whatever you do, do not go buy a cheap pair of over the ankle steel toes, i have seen first hand what happens to those in a crash, and you will thank yourself for spending the extra bucks.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i have Vega Sport II boots. i like them. if you're looking for something a little more practical (ride in, then wear with jeans or something), the icon field armor boots may be more up your alley.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My Sidi Vertigo Air's are very nice to walk around in...

Whatever you do, do not go buy a cheap pair of over the ankle steel toes, i have seen first hand what happens to those in a crash, and you will thank yourself for spending the extra bucks.

Agreed, mine are very comfortable both on and off the bike. Walking up and down stairs is a little awkward but you get used to it. I just throw an extra pair of shoes in my tank bag if I'm going to be off the bike for extended periods of time (like when I ride to work).

One thing I've heard people complain about with race type boots are that they squeak or creak when you walk. Mine don't do that though fortunately.

 

[Zargon]

mine sound like I am wearing heels when I walk around work......I have setup visions(made by sidi) which you cant get anymore and they are not that comfortable, but I wasnt expecting a 100 dollar race boot to be that comfy, just safe.

 

[T2urtle]

bumps this back up. how is shifting with these boots?

i bought these off a local guy lightly used in my size actually 1/2 size larger then boot size but 1/2 size smaller then my shoe size. I feel they are just a HAIR big for me.

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...estars/alpha_touring_wp_motorcycle_boots.html

Either way, my issue now is that I have to do a little more work shifting. Normally with my gym shoes i can pull my foot back and slip it under the shifter and go. Now with these boots that are easily thicker at the toes, i have to swing my foot to the left, around and under to shift into 2nd. I'm not sure if its just me nothing being able to shift how i normally do, if its the boots or any other reason. Right now i'm not liking these and much rather pull out my gym shoes. I'll force myself to wear them this week and see from there.

 

[jaha2000]

With the sidis i moved the shifter up a bit on the supermoto to make a bit more room. I think the guy i bought it from had it set up for flip flops though.
The sportbike seemed to work just fine.

Those boots look pretty thick in the toe. Might have to make some adjustments.

 

[T2urtle]

can shifter height be adjusted on all bikes? I have a 2004 GS500f