Best boots for riding?

[HenryDorsetCase]

There is no shame in buying second hand. I once slid down a road with my foot under the bike after I hit some diesel on a roundabout. Wore the leather thru over my little sticky outy ankle bone. But no damage. If I had been wearing shoes it would have ground that motherfucker down flat. Doesnt bear thinking about. A couple of hundy on some boots is money well spent.

[James Deuce]

A steel shank through the sole is another feature to look for as well as any device designed to prevent over-extension of the ankle joint in any direction, be it external or internal. There are also many "boot within a boot" designs out there which are pricey but legend holds provide the best protection. The most vulnerable part of the ankle is the malleolus and it is important when trying on boots to make sure that malleolar protection lines up over the bumps on the inside and outside of your ankle, for protection of course, but primarily comfort, because if it doesn't line up it will chafe and annoy and a small irritation can become a major distraction.

I have no cartilage in my right ankle. I don't know if my boot saved my ankle or amplified the damage, certainly the orthopedic surgeon who reviewed it (who told me, "don't come crying to me, it's fucked and there's nothing anyone can do about it) has suggested that the joint compression from talus to tibia and fibia was caused by a tri-directional crush injury which may have been magnified by the boot exo-skeleton because it deformed and then held the deformed shape. I haven't been able to wear full-length boots since the last fuck up, so I look for waterproof boots with some ankle protection and a supportive but flexible sole. I have some nice Diadora's that do those jobs.

[FJRider]

You know you've had a good days riding when.....

Try keeping your feet square on the footrests ... keep your knees together just as your mother told you. Your feet shouldn't touch the ground unless you step off.

That's not about a good days riding. But left hand corners do seem to be your favourite.

Don't be so keen to get a knee down and spend more attention and thinking ... what your feet are doing. Aim a video on them if necessary.

I have actually SEEN people fall off on a corner because they stuck their foot out from the end of the foot rest and it touched ground and dragged their ankle off. (followed closely by the rest of the leg. The resulting imbalance caused him a highside (on the wrong side of the road) trying to correct it.

[Maha]

Try keeping your feet square on the footrests ... keep your knees together just as your mother told you. Your feet shouldn't touch the ground unless you step off.

That's not about a good days riding. But left hand corners do seem to be your favourite.

Don't be so keen to get a knee down and spend more attention and thinking ... what your feet are doing. Aim a video on them if necessary.

I have actually SEEN people fall off on a corner because they stuck their foot out from the end of the foot rest and it touched ground and dragged their ankle off. (followed closely by the rest of the leg. The resulting imbalance caused him a highside (on the wrong side of the road) trying to correct it.

I shall add the words ''not my boot'' to the post.

[Blackbird]

Ankle protection is really important as others have said but so is protection of the shin and calf. About 4 years ago, I dropped my Blackbird when my foot slipped on gravel. I had some shorty riding boots on and the crash mushroom on the fairing landed on my inner calf as it fell over. I bled internally and couldn't ride for 2 months. If I'd been wearing the longer Alpinestars which I now own, the only damage would have been to my ego

[Rhys]

Ankle protection is really important as others have said but so is protection of the shin and calf. About 4 years ago, I dropped my Blackbird when my foot slipped on gravel. I had some shorty riding boots on and the crash mushroom on the fairing landed on my inner calf as it fell over. I bled internally and couldn't ride for 2 months. If I'd been wearing the longer Alpinestars which I now own, the only damage would have been to my ego

That looks impressive!

[bosslady]

Just my opinion. I would never imagine wearing my steel cap boots/shoes, nor my combat style style leather boots all of which aren't cheap shoes and not because these shoes are heavy (they're not, they're actually quite light). Why? like others said - ankle support, and that's the biggest reason why. When I rolled my ankle quite badly about a month ago (am still having problems with it) whilst it was painful to squeeze my boots on they supported said ankle really well since they're quite rigid, I could hardly move that ankle inside the boot - my boots are almost like moon boots in that respect but do the job I need them to do. I have Alpinestars MX5 boots, you don't need some that expensive though. Honestly, just do it, well worth it. I've never binned my bike as such, just fell off it while stationery and dropped my bike on me - no problem hurting myself though.

[f2dz]

Hey KB how would you rate the Importance of proper Riding Boots

Pretty high. I've ridden once or twice without proper boots on and it just feels a bit naked down there without proper ankle protection, as others have already said. Riding boots aren't too much more expensive than regular shoes anyway, so long as you don't usually purchase yours from No.1.

[Blackbird]

That looks impressive!

Dropped it near Matamata, rode home to Coromandel and it only got really sore right near home. Horrified to see the damage when I peeled my leathers off. The only good thing to happen next day was an attractive technician at Thames hospital covering me with gel from ankle to groin and performing an ultrasound to make sure I hadn't got any blood clots .

[FJRider]

I shall add the words ''not my boot'' to the post.

Not long ago a Dunedin rider posted a vid of a "not dangerous" cornering where he scared an oncoming motorist. On the posted vid it was noticed a wiggle mid corner where he stated it was "just his boot touching ground" and not dangerous.

An issue needing sorted by some motorcyclists ... and by no means (in my opinion) an indication of "clever/fast/good" riding practice ...

[Monkfish]

Some of the riding boots I have been looking at, like the johnny reb originals, look like normal workboots.
How are they different?

[arcane12]

Pretty high. I've ridden once or twice without proper boots on and it just feels a bit naked down there without proper ankle protection, as others have already said. Riding boots aren't too much more expensive than regular shoes anyway, so long as you don't usually purchase yours from No.1.

Same. I have ridden a few times without the boots (one of the first items I got, after a helmet and jacket) in 50km zones, and it feels a little strange. The boots make gear changes 'feel' a little different - less sensation, but it's good to know you have that level of cover.

And I have only scraped a toe once or twice on the Boulevard - lowish speed on a corner, and the peg once on a roundabout! I have changed my style a bit since, so I think it won't happen again...

[FJRider]

Regardless of how good your boots are (steel toe caps or not) ... never attempt to kick the head off any living thing that happens to meander onto the road. Serious toe damage will result. You may not even remain upright.

[bluninja]

I currently commute in sturdy workboots (with steel toecaps) and use short daytona boots that have been with me for the last 6 years the rest of the time. I have damaged the toe of previous left hand motorcycle boots due to going into corners fast and off throttle until I learned to take a better, controlled entry into corners (throttle opening).

I have had the calf, ankle, and toe slider on my race boots grinding on the track along with a knee slider, but that was only cos my rib was broken and I didn't hang off properly

Some protection is better than no protection...shoes are better than jandals, boots are better than shoes, application specific motrocycle boots are best for motorbike riding.

[bosslady]

Some of the riding boots I have been looking at, like the johnny reb originals, look like normal workboots.
How are they different?

My suggestion, go into a motorcycle gear shop i.e. cycletreads or cyclespot honda (only mention those cause those are the only ones I've been to, lol) and have a LOOK at their boots. You don't need to buy, but try them on, feel them, you'll notice the difference between what you are using now and what they are. Good gear is worth every penny.