Motorcycle boots advice

[Fidge]

Being honest I don't really see why I 'need' motorcycle boots, I know a lot of bikers where them but I'd like to know why or wheter it's just to look complete. I have come off my bike before doing ~50 before and one of my shoes came off, the laces on the other shoe came off and the shoe got a bit scratched. My feet were fine but one of my socks got wet when I walked to get the other shoe. I understand the need for other gear but not boots (unless doing off road)

My mum has given me some money and she wants me to buy some 'good quality' boots but I can't see the point in spending her money on something I don't think I need. I think she just sees other people wearing them so thinks I need them.

I have had a look at these and these, what do you think (any alternatives) and convince me why I need them/some.

[Boris the spider]

Just do as yer mum says eh ?
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Yes I'm a pig....And yes... The working public do pay my wages. Tho I contribute to your benefits you lazy c##t. You do not pay my wages. So go fcuk yourself.

[Fidge]

[DrSnoosnoo]

They say it's the sole that's good on motorcycle footwear. They can help stop your foot being crushed and/or snapped. Imagine your foot on it's side, as if you're laid on the floor on your side. Now drop 200 kg onto your foot. That stiffer sole could reduce, if not prevent, that potential damage.

Amongst other benefits of specific boots.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Dave70]

The shin protectors on my boots pretty much saved me from a fractured leg during a crash a couple of years back.

So yeah, they're well worth it in my opinion.

Also, as Snoosnoo pointed out. Would you really want 200Kg of metal landing on your foot without having as much protection as possible?
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There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[Fidge]

Bike doesn't way 200kg even if it did all the weight wouldn't be in one place. I know the longer boots that cover your shins are better but I wouldn't want to walk around college with them, not that I want to walk round with any.

any recomendations for good value boots?

[NJD]

[Dave70]

[grr666]

Some soppy sod came off his ped on the North Circular a while ago. He was wearing trainers when he came off.
He's probably still in plaster now, smashed his ankle up pretty well. There's a thread about it on the forum
somewhere with some nice x ray pics, good boots would have likely reduced the damage, maybe even prevented it.

I'm old and boring but even if I'm wearing kevlar jeans instead of leathers and a lightweight jacket,
I'll still always wear proper boots, and always some very decent gloves. Speaking from experience,
ankle injuries are a bitch, I broke mine long ago during a lads night in although not a bike related
injury, it still gives me aggro over 10 years later and in the big picture was only a fairly straight
forward break, just in an awkward spot. 10 years later it still occasionally just gives out on me
without warning or I'll get a sharp sudden pain down there.

But you sound like you know whats best so crack on matey. But your mums got it right! And if you had
half the sense she has you'd know that some of the coll-unge will love a mean moody biker stomping
about in big boots. It's good to stand out, especially at college.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Fidge]

Please could someone recomend some boots with reasons why they are better than others for value and safety.

I appreciate the responses.

[Fladdem]

Just wear some Dr Martens, I did for years but then as my bikes got faster and I got more confident (read over-confident), I started falling off more and coughed up the dough for some proper boots after twisting my ankle at 25MPH!!! on my MT50 when I was 18 and struggled to walk for about a week.

To be fair, usually I'm fine when I crash, but I am almost always wearing full gear. My worst crash was at some stupid speed when green laning in the evening, I was flat out in 5th on my TTR, so about 60mph, and hit a ditch, got a wobble on and smashed into a gate that has always been open before, and has been since, I don't know why I'm so unlucky. I was wearing MX boots, but just some jeans and a hoody. I went flying down the gravel track, no one knew I was out there, I was losing the sun, and I had ripped the whole of my left leg to shreds and smashed my left knee cap up and out of place, it plays up on me now still.

I then had to pick the bike up and continue riding off-road and then the 10 miles to the hospital. They then came out with a massive needle that made me feel ill, numbed my whole leg and then brought out a load of kitchen scouring pads, about three of them and set to work on the mud in my leg before moving the knee cap into place.

Unrelated but when I crashed my Micra into a wall at 70mph and rolled it, I broke my right foot and I can't wear new boots now, I have to break them in loads, and can only manage about 15 minutes at a time. I can't wear thick socks in my shoes either because of the pain, and I like thick socks. It was only about five months ago but it's the only break that still plays up.

But I mean, how likely are you to fall off a motorcycle and hit a foot funny? Not very, so just stick with some sandals, socks underneath if it's cold out.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[hellkat]

Have you even googled "motorcycle foot injuries" to see what you might be protecting yourself from?

Because as a died-in-the-wool trainers wearer, I am not in a position to lecture you.

But I think it would be sensible to see what injuries you MIGHT inflict upon yourself if you don't wear protective boots.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Fidge]

was just looking at this (feet look fine to me )

Still, has anyone got any to recommend as I could do with new shoes anyway and I could buy boots (if they aren't too much, will protect me well and I like the look of them).

[MCN]

Boots do the same as gloves and protect what they are covering.
Some boots have added protection to help prevent crush injury and or over extension which will rip bones, tendons and ligaments out.
Feet take a long time to heal (No Pun) due to reduced blood flow so protection is a big yes.

Boots are cheaper than weeks/months off work.

But then you go into the style and quality of the boots you choose.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Fladdem]

Why not do what a couple of mates did when I was at college and keep a pair of trainers in the college class and then swap over when you get there? That way you don't need to worry about wearing motorcycle boots all day.

I wear Richa Ratchets now, I can't remember what my last pair were but they cost me about £60 and survived three years of abuse, I used to wear them all the time, off-road in them crash in them and then one day the sole fell off, I glued it back on again twice before realising that they were so worn out I might as well wear trainers, as they weren't offering any extra support any more.

But that's £20 a year for practically daily use. Which is roughly 20 pence a day. I can live with that cost.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Dave70]

[Fidge]

By the way I only wear a hoodie and shorts but Im going to get some boots .



Im kidding, I have decided that I will get some though Even If I will look weird with somewhat slim jeans going into boots designed for thick leather there isn't any point of me having a spare pair of trainners as Im only really in one classroom all day and it's not even all day (usually a few hours).

[Dave70]

Stick your trainers in a backpack. It only takes a minute to change into them.
____________________
There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[grr666]

I'm waiting for the NEC bike show so I can try some on and find a good deal, but I'm leaning toward a pair of
these.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sidi-ST-Motorcycle-Boots-Black-/181058782984?var=&hash=item2a27f1c708
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[pig hog]

[DrSnoosnoo]

While I'm not sure if you are that bothered about motorcycle specific boots, I'd suggest go down to your local shop. I started with some no names from J&S, with my jeans or chinos (yeah I'm so cool) I could walk around uni fine and they looked just like boots.

These days you can get trainer looking things, TCX make them I think, even A* do a set. I'd think a pair of standard walking boots or something is better than trainers. I worse such boots commuting 8 miles each way on my CG last year.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[stinkwheel]

The reason you need motorcycle boots is to keep your old dear happy. That is important and the only reason you need, especially if she's paying for them. I had to call my mum when I arrived at a rally or run destination (one she knew I was going to anyway), well into my 20's and had been living by myself for years. You only really get to stop once you're married, that's how Mums work.

I wear British army assault boots on the bike, have done for years.

Comfy to wear and walk about in but provide pretty good ankle support and double-skinned leather for excellent abrasion resistance. If you wear through them in a slide, the rest of your leg is toast anyway. Pretty waterproof too.

I find them a good compromise between motorcycle specific boots and everyday footwear.

How much is "some" money? Are we talking alt-berg territory? Because their boots tick all the boxes if you want to walk around in comfortable bike boots not looking like a power ranger.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[doggone]

[Baffler186]

I got some £70 unbranded "race style" boots. They were extremely comfy, very supportive, and waterproof. Only problem was that after about 14 months I have now worn a hole in the left sole. Might be because more movement on the gear changing foot (as the right hand one is ok).

In any case, I would recommend this type of boot:https://www.twowheel.co.uk/news/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/rst-fusion-297x300.jpg

, purely because of the ankle and shin protection. I was reversing out through a narrow gate a while ago and my bike came to an abrupt halt. When I looked down, my boot was sandwiched between the footpeg and the gate, and I hadn't even felt it. That alone was enough to make me glad I had sturdy boots.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[hellkat]

Doggone, can you let me have a link to where you can get them, please. My fella said he used to like wearing them, and I'd quite like to buy him some as a surprise present.
Edit: It's alright, I googled it ... LOL
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.