Question for the Lady riders

[gs5oofever]

Not sure how many of us there are out there, but I want to know:

What do you wear on your feet to ride?

I started out with brown crap kickers from Kmart. ha. Took bike class (MSF) in the 10 inches of rain and had to toss em out after that, they were nasty. So then I bought Harley boots. They are nice. Have a bit of a heal. Look cool as heck, but that heal gets in the way. Did on the Shadow and they do on the GS now. If I don't place my foot just right, I do a wif instead of a shift.  So then when I got the GS the sales/tech had on icon boots, they were so cool, they are Icon SUPERDUTY 2 with the cool strap and buckle, extra padding on the toe for shifting. I ordered them for $90 from motosports.com. Tried them out last night, wow, they are so heavy, and tight at the ankle (they have protection for the ankle as well) and look like I am wearing my brothers shoes! Just not right for me. So I am back to surfing the net looking for cool, affordable, comfortable, but safe boots once again.

Any input on any boots, shoes, that you trust and like, would be appreicated. We need to help each other out. I am curious to know how many women there are on this forum, do you know if there is a tool that counts that? Later.

[werase643]

the  women riders come and go....mostly go
there are always a handful at any given time

motorcycle boots are great for riding bikes
horrible for walking in
good walking boots might be ok riding boots

welcome

[NF11624]

I'm not a woman... but I've got a pair of Sidi boots that I think are awesome.  They are racing oriented, but they're not too uncomfortable to walk in.  Obviously they're not tennis shoes but I think the protection (and piece of mind) is worth what little discomfort there is.  I usually wear my boots full time when I'm out... sometimes up to seven or eight hours and I have to say its not that bad

[Roadstergal]

This is a topic near and dear to my heart.

First - comfort with a moto boot is not like comfort with a shoe.  There will be a break-in period, and there will also be an adjustment period.  You don't want to walk in good, protective moto boots.  Carry shoes.  Also, forget 'cool.'  You don't look cool hobbling around on crutches, DAMHIK.

Second - I used to think that a moto boot was a moto boot.  Then, after breaking my ankle in a low-speed fall during a race, I realized that they aren't.  Most boots, even high-end boots, do not offer any protection against the ankle bending side-to-side.  With most boots, I can hold the upper in one hand and the sole in the other, and bend the top back-and-forth.  If your hand can do that, a bike falling on it will do worse.  Shoes, like the Superduty 2, don't do even that much.

I have come up with a list of boots I've found so far that do offer that kind of lateral protection.  None of them are cheap, but what price your ankles?

Unfortunately, only one of them come in my size (EU 36).  If you're one size up from that or more, you have options.  If not - well, I'm still clinging to my now-discontinued first-gen Supertechs.

Road boots:
Sidi Vortice
Puma GP1000 V2
Gaerne GRS
Dainese Axial Race
Daytona Security Evo
Daytona Evo Sport

Dirt/supermoto boots:
Sidi Stinger, the ones I mentioned above.  Good, but not as good as Crossfires.
Sidi Crossfire SRS (I have friends with those, and my hubby has the previous-gen Flexforece; these will see your feet through Hades and back).
Gaerne Supermoto

[The Buddha]

the  women riders come and go....mostly go
there are always a handful at any given time

motorcycle boots are great for riding bikes
horrible for walking in
good walking boots might be ok riding boots

welcome

I liked those rocky thinsulate 1000 boots for winter ... but they are a furnace in the summer, and they are OK for riding but great for walking.
And no matter what you do, no matter how cold it is where you live, the socks with heating coil in them = bad idea.
They have a single clutch cable sized coil that runs right under your toes. 5 mins walking in them and you'd be in pain for 2 days. Like walking on small rocks.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Roadstergal]

Buddha, you should ride in these.

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

I think he's got those in red.

[intergalactic]

WOW. Good boots are all $400?

Ouch.

I feel like by the time I get all the gear, I am going to look like a budget Sci-Fi movie extra, or I am into cosplay 

This is a topic near and dear to my heart.

First - comfort with a moto boot is not like comfort with a shoe.  There will be a break-in period, and there will also be an adjustment period.  You don't want to walk in good, protective moto boots.  Carry shoes.  Also, forget 'cool.'  You don't look cool hobbling around on crutches, DAMHIK.

Second - I used to think that a moto boot was a moto boot.  Then, after breaking my ankle in a low-speed fall during a race, I realized that they aren't.  Most boots, even high-end boots, do not offer any protection against the ankle bending side-to-side.  With most boots, I can hold the upper in one hand and the sole in the other, and bend the top back-and-forth.  If your hand can do that, a bike falling on it will do worse.  Shoes, like the Superduty 2, don't do even that much.

I have come up with a list of boots I've found so far that do offer that kind of lateral protection.  None of them are cheap, but what price your ankles?

Unfortunately, only one of them come in my size (EU 36).  If you're one size up from that or more, you have options.  If not - well, I'm still clinging to my now-discontinued first-gen Supertechs.

Road boots:
Sidi Vortice
Puma GP1000 V2
Gaerne GRS
Dainese Axial Race
Daytona Security Evo
Daytona Evo Sport

Dirt/supermoto boots:
Sidi Stinger, the ones I mentioned above.  Good, but not as good as Crossfires.
Sidi Crossfire SRS (I have friends with those, and my hubby has the previous-gen Flexforece; these will see your feet through Hades and back).
Gaerne Supermoto

[SlvrSVT00]

New Lady rider here also, I have been soing some boot searching also, I found a few pair of Alpinestars for approx $200.  If you do some searching you can find some for cheaper.  But at the same time when it comes to protection you don't really want to go too "cheap"

[pronator]

When I was looking to buy a bike and deciding on my price range, my buddy said that I needed to add $1000 to any amount I thought I should save for a bike. That would cover my gear: helmet, gloves, jacket, pants, and boots. That's not even counting a back protector. Now, I tell people that the first $1000 you save up should go toward gear. After that, you can start counting it toward the bike. Gear first, bike second.

Yeah, good gear is pricey but you get to take it with you when you change bikes, unlike a mod. And the real question is: how much are you or your [insert body part(s)] worth?

Now don't go and get all dirty...

My first pair of boots were great but just didn't fit right despite many, many variations (inserts, socks, etc). For my second pair, I really wanted fit over looks and, of course, protection. I ended up getting a pair of Daytonas on the advice of some friends. My Daytona Road Stars didn't make RG's list, but I'm not a badass racing machine.  

But these boots are SUPER comfy. The comfort is probably emphasized by the fact that previous boots were just too big. These don't LOOK as "cool" as the other boots but they're actually pretty aesthetically versatile. I wore them for my CLASS at Laguna Seca:



And I wear them at work.

[Roadstergal]

WOW. Good boots are all $400?

The Pumas are under $400.  I have to say, though - if they made them in my size, I'd be all over the Sidi Vortice.  I have the Stinger, and as I mentioned, my hubby has both the Flexforce and an old pair of Sidi Vertebra Race (I got him a new pair of Sidi Vertigo Corsas for his B-Day), and I can only say good things about them all.  Sidi's high-end boots are very well-made and hold up to hard use and multiple crashes.  One pair of $400 boots that last through incidents that would kill one pair of $200 boots and possibly take a few bones with it?  That's economics I can live with.

It's not that I'm a badass rider - it's that I am out there on a moto and Things Can Happen when you're out there on a moto.  To anyone.

[pronator]

I disagree. I've seen you. I've seen the GS race bike.

You. Is. Badass.

(But yes, anything can happen to anyone - always dress for the crash.)

[shiznizbiz]

Buddha, you should ride in these.

I find those to actually be very sexy.....

[fred]

When I was looking to buy a bike and deciding on my price range, my buddy said that I needed to add $1000 to any amount I thought I should save for a bike. That would cover my gear: helmet, gloves, jacket, pants, and boots. That's not even counting a back protector. Now, I tell people that the first $1000 you save up should go toward gear. After that, you can start counting it toward the bike. Gear first, bike second.

Yeah, my suit alone cost more than I paid for both of my GS500s together, but when I crashed a week and a half ago, it saved me from major injury. It was totally worth it. I'm actually saving up to upgrade my boots next, but I have the opposite problem. I need huge manly boots that are wide enough for my big feet. I have trouble in general running into boots with too narrow of a toe box...

[kml.krk]

I ride in Sidi B-2 boots that are around $200. They are comfy while riding, and quite OK to walk in BUT unfortunatelly I can  "I can hold the upper in one hand and the sole in the other, and bend the top back-and-forth" (quote from Roadstergal's thread).
This pisses me off, cause I paid $200 for boots that will probably NOT offer decent protection in the event of crash...

make sure that you spend your money well and get boots that will protect your ankles (forget about the looks - you ride for your own pleasure, not to be admired by others  )

cheers
Kamel

[Roadstergal]

Sidi has made a 'female' version of a man's boot, finally - and it's the previous-gen Vertigo, not the current Vortice.  It's not even the Vertigo Corsa, which is the nicely braced boot with sweet adjustability.  Bah.

Fred - I have flat feet (never had an arch), and the Sidi dirt boots fit me great.  Have you tried Sidis on?

[NF11624]

I ride in Sidi B-2 boots that are around $200. They are comfy while riding, and quite OK to walk in BUT unfortunatelly I can  "I can hold the upper in one hand and the sole in the other, and bend the top back-and-forth" (quote from Roadstergal's thread).

Really?  I've got the same boots (couldn't justify the extra $200 for what seems marginally better protection and crazy looks) and I can't bend mine left or right.  I can bend them from back to front but that seems kind of necessary in order to use the shifter/brake.  Can't really twist them either.

Fred, as far as Sidi boots go... try some on.  I went to NYC (about 6 hour drive) to try on various boots.  Since you live in an area that probably sells them, try them out.  I have often needed wider shoes/sneakers, and although the Sidis were a little tight around the toes to start, they fit like a glove now.  One other thing to worry about is the calf size, but if you get the higher end models they have adjustable shin/calf plates.

[kml.krk]

I ride in Sidi B-2 boots that are around $200. They are comfy while riding, and quite OK to walk in BUT unfortunatelly I can  "I can hold the upper in one hand and the sole in the other, and bend the top back-and-forth" (quote from Roadstergal's thread).

Really?  I've got the same boots (couldn't justify the extra $200 for what seems marginally better protection and crazy looks) and I can't bend mine left or right.  I can bend them from back to front but that seems kind of necessary in order to use the shifter/brake.  Can't really twist them either.

Well, now you got me confused   
I am in the classroom now buy when I get home I'm going to check again.

But it looks like either you're quite weak person or I am right... (I am only 150lbs and not very strong myself  )
but to backup my words here is another quote from Roadstergal, this time from fz6-forum.com:   
"I can bend the B2s and aforementioned Tech6s with my hands"
since Roadstergal is a woman I assume that she is not a "Strongman" (not saying that she is weak, but you get the idea...)  therefore if she can bend them, and I can bend them, then it means that Sidi B2 are not that great in terms of ankle protection.

Sidi B2 are great boots overall, but I am just not sure that they will hold well in the event of crash - therefore if anyone wants to buy them, they should try them before spending $200

[intergalactic]

Ok, I am all into looking at boots now.

I did find Sidi Stingers in size 34,35 and 36 (I think) on eBay, in case anyone is interested
(I need a 45)

I like the look of the stinger. Now to find my size.

WOW. Good boots are all $400?

The Pumas are under $400.  I have to say, though - if they made them in my size, I'd be all over the Sidi Vortice.  I have the Stinger, and as I mentioned, my hubby has both the Flexforce and an old pair of Sidi Vertebra Race (I got him a new pair of Sidi Vertigo Corsas for his B-Day), and I can only say good things about them all.  Sidi's high-end boots are very well-made and hold up to hard use and multiple crashes.  One pair of $400 boots that last through incidents that would kill one pair of $200 boots and possibly take a few bones with it?  That's economics I can live with.

It's not that I'm a badass rider - it's that I am out there on a moto and Things Can Happen when you're out there on a moto.  To anyone.

[fred]

Fred - I have flat feet (never had an arch), and the Sidi dirt boots fit me great.  Have you tried Sidis on?

Thanks for the tip! I am also quite flat footed. I'm going to have to seek out some Sidi boots and try them on. WebBikeWorld just did a review of their boots, and they looked pretty cool. Hmm, there are many retailers of Sidi boots in the Los Angeles area, I'll have to go check one out...