Short motorcycle boots

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by Haggler ®™, Apr 6, 2016.

  1. Haggler ®™

    Haggler ®™ Active Member

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    Ok guys
    A bit of a marmite subject but........I, m thinking of ditching the trusty Alpinstar boots in favour of a pair of short boots. Anyone like to chip in their thoughts.......Other than there's less protection to the lower leg
     
  2. graemewalker

    graemewalker Elite Member

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    You answered the question for me I prefer my shins ooch
     
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  3. Lozzy

    Lozzy God Like

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    I bought a pair of Alpinestar shorties couple of summers ago to wear with my jeans on short rides when it was warm.
    Shortly after, my mate got hit by a car at low speed on his commute. Awful leg injury & thankfully he recovered...but he was told by the surgeon if he hadn't have had his full Sidi boot on he would have prob lost his lower leg.
    Im far removed from being over cautious but ive hardly had the short boots on since & certainly won't buy another pair.
     
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  4. sps170373

    sps170373 Moderator
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    There a nice idea short boots! but in reality long boots will save you from more damage should anything happen!

    Think my ankle would have snapped if I hadn't been wearing normal boots when I had my accident back in 2008 just a broken fibula fortunately leg wise
     
    #4 sps170373, Apr 6, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2016
  5. Blade runner 1

    Blade runner 1 Elite Member

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    I've had short boots in the past and to be honest can't think of any advantages in wearing a short boot. Probably wouldn't get another pair think protection is far more important than looks or convenience.
     
  6. graemewalker

    graemewalker Elite Member

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    You might as well stick a pair of trainers on for what protection you have . I have heard a lot of people losing pinkies but not many toes
     
  7. danthorrr4

    danthorrr4 Active Member

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    I just can’t see past the safety issues behind a short boot. Some serious parts of the working of a leg are in the ankle and if it’s badly damaged then you’ve had it.

    For me personally that’s enough for me to stay away from them. Some people actually prefer them though. But personally I wouldn’t buy them as I don’t find normal boots to be a pain on rides and short walking.:)
     
  8. graemewalker

    graemewalker Elite Member

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    I know the feeling boots allday
     

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  9. T.C

    T.C Elite Member

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    Footwear is a bit of a topic of mine fr reasons whoch will become obvious, but many riders fail to appreciate that the majority of serious injuries are sustained to the lower body rather than the upper body. Just look at how many would not dream of riding without a leather jacket on, but are quite happy to ride in a pair of jeans and trainers.

    Wearing the most expensive kit is no guarantee of protection either. But short boots? Well have qa read and make your own minds up and these are genuine case studies by me by the way.

    A Police rider was issued with a very expensive pair of black leather full length touring boots as part of his riding uniform. They took about 2 months to break in due to the hardness of the leather, but as soon as they had bedded in they started to collapse and fold reducing the support around the ankle. However this particular force only issued 1 pair of boots a year, and therefore the rider had no option but to continue wearing the boots until he received his next issue.

    About 4 months after the date of these boots being issued, the rider was involved in a crash and received serious injuries to his left leg. Despite the high purchase price of the boots, they had failed to afford the full degree of protection that would normally be expected.

    The sloppy fit had not held his foot together or prevented crush injuries. This accident caused 5 ligaments to become detached, calcifying of the bone amongst many other injuries, as a result of which he was pensioned off from the Police service with a registered 25% disability.

    The rider to this day still walks with a limp, has a size 14 left foot instead of a normal size 11, is in constant pain and will require the foot to be amputated at some time in the future. there are also other associated back and joint problems as a result of this injury.

    Specialist safety footwear manufacturers examined the boots worn at the time of the accident along with medical professionals, and confirmed that had the rider been wearing footwear even a cheap but protective boot, then the chances are that the rider would have made a full recovery and would probably still be serving to this day.

    The rider in question was me.

    A young man was out riding his motorcycle (not me this time ) one sunny summer afternoon, wearing a pair of jeans and training shoes. He was travelling at a speed when the bike lost power despite the fact that the engine was revving quite freely. The rider coasted to a halt at the side of the road in order to investigate the problem. As he stopped, he put his left leg down to support the machine and promptly fell onto the floor with the motorcycle falling on top of him.

    The mechanical problem was due to the final drive chain snapping. As it broke, it smashed its way through the left hand engine casing and then sliced through the riders lower left leg like a knife through butter.

    As it had happened so quickly and suddenly the rider had not felt his lower limb being suddenly amputated and had tried to stop normally. His foot and ankle were found some 250 yards back down the road still wearing the training shoe and a rather bloodied sock.

    The surgeons were unable to reattach the severed foot, but they went onto confirm that had the rider been wearing a good quality leather boot, it would have been unlikely that the chain would have managed to penetrate the leather, although he would have probably been very bruised, but! His foot would have remained attached to his left leg.

    I attended and dealt with this incident.

    Hope it has given you some food for thought.
     
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  10. Lozzy

    Lozzy God Like

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    Lad in Doncaster riding sportsbike in trainers last year hit another vehicle & they found his trainer with foot still inside in a nearby garden :eek:
     
  11. graemewalker

    graemewalker Elite Member

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    dottu to hear that tc surely there should have been a duty of care with police issueing the right equipment for your job. Hope I got well compensated but can't bring back your health
     
  12. T.C

    T.C Elite Member

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    Who are you trying to kid? Back then, kit was prchased by people who did not have the first idea about bikes, and I was awarded £2,500 compensation for an injury that cost me my career.

    I later found out that the negotiations should have started at around £300,000. And this was with a firm that is still (just) going today and still have an awfull reputation.

    Now you know why I do the job that I do so that you guys are not bullied into accepting under valued sums or treated like second class citizens as many law firms will try and do. I have already been down that route and suffered personaly because of it.

    But is is also on top of everything else what helped me develop my expertise on kit and why I am asked to be a consultant for various factories and distributors.
     
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  13. MPJ

    MPJ Active Member

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    Blimey, food for thought T.C....thanks for posting that.
     
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  14. sulaco

    sulaco Active Member

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    Tried em, didn't like em, ditched em.
     
  15. Haggler ®™

    Haggler ®™ Active Member

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    The only reason for thinking about short boots is the fact that I have meaty calf's and struggle to get my leathers tucked into my boots and zip the buggers up , on top of that the RST leathers are not very generous around the ankle area. Oh well back to trying on boots everywhere I stop I suppose
     
  16. Lozzy

    Lozzy God Like

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    Have
    You tried Sidi boots? They're quite generous compared to some of the others
     
  17. T.C

    T.C Elite Member

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    I have a similar problem not least because of my disability.

    For years I have worn Prexport which have proven to be very comfortable and fit my calfs

    http://www.getgeared.co.uk/prexport-boots-san-marco-wp-black

    http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206065

    http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206057

    http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206027

    Given that I am 6 feet 5 plus the disability I mentioned in the case study, if I can get them to fit me, then I don't think you will have much of a problem.

    They also afford decent protection and are good value for money.
     
  18. gray

    gray Active Member

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    I had this problem mate.
    Have you tried Racetec R's
     
  19. Haggler ®™

    Haggler ®™ Active Member

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    Sidi. ...........I wore nothing but Sidi for the last 10 years until last year I thought I, d try Alpinstars. ........great boot just not my cup of tea , can't get on with having zips on the outside .
     
  20. Lozzy

    Lozzy God Like

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    I've got errrm. ...sporty calves & apart from the Sidi's I've been wearing a while, I tried some Daytonas on recently & although they were pricey they were roomy in that area, perfect fit & oh so soft & comfy it was untrue!
     

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