Saving Private Ryan's Ankles...

[teamgreen500]

This is a very important riding tip...if you want to keep riding that is...

I,ve heard a lot of talk, lately, about folks getting their boots resoled, you know, saving $ and keeping your "Ol' trusty, crusty, comfy boots".

There's a reason, a good reason, to throw them out! Or turn them into "Utility/Mud/Yard" boots..as in "Winter Gardening"...Sir John knows of which I speak.

Your boots are protection. They're basically "Ballistic Armor/Structural Braces" for your lower legs and feet.

When they get nice and soft...they're also becoming nice and useless. This flies in the face of a lot of opinion; however, it's a fact. Your boots are protective gear. Comfort is nice; but, it's secondary to keeping your legs, feet and ankles from injury.

Your boots should protect your feet/ankles from impact AND from rotation or pivoting in an unintended/incorrect axis: In other words...your boots should allow you to work your shifter and brake lever(Vertical pivot motion) and not much else. If you can "Roll" your foot with your boots on OR if you can move around in your boots: They're probably unsafe.

If this sounds scary or expensive, don't worry, it doesn't have to be. You can buy economical boots, like Fox's "Trekker" (Currently on sale for $99.95!) and toss'em every year or so and get another pair. Heck, you can get "Forma Pros" for $239.  Oh, and, YES!, I'm very biased on boots and Gear, I've been wearing Fox forever and their boots fit me as if they were made for my foot (Better than most shoes!); However, most  of the boots out there are fine. Even those of you that HAVE to HAVE your Tech 8s need to "let go" when the boots get old.

You'll have to make your own decision on brand v. price v. cool factor v. the spouse and go from there!

The point: Don't skimp on the $...'Cause all your skimping on is your own health, safety and well being. And I'd rather have more of all of you around to roost sand in my face at the dunes!

BTW, it may very well be that less = more. How?

Let's say you get 2 seasons outta a pair of boots (If you ride much, at all, that's a lot!). Let's say you buy the Forma-Pros at $239. $239 divided by 2 years = $120/year. Versus the Trekkers at $99 and we'll buy a pair every year...$100/year.

Oh, and I'm about to "Prove" the Math: I'm gonna "Test-Beat" a pair of Trekkers right along-side a pair of Forma-Pro-Bubba's. I may even wear "split sets" to compare comfort, thermal and breathability issues.

I hope this is useful. I don't think I have all the answers...but, between my years and all the $$$$$$ I've given to my Orthopedic Surgeon, I have learned a few important lessons that I'd rather not watch the rest of you learn the same way       !

Ride On!

Manny

[Paul]

I buy one kind of boot, the Sidi Force Flex. Gotta love the storm trooper look and the pivot lock ankle and the ankle stops and the soft leather liner and "sniff"... I'm gettin' "sniff"... all... misty eyed... "sniff".. screw work, I'm going riding

[John]

You?re quite funny, you know that don?t you? You actually make me laugh in front of my PC and my wife thinks I?m insane. ?Is it that Kawasaki forum thingy again?? And yes, she?s probably right.

Is this an American sense of humor? Anyway, I am enjoying it!

/John

[teamgreen500]

That's sick!

I love it!

Manny

Those features make the point: Vertical movement is the only thing you need. Anyother movement/motion can cause your ankle to get twisted/broken real easy.

[mikesmith]

My Scott boots are just as stiff as the day they were made,but they sit on a shelf in my room to remind me of the old days.To bad they dont make them any more.

[Rick]

Heck, I only want to have to beg for boot purchase money once every two years, so like the Tech 8's...

Seriously, I don't like the breakin period of most boots.  With the Tech 8 boots, I can slide into a new set on race day, and not miss a beat.  

As for FOX boots, no thanks.  I purchased one pair, and the lining inside the boot came loose in the first month.  Took four months to get them to warranty the problem.  Purchased my first pair of Tech 8's during that four months, and never returned to FOX for ANY equipment.  We have sponsorship for most stuff, and only accept sponsorship of products on which I would spend my own money.  FOX isn't on the list, and don't expect they will be any time soon...

Rick

[mikesmith]

In your pictures you posted Rick I saw you had Tech8's in the van and was going to ask how you like them and how they hold up as far as wear.Ive read some post on another site about hardly worn 8's falling apart,but they had no problems with them being replaced by Alpinestars.So are you buying 8's or sponsered by Alpinesars?

[mikesmith]

If you store your boots on there side they hold up and last longer than if you stand them up like a pair of shoes.Same when you let them dry,I slide them over a broom stick up side down untill dry.I also run a bead of silicone around the stiching on the soles,keeps them from falling apart, and use snow seal in the wet.

[rhinogrrrl]

If you store your boots on there side they hold up and last longer than if you stand them up like a pair of shoes.Same when you let them dry,I slide them over a broom stick up side down untill dry.I also run a bead of silicone around the stiching on the soles,keeps them from falling apart, and use snow seal in the wet.

Didn't know that. Cool! The silicone around the stitching seems like a good idea...but what's "snow"?

[Rick]

Actually, we bailed from manufacturers sponsorship two years ago to help a new Kawasaki shop that was opening up in the area.  The closest KX dealer was 150 miles away, so wanted to do EVERYTHING I could to help out.  I got to know the owner rather well, and helped with some advise when they purchased the Suzuki dealership and built a new building (I'm the Chief Financial Officer for a large company, have a Masters degree and a CPA, so know a thing or two about business).  Anyway, during the past two years, the Kawasaki(/Suzuki) dealership has just exploded.  With the sponsorship from them, we pay more for gear, but I want to support the local guy first.  As my youngest gets faster, we will be forced into the manufacturers sponsorship pool, but want to stay where we are as long a possible.  Promote, promote, promote...

[mikesmith]

Rhinogrrl, "snow seal" is a water proofer and portects aginst the leather from drying and deteriorating,good stuff.Look for it at Wal-Mart ect.

[Paul]

I think she was asking what "snow" was The last time I saw something white fall from the sky it came from a bird

[mikesmith]

To funny Paul,you know they spell it "sno-seal" on the can,but I have a hard enough time with my spelling with out doing it on purpose.Even if the only white stuff you see from the sky comes from a bird this is good stuff for your boots.

[Paul]

I actually do use that stuff, about once a year right before the monsoons come. Great sealant

[KXcam22]

Wow Mike you still have some Scotts?  Those were ultimate foot protection but hard on the knees if I remember correctly.  I won a championship once because of Scott boots.  My buddy and I were dead-even in points and down to the last race, last moto, last lap, last corner drag race to see who won and he somehow got his scotts wedged between the shifter and the frame and couldn't shift.  He still hates it when I remind him about it! Cam.