Riding Shoes, any better than Sneakers?

[SteveM]

I almost always wear my Sidi boots, but now that I'm commuting, I'm thinking a pair of lower height riding shoes would be easier to deal with.

Anybody wear these?

Thoughts about the protection relative to normal riding boots?

[timv2444]

I wear Alpinestars SMX-1 boots every time I ride. I wear them commuting and through the day @ work. SUPER COMFORTABLE. Ankle support is good, overall they fell like sneakers but offer protection. Hope this helps

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=2253

[dankatz]

Yes, much better than sneakers. Sneakers won't survive a small crash - no impact or abrasion resistance. I wear puma riding shoes almost every day on my short commute to work.I wear these http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/puma-flat-v2-boots

[joeswamp]

A friend of mine's wife got into a minor accident wearing some Harley rebranded ankle-high hiking boots and ended up with her shin bone exposed -- would have been fine had she been wearing real riding boots with shin guards.

About a year later I got into a 40mph accident in which my motorcycle landed on my ankle. Based on the position of me and the bike the policeman thought my ankle was broken, but I had no leg or foot injuries at all due to my wonderful Sidi boots.

Just wear your riding boots and keep an extra pair of shoes at work.

[Currently]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AMEN ... close thread.

[SteveM]

That's the reason I haven't bought a pair, the Sidi's work perfectly and I do keep shoes in the office.

I think I'll save the money

[OreoGaborio]

Boots for the bike, shoes for the office is my approach.

[nhbubba]

I can't imagine how low-rise shoes provide adequate protection. That doesn't make any sense to me.

[ZX11D]

I wear A star On-O-Ones and Shift Octanes . Very comfortable and certainly offer more protection from ankle and foot type trama than just about any low cut shoe or sneaker I would think. A*`s are the better of the two for sure.

[Stromper]

Now a while ago

I had a nice conversation with the Empire GP owner who fixes bike plastics

He only said to wear good boots and gloves. Your extremities take the major amount of flaying and feet trapped between and under the debris.

He of course being in constant contact with riders POST accidents

Commuting time is probably the most dangerous day time riding. Probably more dangerous then a track day.

So NO

[Falko]

boots for the bike, flip flops for the office. Then again, I did run over my big toe the other day with my chair, maybe I should keep the boots on all day.

[OreoGaborio]

I can't imagine how low-rise shoes provide adequate protection. That doesn't make any sense to me.

Newsflash: Risk is subjective and some people choose to live with more of it than you do. What's unacceptable to you may be acceptable to others.

I'm not saying that I think riding sneakers are okay for a commute...

[Garandman]

OP, there are a number of touring boots that are relatively comfortable for walking, maybe even office wear, and still provide good protection. The Gold Standard for this type of boot is the Daytona RoadStar, which is available in both wide and narrow widths.

Now a while ago

I had a nice conversation with the Empire GP owner who fixes bike plastics

He only said to wear good boots and gloves. Your extremities take the major amount of flaying and feet trapped between and under the debris.

He of course being in constant contact with riders POST accidents

Commuting time is probably the most dangerous day time riding. Probably more dangerous then a track day.

So NO

In 2007 I got hit from the side by a Honda Accord in a construction zone on I95. He pushed the bike over and I did the SuperMan thing down the highway. I landed on my left hand, and slid a while with the palm of my right hand. I was able to pull my right boot out from under the bike as it went own - not sure I could have done so with regular boots.

Gloves - Held Steves.





Boots - RoadStar GTX. Still wearing them although I wear Sidis as well.

[SteveM]

This is not about our personal choices, I agree we can wear whatever we want.

I also agree that commuting is dangerous business, in some ways more so than the track (where there is SOME assumption that everyone knows what they're doing and are at least all going in the same direction MOST OF THE TIME)

My personal minimum commuting gear is helmet, good gloves, Sidi touring boots and jeans.

I know the jeans do nothing, but I'm just to old to rock shorts on a bike!

90% of the time I wear my Olympia 3 season or Vanson Leather jacket.

80% of the time I wear Olympia 3 season riding pants.

Nobody's perfect about this, your choice is your choice.

Having read through this thread, my initial suspicion that the marginal increase in comfort and ease of storage that riding shoes might provide is cancelled out be the greater loss of protection compared to my boots.

[drop]

sidi doha.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...oha-Boots.aspx