Daytona Road Star GTX Boots are…

[HeatedGrips]

My leathers were inside the boots I don't think the zipper would have failed if my boots were inside my leathers but I prefer to wear fitted leathers. My boots have the small flap but I believe a full length flap is what's required or the main zip to be on the inner side of the boot.

Dave

Daytona seem to have changed the design. My 13-year-old (honest!) 100,000-mile plus Non-Stop GTXs have one zip, on the inside of the leg. So far not had to test them in an accident, but they're quite a tight fit anyway.
And as for service, Daytona refurbished them a year ago for £120 and they are like new.

 

[Fanum]

Altbergs are probably what I'll go for.

Dave

Dave....Altbergs won't come off your feet before your leg gets pulled from your body, but don't expect any proper protection will you?

Comfort sure, and perhaps fair abrasion protection, but there's no ankle support or armour.......A decent pair of MX boots are surely your best bet if it's protection you want?

(I know, it's a hobby horse of mine...I'd love a pair of Altbergs but they just don't do a pair I'd trust )

 

[Schtum]

Comfort sure, and perhaps fair abrasion protection, but there's no ankle support or armour.......A decent pair of MX boots are surely your best bet if it's protection you want?

Everything to do with boots is a compromise though, isn't it? I've been through the Moto-X boots phase with a pair of Sidi Flexforce SRS (carpet slippers inside pretty restrictive hinged plaster casts) and a pair of much lighter Oxtar Space boots. My current compromise is a pair of TCX Infinity boots and my old Altberg Clubman Classics rarely see the light of day let alone get a sniff of my feet.

You're quite correct about Altbergs not offering any additional armoured protection or additional ankle support to protect against inversion or eversion injuries. However, in practice, it's often a trade-off between those and braking and changing gear, wearing boots for extended periods and walking in them. FWIW, I have a mate who binned his VFR at 60 mph and was dragged down the road with his foot caught under the bike. His Altberg Clubman Microlites protected his foot admirably and were usable afterwards.

Moto-X boots work on the principle of moving any potential injuries away from the vulnerable ankle joint to the upper shin area but there's always the associated risk of knee injuries, hence the use of knee braces.

 

[mark2204]

I'm with you, Dave... You definitely don't want your boots to be coming off in a crash, not one like yours sounds like. Your issues remind me of a problem I had with my Roadstars, though on a different (lower!) level...

After just a month or two of light use the gear change pad split and a bit broke off at the very front of the pad. The area around the split was mint, I hadn't caught it on anything. Just changing gear made the pad split and tear. Daytona said the boot was not to fault but they would repair it as 'an act of goodwill'. They won't admit when something is wrong or faulty but proceed to repair it free of charge. That's sound kind of like a contradiction. On the one hand it IS good customer service, but it's arrogance, to say the least, at the same time. Oh, and it took them about 5 months to do the simple repair...

These Daytona boots are not all they're cracked up to be, in my mind, and I will never buy a pair again. They are floppy and overly soft, not what I want in a motorcycle boot whether it has armour in it or not. The best boots always take a bit of breaking in and then become comfortable, whereas Roadstars are like marshmallow slippers from the start. As slippers I can't fault them. I think people sometimes get a bit obsessed with technology that filters down from the race track (Excessive armour in gloves, anyone?) when actually a well-made alternative, using quality materials and craftsmanship, and less racetrack inspiration, will do a much better job in the majority of everyday eventualities. I may check out those Alt-Bergs...

Keep safe

Mark

 

[degsey]

Comfortable and waterproof however I have found the zip rides down on them, not so much on the GS more so on the sports bike

 

[piebaps]

IIRC Simoncellis helmet came off in his tragic accident. I would've expected that to stay on too. The point being that the various forces which are applied to the body and kit during a violent accident are very unpredictable and therefore have unforseen consequences.

Uninjured foot = good job in my book. Had the boot stayed on who could say what those forces may have done to the foot and/or the leg.

 

[GSTourer]

IIRC Simoncellis helmet came off in his tragic accident. I would've expected that to stay on too. The point being that the various forces which are applied to the body and kit during a violent accident are very unpredictable and therefore have unforseen consequences.

Uninjured foot = good job in my book. Had the boot stayed on who could say what those forces may have done to the foot and/or the leg.

Whilst I generally agree with what you say re forces etc.....your last sentence seems to imply that they are designed to come off during an impact to prevent the foot/leg suffering serious injury. I could be wrong but think this is highly unlikely and if it were I am sure Daytona (whose boots I have had in the past and will have again) would have pointed this out in their correspondence.

 

[degsey]

I been to a few bike and car crashes, always shoes and boots fly off

 

[snappo]

IIRC Simoncellis helmet came off in his tragic accident. I would've expected that to stay on too. The point being that the various forces which are applied to the body and kit during a violent accident are very unpredictable and therefore have unforseen consequences.

Uninjured foot = good job in my book. Had the boot stayed on who could say what those forces may have done to the foot and/or the leg.

I've often wondered if Simoncelli's helmet came off due to his big hair - would he have to have worn a larger size lid to accommodate it?

I've had my Daytonas for almost 2 years now, (Roadstar GTX), and I love them.

Not crashed in em yet thankfully, (unless a slow speed GS vs Diesel on a roundabout counts), but I'm very happy with them, and I'm sure they'll look after me if I do end up chucking myself down the road.

Like the OP, I would have thought that the boots job was to stay on the foot during a crash - I always wear mine under my textiles tho, not sure I'd be as confident exposing the fastening system to the Tarmac by wearing my trews inside em...

 

[wozalldisden]

My leathers were inside the boots I don't think the zipper would have failed if my boots were inside my leathers but I prefer to wear fitted leathers. My boots have the small flap but I believe a full length flap is what's required or the main zip to be on the inner side of the boot.

Dave

The Daytona Travel Star is similar but a better design with full leather zip covers

 

[gerrit]

The Daytona Road Star GTX are the only boots with narrow, normal and wide last for each size. You get italian boots and you've got to go with the standard. When it fits they are great, when not you just can't stand them, specially if you use racing boots like Alpinestars SMX or Dainese Torque. Those italian boots are designed for small people with narrow foot like Marquez, Rossi and alike. Unfortunately, world is bigger than that.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

As with any item of clothing or foot wear the weak point will allways be the Zip.

zips can allways be pulled appart and the forces upon it at 60mph will be far greater than needed to seperate the "teeth" of the zi. I am guessing that you have been a little unlucky in the way you have fallen or slid down the road in those boots to have applied the forces in the position needed to remove the boot!

Sidi Adventures are the future for you !

 

[islandbob]

Heard of the phrase 'Popped your clogs! It dates back to the Boer war, when soldiers were shot they were often found without their boots on. When the body recieves such an almighty shock it will convulse and can expel such things as boots.
Ive ridden for 20 years with Daytonas and think they are brilliant, never really got cold, certainly never got wet, even when stood for long periods ankle deep in water and they always remain comfortable.
Cars crumble when they crash, they are supposed to, kit gets damaged when it crashes, it happens. The alternative is wear MX boots that provide amazing protection but mean you cant walk far !!!

 

[gerrit]

Heard of the phrase 'Popped your clogs! It dates back to the Boer war, when soldiers were shot they were often found without their boots on. When the body recieves such an almighty shock it will convulse and can expel such things as boots.
Ive ridden for 20 years with Daytonas and think they are brilliant, never really got cold, certainly never got wet, even when stood for long periods ankle deep in water and they always remain comfortable.
Cars crumble when they crash, they are supposed to, kit gets damaged when it crashes, it happens. The alternative is wear MX boots that provide amazing protection but mean you cant walk far !!!

Way boots are those you call MX?

 

[Mongolian Explorer]

...you decide.

I spent my £299.99 expecting to be buying a boot that would offer excellent protection however, what I ended up with was a pair of comfy boots that offer questionable *protection. I'll fill you in with the details, I bought my new boots late last year and found them to be waterproof, comfy but not as warm as I'd expected but all was well until early in May where Sandra and I had an unfortunate off at around 60mph. The bike slid along the road and flopped over on hitting the grass verge, Sandra and I were a bit battered, our clothing showed serious signs of sliding down the road but was intact and did what was required of it. Now we come to the boots, the zip had burst and my foot was out of the boot but unharmed, I'm assuming that my foot came out as I came to rest. I'm only glad we weren't going 20mph faster!
I have written to complain about the level of safety the boots offer and have been given fairly short shrift basically being told "you're ok so they did their job" which I accept to a point the point being don't rely on your Datonas protecting you if you are unfortunate to have an off at over 60mph.*
In conclusion I feel fairly hard done to after spending over £100 more than I have ever spent on a pair of boots and getting nothing extra for my money. And yes I have put other boots to the crash test and none have ever performed as poorly as these.*
Oh mustn't forget, Daytona are fixing them FOC as a gesture of good will. I've not decided as yet if I'll wear them again.*

Dave

Before questioning the quality of the gear after what seems to be an accident without other parties involved I would question the quality of the riding and why the accident took place in the first instance.

A bad worker always blames his tools ..........

 

[gerrit]

Before questioning the quality of the gear after what seems to be an accident without other parties involved I would question the quality of the riding and why the accident took place in the first instance.

A bad worker always blames his tools ..........

It looks like he slid backwards, so the boot got grip on the asphalt and was removed from the foot. This usually happens to standard footwear, however top end touring boots and racing boots have several fasteners to tighten all the way up to your leg.

 

[Ogmios]

Before questioning the quality of the gear after what seems to be an accident without other parties involved I would question the quality of the riding and why the accident took place in the first instance.

A bad worker always blames his tools ..........

The above comes across as very condescending.
I suspect you've not ridden with the O.P.
I have and would happily follow him all day long.

ANYhow - the issue you raise is not the point here.
While that which decides what makes a boot 'good' is a multitude of features and compromises - 'good' boots should not come off in a crash. End of.

 

[gerrit]

i have gtx and moto x boots
still broke both feet at 30 ish mph with mx boots

so for my 10 pence
dont crash

It was a bad injury and even more considering the low speed you were riding. Probably you tried to hold you up with your foot while you were falling, so the injury. Best boots are those for racing, that have a lot of heel, ankle and shin protection also with limited torsion and bending. If there's such great boot for touring I would really appreciate that you just mention it (looking for a couple also). I have in mind the Alpinestars Web Goretex, the Daytona Road Star GTX and the SiDi Way Mega.