SIDI Adventure Boots - have I made a gaff?

[rjsmith26]

Needed a new pair of boots - been riding in some Frank Thomas boots for past 15 years.

Had a good read and decided to treat myself with a pair of Sidi Adventures.

Ordered - arrived and I have been wearing them round the house to try and break them in - boy are they stiff! Stiff sole, ankle just like a ski boot.

Got on bike yesterday with them on and pulled out of drive onto road and took next right, next right, next right and back home - PROBLEM!

Can't feel anything of gear/foot brake. Can't get boot to move to be able to change gear and no idea if I have back brake on or not!

HELP! how can I get these concrete boots turn into a loveable pair of boots?

(Riding a 2008 GSA).

 

[the beer hunter]

HELP! how can I get these concrete boots turn into a loveable pair of boots?

Goes with the territory I'm afraid. MX boots are heavy, stiff & 99% of the time not waterproof.

A touring boot would maybe suit you better?

 

[Timolgra]

Just keep on wearing them and report back in 6 months time, if you're still not able to get on with them then admit to being a fashion victim

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Needed a new pair of boots - been riding in some Frank Thomas boots for past 15 years.

Had a good read and decided to treat myself with a pair of Sidi Adventures.

Ordered - arrived and I have been wearing them round the house to try and break them in - boy are they stiff! Stiff sole, ankle just like a ski boot.

Got on bike yesterday with them on and pulled out of drive onto road and took next right, next right, next right and back home - PROBLEM!

Can't feel anything of gear/foot brake. Can't get boot to move to be able to change gear and no idea if I have back brake on or not!

HELP! how can I get these concrete boots turn into a loveable pair of boots?

(Riding a 2008 GSA).

Not ideal for roadbikes, if you've never had them before

Sidi Courier/Trials would have been a more obvious choice

Roadbike - BMW 1150GS = Daytona Roadstar Goretex for me

Offroad - BMW XChallenge = Sidi Top Action Evo Enduro boot

Simples

 

[earthmover]

Give them about a year and you'll wonder what the fuss was about.
MX style boots are exactly as you describe, you do get used to them, if you want to.
Mark

 

[Bury_Dave]

BMW Santiago or HG Rallye goretex are the way to go. Look motocrossey but not stiff. Sidi couriers are not waterproof at all. Plenty of evidence on here about that. Although goretex socks are as good a solution as any and give you more breathability in summer and are quick to don and doff.

Motocross boots are for, well, motocross . They do look good though !

Dave

 

[Big Nick]

I tried off road style boots but got absolutely zero feel for the bike controls in them and found they were crap to walk in.

Sold them and bought some TCX Infinitys, top boots and perfect for my needs

You've possible made a gaff!

 

[Yellow Peril]

Hmmm are you missing the point or talking about different boots:-

"brand new motorcycle boot is designed specifically for big trailie owners, but who is to say you can't use them for everything else? The Adventure Gore-tex is fantastically made to fit several purposes; the Adventure boot is made from leather and contains a Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable membrane, as well as an inner gaiter. The rubber sole is non-slip and it has hard plastic moulded shin, ankle and back-of-the-leg protectors. To top this multi-purpose boot off there are also motocross-style fastening buckles for a closer more practical fit.""

They are not pure motocross boots are much in the same vain as HG Rallye etc, so smithy find yourself a ford or bath and soak them they'll soon loosen up, stiff leather always takes a while. Or if they are 7 1/2 UK sell them to me

 

[rjsmith26]

Chaps,

Thanks for all posts so far (keep em comming).

Shaun is right - I do not believe they are a moto x boot, my understanding is they are a courier with goretex and a few extra bits of armour around ankle.

I think a few sessions of walking the dog and wading into lakes after the dog maybe in order?? If that fails guess an virtually new pair of size 45 adventures will be in the 4 sale section and i'll be back to square one!

 

[Chrizm]

Interesting as Im probably picking a pair of these up on saturday from two wheels, my mate has tried them and says they are quite flexable, they do look good also!
Ive just sold my MX boots and S Moto boots so hopefully these will be OK, I love my old Sidi Vertebra boots but as they say all new boots take some wearing in, I used to always find soaking them did help.

 

[Stretchamus]

Chaps,

Thanks for all posts so far (keep em comming).

Shaun is right - I do not believe they are a moto x boot, my understanding is they are a courier with goretex and a few extra bits of armour around ankle.

I think a few sessions of walking the dog and wading into lakes after the dog maybe in order?? If that fails guess an virtually new pair of size 45 adventures will be in the 4 sale section and i'll be back to square one!

Bollox to walking in them, just ride the bike in them thats what they are for

Stick with em you'll learn to love them, they are not that stiff as in Sidi Crossfires, its because you have had the road boots for the past 15 years and they now feel like slippers

Good luck with them, Stretch

 

[Hustler]

Chaps,

Thanks for all posts so far (keep em comming).

Shaun is right - I do not believe they are a moto x boot, my understanding is they are a courier with goretex and a few extra bits of armour around ankle.

I think a few sessions of walking the dog and wading into lakes after the dog maybe in order?? If that fails guess an virtually new pair of size 45 adventures will be in the 4 sale section and i'll be back to square one!

At a tenner I'll take them although I suspect I'm taking a slight gamble as I haven't seen a picture and don't even know the colour of them.
But you'll get used to them and they'll be grand.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

As has been said they are NOT MX boots. They are fully waterproof , very flexible and have a proper comando style sole.

Funny what you get used to isn't it, for the past 20 odd years I have never worn anything other than MX boots regardless of type of bike. To my mind they offer far more protection than any other type of boot.

The Adventure boots are the first time I've strayed......... They offer nearly as much protection but are so much more practical that I'm happy to accept the reduction in protection (if indeed there is a reduction in protection?).

Any way, I found them sooooo comfy and to have soooooooo much feel right out of the box!

So, stick with them, if you've never worn this type off boot it's just a case of getting used to them. Forget all the various methods of breaking them in , they 'do' not need breaking in. They are not an army/walking boot and are already 'broken in'.

Patience and enjoy.

Andres

 

[shugie]

I've got Sidi Crossfires which are now really comfortable, just takes a while for them to shape themselves to your foot when they are new. They are not brilliant for walking distances in, the ankle protection limits foot movement, and they do squeak a bit.

I found that using a gearshift extender from Touratech did make life a bit easier on the left, and a brake extender was useful, but frankly not essential, on the right.

But if you don't get on with them, send me a PM, I'll be happy to discuss buying them from you.

 

[Dave Ett]

I have Sidi Flex Force (precursor to Crossfires) and they did take a lot of breaking in, but are now so comfortable I can wear them all day. Not waterproof, but fine with seal skinz socks and as tough as they come.

they do squeak a bit.

Give them a squirt of silicone spray, available at Maplins or places like Dunelms (used to luricate zips).

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Its Taken 2 years to break in my Alpinestar Tech 8's and thats with trips to the Himalayas and Cambodia.I wore them at work for 3 months before my first Himalayan trip and it helped but the patients wondered what the feck I was on

 

[Loz]

Needed a new pair of boots - been riding in some Frank Thomas boots for past 15 years.

Had a good read and decided to treat myself with a pair of Sidi Adventures.

Ordered - arrived and I have been wearing them round the house to try and break them in - boy are they stiff! Stiff sole, ankle just like a ski boot.

Got on bike yesterday with them on and pulled out of drive onto road and took next right, next right, next right and back home - PROBLEM!

Can't feel anything of gear/foot brake. Can't get boot to move to be able to change gear and no idea if I have back brake on or not!

HELP! how can I get these concrete boots turn into a loveable pair of boots?

(Riding a 2008 GSA).

get a can of this and with a paint brush coat the boats a few times,it will soften them up and its good for the leather

loz

 

[alistairl]

Got on bike yesterday with them on and pulled out of drive onto road and took next right, next right, next right and back home - PROBLEM!

Can't feel anything of gear/foot brake. Can't get boot to move to be able to change gear and no idea if I have back brake on or not!

I've got a pair of Alpinestars MX Tech 3 ATs and had big problems changing gear - tip I got was to hook my foot under and brush up - no way I would feel the lever with the protection that the boots have.

It worked on the KTMs for Offroad / Supermoto but I prefer more feel on the road - and use rear brake too - didn't use rear brake offroad. I've currently got a pair of Alpinestars Goretex touring boots I use onroad but prefered my thinner soled Sidi's for feel.

A.

 

[Chrizm]

Well I picked mine up this morning and suprised how actually soft and comfortble they actually are straight from the box.

Im going out for a ride shortly so will know better after that.

 

[charlie brown]

Stick with em

I bought my first full on pair of off road boots (alpines) 5 years and about sixty thousand miles ago, while I still wouldn't take on the fan dance in them they are now almost comfy and the weight is not an issue.
Did you, like me, buy them because of the perceived level of protection? If so stick with them you will get used to them.
Grab some gortex socks for crappy wether, they will be fine and you will (as long as you don't think about it) change very slightly the way you change gear and if the ball of your foot is on the foot peg you wont even be close to the brake (always assuming you do not work in a circus).
Good luck

O