Sidi Flex Force and the 12! Alternatives?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Russ
  • Start date Start date

Russ

Guest
OK, I give up!

These boots, as nice as they are, are a fuggin nightmare, i can't feel the controls, i have to lift my foot to change down, the right boot is rubbing on the hose and i can barely feel the rear brake pedal, having twisted my foot in all sorts of angles to reach it, never mind use it!

I have gone back to my much abused 3 year old Sidi vertebras and everything is good again!

The Flex forces are going back (incidentally the leather has rubbed badly after only 2 days use!)

I need a recommendation for boots, my primary requirement is for a mostly road orientated boot, but has to be more waterproof than my vertebra 2's.

I was looking at the Black Rain Evos and the Vertebra 2 Tepor, but the later suffers from the same design fault as the summer boots (imho) that the zip/velcro combo on the inside of the boot is exposed to water from the road and the front tyre, and once compromised the water keeps coming.

Hence i went for the off-road style as it is an enclosed design in comparison to the Sidi road boots.

I have read about the Discovery's? They look shorter that the raptor, flex force etc... and seem to be a halfway house, now given my off-roading will be laning mostly i don't need an uber boot, just a good boot that i can feel the controls with, don't rub on parts of the bike, displace my foot, require footerobics to reach the relevant controls, are comfortable and don't feel like concrete boots!

Help!

Note to mods: I have posted this here as I believe it ti be a 1200 specific issue :)
 
What size are your feet Russ? I didn't think that I'd be able to ride in my Flexforce SRS boots but, in practice, it's quite easy and I love them.

I found that gearchanging is easier if you remove the footrest rubbers. Just haul them out. I also bought a gearlever extender from Nippy Norman. That hasn't been an unqualified success as it's got very sharp serations which have chewed the toe of my left boot on it. I've agreed with Norman that I'll send it back for inspection but in the meantime it's got tape wrapped around it.

The rear brake is, I've found, just a matter of practice. Apart from that, I've found that the boots are anything but waterproof but that may be due to the ingress of water from the top and I don't know which version you've got but if it's SRS, they're not made from leather but Lorica.
 
Have a look at Altberg boots. made to measure , not expensive , never leak and they offer a refurb service ! absolute bliss, But, they take about a month to break in.
Mike.
 
I have found Sidi Black Rain's as comfy as slippers and waterproof but they tend to waer out very quickly in my experience. Currently using a pair of Daytona Roadstar Gore-Tex boots. Comfy and waterproof but very expensive. No wear after 6 months which is unheard of for any of my kit. Highly recommended. I also believe you can get them resoled if necessary. The off-road style boots I have (also Sidi) were a nightmare at first but once broken in lasted me years and were very comfy. May just be a matter of perservering with them...
 
Daytona's - absolutely fantastic - just bought m second pair, in 17years! Thought I aught to change - they were still water proof after approx 120000mls. I purchased the Evo Sport GTX which have a gortex inner with plastic composite foot and ankle protection with a full leather outer, steel sole etc etc - a crash hat for your foot! BUT they are expensive - £360 street price. However as the man in the shop said and I can back up with experience over many miles, 'you won't be coming back with them leaking mate'. IF you crash and extensively damage the outer it is a relatively cheap replacement and yes they are re-solable - not too flash either. I don't expect to buy another pair of boots for the road for another 10plus years. I ride 15k a year all weathers.

However I'm not sure I would offroad in them, trails yes but not mud etc.
 
SpyInTheCamp said:
Alt Berg get my vote too.
Click to expand...
As much as I like my Altbergs, comparing them with Sidi Flexforce or any other Moto X boot is like comparing strawberries with........walnuts. My Flexforce feel more like wearing carpet slippers inside plaster casts than anything else. There's a limited range of ankle movement in only one plane to prevent inversion fractures of the lower end of the fibula and other ankle injuries. The leg of the boot is also relatively rigid. The idea being to transfer the site of any inevitable fracture from a more complicated ankle trauma to a simpler leg bone fracture in the same way as a ski boot. The sole is also pretty rigid to enable you to stand on the pegs for extended periods of time with less stress on your feet.

Now if I wear my Altbergs after wearing my Sidis, the Altbergs feel like carpet slippers......without the plaster casts. They provide nothing like the same level of support or protection.
 
I'm really, really not trying to pick an argument, but.....

On the assumption that we wear motorcycle kit primarily for protection why are Altberg boots so popular (on this site at least)?

I do not doubt that they are well made, last a long time and once broken in very comfy but, from what I've seen of them, they offer very little protection in the avent of an accident.

For this reason alone I would never consider using such boots.

Pleas, somebody, enlighten me
 
Outtomunch said:
Pleas, somebody, enlighten me
Click to expand...
Altberg were the first motorcycle boots to be awarded full CE certification. That was largely on the strength of the the crush protection offered by the sole. I have a friend who has crashed in his Altberg Clubman Lites on several occasions, including one 60 mph get-off where his foot was caught under the bike and dragged along the road. He hasn't suffered any foot or ankle injuries in these crashes.
 
Outtomunch said:
I'm really, really not trying to pick an argument, but.....

On the assumption that we wear motorcycle kit primarily for protection why are Altberg boots so popular (on this site at least)?

I do not doubt that they are well made, last a long time and once broken in very comfy but, from what I've seen of them, they offer very little protection in the avent of an accident.

For this reason alone I would never consider using such boots.

Pleas, somebody, enlighten me
Click to expand...

I agree, very puzzled. I actually drove up there to order some but came away disappointed. When I was doing serious offroad stuff I wore serious offroad boots, now I just wear the best boots I can find. Daytonas! Maybe the Altbergs are a cult thing, did I spell that correctly? :mmmm
 
ISTR that Altbergs didn't fare too well in a recent RiDE test on bike boots. I'll stick with my Daytonas, thanks very much...........
 
Schtum said:
Altberg were the first motorcycle boots to be awarded full CE certification. That was largely on the strength of the the crush protection offered by the sole. I have a friend who has crashed in his Altberg Clubman Lites on several occasions, including one 60 mph get-off where his foot was caught under the bike and dragged along the road. He hasn't suffered any foot or ankle injuries in these crashes.
Click to expand...

I don't doubt that, being made of decent leather, they will provide a measure of protection and , thankfully, would appear to have done for your friend.

But, as per your earlier post, there are so many other injuries that can occur in a motorcycle crash and having gel inserts, 'vertabre' to stop rotation/flex of the ankle and other specific safety 'devices' has to be the way to go.

I don't mean to harp on about it but, much in the way a reformed smoker will evangelise I too have, from personal experience, learnt the hard way jusy how important decent footwear is and now wear the best/most protective boots I can afford and 'hang the comfort' if that's the price I have to pay.

Andres
 
Schtum said:
What size are your feet Russ? I didn't think that I'd be able to ride in my Flexforce SRS boots but, in practice, it's quite easy and I love them.

I found that gearchanging is easier if you remove the footrest rubbers. Just haul them out. I also bought a gearlever extender from Nippy Norman. That hasn't been an unqualified success as it's got very sharp serations which have chewed the toe of my left boot on it. I've agreed with Norman that I'll send it back for inspection but in the meantime it's got tape wrapped around it.

The rear brake is, I've found, just a matter of practice. Apart from that, I've found that the boots are anything but waterproof but that may be due to the ingress of water from the top and I don't know which version you've got but if it's SRS, they're not made from leather but Lorica.
Click to expand...

Size 45

I think the problem is the height of the boot, as i said previously it rubs on the hose to the rear of the right cylinder whereas my vertebra 2's don't, also this pushes my lower leg outwards which means i have to twist my foot inwards to reach the rear brake, and then to apply it is another affair.

I can't say i fancy the prospect of having to pull the bike to bits to get a pair of boots to fit.

Having had my last set of vertebra 2's destroyed by the bonnet of fiesta i have a preference to stay with Sidi boots or boots with kevlar style panels, which altberg don't seem to offer.

The Discovery boot seems to me to be the way forward, but can i find anyone round here that has one in stock to look at? not a chance!
 
Any of the BMW boots...

..that are Goretex. Been useing them now for years and never had wet feet yet. Break in really easily and clean up a treat. And i think they are pretty good vaulue for money.

There, thats my tuppence worth!!
 
I think that one of the non apparent reasons people like Altbergs is that are not garish with the makers logo's stamped all over them as free advertising ! Would you walk around all day carrying a sandwichboard without getting paid well to do so ? I thought not, so why must people rely on " Labels " rather than the goods. Mike.
 
chippelmike said:
I think that one of the non apparent reasons people like Altbergs is that are not garish with the makers logo's stamped all over them as free advertising ! Would you walk around all day carrying a sandwichboard without getting paid well to do so ? I thought not, so why must people rely on " Labels " rather than the goods. Mike.
Click to expand...

That is a good point Mike but it seems most motorcycle gear carry the makers name prominently displayed. No doubt the Altbergs are well made boots but IMO they don't offer enough protection. To be honest it was like a trip back in time looking at Altbergs and I really don't understand why they are so popular with members of this forum. I find that Daytonas are supremely comfortable and offer excellent protection, I certainly don't buy them because of the label. As I wear them inside my pants the makers name doesn't show either. :)

Edit... Now trying desperately to scratch off Rukka, Arai, Shoei and HG!
 
chippelmike said:
Would you walk around all day carrying a sandwichboard without getting paid well to do so ? QUOTE]

I'm no fan of labels, but, if the sandwichboard saved me from severe injury should I fall over, yes I would.

Andres
Click to expand...
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top Bottom