Are boots necessary? - Page 5

H96669 · 10-14-2012, 10:40 AM

That's the boot I wore for months last year.

Hadn't I been wearing my riding boots at the time of the "incident", would have been much much worse. Bad, and painful enough as it was.

You don't have to go fast to need boots, after I dropped my heavy bike at 0 Mph some bystander came to my help.....when he got there he promptly stepped on my leg/ankle in his excitement and ripped my Achille's tendon. According the specialist that left me with the rather large scar from surgery, would have been way worse without proper boots on.

NJ Moto · 10-14-2012, 02:52 PM

You're more likely to injure your legs and feet than any other part of your body.

http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsMotorcycleSafety/

Canuman · 10-14-2012, 04:54 PM

Just a little anecdotal evidence on this. I was ferrying a bike down to my mechanic, who is less than four miles away late in the season (November, as I recall.) It was very cold, so I dressed up in full gear. I'd been somewhat casual about it at times that season. The bike was running like crap, as it needed the carbs adjusted, so I wasn't going very fast. I hit a frost patch on the road and took a tumble at around 30 mph.

My boots saved my feet, my gloves saved my hands, and the armored textile riding pants saved my "gentleman's tackle." I did not hit my head or my helmet.

I walked away with a jammed thumb and a few other bumps and bruises. I wrote off the boots and pants -- about $400 worth of gear. The pants were brand-new a week prior. The heel on my right boot had a deep slash in it, and a nasty cut by the toe. These weren't even full-on boots, just a pair of workman-style lace ups. The pavement wore a hole through the fabric of the pants right near my crotch, but the liner saved the manly bits.

Considering that getting just a few stitches would have cost double what I had in the gear, I've been far more religious about things since. My "casual" riding boot is once again a pair of tall workman-style leather lace-ups, which is as light as I'll go. My serious touring boots are a pair of Aerostich CTBs, and I keep two pair of motocross boots for the trails. They are not fashionable. They can be a PITA to take on and off. The MX boots are a bitch to walk in. They help with control of the bike, however, and I consider them as necessary as a good helmet.

bones_708 · 10-14-2012, 05:29 PM

Personally I think some here didn't or don't really get what you are asking. Here is my thoughts. On any get off the two most likely parts to get injured are your hands and feet. The area that would normally cause the most danger if injured would be your head. Since head injuries have the potential to be the most serious we tend to consider helmets the most essential protective gear. Objectively you would put gloves and boots as second due to both frequency of damage and the very real reduction of damage when wearing boots or gloves. The ease of having armor in a jacket may increase it's useage but boots should be gotten before an armored jacket in my opinion. You also figure in the results of even minor foot/leg damage and it seems even clearer to me. Now you don't really have to have motorcycle boots, heck even boots at all. Work boots seem to do most of the job and several companies make motorcycle shoes that cover your ankle that would probably protect just fine, but it seems a small investment and you should be able to find something cheap whose looks you can tolerate.

SgtDuster · 10-14-2012, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeG

According to the Dr, had he been wearing some of kind of thick leather boot, he would not have suffered the damage that he did.

I'm all for ATGATT, it's not the point, but you'll have to explain to me how thick leather would have protected his ankle from a direct side impact where his ankle was sandwiched between 2 solid surfaces.

Take a fly
Put it on a chopping board
Hit it with a hammer
SPLAT!!

Take a fly
Put it on a chopping board
Put a layer of the heaviest/thickest leather you can find over it
Hit it with a hammer
...
Guess what?
SPLAT!!!

bob393 · 10-14-2012, 06:28 PM

WOW: this is a crazy thread.

I ware boots at work just in case I drop something on my foot.
I ware boots on the bike. Why would anyone think any differently.
Riding a bike is not the same as working in a doctors office where you can where shoes.

Come on and think!

WOW: This kind of thinking is one of the things just killing the health care system
and insurance rates here in the US.

I've been glad I had boots on just putting my foot down in a pot hole in a parking lot and that's nothing.

squish · 10-14-2012, 11:54 PM

Don't let the size of the bike, cost of the bike or lack of speed make you think you don't need decent gear.
Look at studies of motorcycle crashes and what part of the body is most likely to see an impact.

I personally know of at least two riders to demolished the're ankles why riding smaller bikes on the street.

Sure wearing gear can be a pain in the ass, uncomfortable and dorky or un stylish. But it's better than being dead or really beat up.

lhendrik · 10-15-2012, 04:52 AM

My boots and riding suit are so beautiful, high tech and expensive that I will not wear them for fear of crashing and damaging them.

BIG-E · 10-15-2012, 05:09 AM

Humm...

Let's think about this,

This was on Feb. 25th. this year, totaled ankle, busted Tibia, torn rotator cuff. I was in full gear, EVS Carbon knee braces, Sidi Crossfire boots, Klim jacket and pants.

If it wasn't for my boots and knee braces, I would have lost a leg!!

Buy the BEST boots and wear them, Period.

Take Care Brother, Eric.

ty.zardoz · 10-15-2012, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG-E

Humm...

Let's think about this,

This was on Feb. 25th. this year, totaled ankle, busted Tibia, torn rotator cuff. I was in full gear, EVS Carbon knee braces, Sidi Crossfire boots, Klim jacket and pants.

If it wasn't for my boots and knee braces, I would have lost a leg!!

Buy the BEST boots and wear them, Period.

Take Care Brother, Eric.

If this posters story doesn't convince folks to adopt ATGATT nothing will. When I see folks riding "sans helmet, because I can" I see someone with a death wish. Boots are not much different. Glad Taelan28 is going to invest in boots!

tyz

Yossarian™ · 10-15-2012, 06:15 AM

In my days of crazy motorcycling youth, I didn't bother with any boots.

I was lucky to never break an ankle or foot.

I remember having to kick over my XR500 after dropping it; my right foot was so bloody bruised from all the kicking that the next day, I could hardly walk. That didn't teach me, though.

Catching roadkill with my foot once didn't teach me either.

I suppose just age and wisdom caught up with me and now I won't get on any bike without proper footwear, even if it's only a pair of Sidi Dohas.

So, no, boots are not NEEDED to ride a motorcycle. But it's better to wear them.

Reino · 10-15-2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG-E

Humm...

Let's think about this,

This was on Feb. 25th. this year, totaled ankle, busted Tibia, torn rotator cuff. I was in full gear, EVS Carbon knee braces, Sidi Crossfire boots, Klim jacket and pants.

If it wasn't for my boots and knee braces, I would have lost a leg!!

Buy the BEST boots and wear them, Period.

Take Care Brother, Eric.

that is difficult to look at!!!

BIG-E · 10-15-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reino

that is difficult to look at!!!

Sorry, I just didn't think the OP was getting IT! Even with my Sidi's on this is what happened, could you imagine how my leg would have looked with out the boot on? And this was just a little 4 gear high side in a sand wash!

Taking the stapels out was fun.... The shoulder is what hurt the most, it was dis-located and the rotater cuff was torn into. They had to use cadaveor ligiments to put me back together.

I am a firm believer in ATGATT!!

My helmet (Klim F-4) was toast as well, my Oakley goggles actually cut my nose!

Doc said if'in it wasn't for my gear, they would have called the hurst instead of the ambulance!!

Just something to think about.....

Be Blessed everyone, Eric.

lakota · 10-15-2012, 10:04 AM

just take a look at a friend of mine and his accident http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830324to see why you want to wear proper boots.

Reino · 10-15-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG-E

Sorry, I just didn't think the OP was getting IT! Even with my Sidi's on this is what happened, could you imagine how my leg would have looked with out the boot on? And this was just a little 4 gear high side in a sand wash!

Taking the stapels out was fun.... The shoulder is what hurt the most, it was dis-located and the rotater cuff was torn into. They had to use cadaveor ligiments to put me back together.

I am a firm believer in ATGATT!!

My helmet (Klim F-4) was toast as well, my Oakley goggles actually cut my nose!

Doc said if'in it wasn't for my gear, they would have called the hurst instead of the ambulance!!

Just something to think about.....

Be Blessed everyone, Eric.

No worries, I had an accident with my tt600. I cant remember anything, but i made a video just after the crash

. I went over the bars, the back eng kicked up. landed on the side of my head. After words i started the bike played a bit more

( according to my tire tracks ) and went home. As soon as my mother opened the garage door i asked her where i was, was i still studying engineering and an i still on vacation

.

I had a concussion and if it wasn't for my helmet, i would probably not be here. My neck hurt for like 2 months afterwords

10-14-2012, 10:40 AM	#61
H96669 A proud pragmatist. Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Hiding off Hwy 6, B.C. Oddometer: 2,859	That's the boot I wore for months last year. Hadn't I been wearing my riding boots at the time of the "incident", would have been much much worse. Bad, and painful enough as it was. You don't have to go fast to need boots, after I dropped my heavy bike at 0 Mph some bystander came to my help.....when he got there he promptly stepped on my leg/ankle in his excitement and ripped my Achille's tendon. According the specialist that left me with the rather large scar from surgery, would have been way worse without proper boots on. __________________ Have tools, will travel!

10-14-2012, 02:52 PM	#62
NJ Moto Running Free Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Bergen County, NJ Oddometer: 7,131	You're more likely to injure your legs and feet than any other part of your body. http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsMotorcycleSafety/ __________________ Every ride is an adventure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuKeu...feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYqF_BtIwAU "Can we get a party to finally represent us?" - Cenk Uygur

10-14-2012, 04:54 PM	#63
Canuman Cheese, Gromit? Joined: Jun 2008 Location: The Palace of the People, VT Oddometer: 3,280	Just a little anecdotal evidence on this. I was ferrying a bike down to my mechanic, who is less than four miles away late in the season (November, as I recall.) It was very cold, so I dressed up in full gear. I'd been somewhat casual about it at times that season. The bike was running like crap, as it needed the carbs adjusted, so I wasn't going very fast. I hit a frost patch on the road and took a tumble at around 30 mph. My boots saved my feet, my gloves saved my hands, and the armored textile riding pants saved my "gentleman's tackle." I did not hit my head or my helmet. I walked away with a jammed thumb and a few other bumps and bruises. I wrote off the boots and pants -- about $400 worth of gear. The pants were brand-new a week prior. The heel on my right boot had a deep slash in it, and a nasty cut by the toe. These weren't even full-on boots, just a pair of workman-style lace ups. The pavement wore a hole through the fabric of the pants right near my crotch, but the liner saved the manly bits. Considering that getting just a few stitches would have cost double what I had in the gear, I've been far more religious about things since. My "casual" riding boot is once again a pair of tall workman-style leather lace-ups, which is as light as I'll go. My serious touring boots are a pair of Aerostich CTBs, and I keep two pair of motocross boots for the trails. They are not fashionable. They can be a PITA to take on and off. The MX boots are a bitch to walk in. They help with control of the bike, however, and I consider them as necessary as a good helmet. __________________ We have no resources. We produce nothing. But...we have plenty of MEAN. Fearless Leader Motorcycle Racks Handmade in the US! Support a fellow Rider! Dual Sport Luggage Racks for: DRZ-S, SM and E, DR 650 and KLR650: http://www.moto-racks.com

10-14-2012, 06:28 PM	#66
bob393 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Goshen, NY Oddometer: 369	WOW: this is a crazy thread. I ware boots at work just in case I drop something on my foot. I ware boots on the bike. Why would anyone think any differently. Riding a bike is not the same as working in a doctors office where you can where shoes. Come on and think! WOW: This kind of thinking is one of the things just killing the health care system and insurance rates here in the US. I've been glad I had boots on just putting my foot down in a pot hole in a parking lot and that's nothing. __________________ 2007 R1200GS almost farkeled to perfection!

10-14-2012, 11:54 PM	#67
squish Out of the office. Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Where the Ghetto meets the sea. Oddometer: 4,947	Don't let the size of the bike, cost of the bike or lack of speed make you think you don't need decent gear. Look at studies of motorcycle crashes and what part of the body is most likely to see an impact. I personally know of at least two riders to demolished the're ankles why riding smaller bikes on the street. Sure wearing gear can be a pain in the ass, uncomfortable and dorky or un stylish. But it's better than being dead or really beat up. __________________ *On vacation for a spell*

10-14-2012, 05:29 PM	#64
bones_708 Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Oddometer: 560	Personally I think some here didn't or don't really get what you are asking. Here is my thoughts. On any get off the two most likely parts to get injured are your hands and feet. The area that would normally cause the most danger if injured would be your head. Since head injuries have the potential to be the most serious we tend to consider helmets the most essential protective gear. Objectively you would put gloves and boots as second due to both frequency of damage and the very real reduction of damage when wearing boots or gloves. The ease of having armor in a jacket may increase it's useage but boots should be gotten before an armored jacket in my opinion. You also figure in the results of even minor foot/leg damage and it seems even clearer to me. Now you don't really have to have motorcycle boots, heck even boots at all. Work boots seem to do most of the job and several companies make motorcycle shoes that cover your ankle that would probably protect just fine, but it seems a small investment and you should be able to find something cheap whose looks you can tolerate.

10-15-2012, 04:52 AM	#68
lhendrik Truffle Rustler Joined: Dec 2008 Location: New York and Floridoodie Oddometer: 1,947	My boots and riding suit are so beautiful, high tech and expensive that I will not wear them for fear of crashing and damaging them. __________________ Normal is just a setting on the dryer. Armageddon was yesterday - Today we have a serious problem. 2009 R1200GS Adventure 2008 K1200GT

10-15-2012, 05:09 AM	#69
BIG-E AKA; Mongo-E Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Oddometer: 1,758	Humm... Let's think about this, This was on Feb. 25th. this year, totaled ankle, busted Tibia, torn rotator cuff. I was in full gear, EVS Carbon knee braces, Sidi Crossfire boots, Klim jacket and pants. If it wasn't for my boots and knee braces, I would have lost a leg!! Buy the BEST boots and wear them, Period. Take Care Brother, Eric. __________________ "If my Technique Improves, so will my riding"!

10-15-2012, 06:15 AM	#71
Yossarian™ Deputy Cultural Attaché Joined: Jul 2007 Location: the 'Ha Oddometer: 8,133	In my days of crazy motorcycling youth, I didn't bother with any boots. I was lucky to never break an ankle or foot. I remember having to kick over my XR500 after dropping it; my right foot was so bloody bruised from all the kicking that the next day, I could hardly walk. That didn't teach me, though. Catching roadkill with my foot once didn't teach me either. I suppose just age and wisdom caught up with me and now I won't get on any bike without proper footwear, even if it's only a pair of Sidi Dohas. So, no, boots are not NEEDED to ride a motorcycle. But it's better to wear them. __________________ Successfully surviving motorcycling since 1976.

10-15-2012, 10:04 AM	#74
lakota Geeser Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Annapolis MD Oddometer: 2,169	just take a look at a friend of mine and his accident http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830324to see why you want to wear proper boots. __________________ IBA #42016 CDR 2012 Nova Scotia 2011 Taking Molly to Atlantis Labador Newfoundland Nova Scotia 2010 Trail of an Assassin Alaska 2009 follow the ride on spot

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