My motorcycle boot evolution

[@advredbikes]

Great Video, I had a jean jacket, jeans, police boots, Dr Martens boots, now i have pro formas and Klim gear.

[@kamillop.7842]

Hello Sir. Thank you for the video. I'm really impressed about your experience and thank you for sharing this with us. In my case I was using cheap let say adventure buuts but after the first accident when my Africa foll down on my leg and I damaged my ankle, I moved over to Leatt 5.5. The same feeling as you have, it is hard to change the gears but finally our ankles are more important. Regards from Poland BTW the cost of Tech 7 in EU is 336USD, so 25% lower comparing to your market.

[@CampingwithRadios_kg6dve]

Reminds me of my younger days. My first ride, I was 14, on a Hodaka Trail 90. In the rain, on the street, no brakes and no helmet. Lol. Talk about 10ft tall. I was born in Wheeling WVa. Our family lived in Yorkville, Ohio. Wheeling was the closest hospital in the 50's. Ride on, Ride safe.

[@guzziman]

I returned a pair of Tech 7, just could not manage the stiffness... had zero flex, I have road alpinestars boots that I like.

[@davidrochow9382]

I flinched when you mentioned riding with shorts on. I'm 64 and did it once in either my late teens or early 20s and ended up burning my leg on the exhaust pipe. I had sandshoes (Australian name for sneakers) when I first started back in 77 as it was all I could afford. Then I went to an army disposal store and got some fur lined flying boots. I think as you get older you can afford the better boots. I have also found a couple of good places to buy them for a better price. One is Marketplace as a lot of people seem to need new boots ever year and you can sometimes buy boots that are less then 12 months old on there for a really good discount. The next one can also work for helmets. Go into a store when the new season stock comes in and you can get a brand new pair for a lot less as they just want to get rid of the old stock. I saved over $200 on an Airoh full face helmet that way.

[@allenhuling598]

Yes, definitely an evolution for me a well.....same progression! Had a small mishap on my DR 350 wearing leather work/hiking boots that broke my fibula and was still wearing the medical boot when my T7 arrived. Made the choice to upgrade boots to an Alpinestar before ever getting on the T7. I've been very happy with the boots and the protection they offer for the last 4 years!! Just get the right protection so you arrive at your destination intact, every time!! Good video!

[@rvator7291]

Its all a trade off with risk/comfort/ mixed with stupidity. I am former jean jacket/ t shirt /shorts guy who like many is older and wiser now. I weighed in how adventury I really wanted to be and recently got low cut formas which are as stiff as I care to go. I wanted something to fit under my Klim Marakesh pants also. Given the type of riding I do I just cant do adventure gear to the max. You west coasters really get into some desolate terrain so dont blame you for getting something more rigid.

[@roadrider1100]

Yeah, Forma's have ridiculous toe box height. I currently have the Alpinestars Tucan which I can shift so much better and is a more protective boot.

[@hrmacdonald4471]

Nice video...I have a sport touring bike and looking for my first motorcycle boot...so so many choices. Nice to see you wearig the HWK line. Maybe someday you can discuss HWK in a video.

[@steveh545]

well, the new boots match the bike. That's good for a few extra HP. As long as a plaster (cast) boot wasn't on the list, you're doing well.

[@samhill3496]

You have a little age on me. When wecstarted there was nothing except engineering boots. Pull on's. Well they were fly off's when you needed them. Saw a friend get substantial injury when his came off just crossing a highway. From then on it was Herman Survivors. Full leather lace ups and waterproof. In '84 I bought my first BMW and they offered sone rally good riding boots. Waterproof with protection. I have a pair very similar to the Forma's abd then their touring boots. Of late I have a new pair of Frey Daytona's. Both road and now an ADV model. Lot of leather but good protection. I've had some spills in my time and a goid pair of boots is as important as anyother piece of safety equipment save a helmet. Good riding. Knee seems to be doing better. Just brace yourself on that first get up step. Mine is healing well. Next time fellow pensioner

[@SW-Video]

Yes, there does seem to be a consensus on using motoX boots for any off-road riding these days. I picked up a pair of Falco Avantour 2 Adventure Motorcycle Boots that were on sale but they are more motox than Adventure style with great protection. I did have to adjust my shifter lever down because I was missing up-shifts. Apparently most people find they need to adjust them up because they have a hard time getting their foot under the lever. I guess it all depends where it was set at originally. As you said though, these boots were not made for walking (nod to Cher). I'd definitely bring along a lightweight pair of sneakers or something if going camping with them or just plan on doing more walking when I got to my destination. The downside is these boots would not be fun if a breakdown caused me to walk any distance to get help.

[@peterrobinson5211]

Surely, Boots Were made for Walking was Nancy Sinatra😊

[@SW-Video]

@@peterrobinson5211 Oops. My mistake. ☺

[@MySeniorMoments]

I had not thought about needed to walk a long distance if the bike broke down. That is a downside of riding using a stiff boot. Good point.

[@peterronning5922]

Last June I dropped my bike on my foot. On pavement. At a dead stop. I broke a metatarsal in my foot. I was wearing work boots with good toe protection but nothing for the metatarsal bones. The mistake cost me the riding season of 2023. The drop was entirely my fault, of course, but we all make mistakes. Consequently, I bought and wear a pair of Sidi off-road boots with a pretty hard plastic shell that provides some protection of my whole foot, my ankle and my lower leg. I even wear these boots on the street. Other riders seeing me in these boots riding on the street might think it's strange, but I don't care. I'm an old guy; I don't know how many riding seasons I have left but I don't want to lose another one. I'm still learning rear brake control with these stiff boots. I don't have the same feel for the brake pedal that I did with leather boots. It will come, I hope. I ride a bike with a DCT transmission, but I imagine if I had a foot shifter there's be some learning to do for that. I also have a Helite airbag vest on order, and I have a "returning rider" training course coming up in a couple of weeks. As we get older we get more protective of the health we have.

[@MySeniorMoments]

Very well stated.

[@rustyspiker3569]

I purchased the same boot last summer. Had the same learning curve with them also. The road your on is it still called Dead Indian? I grew up in Medford so know the area. I’am sure you have ridden the green springs Hwy to Klamath falls. Lots,of,great places,to ride in Southern Oregon. Have a great summer ridding!

[@MySeniorMoments]

Yes, that's the route I was on.

[@yowser8780]

Hmmm... You've found those HWK jackets (maybe pants too). IMHO: Pretty good value. If they can make a fairly decent jacket for $79... the other manufacturers are rolling in the money with their $500 jackets.

[@SW-Video]

Klim are way overpriced. They are selling the name more than the product even though their products are quite good. MSR has better prices a lot of the time. Too bad Fieldsheer got away from making products for adventure and dual-sport riders.

[@MySeniorMoments]

For the price, HWK makes a decent jacket and pant combo. Way cheaper than KLIM and others. I also own 2 KLIM jackets and 1 KLIM pant, so I can speak from experience. KLIM is superior fit and style, but HWK does not skimp on materials or features. I mostly wear the HWK for colder weather pavement riding and I wear my KLIM Dakar outfit for more off-pavement rides in warmer weather.

[@rustyspiker3569]

The alpinstars boot is allot of boot but if you want protection off road it’s,the way to. Also question.. the 390 is only 65 lbs lighter than the T7 so how much of a difference is lifting the bike did it make? Also 35 less hp. I have a Tiger 800 485 lbs wet but at some point going to downsize also and I like the 390.:I have a riding off road ridding friend so at this point he is also with me when I ride off road. He is 76 and I’am 77. So we’re ok now. But we won’t ride off road by ourselves and that’s mainly where we ride. Take care.

[@MySeniorMoments]

The 65 pounds actually makes ot quite easier to lift, plus the T7 was very top heavy which made it more difficult to control and lift. I ride alone mostly so I need to be able to lift my bike without help.

[@rustyspiker3569]

The Tiger is top heavy also. Thanks for the input. Enjoy the season coming up. Make more video’s.

[@gabrielkopp2036]

I've hade the exact experience with t7 and forma boots except I actually sprained my ankle and got alpinestars tech 7s.. how do you like the 390 so far? Have you had any issues with it?

[@MySeniorMoments]

I like the 390. It was a good choice for me at this stage in my riding career - lighter and nimble but still enough power and speed. I do miss the amazing torque of the T7 when riding in 2nd gear off-pavement. The 390 is also a bit more cramped in the saddle and difficult to ride standing up more than for a few minutes.

[@gabrielkopp2036]

@@MySeniorMoments I was just curious. The 390 seems pretty popular. But ktm is know for not being reliable. I am kinda waiting to see how the new cfmoto Ibex 450 goes

[@guzziman]

The alpienstar tech 7, I got them and had to return them, felt like walking inside a cast, could not change gears, just did not work for me

[@gabrielkopp2036]

@@guzziman it takes practice and you have to adjust your shifter

[@guzziman]

@@gabrielkopp2036 DO they get softer after a while? Or stay stiff forever ? Thanks !

[@The333]

Ha, I pretty much followed the same path. Although I do think when I was a kid riding my Yamaha MX 100, I actually invested in a pair of steel tipped work boots (which probably saved me on more than one occasion, lol) - I hate to say it, but the "Adventure Boot" category is a marketing scam - Had I known better, 3 seasons ago I would have gone straight to the Tech 7 (which I am also wearing now like you) - Soft leather ADV boots honestly do not protect your inner lower leg at all. I have broken my Tech 7s in pretty well this season, and I think after 1 or 2 more rides, you will be wondering how you lived without them (I love mine - except for the SQUEAKS, lol).

[@MySeniorMoments]

I am still getting used to the Tech 7, but they are surprisingly comfortable. Up-shifting gears still takes more focus than with leather boots.