New Boots

[Computer Guy]

I was at my local motorcycle dealer and tried on a pair of Sidi Discovery Rain boots.  They were so comfortable that I bought them and wore them home.  I have trouble putting on high-top boots but these were easy on and easy off.  They fit my fat calves and my wide feet.  They are very adjustable.  I got on my bike and immediately got off and adjusted the shift lever upwards.  I now cannot feel the shifting as before with my lighter, thinner, ankle-high boots, and occasionally am missing shifts.  Every upshift is now a deliberate effort. Will this get better as the boots break in?  I love these boots.  As soon as I got home I removed those metal toe pieces.   I like the secure feeling that these boots give me.  I like that my shins are now protected.  

[coho]

Yes, you will get used to the different shifting feel in short order.  The less you think about it, the quicker that will be.  It will seem odd when you put on the thinner boots, too, but the greater feel of those will have you at equilibrium in no time.
Kinda like having two bikes of very different displacements.

[servicerifle]

You bought medium level offroad boots and you're surprised that some of your feel has gone away?  What exactly did you expect?

The more toward offroad you go, the less feel and more deliberate the inputs have to be.  If you wanted protective street boots the Sidi Vertigos are good.

I have the Sidi Vertigo Airs and also Sidi Crossfire TA's, and love both, but they are VERY different.

[Windblown]

Yes, you will get used to the different shifting feel in short order.  The less you think about it, the quicker that will be.  It will seem odd when you put on the thinner boots, too, but the greater feel of those will have you at equilibrium in no time.
Kinda like having two bikes of very different displacements.

+1

Yes they will break in. Yes you will adapt quickly. Enjoy the extra protection. The MX guys flying 40 ft in the air can't feel the shifter either and missing a shift for them is usually disasterous. (though actually you WILL feel the shift just as they do. It's just the feedback is more subtle.)

[chriskoz]

I remember that feeling when I got back into MX riding. As others have said, you will get used to it, and will appreciate the protection in the long run. Just stay with them.

[DaisyCutter]

You'll learn to love the boots.

I use Tech-6 Alpinestars.  They are tough, and also numb the feeling of shifting, etc.  When you pinch your boot between a refrigerator sized boulder and your bike at 40mph, or decide to run your foot over... the protection is nice to have.


Tech-6 salute photo:





Here's another piccy:



Took a fearsome crash into a revine trying an off-course pass (harescrambles, not MX)...  The photo above was taken post-crash, note the crooked number-plate and broken boot buckle.  I was probably going 60mph when I saw a big ravine (they don't mark 'em off-course )... too late to brake; I just pinned it.  I hit the back side, cased the bike, got tossed out of the saddle and the KX started swapping the rear end.  I managed to hang on and bulldog it down to 30 mph before it ran over my foot and we augered in.

Got up anf finished.  I placed 2nd, the guy I was trying to pass got 1st.  Old war stories...


At any rate, I've taken countless nasty hits, and good quality boots have saved me countless times.  Ironically, I'll buy and wear $80 helmets, crash 'em and replace 'em like they're disposable... but I'd never go cheap on boots.  Call it redneck reasoning, but I can still ride home with a concussion, while a compound fracture of the leg necessitates a helicopter ride.

[servicerifle]

  Ironically, I'll buy and wear $80 helmets, crash 'em and replace 'em like they're disposable... but I'd never go cheap on boots.  Call it redneck reasoning, but I can still ride home with a concussion, while a compound fracture of the leg necessitates a helicopter ride.

Well, there's actually something to that.  I don't think you get a lot more protection in a very expensive helmet than a regular one.  You DO with boots.  I knocked the living shit out of my head in Cambodia this time (got super wild coming out of a deep water crossing, the bike tried to swap ends at maybe 30kph or more, and when I stopped I realized I'd hit my head on a concrete wall hidden by vines.  Cracked my helmet (an $80 Acerbis) but it performed perfectly.  Likewise, I also pinched my $500 Crossfires between some concrete fenceposts (also hidden by vines, looked like a small bush) and the bike at 50kph or so.  Never felt a thing.  Boots are good-to-go.

[birdrunner]

I,  like the OP wear a Dual sport type boot while riding a street bike, ( the XX is even more sporty than the FJR)

You'll get used to them,  they'll break in,   It's worth it.


BTW,  I've the Alpinsar Scouts ....   comfortable enought to go site seeing with.

[Computer Guy]

I'd like to report that my Sidi boots are breaking in after not a lot of miles and the shifting is improving.  
Thanks for all your comments.

[dietDrThunder]

At any rate, I've taken countless nasty hits, and good quality boots have saved me countless times.  Ironically, I'll buy and wear $80 helmets, crash 'em and replace 'em like they're disposable... but I'd never go cheap on boots.  Call it redneck reasoning, but I can still ride home with a concussion, while a compound fracture of the leg necessitates a helicopter ride.

Ya, the reasoning there isn't stellar, but the result is fine  It's doubtful that the cheaper helmets are any less protective than the high-dollar jobbers. This is not the case for boots.