I just want to reiterate the importance of riding boots:
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Originally Posted by infiniti750
There is a difference between over-the-ankle boots, and riding boots. Motorcycle specific riding boots not only provide protection for your feet, and provide stability against twisting/breaking your ankle, but are also designed for efficiency in operating your bike's controls. Sidi. Sidi. Sidi.
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Originally Posted by xeony2k
I once read that one of the highest points of injury in a motorcycle accident were injured ankles. Good riding boots provide significant ankle/shin protection and then again some are no better than $20 boots from Wal-mart. Non slip soles are also important. Again I fall back that no one plans when and how they are going to wreck.
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Boots seem to be the last thing some riders think about. Even among people who seem to know the importance of gear, boots apparently haven't crossed their minds. I see many riders with full face helmets, gloves, leather jacket... and sneakers.
Even over the ankle work boots aren't good enough in my opinion. You need boots that have sufficient armor to protect your feet, ankles and lower legs from injury. You don't even have to be moving to injure yourself.
I wear Alpinestar SMX boots for track days and street riding: commuting, road trips, Sunday rides, you name it. If I'm on my bike these boots are on my feet.
Last July, while just sitting on the side of the road waiting for some people to catch up, I turned to say something to the person behind me, tried to use my right foot to hold the bike up, but the ground sloped away on that side and I didn't have any ground to put my foot on!
By the time I realized it, the bike had gone past it's balance point.. I tried for a few seconds to hold it up, but it was too far gone and I had to let it down easy onto the shoulder of the road (fortunately grass).
However, as it was going down to the right, the left footpeg (as it came up) grazed the inner part of my left lower leg well above my ankle. I was wearing my A*boots as usual, and my denier riding pants, but even through those two forms of protection I still ended up with a serious bruise and huge lump on my leg that was very painful. It happened the end of July, and the lump is still there right now.
If I had been wearing jeans, they would have been ripped. If I had been wearing shoes, or even just work boots, my leg would have been laid open.
So, it doesn't really matter what kind of riding you are doing, or how much experience you do or don't have. You still need to protect yourself, b/c sh!t happens where you least expect it as well as where you might expect it, and human flesh can't stand up to metal, concrete and asphalt.