Suzuki SV650 Riders Forum banner
1 - 20 of 42 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
91 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Alright I've been a bad moto newb. I went out and got the leather jacket, gloves, and a helmet and just stopped there for my 1st few months. I'm going to order a pair of over-pants as soon as I figure out what to do about boots (combined shipping maybe). Now I always hear the rave reviews of Sidi and A* race boots but those things are way out my price range. I haven't come across any steals in the closeout sections of various sites. I did turn to ebay the past couple days and keep coming across the brand "XElement." I come to find they're sold on Amazon.com too.

So #1 does anyone have an idea for a good pair of boots in the $100 price range?
#2 has anyone tried/heard of XElement? http://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Mot...ment-Motorcycle-Black-Racing-Boots/53813.html
edit: what about Vega too? http://www.compacc.com/p.cfm/c/1001008/p/20822

Thanks all!
 

· Premium Member
Joined
·
14,958 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
8,679 Posts
I recommend these:



Alpinestars Ridge waterproof boots.

Very good (not excellent) protection, including armored heel and toe caps, armored ankle discs, and padded shin protector. Good for normal street riding.

Very good (not great) height. (I wouldn't go any lower-cut. You lose calf/shin protection, and start to sacrifice ankle support.)

Velcro on each side of the boot, plus zipper on the inside, so it's really easy to get on and off.

Comfortable, breatheable, water-resistant, and looks okay under pants.

AND -- $100.
 

· Premium Member
Joined
·
3,373 Posts
Alright I've been a bad moto newb. I went out and got the leather jacket, gloves, and a helmet and just stopped there for my 1st few months. I'm going to order a pair of over-pants as soon as I figure out what to do about boots (combined shipping maybe). Now I always hear the rave reviews of Sidi and A* race boots but those things are way out my price range. I haven't come across any steals in the closeout sections of various sites. I did turn to ebay the past couple days and keep coming across the brand "XElement." I come to find they're sold on Amazon.com too.

So #1 does anyone have an idea for a good pair of boots in the $100 price range?
#2 has anyone tried/heard of XElement? http://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Mot...ment-Motorcycle-Black-Racing-Boots/53813.html
edit: what about Vega too? http://www.compacc.com/p.cfm/c/1001008/p/20822

Thanks all!
You might get lucky ordering a pair of boots you have never tried on, but chances are probably better that you will go through a few pair until you find some that feel comfortable to you and then end up having spent a lot more in the long run. Recommendations from others are fine as a place to start trying on, but what feels comfortable to someone else might not work for you. I'll never order another pair of boots without trying them on first...too many pairs sitting in the closet that never get worn.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
551 Posts
I usually just wear by old bates military boots. Leather, steel toe and comfortable as a running shoe...and they were free! I only wear race boots for track days as I don't like walking around in them for any amount of time. If the race boot is what your after then that's cool but as someone else mentioned, you don't need them just to be safe on the street.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,222 Posts
I have those Xelement boots that the OP linked. They're okay. Not the hardest boots in the ankle area (protection-wise), but they're pretty comfortable. I'll be getting some ankle-height boots later for the summer -- something a little more "normal" looking. BTW -- Leather-Up has a similar pair of boots that are all black, if that's a concern.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
36 Posts
I've been eying these at Newenough for $180 - TCX SS Performance 2:

http://www.newenough.com/boots/racing_boots/tcx/ss_performance_2_racing_motorcycle_boots.html

Anybody got 'em?
i got a pair a few weeks ago, used them about 30x or so now and they're perfect for my needs(commuting/canyons).

the fit is pretty spot-on, i usually wear a size 8.5 in normal shoes, the tcx boots are size 40 so they're somewhat snug. i've noticed other(more expensive) boots have ratcheting/securement systems that i'd consider a must-have if i were to do track riding, however the velcro seems suitable for street use. nonetheless they stay pretty well secured around my calves. i wouldn't use them for running errands but i've got a set of icon super duty 2's for that. everything on them has held up so far and they feel like they'd do a much better job of keeping my foot/ankle safe instead of half-boots or shoes.

note: you could spend $40-$50 more on a higher quality pair w/ extra features but i got these mainly due to the perfect fit and secondarily the lower pricetag.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3,539 Posts
i got a pair a few weeks ago, used them about 30x or so now and they're perfect for my needs(commuting/canyons).

the fit is pretty spot-on, i usually wear a size 8.5 in normal shoes, the tcx boots are size 40 so they're somewhat snug. i've noticed other(more expensive) boots have ratcheting/securement systems that i'd consider a must-have if i were to do track riding, however the velcro seems suitable for street use. nonetheless they stay pretty well secured around my calves. i wouldn't use them for running errands but i've got a set of icon super duty 2's for that. everything on them has held up so far and they feel like they'd do a much better job of keeping my foot/ankle safe instead of half-boots or shoes.

note: you could spend $40-$50 more on a higher quality pair w/ extra features but i got these mainly due to the perfect fit and secondarily the lower pricetag.
Thanks for the review. Sounds like you use them for exactly the same type of riding I do.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
661 Posts
I used to own the Oxtar SS Performance 2 which is almost exactly the same as the TCS SS Performance 2. Great boot, very comfortable, and good protection. However, you can get the A* SMX-4 or SMX-5 for the same price or less at http://www.sportbiketrackgear.com

If your size is available you can get the SMX-4 for $170 shipped or its replacement, the SMX-5, for $187 shipped. Great deals IMO.


The Ridge was also my first true motorcycle boot. It gave me good protection and was truly waterproof. It is a bit heavy though and not very comfortable to walk any distance in. Plus it looks kinda dorky w/ the squared toe, astronaut look. It's way better than sneakers or work boots though.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3,539 Posts
I used to own the Oxtar SS Performance 2 which is almost exactly the same as the TCS SS Performance 2. Great boot, very comfortable, and good protection. However, you can get the A* SMX-4 or SMX-5 for the same price or less at http://www.sportbiketrackgear.com

If your size is available you can get the SMX-4 for $170 shipped or its replacement, the SMX-5, for $187 shipped. Great deals IMO.
Great thanks. I had no idea the SMX-4 was still in stock anywhere. Now if work will pick up I could afford a pair.
 
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top