Quality footwear for the street

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Three decades ago, when I first began to ride motorcycles, I rode V-Twin cruiser bikes. And not knowing much, I dressed in the clothing I saw other cruiser riders wear . . . leather jacket, jeans, cowboy boots, fingerless gloves, and a helmet. A few months later, a car turned left in front of me, and I skidded to a near stop before gently hitting the car’s front bumper. But I fell over, and my left foot got caught under the bike as it tipped over, causing my ankle to twist inside the boot and I got a severe sprained ankle with stretched ligaments and muscles, keeping me off my foot for about 6 weeks. It was then that I started to research better protective gear.

That’s when I discovered Alpinestars. I learned that the Italian company started in 1963, making innovative riding boots for motocross and enduro off-road motorcycle racing. Those early products proved to be wildly popular and became the benchmark for riding boots throughout the world. When I began to be invited by manufacturers to press events at racetracks, I decided to buy a pair of sportbike boots for those occasions and appreciated the quality and protection of their boots. Then I bought a pair of tall waterproof street riding boots and loved them as my everyday pair for my cruiser bike and my sportbike. And finally, I bought a pair of short summer boots about 10 years ago and used them for warm weather riding on either motorcycle.

A quality riding shoe can make a bigger difference than you might think.

Last September, I was wearing those short boots when I had a more serious accident. Long story short, I had an crash (pilot error) and got tossed off the sport bike, and this time the bike landed hard on my left ankle, dislocating it. My tibia bone at the ankle snapped and poked through my skin. The paramedics had to cut my boot off at the scene and rush me to the hospital where I had immediate surgery to fix it all. After surgery, the orthopedic surgeon told me I’d be okay after several months, and with physical therapy, I’d be good to go. Then he added, “Those boots you were wearing saved you from having a permanent limp for the rest of your life.” I can’t tell you how great I felt after hearing those words.

I called the folks at Alpinestars to relate my story, and to replace my boots. They told me they no longer make the exact same model boots, but they’d send me a pair of the next generation to use and review. So this spring-summer I’m riding with Alpinestars SP-2 vented riding shoes. They’re an excellent and worthy replacement.

The Alpinestars SP-2 vented riding shoes.

These boots are made from a lightweight leather-like perforated microfiber, for durability, comfort, and excellent airflow, so your feet won’t sweat. The SP-2 shoe features an exclusive compound rubber sole which provides superior levels of grip for the pegs, floorboards, and pavement in any weather.

The shoe passes all the stringent European CE safety standards, so it has full plastic heal protections and reflective insert, a crush resistant toe box and plastic toe sliders on the outside of each shoe, so if you get leaned over a bit too far, you won’t damage the shoe, or your foot. Both ankles have thick padded protection. It has virtually all the same protections as a tall race boot but is more comfortable for walking when you get off the bike.

Alpinestars BOA speed closure system.

The newest feature of this shoe is the integrated BOA speed closure system, which is used on ski and snowboard boots, bicycling shoes, hiking and mountaineering boots, and other sports footwear. Rather than a side zipper and Velcro straps to secure the shoe, as the old model had, this system uses a convenient ratchet dial disc that tightens up the thin wire laces for the perfect fit every time. Just slide your foot into the shoe, and a few turns on the ratcheting dial, and you’re good to go. To remove, just pull out on the dial, the wire laces release, and take your foot out. It makes it easy to dial in the exact fit you want every time you ride.

At first, I was skeptical of how thin and fragile the wire lacing system looks, but I know that the company would only use it if the quality was impeccable. If you visit any motorcycle racetrack in the world, you will see the Alpinestars logo all over the track. Most professional racers and weekend racers wear Alpinestars boots, one-piece leathers, gloves, and even helmets. Street riders also love their feature-laden jackets and pants, whether they ride sportbikes or cruisers. And, the company are pioneers in wearable airbag systems.

Great sole.

I bought my normal size shoe, a US size 9, European size 43. I have wide feet, and these boots, (like my old ones) fit great for all day comfort. The SP-2 riding shoe lists for just under $300. That sounds like a steep price. But if my 10-year-old boot didn’t have to be cut off me, I’d still be wearing them. Even the soles weren’t worn out. So I think about buying quality gear as a long term investment, and costs only a few dollars each year to have the best protection money can buy, for when you really need it. I also own Alpinestars gloves and a jacket. And I’ve never been disappointed buying ANYTHING, not just riding gear, of superior quality. It always pays off in the long run. And you don’t want to find out that your gear let you down while writhing on the pavement in pain, or waking up from surgery.

A superb quality riding shoe. Worth the price.

You can see and order any of their many products online at their website, Alpinestars.com or wherever fine riding gear is sold.

Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman

*Have you owned any gear from Alpinestars? Share your opinions in the comments below!