Well....just received my Alpinstar S-MX5 boots.Oh Yeah-VERY NICE.I wear a 10 shoe, ordered a 9 1/2 boot.Perfecto Fit!.These are gonna be JUST FINE.Got em on right now-feel comfy.Went out and did the shift on my baby,Excellent.Okay-nuf said-I WANNA RIDE!!!!!Stay safe all-Have FUN!!!

Still waiting on my S-MX5 maybe Monday. I liked the cool looking shoe Bgordon ordered but hard to find
in size 11. I did find at Cycle Gear a pair of Puma Flat 2 V2 Motorcycle Boots that are ankle high.
Euro size was a 45= mens 11. I am done with boots for a long time.... I hope.

Edit UPS just dropped them off. They fit Great... :-)

* Last updated by: LAB3 on 5/8/2009 @ 6:42 PM *

I liked the cool looking shoe Bgordon ordered but hard to find in size 11.

I am size 12 and ordered it from the Puma website... -bg

PUMA GP-1000 are the best boot period. the heel is very protective and moves with you quite well.

I have a pair and you can get a pair for 250 on ebay from the same guy i got mines from.
check them out

The Puma is much heavier and bulkier than the Astars
and this is not a guess- I bought a pair last summer
and they are currently retired in their box.

I've also had a pair of Sidi and didn't like them much-
they were punishing for a longer ride and horrible to
walk more than 10 steps off the bike. Great for a track
day and nothing else- again, waiting for me in their box.

Put it this way- even a slow accident can result in a crushed heel,
and that will lead to a few screws and a distinct limp for life.
I wouldn't wear anything else but a max protection boot! just my $0.02

Well,here's an update.Have ridden two days now with my new A-stars boots.I can say that these are the best boots I've owned.VERY comfy. Easy to put on and take off.Fully adjustable with EASY velcro flaps and side zipper.Toe guard(already scraped both sides).Easy to shift with-very easy.No slip on my buell pegs,and the heel hooks just right on the peg for cruising mode.I recommend highly.And they're VERY LIGHT.(but definitely sturdy).Very flexible as well.-That's it fer now-Ride safe all-have a blast with yer time machines!!!

[img][/img]

I took both pairs home(smx5&puma,desmo1000). In the end I kept the Puma Desmo 1000. Both very nice boots.

what did you like on the Puma over the Alpine Stars?

i have the puma. Its a very high quality and comfortable. But it also give me the feeling that nothing will ever hurt my ankles.
BUt if your a lil bigger than average like me. i found its easier to take off the pumas..lol

but with PUMA i want to also say for me they fit true to size so order what ever you wear in tennis shoes. because if i did go a size up like they tell you to they would be too big

what did you like on the Puma over the Alpine Stars?

For me it was the ankle design of the two boots. If you look at the photo above, the smx5 has the long velcro seem which comes down almost to the bottom of the boot on the inside(is it needed). This velcro strip covers the heavier zipper. It looked like a great idea but what I found was, when in riding position the leather flaps would stick out into the bike and become bulky making the ankle stiff . If you own these boots or are trying them on just lean forward and you will see what I mean. The Puma has a very forward flexible ankle design in comparison to the stars and felt less like a ski boot. The puma also had feeling of being broke in as soon as you try them on. My thought was I would be able to shift quicker with these boots. Please do not think I am putting down or bragging up either of these boots. This was just MY findings for a 11 1/2 boot. I have always worn alpinestars motocross boots and I would wear nothing else. For me the long term test will tell me if the extra money was worth it. I hope this helps any one who is looking .

I know what you are saying about the stiffness in the ankle. My Alpinestar Gore tex took several
weeks to get them broken in. They flex much better now and were hard to sip up at first, but now after a year off weraing them my new S-MX5 are really still but they do fit well and look great. I have ordered the
Puma V2 ankle high shoe/boot for summer riding around town.

I have tourmasters as they are a basic boot at a good price. The touring boards rate them good .
Good bang for the buck at $120 and I dont look gay or like buck rogers when they are on

After 3 days of riding,I can only say my A-Stars are perfect for me. My ankle isn't bound up at all,and the leather is breaking in nicely.They are more comfy every time I put em on.Feel very protected.(retired my Tom Currans officially).

* Last updated by: blue07 on 5/10/2009 @ 10:13 PM *

I have a pair of the Puma 1000 v1 great boot however they suck off the bike but work great while on the bike. They have the best ankle and heel protection in the business. If you have a narrow foot they work great I would go with an equivalent AStars if you have a wide foot. I would not buy the Puma 1000 boot again it’s truly a race boot that works well when used for its intended purpose. I would not ware them to bike night or any event that requires walking more than say 500 ft although while on the bike they are very comfortable. I can tell you that any brand is better than sneakers

Wearing the Sidi Vortices, this is an outstanding boot in everyway, very comfortable out of the box,ez on/off, side vents that provide great ventilation, or you can close in the rain.
Wear 10.5 in tennis shoe and got 11 boot, perfect fit.

kids got me a pair of icon field armor boots for x-mas, these are a little on the stiff side, well padded and protected, toe is a little thicker than i like,(harder to upshift). Look good with jeans though and are very well ventilated. Again size 11.

ihit a moose on my 1800 vtx. as

I hit a moose on my 1800 vtx at about 50 mph. As I was sliding down the road the only thing that was between me and my ankle was my Tony Lama sharkin cowboy boots. Sharkskin is very tough and the boots are not flimsy. One of the boots was part way worn through by the slide. If I didn't have ankle protection, the slide would have destoyed my ankle. I don't think the style is important. It is whether you can walk away from a slide down the highway at 50 mph or more.

If you aren't covering your ankle you may lose it. I was wearing leathers, gloves and a helmet and I was just a bit banged up. You can't control moose or folks who turn in front of you. but you can dress for a fall. It is not a live fast die young problem. The problem is not dying its living with a permanent limp.

i

* Last updated by: alaskarider on 5/14/2009 @ 11:54 AM *

for the reminder alaskarider!

Went down wearing those Alpinestar Octane riding shoes and they did their job. My foot was between my bike and the asphalt for the first 10 or so feet the slide. Long enough to wear a hole through my pants. The shoes saved my ankle. And that was not a bad get off by any stretch of the imagination! PROTECT YOUR ANKLES AT ALL TIMES!!!

DogoZX:

Well, I think you guys have got me convinced to get into something with a lot more ankle protection that my little Puma/Ferrari shoes. Thanks, everyone! -bg

Way to Gordon!!!Yep,gonna be wearin my A-Stars on all rides.Kinda like "needing a gun and NOT havin one,better to have one AND NOT NEED IT"-Yes?Ride safe!!(well,that's backwards-but you know what I mean!)

* Last updated by: blue07 on 5/14/2009 @ 2:28 PM *

My favorite boots are the $10 cowboy boots I got at Goodwill. I'm not a cheap person. These are comfy and I don't feel like an Italian fairy in blingy fashion accessories. I got them after ruining my sharkskin Tony Llamas while sliding down the freeway one afternoon. There was plenty of leather to protect the outside ankle bone and heel. They just don't shine up so good anymore.
I'm going to buy some Icon Tarmac vented boots for this summer.

The pix above is what leather cowboy boots will get ya, I was wearing Harley-Davidson riding boots when i hi-sided my Fatboy back in 2001, The boots where actually steel toed but were made laike a pair of slip-on cowboy boots, my ankle caught a sign post while sliding by and busted my ankle.

I truely believe, that if i had on a snug pair of riding boots that were well padded, i would have walked away with a broken wrist, instead of being carried away with a busted ankle and a broken wrist...

I actually thought the boots were a good pair of riding boots, until the accident and then i realized i could have definitely had better, but in '01 good protection that didn't look like an all out race boot or an mx boot was impossible to find. But we don't have that problem now, so there is really no excuse to not protect yourself..

And please bg, get rid of those shower shoes and get you some good boots...

ATGATT (all the gear, all the time)

And please bg, get rid of those shower shoes and get you some good boots...

The Picture brings it all home.

[img][/img]

Work place accident. My fault....BOOTS. Lesson learned.

And please bg, get rid of those shower shoes and get you some good boots...

Message received. I am boot shopping now.

Thanks, guys... -bg