boot questions

[Osiris]

Just wondering if anyone has any opinions on these boots and how safe they really are. They look pretty stiff as far as ankle protection, but I'm not really sure that they are that much safer compared to an sm-x plus or something like that.

I found these on revzilla, they are the icon 1000 elsinore boots. All the video reviews I could find on them they were too stuck on the styling of the boot and less about the safety. So if anyone has something to say about them I'd love to hear it. Pretty decent price for them, they're only 230.

[Osiris]

Features:
12" top grain leather upper
Goodyear welt construction
Icon cast metal buckles
Icon stamped metal heel plate
Heat pressed leather shifter panel
Heat pressed molded leather shin plate
Internal ankle protection <= According to the video they have this is malleolus protection (basically what looks like a little leather pad over the ball of your ankle)
Axialmetric steel shank
YKK® Zippers

[00NissanNinja]

Originally Posted by Osiris

Just wondering if anyone has any opinions on these boots and how safe they really are. They look pretty stiff as far as ankle protection, but I'm not really sure that they are that much safer compared to an sm-x plus or something like that.

Definitely no where near the protection capability of the smx-plus. More like trying to compete with the smx-5

[gwilo]

Good boot

but

You want to ride a Ninja 250 ?

The will not fit well between the shifter and the foot peg.

They are made to work well with a cruiser and there is more protection than most cruiser boots.

SMX-5 family is better for sport bike or Sidi sport/touring styles

[Osiris]

cool, I've seen the smx-5 listed before on here for boots. I was just curious about opinions on how protective they were, and if they were good for sport bikes.

I'll probably end up getting something from the smx line eventually. I have until the first week of july till i take my msf course, and then buying a bike. Just saw these boots and thought they looked pretty awesome hah.

[Malicious Logic]

I agree, they do look awesome...just not on a sportbike *shrugs*

[gfloyd2002]

Icon boots have a bad reputation for usability on the bike. They make several models that won't allow you to shift properly. And while they occasionally make good products, Icon is also very willing to sacrifice function and safety for style. For that reason, I would be very hesitant about buying Icon products without reliable recommendations. Personally, I won't look at them at all as a matter of principle.

In this case, the boot is probably a bad fit for a Ninjette. In addition to the potential that the toe box won't fit under your shifter, stiff and thick upright touring boots sometimes don't have the flexibility or lean angle to fit a more forward-leaning body position on a sport bike. Better to go with a boot that is intended for use on a sportbike. (Though I use a touring boot myself, just one that is more flexible and fits under my shifter. )