How the ^%# do you guys wear MX boots on a trike?! [Archive]

Billy Golightly

03-21-2007, 01:37 PM

Alright After some debate a while ago I finally plopped down the $140 from Dennis Kirk for a pair of low-end Thor Quadrant S7 MX boots. First pair I've ever owned before. I had worn several other pairs before but never did like the feel of them on my feet. I was determined to make these work, so I've been wearing them around the house and even outside some for the past 2 weeks trying to get them broke in and loose where they werent so stiff. They are good and loose now. But the problem now is, I went over to adjust my shifter and stuff for the flat tracker today and in order to get the shifter high enough where it will fit over the top of the boot, it is so high that I have to pick my foot up about 4 inches to be able to down shift :crazy: These Thor boots are atleast twice as thick as my old work boots I always wear, so whenever the shifter is high enough for me to get my foot under it, I'm going to have to pick my foot up the same amount to downshift, its nuts. Theres no mobility or range of movement with these, which is kind of the point I guess, but how the $#%! are you suppose to have a good shifting pattern wearing these things!:confused:

350Kris

03-21-2007, 01:46 PM

Billy, I wear a pair of Gaerne ATV Boots and love 'em. There is a big difference between MX and ATV boots in my opinion. The boots I have actually have hiking-like tread on the bottom, are made from softer leather, and have the plastic shin guard that MX boots have. They are boots that I could actually go hiking in and not injure myself! Let me know if you want me to shoot some pics to post for reference. Don't give up....there are excellent boots for 3 wheeling out there.

blue27

03-21-2007, 01:50 PM

You just need to learn to up shift you have to first angle your foot down under the shifter a little more, I run the shifter on most of my bike one spline higher then stock and don't have to much of a problem, raced quads for years and had to wear MX boots, nobody made an ATV boot back then.

Billy Golightly

03-21-2007, 01:52 PM

Angling the tip of the boot down more to get under the shifter might work in normal conditions...but if I do that on this trike the tip of my foot is going to snag the ground and the result will not be pretty :lol:

Dammit!

03-21-2007, 01:53 PM

I'm in the same boat, Billy. I finally decided to give them a shot a couple years ago and just hated them. No mobility at all. I don't like having to move my entire leg to shift. I guess they work for some people but not me.

AXO makes a new low profile boot that I almost bought after that. My other problem is that nobody makes half sizes and I'm right in between a 10 and a 9. People will say "wear thick socks" or something but it gets just a little too hot for that out here.

http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/07/65/04/f3_1_b.JPG

Billy Golightly

03-21-2007, 01:57 PM

I think I'll go take some pictures of my predicament, you guys can maybe come up with an idea :P

atctim

03-21-2007, 02:09 PM

Some Insight -

I got a pair a few years ago when I got into Dirtbike MX - for the first few rides - I was lost. You can't feel the brake pedal or shifter. They were clumbsy to say the least. You'll get the feel for them and the "uncomfortableness" of them will go away. When I started MX'ing trikes - I had the same problem - same boots - Gaerne Bike boots. It feels bad at first, but you get used to it. I always have my foot under the shifter at a strange angle and it has never got snagged on the ground yet (toes do hang down pretty far). Kinda scary though! Keep on wearing them - before long, you'll never ride in anything else.

Here's a pic - look at my shifting foot position:

http://www.venustel.com/~tkeister/foot-pos.JPG

350Kris

03-21-2007, 02:14 PM

http://gaerne.rideshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_4_10&products_id=14

Trust me guys.....you would love these boots. I shift with these boots almost like I would with sneakers on....they are that pliable, yet supportive. I will never wear anything else to go riding again. I don't work for Gaerne, but these are an excellent choice.

"The EXPLORER is Gaerne’s noteworthy solution for those looking for a dual-purpose or ATV boot. This leather boot is not as heavy as a motocross or supercross boot, but is up to the off-road task.

With more flexibility and movement, the EXPLORER has an injection molded shinplate with three replaceable buckles and a leg gaitor with reflective striping that keeps the dirt out. The sole is strong yet flexible."

Billy Golightly

03-21-2007, 02:37 PM

Yeah, I see how much of an angle your foot is at Tim...that can't work with my machine. I've attached some pictures below, the final one in the next post should be a good indication of the angle I would have to have my foot at, perhaps not as extreme if the shifter is raised a notch. The problem with that is that I need to be shifting when I'm coming out of the corner, or going into it which is always done at the back or the very far side of the bike. That position would have my foot in the opposite direction required to get it under the shifter.

My tan work boots I'm wearing now are roughly an inch and 3/4 thick from the sole to the top of it where the shifter goes, and and the MX boots are 3.5 inches. So the shifter would have to be raised 3.5 inches from tis current position for me to fit under it with my foot flat. With my foot angled as shown in the picture in this next post, without my weight on the bike I have about 3 inches of space from the tip to the ground. More then half of that will be taken up when I sit on it from suspension sag. I just dont see anyway to make this work...

Billy Golightly

03-21-2007, 02:38 PM

Last picture of the boot angled to get under the shifter...

Edit:

Kris I really like the look of that boot, looks much more slender in the toe area then these bulky arsed things. I see they have a sponsorhouse profile too...I will definitely keep them in mind.

Kintore

03-21-2007, 02:43 PM

Are the IMS pegs making the short shifter a problem? or the TRX the same as the ATC ones?

Dammit!

03-21-2007, 02:43 PM

Two words dude: Suicide Shifter. :naughty:

BigGreenMachine

03-21-2007, 02:48 PM

Thor, O'Neal, AXO all make lowcut ATV/Pit bike boots that look like they would be 100% easier to move around in.

Bryan Raffa

03-21-2007, 02:50 PM

perhaps go with a longer shifter or make one.. and go up on the splines untill you reach a happy medium.. I have actually been looking in the half boot also but my rideing pants will look a little funny up around my shin!

If you can get it to where the shifter is at the tip of your boot you will be alot happer..

Kintore

03-21-2007, 02:55 PM

Yah, billy, im going to be buying the 50/50 boot I think. A nice comprimise between safety and confortness.

SYKO

03-21-2007, 03:01 PM

man, I wouldnt know how to ride a trike without my boots, you dont necessarly go all the way under and on top of the shifter to change gears, I use the side of my boot, I dont ever have a problem but Ive been wearing some kind of mx or riding boot for over 19+ years so Im more acustomed to them then many other people, I do everyonce in a while hop on with just shoes and then I start missing gears and jsut being a stupid ass with out boots on. billy remember when I wrecked in the second heat, if it wasnt for my boots my season would have been over as I know for a fact that my leg would have been broken. you'll get used to them it may take a while but you will.

nate b

03-21-2007, 03:04 PM

Two words dude: Suicide Shifter. :naughty:

that would be awesome, I got 2 more....air shifter.

seriously nothing beats a pair of work boots

SYKO

03-21-2007, 03:11 PM

work boots, yea keep thinking that untill your calf gets caught between the peg and tire and breaks your foot then you'll wish your work boots were made by thor or oneil and went up to your knee

Billy Golightly

03-21-2007, 03:17 PM

Kintore: I thought about that too, they are actually a little shorter already then the stock pegs. The back row of tread is lower then the rest, and its made so your heel fits there and keeps your foot level. The shifter is actually a stock one, so its not really any shorter.

Dammit: Haha, I thought about that actually. Wouldn't work good for working the clutch and throttle at the same time though.

BGM: The problem I guess isn't really so much how far it goes up my leg, but how thick the area is over my toes and where my normal shift point is compared to my work boots. I think most everything is going to be bigger there compared to what I'm use to. Those Garnae boots look like they might be the exception.

Raffa: I tried all the spline positions, and I didn't like any of them... for my foot to be flat its gotta be 3.5 inches higher then it is now, and I can go less but then the edge of my toes have a really really good chance of catching the ground and I just don't want to take that chance.

Alan: Yeah...no doubt I would be better protected wearing them, which is the main reason I bought them. I'm just not sure if I'm going to be able to adjust to wearing them, especially racing where your smoothness for shifting and stuff are paramount and a lot more important then just trail riding. Maybe for the Ocala ride I'll force myself to wear them and see if I can get use to them, its just that toe sticking down part for flat tracking I'm not sure about.

Howdy

03-21-2007, 03:29 PM

Billy, Why not modify the shifter to have it upshift with the heal and down shift with your toes? Kawasaki 110's have this set up and it works.
Howdy

cr480r

03-21-2007, 04:10 PM

perhaps go with a longer shifter or make one.. and go up on the splines untill you reach a happy medium.. If you can get it to where the shifter is at the tip of your boot you will be alot happer..

I think this idea is the best solution. Moving the shifter out would dramatically lessen the angle of your foot... Safety is more important than winning... I sprained my ankle so bad learning to ride my Tecate(wearing work boots of course) that I missed a month of work...almost 3 years later I still cant hardly run on it... One injuy could ruin your whole racing career... dont chance it.

x.system

03-21-2007, 04:26 PM

I move my shifter up on the splines to where I have to arch my foot just a little to get it under the shifter. If you run it that way with your boots you will get used to it, just takes a little time. I have to lift my leg to down shift but I only go down 1 gear if that on the track. I've got my gearing set so on the 1/4 mile I can use 5th on the whole track, don't have to shift unless I get out of shape.

250rfan

03-21-2007, 04:39 PM

Billy,
I was in the same predicament as you a few years ago, i hated mx boots, (it's like walking around in a set of ski boots), so when it came time for a new set of boots, i did a bit of research and found these babies, there made by SIDI a cross between a mx boot and a trail boot, they're not as high as an mx boot, they dont have the metal crap on the front, and they're real comfy to walk on as there is give around the front. I tried to see if they still sell them and i think the link will show you they're latest version, not to dissimilar from your work boots.
Gordon.

http://www.dirtbikexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?c_id=2&sc_id=4&p_id=611&PHPSESSID=36ac7ed08d9522bc8bc201201c0c12b0

Billy Golightly

03-21-2007, 04:45 PM

Billy, Why not modify the shifter to have it upshift with the heal and down shift with your toes? Kawasaki 110's have this set up and it works.
Howdy

Howdy that is an awesome idea! I'm gonna definitely look into that.

Bryan Raffa

03-21-2007, 05:27 PM

makeing the shifter longer so the tip of your toe catches it you would only have to go up one spline maybe 2,,but I dont think so..Take another shifter and make it longer so its on the boot a 1/2" that will solve your problem

SYKO

03-21-2007, 05:32 PM

Howdy that is an awesome idea! I'm gonna definitely look into that.

a heal/toe shifter??!?! screw that!!! I can only see that being a problem when your leaning on the trike coming out of a curve and acidently down shifting!!

nate b

03-21-2007, 05:51 PM

work boots, yea keep thinking that untill your calf gets caught between the peg and tire and breaks your foot then you'll wish your work boots were made by thor or oneil and went up to your knee

I had one of my buddies take my 250r into a barrel roll at 60+ mph. The footpeg went threw his calf muscle below the knee and it cut it off down to the ankle. Couldnt have done much better with a fillet knife.

Psychotrike9

03-21-2007, 06:44 PM

Try a pair of Alpinestar Highpoints. There not as cool as the old ones but they are the most comfertable boots that ive ever had.

ceaserthethird

03-21-2007, 06:58 PM

Well if you want something thats going to fit like a Regular Boot - you have 1 choice !

AlpineStar - Tech 10 MotoCross

Best Boot Money Can Buy ... :D

I bought a Pair of AlpineStar - Tech 6 , Total Pain in the ass to shift ! :cry:

I'll be buying new 1's Soon ... Tech 10's :drool:

BigGreenMachine

03-21-2007, 06:59 PM

Personally I used the side (the side lip) of my boot with a shorter shifter so I could easily catch it for upshifts and not have to raise from the pegs to downshift. I had the shifter rotated up a small bit so I could hook under it with the side of the boot and the shorter shifter meant the tip didnt travel as far to make the gearchange.

Dirtcrasher

03-21-2007, 07:13 PM

I wanted boots for a long time. I bought GAERNE MX boots, they were stiff at first but I actually never changed the shifter splines even one notch on any of the 10 ATC's I owned and sold over the years - they all ran stock footpegs and shifters. I can ride with sneakers, Teva's, workboots or my MX boots all at the same spline.

Maybe the wider peg makes it a tougher angle to get your foot in there??

3leggeddog

03-21-2007, 08:23 PM

[QUOTE=sykolincoln]man, I wouldnt know how to ride a trike without my boots, you dont necessarly go all the way under and on top of the shifter to change gears, I use the side of my boot, I dont ever have a problem but Ive been wearing some kind of mx or riding boot for over 19+ years so Im more acustomed to them then many other people,

exactly.use the side of your boot to make the shifts.i wear fox forma pros,or the arc tech 10's.i have no problem shifting but i have been wearing boots for a long time!

Derrick Adams

03-21-2007, 08:24 PM

Billy I tend to lift my leg or grab the very edge of the shifer with the sole of my boot to shift. I was thinking maybe a simple mod to your current shifter would work. Lower the shifter to where your foot sits on it comfortable then make an adjustable bracket to where your toe can pull up on it from that position.

Similar to this:

Trikeaholic

03-21-2007, 09:27 PM

man I remember at the last TF I went to, I got my boot stuck under my fender during the MX races and it was a miserable experience. If I didnt wear those stupid boots, I might have come in 3rd to last instead of 2nd to last!! I hate 'em!

TimSr

03-21-2007, 10:45 PM

I havent used the Thor boot so I cant speak to them directly, but a couple years ago I got some ONeil budget boots and the problem was the toe in the boot was very high. I had to runmy shifter high. (Its a lot easier to lift your foot to shift down than it is to wedge it under to shift up.) Anyways, I wore those out in a year, and decided to get some good (used) boots. I first tried Fox boots. They run small for the size, and the toe was pretty high on them too, though not nearly as bad as the ONeils. I ended up giving them to TimJr as they were too tight.(9 fit like an 8) I then found some Alpinestars and they are awesome! They have tons of ankle support which I need for a bum ankle, but the toe is very low profile, and its great to shift with them. I do find that I have to move the shifter up a notch for MX boots from where I have it for the insulated work boots that I wear for winter riding. The idea of riding in tennis shoes with nothing on your ankle but a sock creeps me out. MX boots have saved me from serious injury many times. I had to learn the hard way that work boots gives very poor protection compared to an MX boot. A gash in the shin and a trip to the ER for 7 stitches took me out of the first Blackwater 100 I raced in. There is a reason MX boots go up to the knee and have the thick padded plate over your shin.

My advice is to keep trying different boots until you find one you like.

SYKO

03-21-2007, 10:47 PM

man you guys got some small feet! my thors are like 12's!!!

oldsking86

03-22-2007, 01:13 AM

man you guys got some small feet! my thors are like 12's!!!

You ain't the only one! I know I won't lie it's a pain in the but to race in my boots

ceaserthethird

03-22-2007, 07:44 PM

AlpineStar - Tech 10

Over $400 bucks ...

Billy Golightly

03-22-2007, 07:59 PM

Man I can't spend $400 on boots, thats a good port job! :lol:

breastman569

03-22-2007, 08:10 PM

i had the same problem with my answers they were supposed to be and atv style boot but it never seemed to get looser! so i went with the Thor 50/50 and right out of the box you can wear them. i wear them to school and to work they fit so nice!

88 Turbo Coupe

03-22-2007, 09:09 PM

Man I can't spend $400 on boots, thats a good port job! :lol:

Whats your competition wearing? Have you looked at their shifters? BTW Racing aint cheap. Be nice if you could get a boot sponser!

deathman53

03-22-2007, 09:50 PM

When I got thor mx boots, I had to raise my shifters up two notches and learn to pick my foot up to shift up, it drives everyone, but me nuts. When I ride their bikes, its hard to shift as the levers are so low. I find it more comfortable with the shifter higher. I now have some brand of atv sole boots, they aren't as stiff as the mx boots. I still can't get out of the shifting by picking my boot up, I can't stand a low shifter and getting my foor under the shifter. My bikes are very different than my friends bikes, my trikes are very much like the mx dirtbikes, high bars and low rear seat heights. Once you find what you like, it will be hard to ride in anything other than mx/atv boots.

350Kris

03-23-2007, 08:27 AM

Gaerne Explorers!!! Trust me!

250rAL

03-23-2007, 05:03 PM

SpeedBump

05-16-2007, 01:28 AM

Thor T-30s...love em. When I just jump on a bike with my leather work boots or sneakers now, kinda feel vulnerable. Kickstarting in the MX boots is much better as well. My boots are also a newer ATV boot, shin guards, tread sole and such. I also have my shifter bumped up a spline. You will get used to lifting your foot the more you ride with them. Keep at it.

Maico

05-16-2007, 02:26 AM

Man I can't spend $400 on boots, thats a good port job! :lol:

You will when you break/smash your ankle wearing work boots and have to visit the emergency room.

Billy Golightly

05-16-2007, 08:52 AM

oscarmayer

05-16-2007, 11:12 AM

wow, that is scarry close man!

200xcellent

05-16-2007, 12:08 PM

I know, I know. I advocate safety a lot, but I'm just not sure that the common boots on the market can do what i need. Look at how close my foot is to the ground in this start picture, and this is wearing my work boots. If I wear ANYTHING thicker my foot would be on the ground and I just can't have that.

if the riding boots are a bit thicker then that would allow you to move your shifter up to compensate and your foot would be the same distance away from the ground.

mx boots are the best protection next to a helmet anyone could have, hope you change your mind.

SYKO

05-16-2007, 02:43 PM

if the riding boots are a bit thicker then that would allow you to move your shifter up to compensate and your foot would be the same distance away from the ground.

mx boots are the best protection next to a helmet anyone could have, hope you change your mind.

gotta do some adjusting, man billy if you rode my machine like that you would have your leg ripped off, especially at east bay, I never once felt my foot scrap the ground well.... i didnt do much shifting either:rolleyes:

BigGreenMachine

07-27-2007, 07:41 PM

Check these out, looking to buy a pair.

RedRider_AK

07-27-2007, 08:00 PM

That's an really interesting idea but there must be a reason why it hasn't been done already.

I would guess it makes bailing out harder, it's easier to get your foot stuck there...

BigGreenMachine

07-29-2007, 05:38 PM

So what boots do you guys use?

SYKO

07-29-2007, 06:04 PM

I use full thor quadrants, I love them anytime I race, or ride in a group I wear them, in fact when I dont wear boots I miss shifts and cant ride worth a crap.

Dammit!

08-04-2007, 06:53 PM

I just picked up a pair of Thor 50/50s like what breastman569 has. I think these were made specifically for people like me and Billy that hate riding boots. They're like heavy duty reeboks. The toe height is exactly the same as my reeboks. No adjusting of the shifter needed.

My only complaint is the size. I can never find a pair of boots that fit me exactly right. These are too tight width wise. Just a quarter inch wider they'd be so much more comfortable. I bought them hoping that if I wear them enough they'll stretch out a little. Otherwise I'll probably end up having to sell these like I did with the last pair of boots I took a shot on.

Depending on the shape of your foot you might love these. Give them a shot. I was checking them out against the Axo Slammers and the Alpinestar half boots and these had the lowest profile over the toe area which is what I wanted.

Edit: here's some pics side by side with my ragged out old reeboks. :lol:

BigGreenMachine

08-05-2007, 11:47 AM

Those are great and all but I've been looking at full MX boots just because I dont want a broken ankle if my foot was to ever get sucked back under the fenders by the tire or heaven forbid under the peg.

hondared

08-05-2007, 04:46 PM

I've trail ridden my 86r for years with work boots but last year I began taking it to mx tracks around here. It was there that a buddy of mine for years (CRF450 racer) offered me his 2 year old Fox Forma Pro's. I bought them for $75 and I cannot believe how comfortable they are. After about an hour or two riding time the shifting feels normal. No more work boots for me, even for trail rides.