Would you buy my shoes? I'd urge you not to....

OK.

Its an odd question, and this is totally the wrong audience for a sale, but give me your thoughts on this one, please.

I bought my bike in October, and have rode it all of 1200 miles since then. At the same time, I bought a pair of Sidi Vertigo Corsa's. Theyre nice and comfy, fit well and look snazzy to boot...pun intended.

Problem is, they seem to be scratching the hell out of my frame, on the LHS. This is no surprise after all, they've got a few screws sticking out of them (as per the way they were designed). Needless to say you only begin to notice this problem when its a problem.

(They're at the bottom of this post, if you're interested.)

My problem is:

1) I need to get a new pair, and fancy the RST ones in Busters sale - they're recommended and have no sharp bits on their sides.

1.5) I need to not wear these ones any more.

2) My frame is a bit worse for wear, although I've only relatively recently found this out. Remember the bike is less than 6 months old. Its mainly paint rubbing-off damage, not physical metal "gauging"

2.5) I'm guessing that this is my problem, not my local dealers, nor Suzukis? OR IS IT? Ideally I want this sorted FOC somehow, this is my first bike, and first problem. I've had a license for 6 months, not 6 years.....I can at least put this one down to intuition.

3) Who makes SIDI boots (yes, I know, Sidi) - who and where are they IN THE UK? I have a design compaint.

4) Wanna buy some boots - anyone? Maybe it's just the way I'm sat.......they'd look good on you. Honest.


LOOK AT THE LEFT BOOT JUST ABOVE THE ANKLEBONE POSITION.

Red circle = big screw. I think its more the red plastic circle rubbing than the screw - the screw has no black paint on it, but the red circle has turned....black, unsurprisingly.

Thanks for reading all this drivel.

Firstly commiserations.

I have to say i chuckled with regards to getting it repaired FOC. Surely you can't be serious?

I would recommend Alpinestars SMX. Best boots i've ever owned and i don't know an owner of them who wouldn't buy another pair.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by ooger

Maybe it's just the way I'm sat.......

i've just been in the garage and the only way i can get the part of that boot to touch the frame is to put the arch of my foot on the gear shift lever, not the pedal but the actual lever, my heel didn't touch the pedal at all, and i'm an average size 9...

how are you sitting on the bike? unless you're changing gear you should have the ball of your foot on the pedal, and the ankle of the boot should be in line with the silver plates mounted to the pedals, no part of it should be touching the frame. this'll give you much more feel and control than sitting with your heel on the pedal

Thanks....

Yep, all things being equal and in an ideal world it would be FOC and theres a pretty damned high chance its not, but the bottom line here is something is at fault - the paint finish or the boot.

Regardless of who pays - surely you (plural) see theres a problem here, thats what I'm trying to get over?

Has anyone else used these boots? Are mine "defective" or is this common?

Step one I suppose is costing what damage has been caused....

[fizzwheel]

I see what you are getting at, Suzuki are going to blame the boot though arent they.

Liz had a pair of Sidi black rains and they wrecked the heel plates on her SV, she's got a pair of Alpinestars SMX3's now and they have polished the heel plates a little, so it doesnt look as bad, but also they have worn the black paint of the frame on her K5 so by fixing one prob we found another. The paint does seem thin on the frame, but then her bike has done 36K now so you expect a bit of wear and tear and I think its unreasonable to expect a bike to stay mint after it gets used like Liz uses her K5.

I'd agree with ASM, A* SMX are smooth on the inside and they arent going to damage your heel plates like the Sidi's will.

I'd go back to Sidi and complain and see what they do or say... Also I agree with above, look at your riding position, do you ride with the balls of the feet on the pegs or the arch of your foot on the peg ?

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

i've just been in the garage...

Im a standard(?) size 11 which is not a great deal more than a 9.

Thanks for trying that for me.

It doesnt feel wrong the way I'm sat, in fact its been comfortable to the point where, when going down the motorway I've tried a few different positions, and nothing feels more comfortable than the way my left foot is as usual. My foot rests in its natural position with the ball on the pedal. The plates are scuffed too, but that must mean my foot's facing outwards (like at a northwesterly direction), and making this happen?

Its an odd problem, to say the least....

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I see what you are getting at, Suzuki are going to blame the boot though arent they.

...

I'd go back to Sidi ...

Thanks - very useful info, but I agree, the boot is the cheaper therefore the most at risk in terms of build quality, from Suzuki's point of view anyway they're the winner in the outset.

So Sidi ---- How? Where? Any idea? I've looked for contact details to no avail...

Question is still out there - anyone else with issues with Sidi boots or paint rubbing off frames (K7 here)???

The paint rubbed off my frame on my K5 after about 5000 miles if I remember correctly. Think it's a big feet (size 12) issue TBH, the heels of my boots rubbed against it and took loads off.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I'd agree with ASM, A* SMX are smooth on the inside and they arent going to damage your heel plates like the Sidi's will.

i don't know if the A* are any less armoured than the sidis, but tbh, if the cost of more ankle protection is scratched heel plates or even paint rubbing off the frame of the bike i'd take it every time, a quarter of all the bones in your body are in your feet and they're complex, the last thing you want is problems with them as they're kind of vital

i still can't see how it's rubbing the paint though - have you got a picture of where it's coming off?

The armour on the SMX is the best i've seen on any boot. The fact they are incredibly comfortable is a bonus.

I'm size 12 and have never had any problems with frame paintwork. TLW seems spot on with regards to feet positioning to me.