Though many people don’t realize it, choosing the right motorcycle boot can not only be quite difficult, but also extremely important ensuring comfort, safety and function to your motorcycle ride. Motorcycle boots not only have to be practical for riding, but for walking as well. Here are the top five things to consider when choosing the right motorcycle boot.
5. Material
Motorcycle boots need to be made from a material that can handle the elements well. While many people feel leather is the ideal material choice, once exposed to the elements leather can stiffen and become uncomfortable, as well as rot. If you must have leather boots, make sure they are made with thick, quality leather and treated with a water proofing agent. You may also choose a synthetic material such as Gore-Tex which is excellent for almost any weather condition.
4. Sole
Choosing motorcycle boots with thick rubber soles will help absorb vibration from the motorcycle that can cause foot and leg pain. A deep tread pattern is essential for traction and stability. Choose a sole that is oil-resistant to help prevent slippage. And most importantly, choose a sole that has been sewn on, rather than glued with a bonding agent, as these are much more durable.
3. Flexibility
Boots should be stiff enough that they offer reinforcement to the foot, but should also be flexible in key areas to help with comfort. Many brands of motorcycle boots offer a flexible ankle panel, that is excellent for braking and shifting. You can also bind boots with additional reinforcements in the front of the boot for the ankle for extra support, but will also still allow you to have the flexibility you need.
2. Style
By style, we don’t mean the fashion statement your motorcycle boots are going to make. The style of the boot refers to how it’s made. When purchasing motorcycle boots, it’s best to avoid slip on style boots, as these can easily slip off in the event of a crash or even minor spill. Instead, you should choose boots that lace or zipper to close. There are even hook and loop closure boots that you can choose from, as well as boots made with a combination of these closures. Any of these three options will provide a boot that is securely attached to your foot, and prevent the risk of having your boot come off while riding or in the event of an accident.
1. Price
When it comes to motorcycle boots, the old adage, “You get what you pay for” definitely holds true. While it may not seem that important to you to pay a great deal of money for you boots, it is definitely worth your while to do so. Purchasing cheaply made, poor quality boots can lead to foot pain, difficulties in braking and shifting or even having your boots fall apart if you get caught in a rain storm. Even if you can’t afford a top of the line pair of motorcycle boots, you should still avoid purchasing low quality boots and instead try and find something in between.

Motorcycle jumping seems to becoming more popular among adrenaline junkies these days. That amazing rush that you feel when you get your motorcycle to fly through the air has those both young and old giving it a try. However motorcycle jumping is quite dangerous, and before you decide to give it a whirl, there are a few things that you should take into consideration to ensure you are as safe as you can be.
5. Experience
Do you have any experience motorcycle jumping? For that matter, do you have any experience at all with riding a motorcycle? Riding a motorcycle takes practice within itself. Before you start motorcycle jumping, you should make sure that you are completely comfortable with riding a motorcycle before you start trying to jump it.
4. The Motorcycle
Not all motorcycles can be used for jumping. Small motorcycles, such as sportsters, can often be used for jumping, while larger motorcycles should be avoided. There are many bikes that are made for motorcycle jumping that you can look into getting.
3. Practice
You definitely don’t want to think about jumping over a line of cars your first go round. If you’ve never jumped a motorcycle before, you will need to practice. Setting up small ramps is the best way to begin. Keep in mind, for many people it’s not the actual motorcycle jumping that they have a hard time with, it’s the landing. Start with a small ramp and get the feel of how to go up and off the ramp. Then work on your landings. You want to be able to come in smoothly upon impact before you start moving towards bigger jumping ramps.
2. Location
It’s probably not a very good idea to set up your first ramps in the middle of your neighborhood street. Not only is this a bad idea because you will have to combat traffic, but if you loose control of your bike, you may end up hitting an innocent bystander that has come to watch. And of course, let’s not forget the fact that should you loose control your first few jumps, you’re going to end up with a nasty case of road rash from the asphalt. It’s best to set up your ramps in a remote location, away from people and other traffic.
1. Safety
Safety is the number one thing you need to consider when motorcycle jumping. Make sure that you have all the necessary safety equipment that you need. Even though it may not make you look too cool, outfit yourself with a helmet, kneepads, elbow pads, etc. While you may not think you look cool all decked out in your safety gear, I assure you that you’ll look a lot worse if you get hurt and didn’t have that safety gear on! It’s also important to make sure that those around you practice and enforce safety. Do not allow people to stand too close to your jumping area, and if possible avoid having small children watching since they can too easily get in the way and get hurt.