My old Sidis are finally looking tired, not going to make another winter. Looked for a replacement, the Alpinestars looked good, arranged at Sportsbike shop to try them on, total disaster, their internal sytem failed, one wasted trip to Reading. I decided to order online, decent service, bad boots. The adjustment on the straps wouldn't stay set which meant trying to do the boot up and keep the adjustment right everytime I put them on. The Sidi system works on the same ratchet system but stays set....for life. Needless to say I took them back, the guys on the counter couldn't make them work either. Another wasted trip, no boots. Immediate refund of course but two wasted trips to the shop and still no boots.
Yep... my Daytonas are 8 years old & have used them on my daily commute in all weathers for 5 years in total and they are only just showing signs of age. The leather is cracking across the top near the gear change plate although this may well be down to poor maintenance on my part than anything else.
Surprised to read this, ive always bought supertechs (im not posh enough for daytonas), worn them through rain snow sun and everything else thrown at us and they never let me down.
I used their leather restorer kit on mine and they came up lovely. I also had some wear from the gear lever and used some Sugru to make a new pad. https://sugru.com
I have had two pairs with no complaints but replaced with Altbergs and I can’t see me changing from their made to measure in n. Yorkshire. But I’m riding a Multistrada and don’t feel the need to dress like I race. I want comfortable, aka dry & warm with good protection. The bloke that measured me asked what size I normally wear, his response to my 45 was something like we don’t use those funny foreign numbers ere lad.
I will be using my Sorrell snow boots while I wait for a decent replacement, completely waterproof with a thick felt liner, and a surprising amount of feel. More padding than the average boot.
Unfortunately the leather is starting to split/crack right at the point where it folds when I walk... I suspect if I had concentrated a little more on this area with the leather food it might not have happened.
IIRC made to measure were less than Daytona Roadstars, although that was probably 3 years ago. For some of us Richmond, N. Yorkshire is a long way to go, but we’re had a week in Beverley so made Altberg a ride destination. I think we went on a Tuesday to avoid the summer weekend rush.
My Alt-Bergs are Roadrunners measured up at the factory and ordered in May 2019. They still look like new, I only ever treat with the Gris (Polish) supplied by Alt-Berg.
I might well try that out... can I assume it's flexible when set? Because as I said it is right on the crease line when I walk. Anything to put off the sad day when you have to throw out an comfy, moulded to your feet pair of boots/shoes that feel like old friends.
It's kind of like blue tack to start and then goes harder, but still with a bit of give (like thick rubber)
