Roadman Boots

CYCLE WORLD EVALUATION

Roadman boots

Boots offered to the motorcycling public have, on average, not quite matched the riding needs of said public. Most riders have made do with cowboy or engineer boots; sturdy pull-on styles, good for most purposes but not designed to grip or slip over pavement. From Europe we’ve gotten zippered boots, as seen in road racing.

They’re designed to allow ankle movement and fit atop pegs, but they’ve been flimsy for daily wear and are usually sized to be zipped over trouser legs, something most of us don’t like to do.

What we have here from

Roadman are boots designed to close the gaps.

They come in zip-up or pull-on styles. Both feature soles with a rubber-based compound and a tread, so to speak, pattern, engineered for motorcycle use.

It’s a joint project, the work of Roadman’s Mike Rose and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Rose knew that road riders skid their boot soles when stopping and starting and also need a nonskid grip, when waiting at a light in the rain, for instance.

So he worked out what would be needed and Goodyear, naturally using their tire expertise, came up with the compound. As an extra, the sole-heel junction is radiused to fit the rounded contours of a footpeg. The soles do grip well on the road, to the extent that they provide excellent traction on icy sidewalks. (Sure, we have to walk sometimes.)

One of our men has been wearing the zip-up boots almost daily for two seasons. The soles have held up well; no need for resoling yet, nor is there discernible wear.

There have been two problems. One, the sole of one boot came unglued at the tip. It snagged carpets and tripped our tester, so he sent the boots back to Roadman.

Next, three, count 'em, three zipper pull tabs came off. Each time they were promptly repaired by Roadman. Rose says the pulls have been a problem and that he’s working with two U.S. zipper companies to find a correction or a better version of the pull. Meanwhile, he says, any failures will be repaired, free.

The zip-up models have the zippers up the back, and are heavily padded along the shin and ankle bones. They have a soft leather lining. The padding and lining make them warmer than most boots, a good thing on chilly days, not so good on warm days.

The pull-on boots are simpler; no zippers, padding or lining. They feel awkward and stiff during break-in, but then loosen up. Presumably because they must be pulled on and off, they are a bit larger for their size, as in the pull-on 9s are bigger than the zip-up 9s. This allows for heavy socks in season, so they are almost as warm on cool days and not quite as warm on hot days. A fair trade.

The zip-up boots are available for $129.95 black, brown or tan in half sizes 713 and D and E widths. EE widths are also available, in black only. The slip-on boots sell for $79.95 in black or brown in D widths, 7-1 3, or black only in EE widths.

Available from local motorcycle dealers.

Additional information can be had by writing to Roadman, P.O. Box 78, Harrington Park, N.J. 07640 orbycalling(201 )768-8967.0