Whenever I see riders in tennis shoes, I wince. Even on a bike with
floorboards and heel-toe shifting, I like to wear substantial footwear.
On a
sport bike, that means something from Sidi, usually. But, on a
cruiser, I want
less flash and more attitude. The Red Wing 968 boots is
a boot that relies on
understated toughness to get its point across.
 Made of premium full-grain leather, the 968 rests on your foot ready
to
kickstart an old Indian, kick some butt or just kick back and relax.
The boots
are comfortable, though a thick pair of socks (I like
Cortech) helps cushion a
Spartan interior. The lower buckle holds the boot on nicely, though I wish there were more
adjustability up top. My calves aren't large enough for a firm fit, and
I don't
have the skinniest calves in town. However, I put riding pants
over them in most
cases, so it's not really an issue. I've ridden in
these boots on 30-degree days
and 100-degree days (in the same area
around Paso Robles, just six months
apart!), and was comfortable both
times.
Resistant to both oil and slipping, the neoprene cord sole does its
job.
I never felt any slip at stoplights, even in downtown Los Angeles
areas where
leaky diesel trucks roam free-range. At $152, you could
spend a lot more for
boots, and you might get a different styling
treatment that you prefer. I like
these boots quite a bit, and I'm as
happy wearing them on a Harley-Davidson CVO
Road King as I am
on a Triumph Speedmaster. It's a classic look that adapts to a
variety
of custom cruisers.
www.redwingshoes.com
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