I’ve tried lots of boots (size 8) but always go back to SG12’s. Love the ankle support (previous shattered ankle/knee replacement). Moto only decent vet int rider. But had issues w sg12’s. So, thinking I was “thinking outside the box” I did some mods w perfect (for me) results.
First, having bunions, put my boot toe box in a big vice, heated the toe area, tightened vice to reshape the toe box, let cool tightened, resulted in room for my bunions.
Second, having shifting issues (24 YZ450, tho didn’t have on my 18, 24 shifter is 1/2” closer to ft wheel and shaped different, tried raising/lowering shifter made it worse, and 24 is between splines compared to 18) so I cut 1/2 inch off of heel on sole. Shifting issue solved.
Third, I air sanded all around edges of sole, just up to the stitching, and rounded outside edges of soles in theory to make less bulky and not catch ruts as easily vs square edges. Technically boots are lighter, not that I noticed much, but my ankle and knee might!
Anyways that’s what I did and it worked for me.
Bunions are no joke. A good friend suffers badly from them. I'll show him your post and maybe he can get started shaping his toe box.
Pics? Sole thing is interesting
I always remove the toe caps, shaving them down sounds good. I might attack them with a belt sander. Any photos?
I need to modify my Tech 7’s to I can bend over easier to get them on. Wait………it came to me. I just realized I’m 68 and a little overweight!
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i’m trying the vice trick on my left boot, for some reason the outside of my big toe gets squished and hurts after about an hour of riding!
I have done the same on my Sg10 & 12”s toe box due to a huge bunion on my right foot. I also have a local ski shop stretch toe box on new boots…the surgery for large bunion is no joke & the podiatrist told me to put surgery off as long as possible because sometimes the bunions come back after surgery. I also have been rotating my 3 pair of Gaerne boots, getting soles replaced by Greg @mxboot & sole repair in Costa Mesa Ca. Some days I still have to remove my boots in between Motos due to pain.
My boots have been ,modified now for over 20 years as my right leg is 1 1/2" shorter. Yep riding dirt bikes. For what ever reason my right leg has taken a beating over the years. The lift is 3/4" as that is all that is recomended. Thought my Mtn Bike shoes are lifted the full 1 1/2". Thousands of $$ invested in lifts over the years.
these are the mods I did.
I cut the front middle stopper out of my Tech 10s (Tomac spec) because they pinch my shin area. I prefer the last generation that didn't have them
Sandman your foot looks exactly like both of mine! That heat/vise squeeze I did eliminated the foot pain I was getting.
My wife has had bunion surgery on both feet. The first doctor removed the whole thing and put a pin in to keep the big toe straight. This was in 2005, she was happy with this and several years later in a different city had the other foot done. This doctor was a minimalist, he only removed 85% of the bunion and no pin. This one has given her issues since the surgery, her toe still tries to point over and she has to wear toe spacers. So I'm going to say if anyone is looking at the surgery, find a doctor that will remove all the excess bone and insert a pin to keep it from coming back.
Bunions are hereditary in my family…the only time they hurt is when I wear shoes/ boots that are too tight…thank god someone made crocks acceptable 😂
How long was your wife’s recovery? Podiatrist told me 3 months in a boot…. F that, I have had enough surgeries from Moto, not going unless life or death
When I wore SG12 I would remove toe cap and trim the sole as close to the stitching as well.
Figured I’d bump this post since there’s been some boot talk lately. Hope it helps someone w same issues as me.
I'm assuming you used the torch to heat the plastic toe area on the boot, then put it in the vice and let it cool? You didn't put it in the vice and try to heat the boot on the sides while in the vice. Correct? My SG12s are tweeners. I have a set of size 12 and a set of size 11s. I can wear both. The 12s are a little big and the 11s are a little small (too narrow). I think if I could widen the 11s just a tad, they would feel more comfortable.
Can you explain how you heated them up and used the vice with a little more detail? How long did you heat the boot toe box up with the torch? Obviously don't want to get them too hot or the torch too close (captain obvious here...).
Could always just buy alpinestars OP
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Tried them, they did not gel w me at all. I feel the sg’s offer the most support having already broken talus/sub Taylor dislocation and arthritis from it. (Broke ankle age 18, 54 now)
Check out the pictures I posted, they are a few posts down from my first post. I put the boot in a large vice w a piece of wood the top of toe side and vice. Sole against metal. Cranked vice til snug. Heated big toe side area, slowly tightening vice, watching it change shape. Then left tightened till it cooled off. I was surprised as it worked out perfect. However you need to find that balance of not enough heat to too much heat. If your boot “browned” it got too hot too quick.
Remove toe caps on SG12’s. Sometimes your boots walk backwards from the balls of your feet to your tip toes and I want all the sole I can get to grip the teeth on the peg. Never had an issue with durability.
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