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| SIDI
Crossfire SRS
Big moolah, but worth every penny. by Martin Hackworth Photos: Martin Hackworth, Dan Colvin, SIDI |
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| SIDI Crossfire SRS boots have only one feature that takes some getting used to - the $525.00 MSRP. After that everything else is butter. Crossfire SRS boots are the most comfortable dirt bike footwear since Steve McQueen's M-42 Type IIIs - but way more protective. All it takes to sell a pair is a trip to the nearest SIDI dealer for a test drive. Just be sure to bring your checkbook. |
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We have
some minor nits to pick with our Crossfires
and we'll dispense with them right away. SRS
Crossfire boots require some attention to get into properly (not our
best thing). The
sizes run large, one
of our buckles pops
open every once in a while during the course of a full day of riding
(OK - once anyway) and the inner hinges have an
affinity for getting
hung
up on aggressive foot pegs when you are trying to put your foot down.
Other than
that Crossfire SRS boots are the shazz: they are lightweight, they
afford stellar protection, are very comfortable while riding
and
we do
believe that you could walk a long way back to your rig in a pair of
these if you had
to. "SRS" stands for "Sole Replacement System" and it is indeed possible to replace the soles of these boots with a screwdriver and 1/4 turn screws (in our experience this takes about 15 minutes*). Not only are the soles replaceable, but all other high wear parts as well - all with simple tools. |
| The
Crossfire SRS stock soles
are noticeably quite stiff
and may require some getting used to - but all it takes is a few hours
to get completely into the new groove. Once you get used to the
combination of the support supplied by the beefy Crossfire soles
(virtually any way that you position your feet on your pegs) with the
comfort and fit supplied by the rest of the boot, there is no going
back. A key feature of the SIDI Crossfires, beyond their replaceable soles, is the Dual Flex upper. Crossfire uppers permit easy boot flexing forward and backward but the boots are stiffer and supportive side to side - thus allowing for both great comfort and great protection. The Dual Flex uppers are stitch-free and constructed from very pliable (yet sturdy) injection-molded plastic. The combination of the Dual Flex ankle and independent four strap closure system allows one to dial in a very custom fit - even with knee braces or large knee/shin guards. As if this this amount of adjustability were not enough, the adjustable calf system on the boot upper is the pièce de résistance for those with outsized soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. |
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The
SIDI cam-lock buckles are made of stout metal and easy to
manipulate. The precise adjustments
afforded by the locking straps are really nice (the straps
on the lower two buckles should be set so that
closure begins when the buckles are in the 9 o'clock position). Once the strap
lengths are
dialed in they seem to stay in place without any
further adjustment required. Toes on the
Crossfire SRS boots are covered with an
extra layer of plastic for greater longevity when parting
sagebrush and rocks with your feet. Shift and brake lever
guards are located strategically on each boot along
with a large heat guard
on each inside upper. There's
even a nifty plastic
deflector located just in front of the first buckle. There's no steel shank on the inside of the Crossfires but there is a very comfy composite insole that's removable. Rather than having a separate and removable inner boot, à la Alpinestars Tech 10's, the Crossfires, under the plastic shell, are constructed of Lorica® with a soft Cambrelle inner lining. The "inners" fasten with two Velcro® closures and are easy to get in and out of. The boots breathe very well and are cool (even in black) on warm days. The entire package is mondo plush. |
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Replacement soles, screws, buckles, straps and deflectors
for
the Crossfire SRS are
readily available - SIDI even sells an entire kit of spare
parts
for the rider who just has to have everything. New for
2012 are several types of replacement soles including a lugged enduro
set that is terrific for dual sport and
trail riding (we
like ours a lot). MoJazz staffers have logged thousands of hours in SIDI Crossfires over the past four years.Our Crossfires have seen trail rides, desert races and MX races. They've endured sand, mud, snow, water, extremes of heat and cold and everything between. They've survived crashes that put us in the hospital (twice) without as much as a damaged buckle. SIDI customer service is great when ordering spare parts or asking for fitment advice. We have no plans for replacing our Crossfires with anything else anytime soon. They are simply the best offroad boot we've ever used. Four years ago when we first reviewed our first pair of Crossfires we wrote "We like our SIDI Crossfire SRS boots a lot and if the first few rides are any indication we believe that it's the start of a beautiful friendship." You know what? We were right. |
| M.S.R.P: $525.00 Colors: Black, Blue, Red, White The Good: Built like an anvil, yet mondo plush. The Rad: Enough spare parts available to make you dizzy. The Gnarly: Quid pro quo for your sig-o involves Manolo Blahnik's * The simplest way of getting old soles off, after the screw heads are hammered, is to use a flat blade screwdriver to pry them off. After you pry the soles over the first few screw heads you can generally remove them by hand.
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