[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Could you share some photos and details of the work done please and how much it cost you?

I've just gone and returned my Alpinestars to the cobbler to now do the shin protector areas too, as the plastic there simply is crumbling due to dry rot. Not salvageable unfortunately. So the whole fancy Alpinestars logo is gonna go too (maybe for the best, summing up my disgust with the brand).

Cheers, Doc

A couple of pics here.
But you have to see and experience this chaps work in person, to appreciate it. He comes expensive and I don't generally bargain because I have sat there and watched him work. I respect his craft and therefore Im happy to pay him a good wage for his time, materials and effort. In return I get top quality, his pride and guarantee of value. For restoring and thoroughly resoling these two pairs of boots with high quality materials I paid Rs 3250 per pair.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

A couple of pics here.
But you have to see and experience this chaps work in person, to appreciate it. He comes expensive and I don't generally bargain because I have sat there and watched him work. I respect his craft and therefore Im happy to pay him a good wage for his time, materials and effort. In return I get top quality, his pride and guarantee of value. For restoring and thoroughly resoling these two pairs of boots with high quality materials I paid Rs 3250 per pair.

That is very good work. But I thought you were talking about riding boots.

My young man charged me 1500 for the heel cups and gluing and stitching the soles. Plus the shift pads on both boots.

And now another 1000 for the shin pads on both boots. Quite a large coverage area. And critical protection too.

So 2500 total to hopefully get a new lease of life out of boots that in today's market would easily cost 30k+.

Cheers, Doc

[ebonho]

JB Weld seems to be the globally accepted boss for hard plastic to plastic permanent welding. Good stuff this!

But the caveat being that there is damage or a crack to plastic that is otherwise healthy surrounding it. If your plastic has dry rot, like on my boots, the only solution is to take it all off as cleanly as possible and replace it with another hard later as strongly as possible. In order to mimic the original function, thickness and stiffness. Which in the case of my boots we used a double layer of 5 mm thick sole hide with a finishing aesthetic leather overlay for.

https://youtu.be/rbVEgWqirzU?si=rqJu2-5CoAk_R6jx

Cheers, Doc

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by ebonho

That is very good work. But I thought you were talking about riding boots.


So 2500 total to hopefully get a new lease of life out of boots that in today's market would easily cost 30k+.

Cheers, Doc

I saw this thread and saw the location of the person who asked the question and was only wanting to make a helpful suggestion ref the restoration of boots and shoes basis my own experience.

Do note that R M Williams and Blundstone are extremely well known (and expensive) brands of Australian ‘Dress Boots’ and ‘Work Boots’ respectively. Made from one single piece of leather, a pair of brand new RMW cost about 500-750 AUD depending on the leather, style and finish. And a pair of new Blundstones cost about 250-400 AUD depending on the leather and style chosen.

These Australian brands are ‘definitive’ ones and in the same league as Lucchese, Tony Lama, Filson or Ariat Cowboy Boots from the USA. Or Bruno Cuccinelli of Italy, or Berluti of France so I guess you get the picture.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

These Australian brands are ‘definitive’ ones and in the same league as Lucchese, Tony Lama, Filson or Ariat Cowboy Boots from the USA. Or Bruno Cuccinelli of Italy, or Berluti of France so I guess you get the picture.

Shankar I got the picture when I saw the photos and juxtaposed them to names I had never heard about.

My brand of choice in shoes since school days, save for a few dalliances here or there for Chinese handmade shoes or Metro, has always been Bata. A solid man's shoe.

Its just that the work involved, and the materials, and the technicalities of the functional targets to be achieved for the intended use and rigors, as well as the time taken in repair (prepping and curing and reworking and the area and expanse of leather and differences in materials and their hardness involved), is very very different in both these cases, given that its been done by our same local cobblers. In India.

So rhe comparison in Indian rupees, which is what I asked you and my personal point of interest, being that I am based in Poona, would not be a relevant one. Hence my reaction. Hope you get the picture.

Cheers, Doc

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Shankar I got the picture when I saw the photos and juxtaposed them to names I had never heard about.

Hence my reaction. Hope you get the picture.

Cheers, Doc

Basically I can vouch for the fact that the Cobbler whom I recommended, will do the repair job thoroughly and do it well, because he takes considerable pride in his work, from what I have seen.

My post was only intended as information for anyone to benefit from if they need his services. I have nothing to do with this chap other than being a customer of his.

The Cobbler’s number and location appears in my post. He is in Bangalore. The price I mentioned was including all the materials and his workmanship.

I have now given him a 10 year old Samsonite Suitcase on which one of the 4 wheels (casters) has become jammed and the carry handle has become sticky.

He is replacing all the wheels and the handle for me with quality materials procured from the market. I ll get the suitcase back tomorrow or so and take oictures and post them here.

He is a pretty versatile chap. I like him.

[HDx440Life]

Finally received a response from Ratan Kolekar (+91 95911 41969), who is based out of Pune and looks like they are still in business and fixing riding boots. I got the number from another thread and unable to find that thread to update.

They take a couple of days to respond to WhatsApp messages, but they are willing to work on my Alpinestar if I courier them. My only dilemma now is if I should fix these or get another pair from the US for $100 - $110.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by HDx440Life

Finally received a response from Ratan Kolekar (+91 95911 41969), who is based out of Pune and looks like they are still in business and fixing riding boots. I got the number from another thread and unable to find that thread to update.

They take a couple of days to respond to WhatsApp messages, but they are willing to work on my Alpinestar if I courier them. My only dilemma now is if I should fix these or get another pair from the US for $100 - $110.

Please be aware that one of our members Ricci gave him his boots way back in 2020 and after months of following up and delays, the number simply stopped responding.

The guy kept saying can't get material and then health problems, and delayed for more than a year, then eventually stopped responding.

Ricci still hasn't gotten back his boots. And has basically given up on them.

Please share links of these 100 dollar boots.

Cheers, Doc

[HDx440Life]

Then it's risky to send them the boots. It will be an extra loss to spend on shipping and never get the boots back.

SIDI boots for $99:

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/...hoes?rrec=true

I have these exact Alpinestar boots that need repairing. Available for $110:

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/...r-vented-boots

Hopefully, the boots will get additional discounts during the Thanksgiving sale in the US (23rd and 24th Nov). My in-laws are coming to India in January, so shipping will be free.

Which of these two do you think is better than the other?

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by HDx440Life

Then it's risky to send them the boots. It will be an extra loss to spend on shipping and never get the boots back.

Would you but another Alpinestars? I think that is the moot question.

Go to ADVRider and read. Full of stories on Alpinestars boots and dry rot of plastics. I will not give them another rupee of mine personally.

Sidi have complaints of soles coming off.

Gaerne seems to be spoken of quite favorably by most.

Cheers, Doc

[HDx440Life]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Would you but another Alpinestars? I think that is the moot question.

Gaerne seems to be spoken of quite favorably by most.

Cheers, Doc

Hmm, it actually makes sense not to buy Alpinestars again. The only reason I was considering them was because I knew the size that would fit me.

I did not consider Gaerne however, let me also check them.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Closeups of the cracks on the shin plates of both boots, first 2 right, last 2 left.

Need a 2 component resin + hardener adhesive that can also act as a filler ... Will need to be mixed together, applied, and then left to cure and set.

Update post on the Alpinestars boots, whose woes do not seem to end.

Long story short, my plans of salvaging the cracked plastic shin plates and the fancy Alpinestars logo bombed spectacularly.

I'm attaching photos of the lone failed attempt, but the bottom line is that you can repair and weld a crack in otherwise healthy plastic. But not in brittle rotted plastic that keeps breaking into smaller bits on simple finger pressure. New cracks appearing. Old ones getting wider. Branching out.







So I gave the boots back to replace the entire rotted away plastic of the shin plates with the same stiff 5 mm thick leather sole grade leather with a dress shoe leather overlay stuck on. As added measure, I've asked him to also add a layer of rubber underneath, both for bulk as well as some added springiness to rhe shock absorption.

Will be getting the boots back today. Fingers crossed!

This is the shop, for those in Poona who might be interested. Its Shop No. 201, Near Royal Bakery, MG Road, Camp, Pune 411001. The guy's name is Sonu Kumar. You can even find it on Google Maps in a search for hand-made leather shoes.

Attaching some photos of the shop and its locales. You cannot miss it. Royal Bakery anyone and everyone knows.









I even took my Dainese gloves outer shell and fabric inner lining to him to see if he could do anything about it. But since its fabric, and not leather, and their needles are too thick for fabric work, he said these could not be done by him. And its more the work of a regular tailor.

So left the boots with him, collected the gloves and was headed back home when I saw this old school tailor shop right opposite the cobbler shop. On a complete off chance I went inside and spoke to the head tailor (Mr Baburao?) and explained to him what I wanted. Was delighted and surprised to see him actually taking an interest and examining the gloves and giving me possible solutions to my issue.

To get the brown inner lining stitched inside at the fingertip curves so that it does not turn inside out and come out every time I take off the gloves. Super annoying.

It used to keep turning inside out at the fingers every time I removed the gloves. Making getting back into them a real pain. So i finally lost my patience eventually and Dainese or no Dainese, took a pair of scissors to the gloves and cut the liners out. Both of them ... the middle GoreTex bunched up one as well as the inner fabric lining.

But the outer shell is too loose and ill fitting without the inner liners, such that I cannot grip the handlebar or operate the levers comfortably while wearing them. So I wanted the inner lining back, without the WP one, and for it to not turn on itself.











Lets see. I hope he does a good job and salvages them as an extra fabric slightly cooler weather pair.

Attaching a photo of his shop and the man himself at work.



Cheers, Doc

[ebonho]

Went and collected my boots and gloves from the cobbler earlier today.

The boots got the complete shin plates redone with 5 mm stiff sole grade hide, backed with rubber and overlayed with stuck on and stitched normal shoe grade leather to make what will hopefully be a near centimetre thick stiff variable density shin armour plate to replace the rotted away plastic plates of Alpinestars - who find it difficult to offer even 100 rupee bucket grade plastic for 30,000+ rupee race boots (disgusted).

Photos attached, with the craftsman ...





The gloves needed some TLC at the holed through tip of the index finger of the left hand (incessant clutch use) as well as both palms at the exact same spot just near the sliders (TPU Knox?! ). Pleasantly surprised to see him exceeding my expectations and not only reinforcing index finger and thumb tips on the left glove, but actually giving a beautifully shaped palm patch of full grain black leather on to both gloves as well. Very happy! These are my cheapest gloves but see the maximum use.

These gloves with the hard plastic knuckle and finger protectors and palm sliders are perfect for the city where you want light airy short cuff gloves that are easy to put on and take off multiple times with the faff of leather gloves. And can happily get wet and soaked and then dry off in minutes on a moving bike without your hands getting soggy and shrivelled like a prune inside.

The refurbished gloves ...



He also showed me a really knackered pair of motocross boots a female rider just gave him for repair. So happy to report to the adventure guys that he does motocross boots as well with all of their buckles and flaps of hard leather and plastic and the thick stiff soles.

Some photos ...







@urban nomad We have a craftsman here who does not put up his hands and "delicate" needles at the sight of MX boots!

Cheers, Doc

[shyamg28]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Went and collected my boots and gloves from the cobbler earlier today.

Doc, well done
I feel vindicated by this update! I thought I was going mad over small issues with my boots but man...this is next level.
Unparalleled peace of mind

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by shyamg28

Doc, well done
I feel vindicated by this update! I thought I was going mad over small issues with my boots but man...this is next level.
Unparalleled peace of mind

Thank you Shyam. We both are happily blessed with OCD about our gear. Which is a good thing.

Its our money. Our bodies we are protecting. So while vindication may be nice and all, it does not really matter to me.

Long since outgrown the thin delicate skin damaged easily by barbs of "why don't you just buy new xyz" etc. and in its place has morphed a rhino hide that laughs in the face of such useless and unsolicited advice often from guys with more money than brains ... but we digress.

These are really expensive pieces of kit, and if we can get more use out of (and probably even improve) them by spending a few thousands then in my way of thinking at least its a lot better than spending tens of thousands on new replacements, and adding the very salvageable cast-offs to landfills somewhere, clogging up our planet with waste. Its not always a money thing.

Cheers, Doc