I finally got to pick them up from the post office this morning. These puppies aren't imported by Monza Imports (A Stars sole importer into AU) so I got them from
Dennis Kirk, from where I've purchased a couple of things over the years. Anyway, I had seen these as a possible replacement for the long-gone Dainese half boot things that Monza Imports had been stung by back in the early 90's (no wonder they weren't touching these A Star Octanes...). Mega expensive, they ended up clearing them for something like $30 a pair when they were retailed for over four times that amount (ouch!). The same thing happened a couple of years later when they bought the updated (black, pink and purple this time) model in too! Happy times, they were an excellent boot for wearing on the bike and good for just general wearing. The downside was that with the white ones you looked like you were wearing surgeons boots.....
So back to the future and after much umming and aahing over what size to get I finally got to try some Alpine Stars SMX1's (another low boot style by them) and to my amazement found I took a US 12.5. Amazing because I normally have a UK 10.5, which would be like a US11 I think. Hell, I know that Alpine Stars gear can be made in any factory, anywhere in the world so would the sizes be uniform over different models of boots? A couple of other mates wanted these Octanes as well so we tried on a few Alpine Stars boots where we could and eventually settled on the fact that we'd need around one size bigger. Reviews I'd read said that they were "true to size" so there was still a bit of a gamble going on. EDIT: The fronts of the Alpine Stars curve into the toes fairly sharply (pointy ended) and are a bit narrow and thus give (to me) the illusion that I require a larger size. Or, they fit okay but I've got a good 5mm in front of my second and third toes which I don't even notice as everywhere else is clamped in tight!
Fast forward to today and I race around to the post office, wait a few minutes for them to unlock the place and I collect a fairly massive box. Race back home, open the carton and there's the three boxes inside. Have a quick check of the contents: 1 x white size 12.5, 1 x white size 11, 1 x black/red 8.5 - all correct and accounted for Sir!!
Unbox the 12.5's (mine) and with thoughts of "oh hell I hope they fit but man are these things trick" I see the two tabs visible in the pic above, and on the other side there's another velcro tab and a zip so I'm thinking they'll be easy to get on. Open up the tabs and zipper and I find that the tongue is velcro'd to that flap so it won't slide down inside the boot - nice touch! I put the right boot on and it's a good fit if a tiny bit loose up front. I can't try the left one as some new work shoes had made a bit of a meal of my left heel and I didn't want to open up the blisters...... I'm wearing thin socks so something like those explorer socks will take up a bit of room. Anyway, I think I can announce that we have a good result! The mates for who the other pairs are destined for arrive and try theirs on - perfect fits for both. Double result! So all-in-all a damn good purchase!
None of us have tried them on the bike yet but they feel like they'd be pretty damn good. Now to the money side, these things retail for $USD139.95 and for three pairs in one box we paid $USD76.80 for 3-5 day delivery with tracking. So using todays exchange rate we ended up paying around $AUD173.50 each. Which isn't bad at all. If you can drive a hard bargain you can get the S-MX1's for around $260.00 locally (rrp is $299.00). They're very similar to the Octanes in construction but obviously the fastening methods are different.
These boots would look hot when riding a white 848 (Rhino!!) or a 2008 white GSXR600/750!
Here are some pics from this morning......
If your motorcycling formative years weren't when white wheels ruled the earth or never liked disco and Saturday Night Fever these boots are also availbe in plain black and also the black with some tiny red highlights.
RECOMMENDED WILL BUY AGAIN A+++++
