Are these shoes okay for MSF Basic RiderCourse (with pictures)?

Question

Hi all. I'm new to motorcycling world and hope you can help me.

I'm planning to take the MSF Basic RiderCourse in October. (I live in southern California.)

I know there are questions & answers about boots and shoes for the MSF RiderCourse out there on the net, but I was wishing you could tell me whether or not my basketball shoes (pictures below) would work for the course because the description of "boots that cover the ankles" is kind of a close-call for my shoes.

Here are the pictures:

(1) These are my feet. Just to give you an idea of where my ankles are exactly.

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/6599/66983546sb0.jpg

(2) Shoes (They're made of synthetic leather-like material.)

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/1579/96937281pe9.jpg

(3) The same shoes worn by me.

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/6839/30416645zh3.jpg

(4) To give you a bigger/overall view.

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7382/64250760ti5.jpg

(5) From a higher angle (close to a person's perspective).

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7739/62199636cz4.jpg

I just bought these shoes for $20 today for the RiderCourse, instead of getting real motorcycle shoes/boots, because I'm thinking to get real gears after I purchase my bike (I want a sport bike, although I'm not sure when that'd be).

After reading some comments online about people recommending hi-top hiking boots to be worn as an alternative, I sort of became worried about my new basketball shoes of whether they'll be accepted for the course. (I really do not want to be sent home from the riding session because of these shoes...)

For me, it is very hard to judge if they'll be okay because they are not as high as hiking shoes but they aren't as low as regular tennis shoes, and they do cover bulky parts of ankles.

Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you!

Answer 1

your boots or shoes need to go past the ankle, not just below the joint itself  

Answer 2

The shoes you showed are no good.  The instructor will not allow you to ride the bike.  Go to Walmart and buy a pair of boots.  When I took the course the instructor was very clear about it.  

Answer 3

Go down to Walmart and get a pair of work boots without steel toes. I think the name is "survivor'? I wear them because of the soles and the skid resistance more than the ankle protection. A 700 pound bike fall on your ankle it is gonna be crushed anyway. Maybe bad enough it can't be rebuilt so why worry? Just buy the best boot you can afford to learn with and get LEATHER gear later on.

Good luck

Answer 4

NO I don't think so.

They are suppose to completely cover the ankles.  Your shoes barely cover the ankles.

===

If you know somebody you might just borrow some shoes for 1.5 day riding course.

Good luck...

Answer 5

I don't know about the MSF rules, but those are not going to offer any protection in any form of accident at the very least get a pair of boots with good coverage of your ankles and not so soft, you want support from impact in both the ankle and sole of the boot rather than the cushioning of padding and avoid laces if possible (or at least buy some with a velcro'd flap to cover the laces) and protection from friction injuries over the rest of your feet. It is simply not worth breaking an ankle (which can be a long and painful mend) or losing skin over something so simple to fix.

I prefer something like this

https://sslhelm.net/bikersparadise-co-uk...

EDIT: I did read your post and appreciate your reasoning, but if on your course you fall or the bike falls on you then those shoes might as well be made of paper, a pair of work boots would be better. It would be a shame to be turned away because your shoes are too insubstantial to reach their standards. However it goes I hope you enjoy yourself and you will be keen to get a bike asap.