Are Sidi Motorcycle adventure enduro boots of the same quality anymore?
Both soles of this pair of Sidi Offroad Gore-tex Adventure motorcycle boots came off at close to the same time.
After about 9yrs and 5 pairs of Sidi offroad motorcycle adventure Gore-tex boots, in Bolivia, my newest 450Us pair bought in Peru decided to come apart.
The boots were less than two years old, had about 20000km on them, and were only worn for about 1’5 years of the time. Both soles came off at about the same time.
I got in contact with Sidi, which was a bloody mission all of its own. They have no easy way to communicate with them from a customer’s side. Many, many emails later over the last 5 months, and I tried my best to be nice, friendly, and lighthearted about this with them trying to resolve or get any kind of help from Sidi Moto.
Poor Quality and Poor Customer care.
Sidi Motorcycle boots – “Issues are not our problem…”
Now, after all these months of corresponding with their lacklustre customer service dept via email, SidiMoto told me it is not their problem. Basically, they deny it is their manufacturing fault that soles can come undone.
I heard from other Sidi Adventure bike boots owners since sharing this with them they had the same issues with soles coming undone. It is definitely some kind of manufacturing problem. When the soles came off there was also little glue that actually showed between the soles and boots. None of our previous pairs had this issue and went through a lot more work than this new pair.
I understand sometimes with products anything can go wrong, I know they do not have distributors in all countries.
But how the company deals with those issues, is what is important. Quality is important, but support and backup from the brand are equally essential. And especially so for us long-term overland bikers. I think Sidi got too big and focused on bicycle shoes than worrying about customers or motorcycle boots anymore.
This is definitely not an isolated case, CROSS TRAINING ENDURO also made a video on this issue.
Normally when we have issues with products we would contact the brand, explain what happened and offer any advice or tips we think might help them to improve the product or their service. It is not in our nature to slag a company. We have our own and know how much it takes to grow a brand.
If all fails like in this case, we feel it best to warn people. Service and backup from a brand are incredibly important and can do enormous damage if not handled correctly.
This is also the age of communication and actually a bit baffling how Sidi thinks it is beneath them to talk to customers.
This is definitely not an isolated case, CROSS TRAINING ENDURO also made a video on this issue, which you can see below. Also the past few days many more people messaged us to say they had the same issues.
This is what Sidi eventually communicated with CTE:
FINALLY, A RESPONSE FROM SIDI (well the USA distributor at least) We contacted Sidi’s head office and also the distributors in the UK and USA with a list of questions before creating this video.
Answer from Sidi head office? None (update: they finally replied after three months but no info yet).
Answer from the UK distributor? None.
Answer from the USA distributor? Yes… but after they saw this video.
Here is a brief summary of their response.
WHEN DID MANUFACTURING MOVE TO ROMANIA?
Crossfires have been made in Romania since 2004. Uppers are stitched and assembled there but the soles are not put on in Romania. The partially assembled boots are shipped back to Italy to for final quality control checks and assembly. The soles are assembled in Italy.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSE TO AN APPARENT DROP-IN QUALITY?
Soles coming off could be due to Italy being forced to use an EU-approved glue. If the application isn’t perfect, the soles can peel off. Other parts? Crossfires come with replaceable parts for a reason. Motonation USA claims that warranty return rates are only 0.7%. Motonation feels we are using anecdotal evidence to make a case for increased failure rates that they believe have not changed.
WILL SUPPORT BE PROVIDED OUT OF WARRANTY?
SIDI’s head office generally offers no warranty. The warranty is usually provided by the distributor, although in some cases SIDI is offering a warranty and reimbursing the distributor. Every country distributor has to set their own warranty policies. In North America? Motonation’s policy is a one-year warranty with a judgment call.
This is very worrying and borderline stupid as warranties go. And why we will not use Sidi again, it makes sense why we did not get any help.
MOTONATION’S TIP FOR PREVENTING SOLES PEELING OFF Power washing boots severely reduces the lifespan of the boot and accelerates delamination.
As you can see a lot of ducking and diving and not taking responsibility. Okay, so they might think if they accept that it is their manufacturing they will be flooded with claims and why they just stick their heads into the sand.
But, hopefully, they will do something about it so that future buyers do not waste 450us on a pair of boots.
The moral of the story…
In any case, ladies and gentleman the moral of the story are, this is why you support a local distributor with skin in the game and are willing to stand behind their brand. Also, although quality, performance, and use are important, backup service and support are paramount! Local distributors will either be involved with their customers and sort stuff out or eventually drop a brand if the parent company can’t or have this Sidi type of attitude.
Do your homework before taking out your hard-earned cash.
It is worth asking around and doing some homework when buying gear and equipment. Local distributors are there for a reason. I had to buy from a Peruvian distributor, my case is a bit different and for local riders not doing what we do a local distributor surely is supposed to sort this out.
Some companies seem to get too big and see customers as cash cows. Sidi is one of them.
After all, Adventure means going out do explore, ride places and trust the kitt and gear that is making it an unforgettable experience. So we must trust that the company will have some sort of support and understanding for what we do. Do they sell us things just to make money or are they selling and producing stuff that will actually be of value and help us with what we need?
If all else fails and you will probably not get hold of Sidi at all. They don’t seem to be the type of company that talks to customers. I made a video on how to fix the soles yourself below.
My Sidi Goretex Adventure boots are older ones and seem to be holding up well. I hope Sidi quality isn’t dropping as they grow in popularity. How did your glue repair hold?
Safe travels!
Hi Bulldawg, I hear from others with the same issue it is since Sidi moved some production to Poland. Not that I think Poland makes rubbish, just Sidi are not on the ball anymore. The glue did came off again but I glued it with a new brand of glue and it seems to hold up better 🙂
I have just used a par of Sidi Mag 1 boots for a track day. The plastic at the heel gave way and the sole is separated from the boot it can’t be fixed, the other boot the sole has come away. Also the strap fasteners have split. They are brand new boots!
Maybe old stock, but this shouldn’t happen with high quality expensive boots.
Had a pair of high top SIDI’s that lasted 15 years. Only the tiny gusset of foam on the tops failed. Passed them on…still in light use. All stitching. No glue. Most Italian clothing firms are now owned/staffed by Chinese.
My 2018 Sidi Adv 2 are at 125,000 km. they have been beaten in rough terrain and rain without complaints.
Our older Sidi’s also lasted, the new ones however seem to be part where Sidi’s quality started to go for rubbish.
Try ‘Gorilla Glue’, found in hardware stores. Put LOTS of glue on 🙂 (unlike Sidi). Put something inside (towel/rag) then clamp (!) from outside. Have fun.
Hi bro, watched your video on gluing the boots. Been fixing my own boots for 40 years…you did a good job in preparation for gluing however instead of using a rag, use that toothbrush and LOTS more rubbing alcohol to brush the s..t out of it. But before, sandpaper the sole MORE to make the surface rough for the glue to stick better. Stick a rag inside the boot and ‘compress hard’ so as to be able to clamp the boot with pressure. Use ‘Gorilla Glue’ from the hardware store (3 M- Marine Sealant is my next experiment) and use LOTS of glue. Use clamps so as to be able to put a good amount of pressure on…this is a impotant part also. I do each boot in stages because it is hard to put enough pressure on all over the sole equally without distorting it. I do the heel and let it cure for a few days then glue the middle then the front. Then I let it all cure at least a week, 2 or 3 is better.
Have fun…Al
Hi, I bought a pair of Sidi Adventure 2 goretex in 2017 and started using them in 2019 and I only use it has done less than 1000 Kms. I live in India. The shoes are stored most of the time but now all the rubber protectors just got brittle and broke off in bits where it was lying. The sole has opened on both shoes at the heal area and the locks have come off because the rubber protectors to which they were fitted are now broken.
I was shocked at what happened when I have only used them about 4 times for short trips which where on road.
If only I could post the pictures.
I don’t know how to fix the locks back without anything to fix them too.
I have had the same problems with the plastics on Sidi boots disintegrating into crumbs & pieces as Theo.
I live in Bali and in the past I’ve had 2 pairs of Crossfires fail and only yesterday I discover my Adventures have cracked and split at the boot ends of the straps. Same place on both boots. Not sure if it isn’t a climate thing.
I will state that I owned each pair of boots for 3 years or so before the plastics failed, but its still pretty dissapointing.
I ride more offroad than touring using Crossfires SRS3 (which are a great boot before they will probably fail too), but the Adventures have not seen much use since I bought them.
I’m now looking at alternatives to the Sidi Adventures and am thinking about storing them in an air conditioned room.
Hi Monty, I think after all this and reports I received from many people after publishing this article, it is simple quality issues with Sidi. And their manufacturing process and materials went for to shit. It is better to just spend the money on a different brand that value customer service and their money.
Dude, I just bought a pair of SIDi Crossfire 3 boots. They are shit. They are so uncomfortable, they are not even close to being water resistant, the first puddle I ride through my feet are wet, my day is over as I have to head home because my feet start to freeze, I can’t even wash the dirt off them as the ym water r runs right into the boot. I am considering starting a lawsuit against Sidi to get my 865 plus tax back from this company. They are a rip-off! I’m pissed!
SIDI CROSSFIRE, 2,5 YEARS OLD. SOLES PEELING OFF BOTH BOOTS. TIME TO CHANGE BRANDS.
Yes, both soles fell off after just 5000Kms.
Soles can be reglued, but worse for me, the hard plastic moulding that fixes the shoe end buckle has split and is falling (crumbling) apart. These expensive boots, despite very little and very kind wear, are now useless! Not happy, SiDI.
Buy Gaerne SG 12 or 22 you won’t be disappointed. I see in the comments guys having multiple pairs of Sidis fail. Why would you keep buying expensive boots that fall apart?
I have only worn my Sidi Vertigo boots about 15 times, shirt trips, no rain. I got them out this summer to find that the sole had come off one of them. Out of warranty but thought dealer might help me contact Sidi. No Joy. Went to cobbler and he said no point even trying to glue back on as the whole sole was crumbling apart. Emailed Sidi and they don’t think it’s a manufacturing fault and gave me the address of a cobbler they use to stick back on ( that says something about manufacturing quality). I asked if he had new soles and have not heard anything back for over a fortnight now. Very frustrating that I have a £400 pair of boots that are useless. Have had to go back to my old ones which I’ve had for nearly 20 years and had no problems with