TCX S-Speed Boot Review
I like the TCX S-Speed boots. I said as much in the inaugural report we did over three months ago. I like the way these look, and feel expensive to the touch. There’s decent venting, plus, there’s good protection with CE certification and TCX’s own patented TCS tech. Now, I have used them on a racetrack and for daily commute over the last three months and this is what I took home...
What I liked
Great fit. These are easy to slip on, zip up and Velcro. And after having worn them, these remain snug giving you that sense of confidence a great fitting helmet does. It’s all about protection, after all. This great fit – along with subtle movement in the right planes ensures these feel natural, friendly and grippy when cornering on a motorcycle.
Damage resistant. The S-Speed isn’t a leather boot. Instead, TCX uses a light micro fibre material, which as we are learning is pretty resistant to abrasion; even those caused by nicking sharp ends of unfamiliar motorcycles. These don’t develop typical leather fold-lines as easily either making the boots look newer for longer.
Superb ventilation. Besides lots of ventilation around the in-step area of the foot, the S-Speed also gets large air intakes on the side and around the shin area. Meaning, even with leathers tucked inside the boot, I rarely got the TCX’s sweaty.
Terrific dry sole grip. The soles of the S-Speed look like treads on a fancy road tyre. And on sportier, metal pegged footrests, these grip as well. These work fine on rubber-covered footpegs too. The only catch is the sole should be bone dry, else these can get quite slippery.
What I didn’t like
No all-rounders these. Besides using them on the racetrack and on rides, I have also been using the S-Speeds for daily commute. These work well while I am on a bike, but when it involves walking around in the office or anywhere for that matter, the stiff nature and super snug fit (great for protection, by the way) of these TCXs make them quite uncomfortable.
They’re also irritatingly squeaky. Every time I walk around in the S-Speeds anywhere, people start looking for a cute, curly-haired infant in its squeaky shoes. And when they find a well-fed, grey-haired man in ill-fitting denims and space-age shoes, they point and snigger. It’s embarrassing. The culprit here is the Double Flex Control system or DFC. Actually, it’s just the PU joint in the ankle area that makes this annoying plastic-rubs-plastic noise every time I take a step.
Next time we will have the BikeWale verdict on whether the TCX S-Speed boots are worth investing in, and what’s the best place to get them.
Photography by Kapil Angane
Click here to read Royal Enfield Long Riding Boots Review
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Yamaha YZF-R3 Cornering TCX S-Speed Boot Review
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