Shown here and below are photos of boots worn by motor officers who participated in the Law Ride that was held in Washington, DC, on May 9, 2010.Look at the areas on the side of each officer's right boot that is inside the red circle. You will see that the boot shaft in that area is a dull gray. That dull gray area on the boot demonstrates what happens to Dehner's Dehcord (Clarino) product when it is exposed to heat of a motorcycle engine.
I have often pointed out that such damage occurs, and now can show visible proof.
It's kinda a love-hate thing about Dehner Boots. They style is great. The quality of the material on the shaft of stock boots cannot withstand ordinary exposure to the heat of motorcycle engines. Why? It is plastic, not leather. The change of color and loss of shine is due to the plastic slightly melting and changing its composition just a little bit. Unfortunately, once damaged, the material cannot be repaired, fixed, or restored to its once lustrous shine.
Many cops have told me that they like stock Dehner boots because they are easy to care for. A quick spray of furniture polish and a wipe-down restores the boot shafts to a very shiny appearance. All except the area exposed to the hot engine, which dulls out rather quickly. Some cops don't care, and some do. Those who do replace their boots quickly enough that it doesn't matter to them if the boots "show character" from such damage incurred when worn on a police motorcycle.
I have to point out, while I am a Harley guy (thus the name), this damage occurs to Dehner boots worn on a Police Harley. The other manufacturer of police motorcyles -- BMW -- has its engine, engine guard, and exhaust pipes configured in such a way that the rider's boot shaft doesn't get close to the source of heat, so the boots do not discolor like they do when worn on a Harley.
If you like Dehner boots but don't wear them while riding a Harley, then the stock version should suit you well. They are much less expensive than the all-leather version, which costs more than twice as much.
Life is short: know your boots.
1 comment:
That is a shame about a cool pair of those type of Dehner boots. Of course, I don't have a motorcycle, so I wouldn't know how well my Rocky bal-laced patrol boots would hold up to them. Although they did hold up to a walk in the pouring rain the night that I wore these boots to a friend's wake.
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