Protective motorcycle boot

An article of footwear has an upper ( 200 ) and a sole structure ( 300 ). The upper has a foot portion for receiving a foot and a leg portion for receiving at least a portion of a leg, and the sole structure is secured to a lower area of the foot portion. The footwear includes at least one of a plate system ( 210 ), a hinge system, and a sole structure formed from materials of different hardness, stiffness, or density. The plate system includes a plate that extends over a medial side of the footwear and may (a) be formed of materials of different hardness or (b) extend onto the sole structure and into an indentation ( 311 ) in the sole structure. The hinge system includes a chassis ( 220 ) secured to the foot portion and a beam ( 230 ) secured to the leg portion, with a hinge ( 240 ) rotatably- j oining the chassis and beam.