Advice for a new gear shopper.

Palleomortis · 05-29-2007, 07:34 PM

I'm about as new as it gets, and I'm looking into the cost of buying a bike. Granted, if I buy a bike then I need to buy gear, no questions there. But I don't really know anything other than "Make sure it fits". I was wondering if there is a certain style of jacket, glove, pants, helmet, anything of the sort that I should shop for. I already know, as a bad example, that it would be safer with a full face helmet, not a little head cap. Any and all advice will help. Links are nice too. Thanx for all the help

Any sites recommended for shopping or browsing so far as what is generally considered good would be welcome as well.

nismo_2005 · 05-29-2007, 09:17 PM

many people recomend newenough

fishnride · 05-29-2007, 10:44 PM

A good rule of thumb is to plan on spending $1,000 on gear.

The previous poster recommended newenough.com, and I second that recommendation. There are some great deals to be found there, especially in the closeout section. The MotoGP Corkscrew and Teknic Chicane jackets are great examples of good gear for not a lot of money.

At the minimum, get yourself a leather jacket (perforated if it gets hot in your area), gauntlet-style gloves (for example, Joe Rocket Speedmaster gloves - good gauntlet gloves can be had for less than $40), and a DOT approved helmet. I wear HJC helmets - good value, reasonable prices.

If you're willing to go a step further, look into leather riding pants or armor that can be worn under jeans. I personally crash tested the Icon Field Armor for knees/shins and the outcome was great. The armor saved my knees without a doubt. I wear the Joe Rocket Blaster perforated leather pants with CE armor and knee pucks now.

GoIllini · 05-29-2007, 11:38 PM

$1K on gear? Yeah, skin grafts are expensive, but I'm not sure if they're that expensive.

A few studies have shown that the protection offered by a $350 helmet isn't substantially bigger than the protection offered by a $120 helmet. A lot of people like HJC; just make sure that you spend the money to buy new. Also, if you drop it, have it inspected or buy a new helmet.

Make sure you get a leather jacket that's decent for riding. Newenough.com sells a few perforated ones (great for summer) for around $150. Actually, Fishnride had some great suggestions, and I think those go for $150.

Get some gloves from NewEnough. If you're really cheap, buy them from Ebay. People say that your hands are going to be the first things that hit the ground in a crash. My second day riding a bike after the MSF, I came into a turn that had a fair amount of gravel in it, realized I was going to fast for my skills, panicked, widened my turn, and then had the bike slide out from under me at about 10 mph as the wheels hit the gravel. I walked away from the accident wearing leather winter gloves- and they were the first things to hit the ground. Looking back, I probably should have had something stronger; I don't know how they would have held up at 20 mph, but I'm glad they saved me a few scars on my hands at 10 mph. After this thread, I'm probably going to go ahead and spend the $40 to get full gauntlet style gloves.

Always wear long pants. My experience with accidents has shown that you might be able to get away with jeans, but more experienced riders might suggest more, like full leather pants or knee pucks.

Never wear sandals or (heaven forbid) flip-flops. I walked away from my fall in tennis shoes, but a lot of people will call me stupid for wearing regular shoes and tell you to wear racing boots. Those people are probably right.

robert_s_hunter · 05-29-2007, 11:49 PM

Try www.motorcyclecloseouts.com , as a customer, I give 'em two thumbs up.

GoIllini · 05-30-2007, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palleomortis

I'm about as new as it gets, and I'm looking into the cost of buying a bike. Granted, if I buy a bike then I need to buy gear, no questions there. But I don't really know anything other than "Make sure it fits". I was wondering if there is a certain style of jacket, glove, pants, helmet, anything of the sort that I should shop for. I already know, as a bad example, that it would be safer with a full face helmet, not a little head cap. Any and all advice will help. Links are nice too. Thanx for all the help

Any sites recommended for shopping or browsing so far as what is generally considered good would be welcome as well.

Also, have you taken the MSF's BRC? They're going to give some decent advice on gear, too.

Jonny Thrice · 05-30-2007, 12:13 AM

I'm a n00b as well, but I think I got some pretty good gear...all from newenough.com (except my helmet)

-Moto GP Corkscrew. Great jacket....surprisingly not that hot!

-Joe Rocket Blaster perf leather pants. This felt REALLY weird at first, especially with all the padding/armor, but they broke in quite nicely and are quite comfortable.

-MotoGP gauntlet gloves. I forget the name exactly, but they were in the closeout section of newenough

-SIDI Strada Tepor Evo boots. Expensive, but one of the best boots on the market. GET REAL MOTO BOOTS! Theyre almost like ski boots, and should help alot in a fall...so you wont twist your ankle or hurt your shins.

-ARAI Signet GT helmet. I originally bought a used Shoei helmet, which was fine, but later I found it it was an older model..REAL old...like 1999. Apparently, helmets expire after a few years. I found a slightly used ARAI online (one of the bext brands out there), so I tried one on at a local shop and loved it! Heres my tip. Go to a REAL store and try on as many helmets from different brands as you possibly can, and choose the one you like the best, regardless of price. You're gonna be wearing this thing on your head all the time, so you really gotta be comfortable with it. Make sure it has no annoying pressure points, that the eye port is big enough, etc.... If you want, you can remember the brand/model/size of the helmet and order online. But I recommend NOT ordering one if you havent tried it.

Palleomortis · 05-30-2007, 12:39 PM

Thanx all, will check it all out when I have time. One last question. I haven't seen anyone ask this, so it may be a stupid n00b question, but I wear "Cowboy" boots. Do those work for riding? Or would it be smarter to invest in some riding boots?

MAD_CAT · 05-30-2007, 01:02 PM

LOL at people asking about gear. It should be a question at all.

acalliste · 05-30-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palleomortis

Thanx all, will check it all out when I have time. One last question. I haven't seen anyone ask this, so it may be a stupid n00b question, but I wear "Cowboy" boots. Do those work for riding? Or would it be smarter to invest in some riding boots?

Cowboy boots don't have the armor you need to protect your ankles. I can't believe they would be that easy to ride in either, but I've never ridden in them before.

You want boots that will support and protect your feet, lower legs and ESP your ankles.

I wear Alpinestars SMX boots on street and for track days. They are fairly comfy for riding, not so much for walking, but you are dressing for the ride and the potential fall, not for posing or walking around.

Palleomortis · 05-30-2007, 03:05 PM

thanx, that was what i thought would be the case, wasn't sure.

smakawhat · 05-30-2007, 03:16 PM

newenough , motorcycle closeouts, and motorcycle superstore are all good places to order from online.

Look at gear from the bottom up.. start with your feet.. work your way up to your head..

Feet - get good boots, big suggestion.. DON'T get boots with laces, and DO get a boot that will cover and BIND your ankle (restrict its movements). Laces could get caught on your shifter, brake when on the bike
Legs - get some leathers, or textiles... jeans DON'T cut it
Torso - Get a decent leather jacket.. covers all your arms not just some of it. Your jacket should have a nice thick quality to it, it shouldn't be flimsy, my old MSF instructor had it perfectly.. you want to pick up the jacket and litteraly have it go UHHH... as you lift it.. If you really are on a crunch get some textile.. get SOMETHING...
Hands- get some gloves.. leather. gloves are inexpensive.. get them no excuse lots of people prefer gauntlets cause its extra protection on the arms

finally the top Helmet - Full face no question.. depending on your size and shape of head some brands will work for you some will not. a 600 dollar helmet isn't neccesarily going to keep you safer than a 100 dollar helmet, both should be DOT approved at minimum.. BUT the more expensive helmets will more than likely be lighter, quiter, have more features (vents etc..)

here is a great site for helmet knowledge and other stuff:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...le-helmets.htm

happy hunting.

mssdrider · 05-30-2007, 04:41 PM

+1^^^
I ride with jeans, but i also wear the icon knee protectors and the dainese back protector even though my jacket has a back protector...*shrug* can never have TOO much gear on i guess...

and another thing, i know it's kind of a "duh" statement, but make sure your leather jacket has good armour (sp?) in the shoulders, the elbows, etc.

smakawhat · 05-30-2007, 04:46 PM

ahh.. I forgot..

Yeah other options are the armor, I have the Icon Keen/shin protectors which are great.. they are comfy.. and fit under my pants with no problems at all.

I also have a back protector which I wear, but I would like to get the Tpro one. the old JoeRocket Speedmaster one is Tpro as well but it's discontinued I can't find a place to buy one, so my Icon Vest will stay for now.

I am a friggin gear whore... I look at online gear all god dam day...