[LukeRochon]

Well I will just be commuting and leisure rides. This is the gear setup I am thinking of. Money is not a problem just wondering if there is something i should know or this really would not be ideal etc. Just riding to college/work and leisure rides around some back roads. Nothing hardcore. I do live in north Texas so heat is a concern. I was looking at the Delmar jacket and SF Perf pants but decided I wanted a more natural look. What do you guys think? Will this work well for my use and where I live?

Jacket - Motowheels - Quality Motorcyle Parts and Products


Boots - Motowheels - Quality Motorcyle Parts and Products


Pants - Jeans? With armor inserts!


Gloves - Motowheels - Quality Motorcyle Parts and Products


Helmet - Dont know yet but looking for a good one.

 

[teedubyaw]

Looks like a bunch of poser bullshit for someone riding a Ducati to bike nights. Not that Dainese isn't a quality product, but your money can be better utilized elsewhere.

And take it from a fellow Texan that the last kind of jacket you want here is an unperforated leather one.

 

[LukeRochon]

how does it look like poser? And whats wrong with riding a Ducati to a bike night? ive never been to one but i dont see how riding that brand would matter?

But yah only thing i was thinking is it would get hot quick. other choice was the delmar perf. Just wanted something more natural. like a jacket i can wear around.

do you know of any perf jackets that look like that and are of good quality?

 

[teedubyaw]

how does it look like poser? And whats wrong with riding a Ducati to a bike night? ive never been to one but i dont see how riding that brand would matter?

Aesthetics over function. 'nuff said. If your goal is to look like Tom Cruise on a bike, then you may want to step back and rethink why you're getting into motorcycles.

If you're going to spend that kind of money on a jacket, I'd look into the RS-Taichi GMX-Motion. If you're a new rider, I think it'd be wiser to save a couple of hundred and get something less flashy with the same functions (plenty of Alpinestars jackets on eBay).

 

[LukeRochon]

Like I said money is not a problem. And I dont think any of those Dianese peices i linked sacrifice function over looks. I just prefer not to look like a power ranger. If that makes me a poser then I honestly dont give a shit.

I will look into that jacket though.

And I hope your Aesthetics over function comment wasint also refering to Ducati... they make amazing bikes.

 

[Kiroskka]

I'll just throw in a recommendation on some riding jeans. I can't really help you too much on the whole "natural loook".

I don't ride in jeans too much, but i prefer hood jeans for when I do.

I have a pair of ND4 jeans and like how they are lined with Para-Aramid (kevlar).

www.hoodjeans.co.uk/html/woven_aramid.htm

they also have armor inserts

 

[LukeRochon]

Thank you very much for that link! Those look like nice pants and what im looking for. Good jeans but still with the safety of some armor.

 

[ANORXIC'51]

Cycle Gear stores and MotoLiberty stores are having some RIDICULOUS sales on Dainese stuff.

I was tempted with almost picking up a Laguna Seca 1 piece for $700 at the Kansas City(technically Lexana, KS) CY location. Perf'd jackets down to $350...

Had to reason with myself with "WTF do I need a 1 piece for when I'm going to be learning on a 250?".

Awesome time to buy 'last-season' Dainese since they seem like they have new models of jackets/suits every season.

I

 

[Super Dennis]

Dainese makes good stuff no doubt, but that is probably the ugliest Dainese jacket I have ever seen. It's your money but $600 would buy a lot on ebay/craigslist. That said, I'd rather look like a poser, fully geared up, when I get plowed into by a cell phone soccer mom while I'm on the way to pose in the parking lot of Starbucks bike night.


Now back to the gear... those boots are probably adequate but offer little shin/ankle protection if that concerns you. Also, are you going to be wearing the same pair of riding jeans everyday to school? You may just want to invest in some quality textile or mesh overpants, especially if you're doing serious miles.

 

[vince_2149]

I'm all for buying good gear the first time so you don't have to buy later, but I have less money in my 2 jackets, 2 helmets (one that's usable, one that kept me alive), 2 pairs of gloves, 2 pairs of boots, and my knee guards than you would pay for that jacket.
There's amazing stuff on closeout everyday that you can save Hundreds of dollars on. I know you say that moneys no problem right now, but still. Just take a look around. There are amazing companies out there besides Dainese. Are they a good brand? Yes. But there's other like RS Taichi, Alpinestars, Sidi for boots, Held for gloves, etc. Broaden your spectrum of brands and you'll be amazed what you can find.

 

[LukeRochon]

Dainese makes good stuff no doubt, but that is probably the ugliest Dainese jacket I have ever seen. It's your money but $600 would buy a lot on ebay/craigslist. That said, I'd rather look like a poser, fully geared up, when I get plowed into by a cell phone soccer mom while I'm on the way to pose in the parking lot of Starbucks bike night.


Now back to the gear... those boots are probably adequate but offer little shin/ankle protection if that concerns you. Also, are you going to be wearing the same pair of riding jeans everyday to school? You may just want to invest in some quality textile or mesh overpants, especially if you're doing serious miles.

No intentions of poseing at starbucks. just prefer to not look like a power ranger. i want gear i can wear around and not have to take off if i dont want to.

As for the boots yes i know. i was thinking its not a big deal as ill only be riding to work and college. other than just commuting some joy rides. So for someone who will probably not take it over 50 or 60 mph very much at all i think those boots will be fine. not racing at 160 mph or anything...

I have looked into other brands such as icon, sidi, and alpinestars. I will keep looking. Thanks for the constructive replies.

 

[deviationnow]

As for the boots yes i know. i was thinking its not a big deal as ill only be riding to work and college. other than just commuting some joy rides. So for someone who will probably not take it over 50 or 60 mph very much at all i think those boots will be fine. not racing at 160 mph or anything...

It doesn't seem like a big deal, but not all crashes are the same. Just because you're not going fast doesn't mean that you won't crash hard. This is especially true when you're riding on the street where the chance of you colliding with something is exponentially greater than on the track.

 

[vince_2149]

As for the boots yes i know. i was thinking its not a big deal as ill only be riding to work and college. other than just commuting some joy rides. So for someone who will probably not take it over 50 or 60 mph very much at all i think those boots will be fine. not racing at 160 mph or anything...

Right. What about when a soccer mom hits you from the side? Your gear is more than just to protect you when something happens and you fall. You've got to have it just in case somebody else decides to make you a hood ornament.

 

[LukeRochon]

So those boots are a no? I understand the concerns I just wouldent think a company like Dianese would have out something that was not very good. they even say "expressly designed for city-touring." I know they wont protect quite as much as full leg boots.

I guess my question is... From your experience is the difference big enough to warrent not getting them for the use I would use them for? I thought they would be fine for a casual rider like myself. If they will be massively more unsafe then I wont get them. I have read to get boots that cover your ankles and I think these do. I could be wrong...

 

[deviationnow]

Well the question is, do you really want to find out? Better to be safe than sorry, right? Since money isn't an issue, I highly recommend a pair of A* Supertech R boots. They're as comfortable as any sport touring boot and offer way better protection. Get a black pair and put your jeans over them and nobody will give it a second look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7krfKiZLvA

 

[LukeRochon]

Thanks very much for the link. im superised noone has wanted to kill me over riding jeans and not leathers...

The review videos from sportbiketrackgear was extremely helpfull!

 

[vince_2149]

I guess my question is... From your experience is the difference big enough to warrent not getting them for the use I would use them for? I thought they would be fine for a casual rider like myself. If they will be massively more unsafe then I wont get them. I have read to get boots that cover your ankles and I think these do. I could be wrong...

Would they have protected you? Sure. Depends on your situation though. When I crashed in my Oxtar Adrenaline Riding Shoes my upper body/hips took the majority of the beating leaving my feet/ankles alone except a little bit of sliding. Did they do what they were supposed to do? Yes.
However, I feel much safer now with my TCX SS boots since they provide about 2-3 times more protection. This is how dramatic of a difference it is (my new boots vs. my old "boots"):

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu109/vince_2149/07 Ninja 250/P9020002.jpg

Thanks very much for the link. im superised noone has wanted to kill me over riding jeans and not leathers...

Hey, the majority of people wear regular jeans. I myself do. However, I also wear knox armor knee/shin guards. Riding jeans are a lot better choice due to the extra abrasion protection which is good enough for the street imo when mixed with the armor inserts like the ones you want.

 

[LukeRochon]

I get what you guys are saying. Why try and find out how much they will protect you.

I decided on the Torque Air Out boots after i saw the SBTG video review where he showed it was easy to get jeans over them.

Thanks a bunch. This forum has saved me from making alot of mistakes before I made them.

 

[Royal Tiger]

Luke, go with Dainese stuff if you can. They make very high quality items that are track tested. Alpinestars is another Italian company with a great track record that's a little easier on the wallet.

 

[fadlan12]

Sidi Vertigos are excellent boots as well, mine work well in the summer and winter. A* SP-1 gloves are great also and ~ $120, Teknic chicane( I picked up last years model for $120 from SBTG) is good from 60-90f. Anything over equals lots of sweat, under 60f might be too chilly for the perforations. Ebay is also your friend, I bought an A* leather jacket for $200 (not sure of the model but it's several years old) I use it from 30f up to 75f. Texas requires either layers or several jackets. I have a $50 Yoshimura mesh jacket for summer.