Riding Gear?

PerfectCreature

Getting my sport bike next summer. I am enrolled in the safety class for the beginning of March next year.
I understand good gear is expensive, so I want to do it right.
I plan to get a Ninja 300.
Looking for which brands are the better brands to look for and what I should be getting.
Any experience on different types of gear is appreciated.
Like helmets and jackets and gloves and boots and what not.
Thanks.

gce

Is this your first bike?

jbooker82

I love my Alpine Star's (boots)in the dirt. I know they make street stuff (boots, jackets, gloves, and maybe pants) but dont have any experiance. Their stuff is made really well but you pay for it.

Sherardp

I would also like to know if this is your first bike. I think you will get bored with a 300, and am hoping you meant a 600R. Gear wise I like Alpinestars myself. Check out Alpine's Fastlane Boots, Riding gloves and the T GP plus riding jacket. I also rode with Joe Rocket, so you can't go wrong with either. For Helmets I always rode Arai or Shoei. You can't go wrong with Bell, Arai, Shoei, AGV, Icon or HJC. Pick one that snugly fits your grape and roll with it.

Either way I suggest you start on the 600R. I know some will disagree, but my 1st bike was a 1000R so I'm a little different there I guess.

exalted512

I disagree

I think the 300R is a great starter bike. The only thing I disagree about is buying a new bike for your first bike. I guess if you have the money and don't care if you're going to scratch it up, then go for it.

As far as riding gear goes, I've got Heroic and Teknic suits, AlpineStars (A*) and Joe Rocket jackets, Field Sheer Over Pants, A* and Sidi boots, Joe Rocket, A*, and Held gloves...with a Shoei helmet.

I'm not impressed with any of A* gloves. They don't hold up well with normal use (not crashing) and are hit or miss when you're talking about crashing. If you're looking for inexpensive, I like Joe Rocket. If you want high quality, go with Held.

For jackets, the most important thing to look for is something with CE armor. All brands have their good stuff and cheap stuff. But CE armor is CE armor, no matter what the brand. Being in Maine, I'd definitely look for something with a FULL insulated liner. I have an A* full (non-perforated) leather jacket with an insulated VEST. Why it's just the vest is beyond me, but I get colder in that thing than I do with my MESH joe rocket jacket that has a water proof liner (not even insulated).

For helmets, all I've known is Shoei. Arai is good too but even more expensive. I can't bring myself to put my head in a $100 scorpion, but i know some people at the track do.

I haven't had good experience with A* customer service, but some people have, so maybe it was a fluke. Either way, I have since boycotted buying their products, but I will not deny that other than their gloves, they make quality products. I'm also not recommending Heroic anymore due to their customer service as well.

Let me know if you have any questions

Here's my gear:


Shoei RF-1000 Helmet
Heroic Kangaroo / Sting ray suit
Knox Contour 'Race' back protector
Knox Multi-Shorts
Held Titan Gloves
Sidi Vortice boots

See you at the track
-Cody

gce

The reason I asked if this was your first bike and appears it is if you're asking about gear is just get a good DOT Approved full face Helmet a leather jacket and boots you can wear off the bike also. You can spend a lot for top of the line gear but if you find out later on that the bike is just not your thing you wont be out a lot of money for gear. The class you're going to take is the best thing you could do before riding any motorcycle.

Good luck...

oldbiker

short and sweet.

Dress for the crash not the ride.:eek:

billbillw

I'd definitely look at the Motorcyclegear.com (used to be New Enough). Especially in the Closeout section. If you aren't super picky about fashion (which I wouldn't be), they have some great deals there, especially if you are flexible on color. I would go by the local store and figure out your sizing, then be patient for deals at the Newenough. Don't go overboard. Just a good mid-priced helmet, a decent jacket, and good gloves. Be careful in the sizing of the helmet because it can vary within the same brand. Do your best to try on the exact model in a local store before buying. Certain models fit certain head shapes better. You want it snug, but without pressure points.

dkg999

AlpineStars and Joe Rocket make some good reasonably priced gear that you can find close-outs on. I like Shoei helmets. I've got a pair of TourMaster boots I like, but they are cruiser wear and wouldn't be good for sport bike use. They look at me a little funny down at the Harley store when I pull up wearing real riding gear. HD really needs to get a clue on how to make riding gear that protects you rather than looks fashionable.

exalted512

+1 on http://www.motorcyclegear.com/
-Cody

drumminman

I have a Scorpion EXO 1000 helmet, Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jacket with rainproof liner, a technic leather jacket, and some gloves that I can't remember the name of.

I've never been down in this gear so i can't say how it holds up in that scenario, but it seems well built and was well reviewed. I agree about the CE approved armor - both my jackets have it, and it feels like it would provide much more protection than not having it.

You can go here www.webbikeworld.com to read unbiased reviews on all things for motorcycles. Also, as someone above said you can get good gear without going top of the line.

pdxfj

As others have said it's really not worth the hassle to buy a new bike for your first one. Plenty of gently used Ninja 250's out there that can be had for not a lot of cash. The 250 is one of the best starter bikes out there. Lightweight, easy to ride, very forgiving and no problem taking it on the freeway. Not to mention it's gas mileage. Plus they are easy to sell down the road when you're ready to upgrade. I have one in my garage and am always asked if I want to sell it. Doesn't get ridden much in favor of my other bike.

Motorcylegear.com is a great place to buy from. Very friendly people. If you have a Cycle Gear store near you, be sure to check them out as well. They now have their own line of gear that receives good reviews and is very reasonably priced.

I'm wearing a HJC carbon helmet and my Alpine Stars boots have nearly 10 years of use on them and still are in excellent shape. Three different jackets depending on the weather, half a dozen pairs of gloves, electric jacket liner, etc.

I firmly believe in All Gear All The Time. Sweat washes off, road rash does not.

Let us know what you get, and welcome to the world of two wheels. )

Syndil

pdxfj wrote: »

I firmly believe in All Gear All The Time. Sweat washes off, road rash does not.

Ditto. I know some people like the wind in their hair or whatever, but when I see d-bags riding around in flip-flops, shorts and no helmet, I say they're Darwin awards just waiting to happen.

As for my gear, it's all Joe Rocket. Buy last season's fashion and it's pretty inexpensive but made well. My helmet is an HJC. I actually had a Shoei before the HJC (which was about 3x the cost) but the HJC is more comfortable on my head. I kept the Shoei for my female passengers. As long as the helmet is DOT and Snell approved then it really doesn't matter how much it costs--it will do the job it's meant to do in a crash regardless. So paying more only makes sense if it is more comfortable to you. A helmet is really not much more than a styrofoam bucket with a plastic shell on it and some padded lining inside... no reason they should cost what some companies charge for them IMO. But whatever floats your boat. My HJC has the black rubberized coating on it--holds up to road debris far better than the painted Shoei did.

Sherardp

exalted512 wrote: »

+1 on http://www.motorcyclegear.com/
-Cody

Yes great place to shop with excellent customer service.

ViperZ

Don't listen to people who say that you will get bored with a 300 quickly. 125 - maybe, but as an example, we have people on the race track who lap "beginners" 600s on their 125s every day. Honda and Kawi 250 (now 300), Suzuki and Kawi 500 are great beginner bikes. Oh yeah, as exalted already mentioned, sometimes it may not be worth buying a new bike for your first bike, as there is a good chance you'll drop it once or twice, even in the driveway, and then you'll be all upset about scratches on those shiny fairings.

As for gear, do you have any motorcycle shows in your area over the winter? We have three shows in December-Jan-Feb and dealers usually unload their gear with good discounts there.

For helmets, it's really about which helmet fits your head shape better. I tried seven different helmets last year after my trusty Shoei saved my melon, and still ended up with Shoei RF-1100, as nothing else (Suomy, three different Arai, HJC, and a couple other brands) did not feel as good as Shoei.

I like my Scorpion perforated leather jacket (fared well in the crash), but again, other brands might fit you better. Make sure you get good gloves, boots, jacket, helmet, and at least reinforced jeans. My jeans "evaporated" the moment they touched pavement.

PerfectCreature

For gear, I could care less what it costs. I am putting my own life in that gears hands-more or less. If I have to spend a couple grand on gear to keep me from spending a few grand in the ER then, I'm all for it. Which is why I asked the gear question so early-so I can price it out and save/plan accordingly.
I do not plan to get a suit, but I do plan to get some of those riding jeans, a nice jacket-I don't really need an insulated one as I can layer underneath (I have plenty of nice Under Armour clothes). I see boots come and go at local surplus stores, so I can be on the lookout for those. As for gloves; do they run small or larger? Would I would loser gloves, or skin tight ones.
I really just did not know which brands are best, and where the best place to get them is.
I appreciate all the recommendations, and I was glad to see several brands recommended in each post.
As for my first bike? Yes, it is.
I had planned to get one this summer, but the classes were full until next summer, so I was put on a waiting list.
I had hoped someone would back out, but no one did.
I think the Ninja 300 would be great, and 250 would be fine. I would not trust myself with anything else until I got the basics down a lower performing bike. Of course, for the right deal I would easily get a larger bike.


I will take a look at that website. If anyone has any used gear they wanted to donate or sell cheap, I am up for it. The scene for sport bikes is not very large. It is all hardcore bikers in Maine, at least in my area anyway. I don't think Harley clothing would be suitable for a sport bike.

ViperZ

Don't buy a used helmet - you never know what happened to that helmet. Everything you can pretty much buy used if you wish. If you want to spend more on boots, Dainese and Daytona make the best full-length boots - the only real safe boots - they don't bend sideways at the ankle compared to every other brand we tried - A*, Sidi, etc.

I crashed in Scorpion jacket, Shoei helmet, A* shorty gloves and Icon boots. Unfortunately, I wasn't wearing proper knee armor or riding pants, just jeans - tough lesson learned. Helmet saved my head, jacket, gloves and boots saved my skin from abrasion/rash on asphalt. Unfortunately, no gear will protect you from broken bones if you fall incorrectly . We have a great guy in Toronto, who runs Velocity sport gear (http://www.velocitysportsgear.com/). Got my new riding jeans and full size gloves from him. Very good prices, especially when he was offering group buys earlier this year. Some of the local racers wear his full leathers and are quite happy with them.

Glove sizes are all over the place, same as all other gear. I wear XL gloves (A*, Velocity and Joe Rocket), but some manufacturers' L fits me well. Jackets and pants sizes also differ a lot, but most manufacturers will tell you, which size to get from them when you tell them your regular clothes sizes.

PerfectCreature

Okay, I will see if I can try on a few pair of gloves. We have a Harley riding shop, maybe I can try on some of their stuff. They may have a sports bike collection, I have not really looked.
So, basically as long is it is Snell/DOT approved. CE Armour and is comfortable I should be all set for top gear.
I want reinforced pants, and boots that do not bend at the ankle?

billbillw

I would get a jacket that has removable liner. The price won't be much different. Yes, you can layer, but when riding, you want something that doesn't bunch up or puff out from the wind. Riding jackets are designed different than street clothes and the liners have features that work with the jacket. For example, the arms are typically longer and the elbows fit different. The backs are longer as well and often tie into your pants to keep the wind from lifting.

PerfectCreature

Okay, thanks for the suggestion.

gce

PerfectCreature wrote: »

Okay, I will see if I can try on a few pair of gloves. We have a Harley riding shop, maybe I can try on some of their stuff.

Yeah, if you want Harley written all over your gloves! :rolleyes:

WilliamM2

PerfectCreature wrote: »

If anyone has any used gear they wanted to donate or sell cheap, I am up for it. The scene for sport bikes is not very large. It is all hardcore bikers in Maine, at least in my area anyway. I don't think Harley clothing would be suitable for a sport bike.

I had to give up motorcycle riding due to my neck. I still have some gear around. I have a Shoei RF800 with clear and smoke shields, and two breath guards (keeps it from fogging). There's not a mark on that I can recall, looks brand new. I'd have to wait till I get home to check the size. Also have a pair of Joe Rocket XL gloves lightly insulated, have to check the model. Only wore them maybe 3 times. Also have an Alpinestars Skyline insulated textile jacket (removeable liner), only took it for one test ride, it's still in the bag on the Alpinstars hanger. Let me know if any of it is of interest, maybe we could work something out.

I wouldn't worry about a used helmet in great condition , as long as it hasn't been re-painted. If anything bad had happened to it, it would at least be scratched.

WilliamM2

Correction, it's an RF-900 helmet, not 800. Size is XL (7 5/8" to 7 3/4" hat size). Gloves are Joe Rocket Nitrogen XXL, although they run a little small, I usually wear an XL, and these fit perfectly. Jacket is also an XXL, Alpinestars are also known to run a little small, with a slim fit.

Gloves are these:

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/sport/motorcycle+gloves/joe+rocket_nitrogen+waterproof+winter+gloves?utm_source=gps&utm_medium=csn&utm_term=Nitrogen+Waterproof+Winter+Gloves&utm_campaign=sport-motorcycle+gloves&gclid=CNWNgqCgxbICFcVFMgod53AAZw

ViperZ

There was a good research paper published just last year, if I remember correctly, showing that the foam inside the helmet actually has a shelf life. It may not be as short as 5 years, as manufacturers claim, but that foam still deteriorates even if you don't crash in that helmet.

Syndil

http://blog.jafrum.com/2011/06/22/for-how-long-is-a-motorcycle-helmet-okay/

Not sure of this guys sources (they aren't cited) but he writes:

Research has shown that polystyrene loses 2% per year in its effectiveness due to simple evaporation. So with basic mathematics, in 5 years, you’ve lost 10% of your protection, and in 10 year, you’ve lost 20%.

...

Helmet manufacturers used to state that you needed to change your helmet every five years. But if you treat your helmet carefully and with respect, you can always use your helmet for longer periods. Or if your head is precious to you, get a 2nd helmet and alternate. A 10% loss of protection is survivable, but 20% is not.

exalted512

My current helmet is 6 years old. It's getting replaced. I'll still wear it for another year or two and keep the new helmet for just racing, but after that, it will pretty much be retired. I'll keep it around, but it's use will be very limited.
-Cody

ViperZ

This guy contradicts himself. How is getting two helmets going to extend a period of riding with those helmets if these helmets deteriorate with TIME/AGE?

Or if your head is precious to you, get a 2nd helmet and alternate. A 10% loss of protection is survivable, but 20% is not.

I have read that if you drop an empty helmet (Shoei info), there is nothing to worry about, but if the helmet is dropped with something in it (i.e. your melon), then the foam inside will get damaged. More expensive manufacturers like Shoei and Arai actually provide free X-ray scans for dropped helmets (you pay for shipping).

dkr919

Just checked out the Ninja 300... very cool

The Honda 250... likewise

PerfectCreature

ViperZ wrote: »

I have read that if you drop an empty helmet (Shoei info), there is nothing to worry about, but if the helmet is dropped with something in it (i.e. your melon), then the foam inside will get damaged. More expensive manufacturers like Shoei and Arai actually provide free X-ray scans for dropped helmets (you pay for shipping).

Interesting.

Yeah, the Honda is really the only competition that the Ninja gets.

Syndil

If you drop a helmet hard enough, the foam can break even if there's nothing in it.

ViperZ

Syndil wrote: »

If you drop a helmet hard enough, the foam can break even if there's nothing in it.

I didn't suggest playing soccer with it, I said just drop it.