Riding gear

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Banano · #1 Unread post by **Banano** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:16 pm

Hey everyone, first post here. So I just passed the msf course a couple weeks ago and got my license last week and now I'm in the process of buying the gear first before I buy the bike. So I read around in the forum and I got some good websites to buy gear and a lot of info for helmets but how about any recommendations for the other gear. I'm completely new to the motorcycle community and I have no idea which brands are preferred over others. And how about the fit... is it supposed to be really tight? i went shopping at a local store and was told the fit should be pretty tight so I dont get road rash in case i do fall. The thing is, it just feels so weird having something so tight, its not cutting off my circulation or anything but it definitely feels weird to move especially with the jacket leather so thick. I tried on an Alpinestars leather jacket if that matters. I live in California so the weather gets pretty hot during the summer so any help would be much appreciated.

Dragonhawk · Wed Dec 20, 2006 4:23 pm

Check my page here:
www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn

There is a list of different makes of gear and even links to websites where you can buy the gear. That should provide you with a good start (check "Step#4" and "Step #7").

Gear SHOULD be tight. But if you say things are cutting off your circulation, uh, no, not THAT tight. That's bad.

Lion_Lady · #3 Unread post by **Lion_Lady** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:44 am

I always recommend that folks buy the best you they afford, that feels right, in TEXTILE for the first "set up." Textile is generally cheaper than leather and still does a very good job of protecting, if you go with a known brand of motorcycle gear, not some knockoff.

Until you master the basics of riding, its tough to know just what features are most important in any of it, beyond basic protection. 3/4 length, waist length, zippers HERE or HERE. Pocket HERE or HERE. Make sense?

Whatever you get should fit relatively closely, but not binding at the elbows, etc. SIT on a motorcycle!

Save the investment in leathers until you're ready to move up.

P

Banano · #4 Unread post by **Banano** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:07 am

thanks for all the help!

what about the mesh ones? i like how it feels so much cooler than the leather ones. I'm thinking about the Joe Rocket alter ego 2.0 for the jacket. maybe matching pants to make it easy. I also got my helmet yesterday. It still cost me a good amount of money but my friend works at a local store and was able to hook me up a little. I got the Arai RX-7 corsair. I found it fit my head perfectly. and oh yeah, what about the gloves? there were so many in the rack and it was hard to compare them all. thanks again

Sev · #5 Unread post by **Sev** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:52 am

I've got an Alter Ego, and I really like it, but I end up riding in temps that vary between aprox 35 and 110F. So the fact you can change it from a "weatherproof" to a "mesh" is a great advantage (to me). If you're mostly riding in hot weather there are better/cheaper jackets to buy.

Banano · #6 Unread post by **Banano** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:29 am

im not too concerned of the price more so than i am for the quality. Of course im not looking to spend an obscene amount of money cause i still need to get the bike.

#7 Unread post by **Koss** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:01 am

Im using textile gear... Armored textile pants (tourmaster caliber) and Armored mesh jacket (tourmaster intake) with some armored mesh gloves with intakes on them. I've ridding in 37 degree weather (my gloves were useless.. im still waiting for my winter gloves to come in darnit...) and up to 112F. Ive only taken my car on my usual daily near 100 mile round trip commute when the tempertures are below 42F... but only because my gloves allow my hands to become two blocks of ice in a few miles. The mesh jacket with the included liners installed is warmer than any other coats or jackets I own... and the pants also have a removable liner for warmth which I never use even.

Lion_Lady · #8 Unread post by **Lion_Lady** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:29 am

No question that leather provides superior slide protection (its what racers wear). BUT it tends to be HEAVY in weight and difficult to clean if it gets bug-goo covered, etc.

Any gear is only as good as the thread that holds it together, so be wary of going with 'bargain' leather gear especially.

As for gloves, make sure that they fit snugly enough when fastened that you cannot pull them off. A guantlet style will provide the best protection: Picture sliding with hands in front of you... sleeves will push up, leaving wrists unprotected.

Again, make sure you wrap your hands around a handgrip while fit testing. PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION to where the seams fall in relation to your hand bones and the hard parts of the grip. The ends of the gloves should not push against your fingertips while holding the hand grip: It will cause problems. The best gloves are 'pre-curved' for holding the handgrips.

I have a horrible time with seams falling where my thumb joint is. It creates a hot point, then a blister over time. I even went so far as to cut a hole in one pair of gloves to make the seam go away.

P

Banano · #9 Unread post by **Banano** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:39 pm

do you guys find that the mesh or textile gear moves too much with the wind? the leather seems more structured as in it wont move too much with the wind. I dont know how annoying it would be to ride with the gear moving all over the place

Mintbread · Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:31 pm