Gear

[wrecks]

I am thinking about getting some relly good riding gear, what kind dose some of you riders use.

Dainese and Arai helmets.

[Grey Thumper]

A Motoport/Cycleport (what the heck do they call themselves these days anyway?) kevlar mesh two piece suit.

[poet]

Joe Rocket Recon Military jacket
Tourmaster overpants
HJC helmet

[NNYrider]

It's kinda hard to define "really good".

If you want the best protection possible nothing quite comes close to full out race leathers.

However, I do know that I won't wear race leathers. The simply will not work for me. I commute on my bike, and race leathers won't cut it cosmetically. In addition, I cannot tolerate the heat. Race leathers won't do me any good hanging in a closet.

For me the "best" gear is gear that I will wear. I'm running with a firstgear mesh jacket and liners, and tourmaster pants. I'm in redwing all leather boots and full fingered gloves. And a full face helmet. It works for me.

I'm a big fan of the mesh jackets. Nope. They aren't the best protection. But I DO wear them all the time, and I figure a fiar jacket that's actually on me is far better protection than an excellent jacket hanging in the closet.

I'm really 'torn' about helmets. I used to look for Snell certified. I'm not quite so convinced Snell is all its cut out to be. There is some suggestion that they may be TOO hard. The Snell certified helmets certainly do hold up to hard impact, but some of them are apparently so hard and unforgiving that brains are impacting the inside of the skull with significant trama. It's bee suggested that a softer helmet, which unfortunately WON'T provide full Snell like resistance to multiple impacts on the same spot, could provide more cushioning. Sort of acting like a crush zone. The testing on some helmets has indicated softer helmets give more, acting like shock absorbers and reducing brain trama inside the skull.

It's your call. I just bought a helmet for my daughter and I deliberately did NOT purchase Snell certified.

[RC DAVE]

good boots are just like a good helmet i've got gaerne and diadora both nice gaerne's are high end but like ya said theres no reason to pay retail for anything! I think alpine star is about the best stuff out there.also cf joe rocket helmet a-star gloves if ya use it its worth it im in fla so year round rideing puts alot of miles on the stuff

[dr_bar]

Now on the other side of that I have to say, 5,000 miles in a single year is more than some bikers put in two years.RhadamYgg

Hmmm.... my boots have lasted me close to four riding seasons. I have a pair of "Willy G's" from the HD line of boots. The sole is finally packing it in, after breaking the zipper in an accident last year they haven't fit properly and wore unevenly. I guess with the above stated point about milage in a season, I should qualify that I did 28,000+ kms in the last year. I picked up my bike from the dealer about the 18th of Feb last year and turned over 29,000 last week. The previous summer, (2007) I did 14,000+ kms in one trip... The key to longevity is I don't drag my feet on starting and stopping like a lot of the younger riders I've seen do, I guess I like my ankles in one piece...


28,000 kilometers = approx. 17,400 miles (give or take a mile or two...)

[RhadamYgg]

Now on the other side of that I have to say, 5,000 miles in a single year is more than some bikers put in two years.RhadamYgg

Hmmm.... my boots have lasted me close to four riding seasons. I have a pair of "Willy G's" from the HD line of boots. The sole is finally packing it in, after breaking the zipper in an accident last year they haven't fit properly and wore unevenly. I guess with the above stated point about milage in a season, I should qualify that I did 28,000+ kms in the last year. I picked up my bike from the dealer about the 18th of Feb last year and turned over 29,000 last week. The previous summer, (2007) I did 14,000+ kms in one trip... The key to longevity is I don't drag my feet on starting and stopping like a lot of the younger riders I've seen do, I guess I like my ankles in one piece...


28,000 kilometers = approx. 17,400 miles (give or take a mile or two...)

wow, that is a huge number of miles. Even if I rode my bike in to work every day I'd only say (260 days) that would make 21,840 miles. But I already know that only once in a blue moon I'll ride in 4 days of the week. And then with winter and not riding.... If I ride to work 20% of the time overall I'll make 5,000 miles this year.

I don't drag my feet, but I do a lot of stop and go traffic so down my feet go and up and down.

I'm going to try and make them last another season and then go for a pair of white SIDI boots.

I think some of them last people a lifetime. Which, would work out really well compared to $129 every year or two.

Of course that missing screw kinda sucks on one of my boots.

RhadamYgg

[RC DAVE]

RHAD HOW IS THE B KING DOING I'M A FAN OF THAT BEAST I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE AROUND THE TAMPA AREA AT ALL. DEALER SAYS IT HANDLES BETTER IN THE TURNS THAN THE BUSA DOES ? MUST BE A BLAST TO RIDE AND NOT ONE ON EVERY CORNER! VERY NICE

[RhadamYgg]

RHAD HOW IS THE B KING DOING I'M A FAN OF THAT BEAST I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE AROUND THE TAMPA AREA AT ALL. DEALER SAYS IT HANDLES BETTER IN THE TURNS THAN THE BUSA DOES ? MUST BE A BLAST TO RIDE AND NOT ONE ON EVERY CORNER! VERY NICE

The bike overall is great. Slow-speed maneuvers are hell though and I've dropped it twice - with minor cosmetic damage.

I've ridden it to work once and I'm only learning how the bike likes to work - only 250 miles total on it.

And no, I haven't seen another one on the road. When I was at the dealer they had 2, and both sold within that week. There was also a guy that stopped by who owned one, but he was looking for something else - citing difficulties in finding accessories.

I've just installed sliders on the front engine mounts, and on the swingarm.

Turns at speed are incredible - and I've had the confidence to lean at much deeper levels than on my old Kawasaki Ninja 250.

RhadamYgg