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I've been reading a lot these post for the last couple of day, about 12 hours worth(work is slow). There are maybe a 100 posts about which beginners bike to choose. Im guilty too, I asked my self. But there seems to be little interest in which safety gear for newbies. Obviously racing leathers would protect the best but, me and most people I know would never wear them to ride to the store or work. Also shelling out $3-5k for a starter bike makes it very hard for a new person to spend another $1500 for gear. I know its cheaper than medical bills but us new riders are not yet sure about this new venture or how much time and money we will dedicate to it. I hear 80% of all new bikes/riders get ridden about 2 years then put up in a garage. Many people don't have the time or loose interest. I see some people that own race leathers but don't wear them much saying its a hassle. I imagine most new riders buy safety equipment with their bike purchase but quickly discard them after a while .I must say it is rare that I see a rider wear full gear.
So what are some decent affordable safety gear, that is comforatable, easy to put on and take off, looks casual and can be worn in hot/ humid weather? If it is cool, comforatable and looks good, I will try to wear mine all the time. Also I saw some stats on where the head is most likely to impacts in crash. What body part is most likely to strike the ground the hardest in a spill?

Buy the best gear you can afford and try to purchase something where the full garment (not just the impact protectors) is CE approved. I use the Halvarrson safety suit but there are growing number of clothing manufacturers that produce CE approved clothing.
Get good biking boots (mine are also CE approved), good quality gloves and a helmet with appropriate safety accreditations.
None of it's cheap [others may be aware of cheaper clothing manufacturers that still make CE approved gear] but it's your body and you choose how to protect it.

I got myself fully geared up for about $500. You dont have to splurge on the best leather jacket or the best shoei helmet if you are tight on cash.

You could get a decent textile or mesh jacket for around $100-150, riding pants or riding jeans for another $80-100, a good snell-approved helmet for around $150, a good sturdy pair of ankle boots for like $50 at walmart or whatever, and leather gloves for around $30 or so. Just make sure you buy stuff with vents, or if you get leather make sure its perforated(lots of tiny holes to let air flow through.)

Go to www.newenough.com and check out their closeout sections. Some pretty good deals. www.motorcyclesuperstore.com has a pretty huge selection.

I, a newbie myself, did what was expected to do. i bought the helmet from the dealer i bought the bike from. a DOT approved helmet, for 60 bucks, polcie style. the racer style, full faced were 80-100 bucks.
... i have a all leather ridring jacket, i got from a relitive ( free ).
... But i saw one i really wanted at another bike shop, for an even 100.
... the honda dealership ( and some others ) have a good selection, like icon, and tour master for about 127- 150 bucks, mess with body armor.
... walmart another good cheap source, has bell helmets for 70-85 bucks.
... Another good source would be people/ riders you know that are selling or getting rid of that extra riding gear they dont use anymore," make sure its your size though, not to loose". -- i got a HJC ful-faced helmet for less than 50 at a local pawn shop.
... two pair of riding gloves, one pair full finger and one no fingers, at bike shop both for around 40.
... I hope this information is useful, what ever you decide on make sure its an opproved iteam for you safety...good riding...

I got some Kevlar riding jeans for $60 shipped, a leather jacket at the local leather shop (heavy duty, double stitched biker jacket, not some crap from Wilson's) for $120, a pair of leather gloves at the same place for $20, a mesh+armor jacket from NewEnough for around $100, and some waterproof overpants from the same for around $100. I got my helmet at the local Harley shop for $60.

Screaming Eagle sets up here 2 -3 weekends a year and you can get a full set for $300. This includes a jacket, gloves, chaps, skullcap, neck thingy and boots. You only get to choose from the cheapo gear that didn't sell from the year before, but it's a cheap way to get a full set of riding gear.

http://www.jafrum.com/ is a cheap online shop, but make sure you know what size you wear before ordering.

So do these recomendations meet my requirement? It has to comforatable in real hot weather, easy on and off and wearable in public places without causing alot of attention. I don't want to look like the road warrior or terminator going into a store. Im kinda small and it would look like I has some kinda ego problem if I were wearing some black armor suit. I have a good helmet already but it is an open face. I think I will go to a full but I don't like them. Harder for me to see and a pain to take off and on. I wear glasses.

dchi wrote:So do these recomendations meet my requirement? It has to comforatable in real hot weather, easy on and off and wearable in public places without causing alot of attention. I don't want to look like the road warrior or terminator going into a store. Im kinda small and it would look like I has some kinda ego problem if I were wearing some black armor suit. I have a good helmet already but it is an open face. I think I will go to a full but I don't like them. Harder for me to see and a pain to take off and on. I wear glasses.

I'd love to give you a simple answer to your question, but all I can do is tell you what I wear. Gear is a personal choice and one you must ultimately make on your own.

I wear glasses too, and I also wear a full face helmet.

You are not going to find protective gear (note the protective aspect) that looks like real clothing. It looks like a jacket and over pants. You will swish. If you have a nice pair of boots they may squeak (I went full race boot and don't regret it a bit). People will ask you why are you wearing all of that gear.

Look at textiles and textile mesh combos. You will be cool when moving, warm when sitting still and your comfort in the store depends on you. It will protect you once, then it will need to be replaced.

Putting gear on and off is a quick process. Do it regularly and you will find it is second nature. In the fire department they drill you on getting into full gear from just normal duty clothing in under a minute. Yes it is easier to jump onto the bike buck naked.

Lots of people put their gear to the side. I never will. Perhaps my choice is easy from wearing protective gear into burning buildings. It helps to burn into your mind the fragility of the human body. That and rolling down the road with your bike illuminating the night in sparks in front of you. That helps to remind me that I break easily.

I currently wear a pure white mesh jacket. You don't have to wear black. I like the bright colors. I wear a full face helmet because I like my face. It may not be a very attractive one, but its mine and I don't need anymore scars on it.

90% of the riders here to not wear anything but a helmet. We're the odd couple out as we gear up and head out. But its worth it to us. The chances are good enough to others that they will take them. Perhaps I am a poor rider to have already meet the road so intimately. The chances are not good enough for me. I have a tiny spot of rash on my arm from where my jacket gave way that may never match the rest of my body color wise. I'm not unhappy about it, but its a reminder that it was a small wound that came late in the game.

How would I have fared without my gear on?

also a noob. I do wear full gear:
Full Face Helmet (I also wear glasses. The little bit of time it takes to put the glasses one after you get the helmet on is worth it)
Heavy weight leather and a armored lined Cordura jacket (depending on roads I'll bet taking and weather
calf length riding boots.
heavy weight leather chaps.

I personally don't care how I look when I walk into a store or in public. At least what i wear increases my chanes to be able to walk into another store if I have an accident.