Buying gear

[bobo333]

I just completed the MSF courses and will be getting a license soon. I already know what bike I want to get, but I am completely undecided as to what gear I should get. Obviously I want a helmet, I think I want a full-face one, but as far as how much it will cost, what type I should get and such, I have no idea. I also most likely need a leather jacket, again I don't know much beyond that. Same story with chaps and gloves (and anything I might be forgetting in there).

I'm a poor college student so the cheaper the better. However, considering this is safety gear, I realize that getting quality is important, and that often means forking over some cash.

Any and all advice, links to specific examples, or anything else would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. : )

[Dragon on Wheels]

You're going to have to go into a store and try on the helmet(and it'll probably be good to try the other stuff too). No one can tell you which helmet fits well except for yourself. There's a helmet post stuck at the top of the forum. It has directions for picking a helmet.

[PacificShot327]

If you're looking for inexpensive but quality gear, check out the Scorpion website. I bought a helmet and gloves from them. I'll probably grab one of their jackets when I start riding again.

The helmet held up just fine in my crash - I had no idea that I had even hit my head.

The key, however, is to make sure that your helmet fits right -- you can buy the "best" helmet in the world, but it'll be useless if it doesn't fit correctly.

[Brackstone]

If you have a head that is longer from front to back than it is from side to side be careful! 90% of helmets won't fit you!

I cannot stress how important it is for someone to go into a store and buy a helmet. Try a helmet on and leave it on for 15 minutes and see if you have even the slightest bit of pain. If you do, that pain will get worse as time passes by so it's the wrong helmet.

[MTexile]

+1 Brackstone...

keep in mind fit, not cost. Also, before you buy, ask them what their return policy is on helmets. Don't like what you hear, shop elsewhere. You might find a $99 helmet that fits perfect while the $350 Shoei gives you a headache after 10 minutes.

[zeligman]

hey bobo - i'm about 60 days ahead of you! DEFINITELY read the sticky about picking hemets ( viewtopic.php?t=42 ) - it made me feel so much more confident. I tried on every brand in the place, and ended up with the most expensive purely because that's what fit - oh well.

And, I bought it from the store too - even though I might have found it cheaper online, they went to the trouble of working with me for over an hour picking one and finally letting me wear it for 30+ minutes until it fit.

for other gear, you can try online stores- i had GREAT success at newenough.com and motorcyclecloseouts.com

Leather is warm - though the perforated is really comfortable 90 percent of the time so far - even in july and august.

ppl on here have preferences, and sometimes they might 'go along' with your bike choice as well - sport bike style stuff is different from cruiser stuff, etc.

but GOOD for you for FULL helmet. Protect all that info that is getting stuffed into it during college!

-Z[/url]

[El Conquistador]

+1 zeligman.

I also bought my helmet from the shop. Same one I bought my first ride from, actually. It was the last one of it Brand on the shelf. All of the others did not fit me as well. The ones I started out trying on had pressure spots at the front and back of my head, so, on to the next brand.

I found good prices at Motorcyclecloseouts.com and bought my jacket from there. It's a good heavy jacket with all of the armor. With the vents open, it is cool enough for a St. Louis summer (Hot and Humid) when you are moving. Before I bought the jacket, I did try some on at a shop, but as I didn't like the style or price of the ones I found, I bought on line.

[havegunjoe]

First, check out Craig’s List for jackets, chaps. Buy a new helmet, your head is your most important asset after all. I wear a Sparx Retro full face. http://www.revzilla.com/product/sparx-c ... tro-helmet You can buy some good but not expensive boots at Fleet Farm. I bought HD boots there for less than half what they want at a HD dealer. When looking at leather jackets you want vents in the front and rear, lots of pockets inside and out, snap at the neck, and armor in the back, elbows and shoulders. Used but not abused will do fine. I just bought chaps from a place near me that sells motorcycle leather but you can do very well on Craig’s List as I said. Try them on then go into a sitting position to see how they feel. You want to be able to slide your hand down each leg without it being too tight or loose when standing.

[zeligman]

Also - i had a more ... ummm.... difficult time due to sizing - I'm bigger than your average bear

I went with joe rocket overpants - good padding/armor, EASY on and off (full leg zippers), and they also came with removable rain gear inserts.

I have a fieldsheer perforated leather jacket - it's actually a bit big on me - hard as that is to believe - around the shoulders - but it has elbow, shoulder, and back armor - as well as padding in the kidney area.

I found a pair of Icon boots that are VERY nice - light and comfortable to wear - the waterproof ones - accelerant i think. and some generic gloves that look a little bit sportsbikish - but they had good knuckle and palm protection (i ride a cruiser).

My helmet is the arai vector - surprisingly good venting when riding! occasionally at stops i have to lift the bottom up one notch, but maybe that;s because its all so new to me. (a month or so).

Feel free to ask any questions - the folks here are AWESOME

-z

edit - as big of a pain as it turns out to be, I spent 1/3 as much on the gear as i spent on my first bike. 1k for gear, 3k for bike.

[green meenie]

Like others have said - helmet fit is key - not brand. They're all pretty good so just go for what fits best. I would never wear anything but a full-face helmet but; to each his/her own. Get good gloves too - your hands are important. A proper pair of boots would be next on my list; even before a jacket. Save your feet and ankles. Again; I wouldn't ride with anything that doesn't cover the ankle with some kind of protection there. Alot of people don't though so; up to you. You can consider a mesh jacket over leather. Will be cheaper and still offers decent protection if it has armor in it. You can buy all this stuff on line; maybe cheaper than at your local shop but; go try stuff on at a shop first. It's gotta fit and feel good. If it doesn't; you will regret it.