Riding Gear Options........dang

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TKW · #1 Unread post by **TKW** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:27 pm

Ok. i've read in detail the beginners guides in here, and i've talked to several local dealers (no help, always selling) and I just can't freakin decide on what to get. i've factored in about 1500bucks on top of the cost of my bike when i get the load for riding gear. boots and gloves i'm fine on, but I can't seem to make a decision on full suit or 2 piece. If i went 2 piece i'm thinking leather jacket textile pants but if I go full suit i'm looking at this one. The full suit was given excellent reviews, but I noticed the zippers are on the inside of the legs and i'm thinking that might scratch the side of the tank. Anyway, i'm just curious as to what you folks use. Another thing i'm considering is if I go full suit, it slips over my street clothes. But when I get to where i'm going, say the movie theater to watch a flick, does the suit fold enough with all the armor to fit in a saddle bag? Just lost in a sea of options here, looking for opinions.

swatter555 · Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:24 pm

Getting a full suit is going a shade over-board for a newb, but if thats what you want to do, that will give you the most protection.

If it were me, I would get a damn good leather jacket(perforated if you live in a hot place) with matching leather pants that zip onto the back of the jacket. If you get a whole suit, you dont leave yourself with many options if you dont feel like completely suiting up every time you throw your leg over a bike. I would say get a suit later, after you get day to day gear.

If you live in a hot place, consider getting a leather/mesh combo jacket also.

TKW · #3 Unread post by **TKW** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:44 pm

that is another issue i'm dealing with, since i'm not sure where they are shipping me in the Navy, I could go to Alaska or Hawaii for all i know, so it's hard to know what the weather will be like where i'm riding. Several ppl have told me a suit is overkill, but I figure I might as well get it now while i've got the money. Wouldn't a full suit be easier to slip on and off with my reg clothes under, than say seperate clothes? If I have a suit, I can slip it off and be ready to go when I get there. but with seperate pieces, i'm pretty much wearing the pants wherever i'm going. right? For the most part i'll be wearing a uniform or something else underneath i'll need to be wearing other than riding gear, so i can't just wear riding pants around everywhere I go.

#4 Unread post by **Skier** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:03 pm

swatter555 wrote: If you get a whole suit, you dont leave yourself with many options if you dont feel like completely suiting up every time you throw your leg over a bike.

For what it's worth, it takes about as much time to zip into a Roadcrafter as it does to put on just riding pants, let alone having to take a couple seconds extra to shuck on your jacket. It's honestly a five to ten second affair to get into the suit in street clothes. Not a hassle at all, and getting out takes even less time.

TKW wrote:that is another issue i'm dealing with, since i'm not sure where they are shipping me in the Navy, I could go to Alaska or Hawaii for all i know, so it's hard to know what the weather will be like where i'm riding. Several ppl have told me a suit is overkill, but I figure I might as well get it now while i've got the money. Wouldn't a full suit be easier to slip on and off with my reg clothes under, than say seperate clothes? If I have a suit, I can slip it off and be ready to go when I get there. but with seperate pieces, i'm pretty much wearing the pants wherever i'm going. right? For the most part i'll be wearing a uniform or something else underneath i'll need to be wearing other than riding gear, so i can't just wear riding pants around everywhere I go.

I've worn my two piece Roadcrafter in subfreezing temps to over 100* F with snow, hail and rain. It will be the most flexible part fo your riding gear, hands down.

As I said before, getting into the suit takes about ten seconds, tops, after you get the hang out it. Getting out is probable two seconds or so.

You can wear anything you want under it. I usually wear blue jeans and a tshirt, but have done the khakis with a dress shirt and shorts and a tshirt and everything in between (including sweat pants

).

The only problem with the suit is storage of it off the bike. It's pretty unweildly when you're not wearing it and can take up a lot of room. However, if that's not an issue, it's probably the best version of street protection you can get. You won't be tempted to ride without riding pants because getting into your suit is so incredibly easy. Oh, and you don't have to worry about that pesky rain stuff, either.

TKW · #5 Unread post by **TKW** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:14 pm

yeah that is kinda what ive heard about that suit, which is why i went with it. Sucks to hear about the storage off the bike tho. guess i'll figure something out.

ZooTech · #6 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 12:45 am

TKW wrote:i've factored in about 1500bucks on top of the cost of my bike when i get the load for riding gear.

Please tell me that's gear for two people, otherwise you're setting yourself up for a serious ripoff (even if it's Canadian dollars).

Joe Rocket Meteor 4.0 Jacket - $99.99 (NewEnough.com)

Joe Rocket riding pants - $~150.00

Joe Rocket Steel-Reinforced Jeans - $80.00

Joe Rocket Meteor 3-Season Gloves - $40.00

Glove Liners - $10.00

Sunglasses - $20.00

Joe Rocket Orbit Boots - $90.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL = $489.99

Add the cost of a helmet ($100.00 if you're wise, $500.00 if you're vain) and you're good to go.

Mintbread · #7 Unread post by **Mintbread** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:48 am

What has vanity got to do with comfort?

I recently had to get new riding gear: Australian dollars

Shoei helmet - $800
Alpinestars jacket - $800
Alpinestars gloves - $150
Draggin jeans - $200
I am yet to purchase new riding boots, but will soon - $350

Shiv · #8 Unread post by **Shiv** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:30 am

Maybe he meant gullible.

mattf · #9 Unread post by **mattf** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:16 am

Belstaff. Two piece suit with the benefits of your Aerostich. Plus you can take the liner out of the jacket and get a pair of overpants for when you have to wear your uniform underneath.

Look on ebay. There's a seller - rsbcycles - that deals in new Belstaff stuff for great prices. I've ordered a jacket, pants, and gloves from them. You can easily get a top quality jacket and two pairs of pants from them for $500.

You can't go wrong with the Roadcrafter, either. GREAT product. I might get one myself eventually. But for now, I can throw on the jacket when I'm wearing jeans already and ride in that all day. I don't have the overpants yet, the only riding pants I have are heavily insulated for cold weather riding.

TKW · #10 Unread post by **TKW** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:23 am

lol well I'm not gullible or stupid. I said i had 1500 set aside for it, I didn't say that's what i was going to spend. I factored it in high so I could get whatever I wanted. If I have left over cash I can spend it on accessories for the bike like the running lights I want, or saddle bags. The Suit I posted is 700bucks by itself. Can I get cheaper suits elsewhere? Of course I can, but I want the best i can get, and so far I haven't found one single person say anything bad about that suit. I don't mind spending a little extra money if it means saving my life in the end, and having the versatility, comfort and ease of use that this suit seems to have. So, call me gullible if you like, I just plan on being prepared from the beginning instead of wishing I had gotten something better down the road when i might not have the money. And thatnks all for replying, your comments are helpful.

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Riding Gear Options........dang

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