I thought that would get your attention.. now, help me pick out gear to buy! I'm having trouble finding good advice online. I'll read one post that says Joe Rocket gear sucks, another that said it's the best for the price, and so on and so forth.

The only thing I have right now is an HJC CL-12 helmet.

I'm definately going to buy a jacket and some gloves right away. Then boots are next on the list. Then some sort of leg protection like draggin' jeans.

This will be for around town, spirited riding usage. Not for track days. I live in Michigan, the weather fluctuates like none other. Should I get jacket that is weather versatile, or two seperate jackets for hot/cool weather? And so on and so on.. I've got so many questions.

Cost is important, but quality comes first.

Help?

 

If you can't afford dragging jean yet, get a pair of motocross knee/shin guard and wear it under your jean. It cost me $15 and saved my left knee in a low-side. Most jacket will have removable liner so you can just remove it when it's too hot, or put it back in when it's cold...

 

I bought the JR Blaster jacket. This was the best price I could find and the local shops could not match it. It seems real nice and will serve the purpose for me (just leisurely riding). Also, Nicky Hayden (sp) wears JR brand gear so I know its not crap.
http://www.kneedraggers.com/index.php?partno=36-JR-143

I bought these Teknic gloves. They look well constructed and were a great price too.
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/gloves.htm

I just got both of them though and have not had a chance to try them because of the snow and 12degree weather. Through my many hours of reading on other forums, they both are good products.

 

You'll find that anywhere, unless you buy something obscure enough that few people have it. Personally I have found the Joe Rocket stuff to be quite well-built and comfortable, though I don't currently have any (Had the Blaster jacket, sold it with a bike).

Regarding the changeable weather, a jacket with a zip-out liner is really nice and saves you trying to layer a lot under (or over!) the jacket. I've had a few, one a Honda jacket (very nice, sold to a friend), and the JR Blaster jacket. I prefer a lined jacket, but since I don't have one right now I'm layering, which keeps me warm enough until it's so cold out I really shouldn't be riding (20deg and below).

Gloves - Teknic and Joe Rocket make nice gloves for reasonable prices. I've got the plain black Teknic Violators myself.

Boots - Currently Alpinestars SMX, soon to be replaced with Sidi Vertebra 2's. I'm a Sidi boot freak, always had their offroad boots. The Alpinestars have held up very well for daily riding in all weather, but they are looking very shabby now and some of the stitching is falling apart. I am very hard on boots though, so that isn't a condemnation of Alpinestars quality at all.

Leg Protection - I'd personally get some leather pants that zip to the jacket for "spirited riding"...save the jeans for around-town riding.

 

kneedraggers is good, well good for me. Got my GP Plus 2's in 2 days! You wouldnt believe what a hassle my friend is having w/them now, they have 0 in stock, and refuse to update their website.

 

I decided to order the Joe rocket phoenix jacket for summer riding due to its comfort compared to other brands.
Well i just got it in the mail bout 3 hours ago and I will tell you right now the quality sux, all four of the buttons on the sleeves broke right off. w/o the buttons the padding dosent stay on the elbows. Im gonna call the company and ask for a refund... very shoddy product.

 

My two cents...

I have an HJC jacket (full leather with a removeable liner) and it's pretty good...if the temp is below 25 degrees (celcius, I don't know what that is in Farenheit, 80 maybe???) Anything hotter than that and it is too hot, especially if stuck in traffic. I've found that a nice alternative for the summer is the JR lightweight 'summer' jacket, I don't know the UPC, but it's sort of a mesh with some padding inserts (it's the same jacket Vin Diesel wore in XXX). It's nice and light and relatively cheap, about $140 canadian (that's prolly around 10 bucks american, lol!!) But for real, it's light and offers decent protection and it's better than wearing nothing, which I still can't believe I see guys doing!!!
As far as the gloves, I went the cheap route and bought Rhinos...and I got what I paid for...they lasted one season. I'm going to get some Alpine's for this year, a couple of buddies have them and they say good things. (expensive though)
Boots are the same, you get what you pay for, so I would wait and buy a decent pair when you can afford them.

like I said, just my two cents.

ride safe

 

jacket: first gear (hein gerrike) z-pilot...expensive but great jacket. quality is awesome, comes with CE core comp armor and a removeable liner...and a pateneted ventilation system which you can use by opening zippers for when it gets hot out. and with the lining it will keep you warm as hell...even in 20 degs...it also has a neck coverer that you can pull out for wen its really cold. overall very versitle, very high quality/

boots: SIDI vert II...no complaints. high quality, comfortable, and decent to walk in.

gloves: alpinestars GP+. comfy, workable, good protection. but these are NOT made for cold weather.


all great stuff IMO. but you'll pay for it.

 

seriously, do all you guys wear full gear when riding? i know i should, but these days i just wear the helmet jacket and gloves and thats it.

 

yes. I paid good money for it all... why let it go to waste? Also haven't you seen all those pics floating over the net of guys going down who don't wear gear? That is not going to be me safety first I don't understand guys that don't wear any gear... I have two buddies that hardly wear anything but their helmet. I know you can be a good rider and all, but being a good rider doesn't make up for the drunk driver or soccer mom in the suv not seeing you. There's only so much that good riding skills can do, the rest of it is all up to luck.

 

I just wear jacket, helmet and gloves just to run around locally, but I will end up getting boots and pants for long rides.

 

i wear everything except leather pants...just cause i'm still a beginner and not goign much over 30mph anyway! but it was really cause i ran out of money for the pants. i will get them soon...and will use them for any serious riding. better of safe, i say. i will never be one of those ppl riding around in shorts and a tank top...just plain crazy IMO.

 

I plan on boots, helmet, gloves, and a jacket at all times. Pants if I'm up to putting them on, but jeans at the minimum (if that would even make a difference..)

 

All I use to wear was a beater and jeans. That is until i went down. Now im all messed up because I liked to show off and look cool when I rode. Ill still probably do it on short trips but if i go on a decent ride ill put on a jacket and DEFINATLY gloves.

 

Ever heard the term squid? Seriously though, how big are you chickin strips?

Nerdish, I have a Teknic Chicane jacket that I don't need anymore. It's yzf blue though... I'll let you have it for $115 and shipping. No damage, you'll need to get your own ce armor. I keep my leathers clean and supple w/ lexol. It has padding built in and all that. Check it out on their site. Teknicgear.com

 

I wear everything except the pants, always, even if I'm only going 2 blocks away. The pants only go on for extended trips, etc. I wear a textile mesh jacket during summer sometimes, and even that gives me the creeps.

If you have the cash, and you don't mind the selection, then pick up one of the leather jackets from newenough. If you're really strapped, then go with the textile jacket.

 

project_mercy, do you wear riding boots when you are bee bopping around town too?

 

I have some Wolf leathers, which are pretty good for off the shelf stuff, some Sidi vertebrae boots Arai lid and Spidi gloves. I wear all of it all the time as accidents have a nasty habit of catching you when you are 'just going out' How sick would I be if after throwing £2000 at kit I arrive home with bits of flesh missing?

 

plus, i don't know abotu you guys...but i love suiting up. i feel like i preparing for battle or something...and becoming someone else. it makes the escapist element of riding all the more alluring. full gear =

 

I wear some Joe Rocket Powerglides. It allows me to walk around normal as if I was wearing normal shoes, and still feel semi-protected. They grip pretty well when you drop your foot too.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...115&division=1

 

?

 

well ya never can have too much gear.

I have personally crashed Joe Rocket leather and it fairs pretty well in a crash. Most of your cheaper leather jackets will be goatskin, or kangarooskin instead of cow skin leather. It is just a little thinner in comparison I believe 1.3mm vs 1.5mm.

Make sure the jacket you get is double stitched on all seams, has doubled up leather in impact areas like elbows, shoulders etc.

On my crash at about 45 or so i faired pretty well (on my upper body)since I had the jacket on.

The phoenix gear, well I have seen mixed results. The padding moves out of position in an accident, the stitching tears and it does not provide no where near the protection leather does. There are a few instances of moderate speed accidents where there was no injury, and then there are instances of slow speed accidents where there was a decent amount of road rash.

I guess it all depends on how you fall, if you get lucky and fall in a way that the jacket protects you then you are lucky.

as far as the rest of the gear get something with doubled padding in the palm of the gloves. The carbon knuckle covers are optional and can be a lil uncomfortable.

Pants... well nothing will substitute for leather pants, but if you cant afford them dragging jeans will prevent road rash in the impact areas. Just realize they dont have padding in the knees/hips/butt.

Boots are probably the most overlooked safety item. Do not skimp in this area.... trust me. 15k in medical bills for a surgery on your foot and bones broken in both feet will open your eyes. This was with goretex timberland leather boots.

I now have a spidi hook two piece suit, alpinestar gp plus gloves, sidi race vertebra boots, shoei rf900 miguel duhamel helmet. I think it was around 1500 bucks for it all and I wear it every time I get on the bike

I will see if i can get pics of joe rocket for ya.

 

DAMN! Sorry mehn.... I hope ure still able to walk or talk?

 

Here is me after over a year and a half. Two and a half months in a wheelchair and over $20,000 in medical bills.

My ankle, which was ground down to the bone.


Two pictures of my knee almost down to the bone.



Here is my hand, sans thumb.



I am now an advocate for the proper riding gear. Always wear a 'good' helmet, leather gloves with armor, leather jacket with at least soft armor, at the very least jeans, and a very nice pair of boots with adequate ankle protection.

Out of everything that happened, the worst had to be seeing the look on my mother's face when I was rolled into the hospital with a neck brace and my complete body wrapped in gauze except for my head. The pavement will strip you if you are not wearing the proper gear, it stripped me down to nothing but my shorts and helmet, it ripped my 2 shirts off and my shoes and socks. Be smarter than I was wear the right equipment.

Thanks, Lory.

 

ouch... sorry to hear about your loss =\ today on my way to/from lunch I just saw a guy on a yellow gixxer wearing nothing but a tshirt and shorts with his backpack. not gonna be me.