Another stupid gear thread, from the Nood!

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Ok.. I'm looking at maybe picking up TheGoodGuy's racebike GS in a few weeks, assuming I can get all to go well financially. I know that once I pay for the bike, I won't be able to afford gear/insurance/MSF for awhile, but I figure that can wait till after I get a job this summer, as long as I have the bike (no, I won't ride it before I take the course/have gear/have insurance). I was looking at the closeouts on newenough, and I came across two jackets that I kinda like.

The first is here

The only thing I don't like about that jacket is that it doesn't use CE Armor.

The second is here

I obviously like the first gear jacket much more, and I would add the CE armor, and the backpad.

The price difference is kind of a determining factor. I know, I know, spend the money once, buy something that will do its job. My question is, do you think the supercharger (the first one) with the dual density armor would do a decent job? Or should I save for another week or two, and get the firstgear? I'm leaning toward the first gear, just because it's a name I know, and I like the armor. Plus the jacket is thicker... I'd rather wear away my jacket than my skin. 

Thanks for any input you may have..

[Alphamazing]

First things first... TheGoodGuy's racebike? Didn't he live in California? Don't you mean that_guy's racebike? The guy in FL?

Second things:

CE ARMOR. I love the stuff, honestly. I bought a jacket that didn't have any in it and rode around with just the dual density padding for a while. It didn't feel safe enough so I used armor from my old Fieldsheer jacket in it. I just feel safer with the CE armor.

Also, do you specifically want your jackets to have collars? I guess it's a personal thing, but the collars bothered me. Have you tried any gear on at a dealer to see what fits you and what you like best? That's the best way to go about it. For the no collar style (and still just basing it off NewEnough) I think this one would be a good choice.

Also, check eBay for stuff too. You can get a bunch of stuff cheaper on eBay than you can get it from NewEnough. I got some gloves for $55 shipped from eBay. NewEnough would have cost me ~$75 and retail would have been over $100.

I like Teknic stuff, personally, and should have bought my jacket one size smaller. Ah well.

[RVertigo]

Power Trip == Crap IMO...  I've tried on several of their jackets and they're thin and weak as hell...  Spend a few extra bills and get a jacket that doesn't suck.

The First Gear doesn't say the thickness, but I'd trust it more than the Power Trip...  It looks like it'll be pretty warm.  Think about a nice Textile jacket too...

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

First things first... TheGoodGuy's racebike? Didn't he live in California? Don't you mean that_guy's racebike? The guy in FL?

Second things:

CE ARMOR. I love the stuff, honestly. I bought a jacket that didn't have any in it and rode around with just the dual density padding for a while. It didn't feel safe enough so I used armor from my old Fieldsheer jacket in it. I just feel safer with the CE armor.

Also, do you specifically want your jackets to have collars? I guess it's a personal thing, but the collars bothered me. Have you tried any gear on at a dealer to see what fits you and what you like best? That's the best way to go about it. For the no collar style (and still just basing it off NewEnough) I think this one would be a good choice.

Also, check eBay for stuff too. You can get a bunch of stuff cheaper on eBay than you can get it from NewEnough. I got some gloves for $55 shipped from eBay. NewEnough would have cost me ~$75 and retail would have been over $100.

I like Teknic stuff, personally, and should have bought my jacket one size smaller. Ah well.

Yeah, I meant that_guy's bike.. I'm retarded (It's 3AM, cut me some slack!  )

As for the jacket you suggested, I like it.. but the smallest it's offered in is a 40.. It says you can be up to 6" smaller.. so I'd need a 34" waist.. I'm closer to a 29" waist.. so that's not gonna work.. I'm on ebay right now, checking for Teknic stuff, thanks for the heads up on that... I'll post anything cool I find.

[Alphamazing]

Okay, so you're as skinny as I am it seems. Good, we can look at gear together then

My Teknic jacket is a bit big on me, and it's size 40. I should have gotten a 38 and it would be great, I think. I've got a 28" waist and 30" in the hip area, so fairly similar to you.

Oh, and the sizes for the jackets are for the chest sizes. So the 40 would be a 40" chest, not waist.

Alpinestars stuff, while expensive, offer a better range of sizes for skinny ass mofos like us. This is because they were cut with the Europeans in mind, which typically means less of that "American" build of big all over. They are cut trimmer too I hear, which means skinny waists are more than welcome. I'm looking at some now, but unfortunately don't have $300 to spend on a super awesome jacket at the moment.

[RVertigo]

You really should make your way to a moto shop and try on different brands and styles of jackets...

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

You really should make your way to a moto shop and try on different brands and styles of jackets...

I intend to, ASAP... Unfortunately, that means I have to steal a car from someone here on campus. Then find a store near me. But yeah, I definitely intend to try stuff on, then try to find better prices online. Right now I'm just trying to get an idea, cuz my tax return will pay for the bike. Then I need to worry about gear/msf/insurance, in that order. Fortunately, I should have my old job back this summer, and I should be netting $3K+ a month, so with my first check, I should be able to handle everything. Wish me luck!

[RVertigo]

Helmets need to fit the best...  Don't worry about matching...  And if the jacket sleeves are too short, get longer gloves.

[Alphamazing]

Don't worry about matching

We know you certainly don't!

[RVertigo]

We know you certainly don't!

I don't have enough money to match.   

If I had the money, I'd be riding my yellow Thruxton in a two-piece that matched all my other gear.

Rolling around like a super poseur!     70 HP of WANNABE!   

[Alphamazing]

We know you certainly don't!

I don't have enough money to match.   

If I had the money, I'd be riding my yellow Thruxton in a two-piece that matched all my other gear.

Rolling around like a super poseur!     70 HP of WANNABE!   

Hey! I'm cheap, but I still match! Helmet off eBay, leather jacket off NewEnough for $100, black gloves, black boots. Oh yeah. That's where it's at man.

[RVertigo]

Yeah...  Black helmet and all my gear would match...  I always looked for yellow gear and always found black gear.   

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I'm looking at probably doing black everything. Cuz black will match anything. Then I can repaint my bike whatever color I want.

[Alphamazing]

I'm looking at probably doing black everything. Cuz black will match anything. Then I can repaint my bike whatever color I want.

Word. And you can repaint it a bunch if you don't like it.

[RVertigo]

Well...  Just to add a note about having a jacket that you can see from space... (I actually had a friend spot me 3 miles down the freeway).

When I wore my HOLY-shaZam!-GREEN jacket, people were about 15% more likely to see me...  Meaning, the people that actually looked (about 20%) had a better chance of seeing me.  The rest of the people still didn't see me...

Black is  harder to see, expecially at night.

[3imo]

+1 for a bright jacket.

not for everyone though.  mine is light grey.   

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

True about the jacket.. Maybe I'll go black with some of those reflective strips... I really like black overall though, doesn't show dirt as much, etc...

On another note, what do you guys think of that_guy's bike? I really like it, think it's a great deal, and since he's a fellow GSTwinner, I trust him when he says it runs well, since I'd be buying it sight unseen.

If you don't know the bike I'm talking about, it's seen in the pictures here

There was a thread about it, but it got tarded, then locked, and since noone posted in it for 30 days, it disappeared. Must have disappeared last night/this morning, cuz I was looking at it last night.

The bike has: GSXR rear shock, steering damper, cobra f1 slipon, ss brake lines, a bunch of other stuff, that I can't remember cuz it was all in the thread that got deleted.

[pandy]

So you meant that_guy and not TheGoodGuy, right?

And congrats on almost graduating from nood to noob status!! w00t! 

[3imo]

I like it. but I would do a complete teardown to combat rust and a new paint job.

from the pics I hope you got a good deal.

[RVertigo]

Maybe I'll go black with some of those reflective strips...

Reflectors do nothing during the day.