Riding Gear

[jeepnGS]

Proud owner of a GS now I need to figure out what I should gear I should to take it out (I realize tank top and shorts is 'tupid).  (I realize a license is primary and am getting that.  )  Figured first is a helmet, best protect the few brains that I was given.  So I go online to research (can find everything online and some is just durn scary) and I see helmets from $80 to $800.   Please tell me I can get good protection without $800.  While at a local shop, I try on an Icon Alliance SS (retail $200).  Comfy (for anything that weighs 200 lbs on my neck ).    Wore it for awhile and felt pretty comfortable with it (did I mention it was heavy).  Any feedback on that brand?   Whatchall think?

PS  I'll be back for the jackets, gloves, boots....

[pandy]

Welcome to the nuthouse! 

If it feels good on your head, the price is worth it. I wear a Scorpion EX-400. It's light, it's well vented, but--best of all--I got it for $120.00 plus tax at a sale! Whatever helmet you decide on, try it on and wear it for 20 minutes or so. People may look at you funny, but I'd rather be looked at funny than buy a helmet that gives me a headache!

If you haven't already, check out www.newenough.com . They have some outstanding values. I just saw a women's jacket today for $57.00. I purchased a mesh w/liner jacket a while back from them that was about $43.00. Their customer service is outstanding, and they have an excellent return policy.

Have you taken the MSF yet?

[Alphamazing]

Get what fits you best.

Scorpions are well built and a good value.
HJCs and KBCs are about on par with each other.
Shoeis and Arais are pretty comparable in terms of features, build quality, and comfort.
Icons are slightly cheaper than HJC/KBC I think.
Z1R, Vega, and Nolan all feel pretty cheap to me.

[Egaeus]

Correction: Icon is made by HJC.  They are HJC's bling line.  I have one (not too much bling) because it fit best of the ones I could afford at the time.  They are okay, but from what I read, they're much louder than the scorpion helmets (similar pricing).  I do hear quite a bit of wind noise, but I don't have anything with which to compare it. 

[PuddleJumper]

I have a fulmer helmet. 129.00
It's a bit noisy but not too bad. I wear ear plugs.

Jacket is a Mesh Tex II from newenough. I think they are around 79.00 now.
Great jacket for hot weather. Works pretty good in the winter if you layer underneath it and wear a windbreaker over it.

Pants are fieldsheer four seasons pants. 159.00 form Motorcycle-superstore.com
They have mesh panels in them and a zip out quilted liner for cold weather.
With the liner out, they can be used as overpants or by themselves.

At 35 degrees F. with longjohns and liner I am toasty warm on my 20 minute commute.

BeSafe.

[ledfingers]

in my opinion the icon is horrible. for close to the same pricing you get a much more for your money with the scorpion. i had an old shoei for my first helmet that was really comfortable, quiet, well built, protected me well when i went down. then  i got an icon and i hate it. i've tried on the scorpions (as well as hjc, kbc, arai, new shoeis...) and they're my favorite by far, and not just because of the price.

definitely check out newenough.com though. once you figure out what sizes you are for everything  and find out what you're comfortable in, IMO it's better to buy from newenough because it's so much less and they're such good people to work with.

[jeepnGS]

Well I should just send my next paycheck to newenough!    Thanks for the hook up.  Honestly never thought of wind noise.  (I drive a Jeep now so I have more noise than most anyway especially topless.)  I've seen a couple posts about wind noise and getting used to it though.  Can a good helmet really block that much?  Trying to find someplace around Cincinnati to go that will have some of these to get a feel for fit.  Places I've been don't have huge selections.  Anyone from the area know of a place?  I'll drive a couple hours if need be. 

Here's where you lol at me.  I have merely started the GS in the showroom.  I've not even had it in gear yet.  Going tomorrow to take the written test to get learner's permit.  Now you can stop laughing.  Never been on a bike.  My husband is calling this my mid life crisis (I'm hoping they don't find the body ). 

[blue05twin]

Know you asked about gear but. . . if you never been on a bike I really suggest taking the MSF course.  It's a great course that teaches you not only how to ride but about common mistakes make and how to spot potental accidents.

About helmets. . . I have had KBC was not to impressed with it.  My arai is wonderful really comfy fits my head and not to much wind noise.  My next helmet will probally be the scorpion EXO-1000 if it fits like the 700 series does.

On gloves if you can stay away from mesh gloves and get full leather gloves.  Alpha can show you why.

Rest of gear make sure it fits right, you can have the best gear in the world but if it doest fit right it's not going to be able to do it's job.

Side note if your having trouble finding places to try on gear, try differnt motorcycle dealers.  Example the local suzuki dealer carries more shoei, KBC but the honda place carries the scorpion's and HJC.

[darb85]

When does the 1000 come out??

[Alphamazing]

When does the 1000 come out??

August, I believe.

[bettingpython]

Icon sucks period POS helmets. The Shoei RF1000 shell fit's my head the best and I tried on everything I could find. Arai makes a nice helmet but price is no guarantee it will fit right. Wind nopise shouldn't be a consideration in buying a helmet even the quietest of them are too loud at speed for long term exposure. If you want to keep your hearing wear earplugs.
Gloves must be a full leather race gauntlet style saw a nice nifty set of wrist height Icon Bling gloves come off a fellow rider after he slammed into a cliff and went into a ditch at 85 in front of me. Same said rider was wering a $120 KBC helmet. He walked away from that wreck slightly sore with a couple of godd gashes on his hands and some rug burn. If it hadn't been for the gloves it woulda just been rug burn and soreness. Gear saves lives.
Mesh Jacket's   in Oklahoma humidity and heat they are tempting IMHO Ballistic with leather panels at a minimum. I wear a perforated leather jacket.
Boot's are a must period end of discussion.

The only real gear option is pant's, Denim does not last long in a slide. That being said I have no problem doing a commuter trip at city speeds in my Jeans, since I wear slacks to work this means i don't ride to work much. That's like zero abrasion resistance. On the weekends when I go ride I wear my leathers.

[jeepnGS]

I guess I was hoping for a "mall" of gear.  One stop shopping, so to speak.  Apparently a pipe dream here.  So one place for helmet, another for jacket.  On the up side, it's a pretty day for driving. 

So I've found a local place that carries Scorpion so I'm gonna go try on an EXO-700 see how that works.  Found this on newenough and would like to try one on:  http://newenough.com/helmets_eyewear/closed_face/scorpion/ladies_exo_700_black_dahlia_motorcycle_helmet.htm

Jackets was looking at aTour Master Intake Mesh Jacket or maybe the Joe Rocket Mesh Jacket.  I like the options offered on the Tour Master one. (Though the mobile media pocket made me think ipod on a bike?)  Any feedback on the brands??   I'm inclined to do the silver/black jackets, do I need to think the brighter colors?? 

Boots was checking out Sidi Champion Air Boots.   Anything on that?

Gloves figure buy what fits whereever I am at.  But will keep the full leather gauntlet in mind. 

Pants hadn't even got to mentally.  But wanting to ride to work makes me think Dockers are bad idea.   

Need to have the gear to take the course.  But I am definitely planning on taking one.   I have a friend coming over that has ridden for many years this weekend to at least walk us through some of it.  (Hubby is getting a 650s, once it's delivered)

[Jake D]

Check out http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/

And if you lived in KC like me, you could go there in person and shop.  Rusty, the owner, is a super nice guy.  And he rides an old Hawk GT, so you know he is cool. 

I have had two HJC.  Crashed one.  I have a KBC I wear now.  It is quiet and the face shield seals nicely and it is a good helmet.  Destro sold me on ear plugs anyway, and you should wear some too.

How about pictures of your bike and you Jeep.  I am a Jeep junkie.

[heatherg11]

I just recently got a Tourmaster Advanced sport jacket from newenough.com for around $50 and it is great. It's thick enough for winter but the liner comes out for summer riding. they seem to only have size xs, small, and medium so if you don't wear those sizes then i'm sorry. It's a great jacket though. I also have a joe rocket ballistic mesh for when it's really blazing hot out. Don't think it would protect that much, so I will probably just use the tourmaster and zip out the liner.

As for helmet, I had a KBC and it was ok. When I first started riding 5 or so years ago that's what I got in plain black-it was pretty much the cheapest I could find then.  I used it up until this year and got a used shoei joker off ebay. It fits much better. But alot of people will say not to get used and replace every year or so. Go with what fits best.

[bettingpython]

Do you have a cycle gear in your city?

I tend to use a local shop that does great work and treats me right but CG is an option especially for helmet shopping, they carry just about every major brand and the sub styles within the brand so you can try out and find what works for you in a helmet.

www.cyclegear.com

[Alphamazing]

I guess I was hoping for a "mall" of gear.  One stop shopping, so to speak.  Apparently a pipe dream here.  So one place for helmet, another for jacket.  On the up side, it's a pretty day for driving. 

A lot of dealers carry a lot of brands, depending on the size of dealer and where you live. However, Euro dealers typically carry higher end gear (or at least a different variety) if you want to check those out as well.

So I've found a local place that carries Scorpion so I'm gonna go try on an EXO-700 see how that works.

EXO-700 is a good helmet. Fiberglass/Kevlar shell, DOT and Snell approved, good price, good build quality and interior quality.

Jackets was looking at aTour Master Intake Mesh Jacket or maybe the Joe Rocket Mesh Jacket.  I like the options offered on the Tour Master one. (Though the mobile media pocket made me think ipod on a bike?)  Any feedback on the brands??   I'm inclined to do the silver/black jackets, do I need to think the brighter colors?? 

Personal opinion, but I stay away from Joe Rocket. I've heard of too many issues with quality and zippers breaking and seams failing. Again, personal opinion. Brighter colors are your choice, really. I ride as if I am invisible to everyone else on the road, so colors don't really matter to me.

Boots was checking out Sidi Champion Air Boots.   Anything on that?

Sidis fit well if you have narrow feet. Try them on before you buy.

Gloves figure buy what fits whereever I am at.  But will keep the full leather gauntlet in mind. 

ALL LEATHER GLOOOOOOVVVESSSSSS!!!
See here: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=20659.0

Pants hadn't even got to mentally.  But wanting to ride to work makes me think Dockers are bad idea.   

If you want to ride to work but can't wear jeans (and/or don't feel comfortable in other pants), consider a pair of overpants. Check around at the dealers where you go and see what they have.

Need to have the gear to take the course.  But I am definitely planning on taking one.   I have a friend coming over that has ridden for many years this weekend to at least walk us through some of it.  (Hubby is getting a 650s, once it's delivered)

The course provides you with most of the gear you'd need. Try and sign up for one as soon as you can.

[Egaeus]

My MSF course only provided the helmet. 

As the *ahem* proud *ahem* owner of some Joe Rocket gear, I second staying away from it.  The stitching on my store-brand khaki pants is better than on the gear that's supposed to protect me.

[ledfingers]

i'm not very happy with my firstgear jacket as well. i've only had it since january and it's always been hard to zip up the zipper all the way but now the little pull tab broke off. you can still zip it, it's just a PIA.

i would recommend getting knee guards if you want to commute in normal pants. i always wear my motoGP pants, but openly admit, it gets freaking hot if the sun is out. but i don't have the excess cash to spend on getting knee guard right now so i'm sticking to the pants until then. but when i laid it down, i would have walked away without a scratch if i had been wearing riding pants. i was wearing good thick jeans and the skin on my knee was completely obliterated. well, i would have still got the strange cut on my finger... i guess a piece of glass from the headlight or something pierced the leather on the inside tip of my right middle finger and gave me a itty bitty cut right there. it was strange. i got lucky in the shoe department too. i was wearing low tops but my ankles never touched the ground i guess. shoes are now destroyed, which sucks because i loved them, but you live and learn.

[RichyT415]

+1 on the knee guard for commuting.  I wear slacks to work as well and wearing overpants will cause them to be wrinkly and unsightly, not to mention the heat.  I use Field Armor Knee/Shin Guards from Icon for any trips where I feel I will be going faster than 40mph and they seem like a durable, hard material, pretty comfortable too.  They are also thin enough to fit under your more baggy jeans and pants.

[jeepnGS]

Went last night and tried on a bunch of different helmets.  Definitely liked the Scorpion EXO fit & feel. Seemer lighter (only 150 lb v 200 lb  ).  They didn't have the style I wanted so I ordered one in the size I wore around the shop for 20 mins (and you're right, people looked at me funny).   Guy at the shop said it'd be ok since I tried one on.  Did he lie to me??  Anyone wear glasses with their helmet?  I'm thinking my frames are too flimsy (feature  normally ).  Can't get them on with the helmet on, but could my sunglasses with a stiffer frame.  Am I smokin something? 

The MSF courses here, you have to provide your gear.  They provide the bike only.   So I'm order the Tour Master jacket today and will look at a set of knee guards (thanks for that tip). 

JakeD -- Ironically enough, lived in KC for about 11 years.  But now am in Cincinnati, Oho.  I'll post up some pics this weekend of my 'girl' and bike.