Riding Gear

[blue05twin]

I wear glasses, the only helmet that I could get to work with my frames was a modular helmet.  I know alot of people don't like them but  I loved mine.  Ended up having to get new frames the old ones were siloette frames basically wire rimless frames just had the arms and bridge pices. 

They were way to flimsy to fit into a regular full face helmet.  I replaced those with Oakley rimless frames     but the arms are a lot more solid.  These I can fit into just about any helmet that I have tried on. 

Once you get your new helmet take them to your buy your eye glasses and try them on with your helmet on to see what comfortable and fits you well.

[Alphamazing]

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? 

I wear glasses with my helmets and have no problems getting them on after the helmet is on. My glasses are very narrow rimmed wireframes. It just takes some practice. On my MX helmet it took me a few days to get the motion down just right to where I didn't have to fiddle with them after I got them in.

[frye]

icon is for squids. i recomend fulmer helmets and feildsheer gear. its cheap and works great. (ive proven they work great )

[97dime]

just bought an agv s-4.  wore it for about 100 miles and absolutely love it.  some wind noise, not bad though.  it does fit pretty snug.  it folds my ears over everytime i put it on so i have to reach in there and unfold my ears. once on it fits great.  retails for $245. i bought it from kneedraggers for $167 shipped.  http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/AGV_S4_Full_Face_Helmet_BlackSilverRed--611588.html

getting gloves this weekend.  thinking either alpinestars smx-6 or joe rocket stage 1

then i will get a jacket.  got my eye on the tour master intake

[debtman7]

Are you sure on MSF gear? I'd recommend taking your own helmet but otherwise all that was required around here was long pants, long sleeve shirt, any type of gloves and boots that cover your ankle. You could show up in regular jeans, long sleeve t-shirt and work boots and be fine.

I love my scorpion helmet

Knee armor under pants is a good idea, I'm tempted to try that, except that leaves a lot of your lower leg open to road rash. I'm still waiting for something like bohn body armor that's also abrasion resistant.

I'm wearing a perforated leather jacket and it covers 99% of the weather I encounter (the 1% being rain). I have some tour master jeans that have leather linings and knee armor that are great for riding and looking normal. I have a pair of armored mesh overpants I wear over shorts when it's really hot or I don't want to change pants. My gloves are a weak point are a leather/synthetic mix with carbon fiber knuckles, not full gauntlet but they do for now. I wear cheapo payless work boots with a steel toe and steel shank. They do ok but I need better boots one of these days. And I have my bright yellow frogg toggs for the occasional rain, yet to be tested...

[Mk1inCali]

I run:
-Spidi NRG jacket (actually fits my lanky 6'6 upper body)

-Dainese leather pants (yes, they zip together even though they are different brands, so I can run to the track whenever I have tires enough for it),

-Shoei RF1000 (louder than helmets that have less venting, but a whole helluva lot lighter/more airflow for those hot days up in the canyons of SoCal.)

-Sidi Vertigo Corsa (should have gotten the Corsa Air version for my summer boot, but next time.  Definitely love the ankle protection and lack of squeaking, like all A* boots I've heard/seen).

-Alpinestars SP-2 gloves (DEFINITELY get all-leather full-gauntlet gloves, do NOT skimp here or you will regret pulling the cheapskate route when you go to lay it over at 25mph and your textile gloves shred instantly).

-My next purchase is going to be a back protector (most likely a full armor vest, but a back protector at the minimum).  A*, Spidi, Dainese, all good brands.  Not something to go cheap with either, the foam won't do a whole lot compared to hard armor.


For under the gear, grab some UnderArmor.  Helps installation/removal of the outer gear, and keeps ya more comfortable on longer rides from the slight compression effect.  Another thing, if you are worried about those muggy Midwest days (I grew up in MN and WI with frequent road-trips to IA and IL), get a SixSixOne brand Core Cooler.  They get soaked with water for up to an hour, then you throw it on underneath the jacket and it evaporates all day long.  My parents recently rode from west Beverly Hills to Las Vegas and said they would have had a much less enjoyable time without the Core Coolers.

I'm partial to www.buymoto.com, but that's because I work there...

[Alphamazing]

Knee armor under pants is a good idea, I'm tempted to try that, except that leaves a lot of your lower leg open to road rash. I'm still waiting for something like bohn body armor that's also abrasion resistant.

Your lower leg isn't a high risk area for road rash. Your knees are.

[debtman7]

Knee armor under pants is a good idea, I'm tempted to try that, except that leaves a lot of your lower leg open to road rash. I'm still waiting for something like bohn body armor that's also abrasion resistant.

Your lower leg isn't a high risk area for road rash. Your knees are.

I've seen plenty of post crash pictures that would beg to differ... On your knees the big thing is protecting from impact. That's the point of armor. When sliding your primarily slide on your butt, thighs and calves, either the side of your legs or the backs of your legs. I haven't seen too many people sliding along on their knees... I like the idea of protecting your knees from impact, but without protecting the rest of your lower body from road rash, you are still going to be hurting in a crash.

[Alphamazing]

I've seen plenty of post crash pictures that would beg to differ... On your knees the big thing is protecting from impact. That's the point of armor. When sliding your primarily slide on your butt, thighs and calves, either the side of your legs or the backs of your legs. I haven't seen too many people sliding along on their knees... I like the idea of protecting your knees from impact, but without protecting the rest of your lower body from road rash, you are still going to be hurting in a crash.

When I went down the first time I slid mostly on my elbow and shoulder, not my forearm (the lower leg of the arms, if you will). I slid on points that stuck out. When I went down on the track I slid on my knees, toes, and palms. When a coworker went down (without gear, unfortunately) she slid on her knees and chest. She now has no feeling in her knees.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I've seen plenty of post crash pictures that would beg to differ... On your knees the big thing is protecting from impact. That's the point of armor. When sliding your primarily slide on your butt, thighs and calves, either the side of your legs or the backs of your legs. I haven't seen too many people sliding along on their knees... I like the idea of protecting your knees from impact, but without protecting the rest of your lower body from road rash, you are still going to be hurting in a crash.

When I went down the first time I slid mostly on my elbow and shoulder, not my forearm (the lower leg of the arms, if you will). I slid on points that stuck out. When I went down on the track I slid on my knees, toes, and palms. When a coworker went down (without gear, unfortunately) she slid on her knees and chest. She now has no feeling in her knees.

What happened to her b00bies?

[Onlypastrana199]

I landed on my shoulder/chest when I wrecked too...broke my collar bone but no rash or anything..one nasty looking bruise on my knee too..but that was from the tank, not the ground..I think..i'm not really sure..I was tumbling through the air..

[Alphamazing]

What happened to her b00bies?

Had to get reconstructive surgery, and has no feeling their either.

[bettingpython]

ATGATT

Perforated leather jacket, Leather pants with armor and pucks, Oxtar TCS EVO boots.....man these are some sweet boots, race style full gauntlet gloves dont get just the over the wrist summer weight gloves they don't stay on.

[debtman7]

Whatever y'all are comfortable with Personally I would not ride with just strapped on knee armor, unless I'm wearing it under some sort of abrasion resistant pant. Definitely better than nothing, but if I'm going to go to the trouble of protecting my lower body, I might as well go all the way. If you assume you're going to land and slide on your front, they'll probably do a fine job. If you're wrong and end up sliding on your backside, knee armor is about useless. I'm not taking that chance.

[RVertigo]

Something > Nothing

[frankieG]

before you go cheap on any gear remember that it is the only thing(s) between you and the road.

[Jace009gs]

I landed on my shoulder/chest when I wrecked too...broke my collar bone but no rash or anything..one nasty looking bruise on my knee too..but that was from the tank, not the ground..I think..i'm not really sure..I was tumbling through the air..

.

highsides usually end up with a face/shoulder plant

low sides a good slide on your butt elbows

[shinanigins]

heres what im gonna be sportin soon

[Alphamazing]

heres what im gonna be sportin soon

No. Send them back. That will not protect your hand in a fall.

See this thread for proof: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=20659.0

Trust me, you will want something a lot more substantial on your hands.

[bettingpython]

^^^
What he said. Watched a guy go down with a nice pair of wrist height Icon bling gloves. They did a great job, until the came off and his hands were torn up. I also don't see any boots.