Well, it looks like it's finally happened.. The nood is going to get a bike, sometime this summer. I'm thinking of putting a deposit down this weekend. (i.e., tomorrow).. So now I'm looking at gear. I'm going out in a few minutes to sit on some bikes and try gear on, so I know how it fits. My specific question is about the icon neo-daytona. I ran a search, but RG was the only one who posted about it, and she said she liked it, despite icon's infamy as a poser brand. I like the look of it, I like the fact that it comes with CE armoer standard, and a back protector, and the price is awesome for a full leather jacket (It's got perfed leather sleeves, which I'm fine with).
Here's a link (http://www.newenough.com/icon_neodaytona_jacket_page.htm)
RG said it fit her snugly, which is good, because I'm a small, small dude (5'3, 29" inseam, 135lbs.. which will make it rough to find gear that fits tight).
Other gear that I'm looking at is:
Scorpion EXO-400 helmet (http://www.terra-powersports.com/product.aspx/sid/1/mfr/145/id/product.aspx?sid=1&mfr=145&id=30897), $129 from terra-powersports.com
Hein Gericke Summerweight leather gloves (http://www.newenough.com/hein_gericke_toron_gloves_page.htm), $13.99 from newenough.com
Sidi Champion street boots (http://www.newenough.com/sidi_champion_tepor_boots_page.htm), $139 from newenough.com
I'm still looking for a pair of leather pants, but other than that, I think I'm covered. What do you guys think? Comments? Suggestions? Anything?
Dear God, he's getting a bike! Pics damn you, Pics! 8)
There are plenty of "How to choose a full-face helmet" articles out there you can read. (I assume you have?) I'll just elaborate on a few points I think are important:
1) The first time you put on the correct size it's going to feel as though you're ripping your ears off. Newbie thing, the sensation goes away. :laugh:
2) Make sure to measure your head before you blindly go trying on lids. The store clerk should help you do this. If not, bring along a tailor's tape measure and measure your melon per the instruction booklet in every box.
3) Buy on fit. Second choices are optional. If I get a tie, I'll choose the lighter weight.
I'm not familar with "street" jackets, but I'm not sure you'll find that the jacket fits. They say it only goes down to a size 40. Of course, it's meant to be a "relaxed" fit, but I still like my gear to fit tight. If I can wear much more than a T-shirt under it, it's too loose. My suggestion would be to see if you can wrench the armor around on your shoulders. Be firm. If you can move it around your shoulder it's too loose.
As far as the gloves go, read Alpha's thread before you decide: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=20659.0
You can get really nice leather gauntlet gloves with CARBON :bowdown: for about $75.
The Sidi boots will probably fit you well as long as you don't have wide feet. Follow the sizing info Paul gives, it worked for me.
I suggest you try to buy at a bricks-and-mortar store. This especially applies to your helmet. DON'T buy your helmet on-line, you need to try them on to decide. This applies to gloves too. Poor fit contributes to poor control feel. You can buy your boots on-line as long as you think you have EU standard feet. (Lucky me) :icon_mrgreen: Jacket and pants you will probably have to buy on line. However, that doesn't mean you can't try on the girls stuff to get an idea. No, I'm not joking, that's what I did. I'm the same height and 10 lbs lighter.
G'luk! :cheers:
Awww.. c'mon guys.. 33 reads, one reply? :flipoff: :flipoff: :laugh: :laugh:
Anyway, thanks for the reply GeeP.. I definitely wasn't just going to buy online without trying stuff on. I'm going out today to my local MC shop to try on all the gear I can find, figure out sizes, see how it feels when sitting on the bike (They even have an '06 GS500, sitting right in the window, so I can sit on it!), etc... Once I get sizes and preferences down, then I can get online and find the same stuff for cheaper, usually. I tried to go yesterday, but they were closed on Sunday, bastages!s
I'm currently in negotiations for the bike... will let you all know how it goes when I find out! (Not that any of you care.. *sniff sniff* :cry: :laugh: :laugh:)
I think it's okay to buy your helmet online, so far as you know how it's going to fit. I tried on a bunch of different helmets at the local dealer here, then bought my RF-1000 online through eBay for far cheaper than I could have anywhere else. I took my girlfriend to the dealer and had her try on helmets too. Bought hers online through eBay for dirt cheap. Mine fit just like I thought it would. Hers did too.
As to what GeeP said about the armor moving, it should move no more than an inch, otherwise it's too loose. Try looking at some gear from Teknic. They offer sizes down to 38, which should fit you fine, I'd imagine. Numeric sizes are better than alpha sizes, as the alpha sizes are much bigger for the range. For example, my Size Small (for 38-40) Fieldsheer jacket fits looser than my old size 38 Fieldsheer jacket.
Try gloves on too, as each manufacturer has different ideas for hand shape. Same goes with boots. Dainese boots don't fit me at all, but the Sidi ones are a dream. It's all about proper fit.
And yeah, good gloves man. Don't cheap out. Congrats on the bike.
Yeah, today I tried on the EXO-400 in small and medium.. small is tight enough to give me a headache after a while, I think. The medium should be just right, I'm going to check ebay for one right now. Tried on a cortech GX-Air mesh jacket with leather back panels, CE armor, Back protector, REALLY nice jacket. The XS (38) fit me almost perfectly. I think it may be the jacket I buy, even though it's a little more than I was originally looking at with the Icon Neo-Daytona. Any input on Cortech stuff? It's mesh, but with leather, so I figure it's better than a straight textile jacket. Gloves will be nice full leather ones, after reading your thread. I think I'm gonna cheap out on boots for now, and wear my leather, over the ankle, steel toed work boots that I wear on my construction job.
Icon's only a poser brand if you get the jacket with ICON all the way across the front. And when one of you posts your picture wearing your icon jacket with ICON shblanged all the way across it, I apologize.
Quote from: Blingmasta on May 29, 2006, 06:10:21 PM
Icon's only a poser brand if you get the jacket with ICON all the way across the front. And when one of you posts your picture wearing your icon jacket with ICON shblanged all the way across it, I apologize.
Hahahaha
I'm not a fan of Icon for the same reasons you brought up. I'm sure they're a fine brand, but the stigma from wearing them is just too much for me. :dunno_white: I usually try on at a retailer and then go home and buy from Terra Power Sports online. I love the EXO-400 because the features are great for the price, but unfortunately I've only felt comfortable in a Shoei RF-1000. If I could get the Scorpion to fit right, I'd buy one in a second. I know nothing about those gloves, but they look cheap and have no hard protection anywhere on them. If you're wanting a pair of good summer gloves, check out the Astars SP-S (http://www.alpinestars.com/moto/gloves_spsglove.html). Those boots look nice. You're gonna have to report back on those things because I need some new ones and it's a tossup between those and the Astars Recon boots (http://www.alpinestars.com/moto/boots_reconwp.html).
If you haven't yet there are two cyclegear locations in Atlanta www.cyclegear.com , one in Marietta, one in larenceville, I have been to the one in larenceville that had a huge selection of jactet's pants boots and gloves. Near the lawenceville store there is a yamaha/honda dealer decent selection on gear . . . great selcection on gloves.
Alpharaetta world on wheels I think is the name of it it's a honda/yama/kawi/duck/motoguzi dealer they stock sidi boots if you want to try some on before buying. WOW in Marrietta has some decent gear just don't ever buy a bike from them.. . oh and if you are looking for some gear a female try suzuki dealer off of 400 . . . machines in motion I think. had some nice stuff that I got for my wife. very nice people. . good deal on bikes. . . another suzuki dealer that has good deals is suzuki of canton.
One thing they yama/honda dealer in lawarenceville has scropion helmets same price as helmetharbor.com and they were very nice helping me try on differnt ones.. . measured my head and everything.
Don't know if you are going to buy used or not but most dealers when you buy a bike from them give you a discount on gear.
Quote from: blue05twin on May 29, 2006, 07:21:58 PM
If you haven't yet there are two cyclegear locations in Atlanta www.cyclegear.com , one in Marietta, one in larenceville, I have been to the one in larenceville that had a huge selection of jactet's pants boots and gloves. Near the lawenceville store there is a yamaha/honda dealer decent selection on gear . . . great selcection on gloves.
Alpharaetta world on wheels I think is the name of it it's a honda/yama/kawi/duck/motoguzi dealer they stock sidi boots if you want to try some on before buying. WOW in Marrietta has some decent gear just don't ever buy a bike from them.. . oh and if you are looking for some gear a female try suzuki dealer off of 400 . . . machines in motion I think. had some nice stuff that I got for my wife. very nice people. . good deal on bikes. . . another suzuki dealer that has good deals is suzuki of canton.
One thing they yama/honda dealer in lawarenceville has scropion helmets same price as helmetharbor.com and they were very nice helping me try on differnt ones.. . measured my head and everything.
Don't know if you are going to buy used or not but most dealers when you buy a bike from them give you a discount on gear.
Thanks for the heads up, I'm actually back in Naples for the summer, so no Atlanta shops for me. I've been to WOW several times. And I agree, I would NOT buy a bike there.. but nice people, nonetheless. I'm buying used, from a seller in miami, who is also a member of this forum. I found scorpion helmets at my local shop, but don't know prices (got there right before close, tried on two, and a jacket, then had to leave)... but if they're not as cheap as online, I'll buy one from terra-powersports.com. I'll check helmet harbor too.
I have the sidi champion boots as you're looking at. I bought them new when I got my first bike and 3 1/2 years later still use them. I love them. tread on the left boot is worn completely off from putting my foot down at stops. Been through one lowside. I wear them to the track all the time-they're the only pair I own.
you can see them here:
(http://www.burntheedge.com/bkpictures/pabill.jpg)
and possibly here:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/pantablo/fontana-T2.jpg)
and here:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/pantablo/skidpad2.jpg)
as far as gloves, the Joe Rocket Meteor and Blaster gloves seem to have better protection for only a few dollars more at newenough.
I'm having a problem with finding pants that fit with knee armor, I can find plenty with shin armor but no knee armor. :laugh:
www.newenough.com has a section for hard to fit people. . . maybe try that section. . pants come in shorts and talls
Quote from: Cannon Fodder on May 30, 2006, 06:03:30 AM
I'm having a problem with finding pants that fit with knee armor, I can find plenty with shin armor but no knee armor. :laugh:
my leather pants are a bit tight in the waist in order to get the right length...30" inseam, 5ft6, 28 waist pants (should be 29-30). we just have to deal, or get custom.
Easy for you to say, your a light weight, I'm probably twice your size. I was wanting a set of Nitro Mesh pants to zip into my jacket but I think I'm SOL. New enough did have some in my size so I guess I will have to get them, to bad they are double the price of the Vega stuff though. :(
Or let me put it this way, when I was 158lbs I still had a 38" waist, now at ~260lbs I only have a 40"....Gain a 100lbs and only 2".... :cookoo: