hey all -

about to get a '93 and looking to gear up online. what are some of the biggest & best online retailers for bike gear?  i need to dig up 2 helmets and a bike cover. anything else you guys think i'll need??

also, i've heard the MSF (?) course mentioned as a learning resource. what is this? would it help out at all in getting my virginia 'M' license??

TIA!

The MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course is a 2 1/2 course in most places that gets you up to speed on many of the fundementals of motorcycling.

Here is a link to the Virginia program.

It's highly recommended by most everyone. There is some classroom stuff, some safety stuff and 8 hours or so of riding. It's usually taught over a weekend. Most people say it is the equivilant to many months of learning by yourself. It starts out with learning how to mount, balance and start the bike and finishes up with the eqivilant of the riding test for motorcycle license (in Texas anyway). In Texas it gets you out of the road portion of your test. They provide everything except clothing. Just wear boots, a jacket of some sort and gloves.

When I took it there was a range of riders from never been on a bike (me ) to people with decades of experience getting a refresher.

Chaparral Motorsports: http://www.chaparral-racing.com

Dennis Kirk: http://www.denniskirk.com

Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse:  http://www.mawonline.com

Ron Ayers: http://www.ronayers.com

I bought all my stuff from www.motoxoutlet.com pablo helps out newenough.com and they have some excelent prices also check out www.discountmotorcyclehelmets.com and www.kneedraggers.com

On the gear side of things, you need a proper armored jacket, motorcycle gloves, armored pants and good boots. Don't skimp on the safety gear, it's what keeps your skin on when you drop the bike. You most likely will drop it, almost everyone here has.

I've bought from Chaparell, Ron Ayers, New Enough (inexpensive Jackets, boots, etc), Bike Bandit and a few others. Look in the For Sale forum for a list of retailers. Helmets should be tried on for fit, different brands fit differently at the same size. Some fit certain skull shapes better. I bought mine from a local shop.

I assume if you're getting two helmets that you plan on having a passenger. That is covered briefly in the MSF course. It is best to have a few hundred (if not more) miles of riding experience before taking a passenger. They can really throw things off if they lean the wrong way (or don't lean). You need to be confident in your riding before taking a passenger.

I highly recommend newenough.com for all gear (dont have helmets though). I pass along their email newsletter and post them in for sale forum. Check out their used and closeout items in particular!

For helmets I strongly suggest you try them on and have the store staff help with the proper fit. It will fit tighter than you might think-to accomodate the break-in of the interior foam. If you're ona serious budget then do as above and then order helmet from helmetharbor.com . they have the lowest prices around (including free shipping).

As above, helmet, boots, gloves, jacket, pants. Highly recommend MSF over self taught. Its the best way to go.

Welcome to GStwin!

After riding for many years, and one season of racing, the best thing to happen to me was the MSF course; killed some bad habits.
HelmetHouse.com has some good prices on helmets, but try on helmets at a local shop first as Pantablo suggested; I'll second that.

Quote from: CasimirI assume if you're getting two helmets that you plan on having a passenger. That is covered briefly in the MSF course. It is best to have a few hundred (if not more) miles of riding experience before taking a passenger. They can really throw things off if they lean the wrong way (or don't lean). You need to be confident in your riding before taking a passenger.

nope, i realize that i'm not quite ready for that. i'm hoping to get my wife riding as well. i've been riding motorcycles since i was four, so i've got a pretty good idea of operating procedure. we're both definitely looking into the MSF training though. any idea what the prices are for a weekend?

anything in particular you guys would recommend in a helmet? this caught my eye as a pretty good deal:  HJC CS-12 Helmet

MSF prices vary in every area of the country.  In Louisiana here, it's only $25 if you use your own (less than 500cc) bike, $80 if you use their Nighthawk 250's.  Some states its free, and in others it costs a couple hundred dollars.

msf here in tenn. you can avoid dmv almost altogether, just present them with the msf paperwork, pay the fee and then leave. but, i believe, in every state msf completion entitles you to an insurance discount. i believe it is mandatory

The Cl-12 has been replaced by the Cl-14. I wear one and its a good Snell helmet for the price.

These have been my purchases:

www.mawonline.com
- National windshield

www.imotorcyclestore.com
- 2 Nelson-Rigg UV2000 motorcycle covers & Belstaff Zodiac jacket

www.helmetshop.com
- KBC VR-1 helmet

www.newenough.com (they also sell on ebay.com from time to time)
- Teknic 2-piece Chicane Leather Racing Suit

www.ebay.com
- Belstaff ProToura (Cordura) Pants --> user: rsbcycle

My whole thought process is to decide specifically on what brand/model you want from your research and find the best price from the most reputable company (check www.bbb.com for possible complaint history and definitely check on return/exchange policies)

Have you checked out your local dealers??

They might have some good deals!

Yes, you might pay a few dollars mor but you will have a local shop to deal with andyou will be able to try the stuff on and knoe if it fits.

Ask them if they might offer a deal if you buy two helmets like 10% off or what type of deal they might give you or if they might have a up coming sale or any deals on certain helemts.

rideLIKEjehu... Love your handle... Not too many people remember that  old and rather racially slanderous (to Indian's) ad. But even Being Indian... I still didn't find it offensive...
Cool.
Srinath.

www.motorcyclesuperstore.com

they have some good clearance stuff sometimes.

Quote from: seshadri_srinathrideLIKEjehu... Love your handle... Not too many people remember that  old and rather racially slanderous (to Indian's) ad. But even Being Indian... I still didn't find it offensive...
Cool.
Srinath.

seshadri, not sure what ad that's from ... mine's an adaptation of san diego's "drive like jehu", an incredible punk band. i think theirs came from a biblical story of a roman emporer who ran folks over in his chariot. good stuff.