First Bike Gear, opinions?

[jdseibe]

Hi All,

I am in the process of ordering my gear, I actually already ordered my Jacket and gloves, was wondering if you guys could give me input on my selection, also give me some input on the helmet and boots I'm looking to get.

I guess I will just go down the line here and show you guys what my plans are...

Jacket: (purchased already)
I bought the Tour Master Draft Air Jacket, I don't have a lot of money to spend on gear, but I thought this looked pretty good, and I did research it and it seems to be a nice jacket, I am only really planning on riding the bike in the summer, so I felt a mesh jacket was the best option for me. I picked up the jacket for $49.99, normally $99.99. I ordered the blue one.
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/closeouts/last_chance_bargains/tour_master/draft_air_mesh_motorcycle_jacket.html


Gloves: (purchased already)
I bought the Speed and Strength Moment of Truth SP Gloves, They don't look to be anything amazing, but for the price they seemed like a good deal, I could be wrong on this, they were on clearance for $20, normally $50, I ordered these in blue too. I could only find a good sized picture of the red ones, sorry.
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/closeouts/gloves/speed_and_strength/moment_of_truth_sp_motorcycle_gloves.html


Helmet: (looking to purchase)
The helmet I am currently looking at is the AFX FX-90 Solid Full Face Motorcycle Helmet, I was doing a lot of searching, and trying to find the best bang for the buck on helmets, this helmet seemed like a pretty decent helmet for a decent price. from the reviews that I read is that it is pretty quiet, and and has a fully removable liner, the only thing that was a big complaint was that they vents/exhaust ports aren't the greatest.. but not by any means bad.the helmet is going for $67.94, normally $74.95. I was hoping to get this helmet in white.. any thoughts on this helmet? or if you guys know of a better helmet in the same price range.
http://www.bikebandit.com/afx-fx-90-solid-full-face-motorcycle-helmet


Boots: (looking to purchase)
The boots are the thing I'm not sure about, I would like to get a pair like the Joe Rocket Velocity Shoes, But am not sure about this, I don't want traditional boots, I would much rather have a shoe style. the price is what is getting me at the moment they go for $107.99 normally $119.99, the shoes are the thing I've done the least amount of research on, anyone else use a shoe style boot that they like? or have any input on the Joe Rocket ones? any input would be appreciated.
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/boots/sport_street_touring_boots/joe_rocket/velocity_motorcycle_shoe.html


I haven't looked into any pants yet, I might go for a pair of pants that I can wear over my current pants, but I dunno on this yet. any input though on any of this would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance

-Jeremy

[muttstang]

I'd want shoes/boots that came up over my ankles to provide some protection there

[hppants]

1.  +1 with Muttstang - get a boot that goes over the ankle.  It will more likely stay on your foot while you are sliding down the pavement.

2.  If you wear prescription glasses, consider a modular helmet.

3.  I can personally attest that these pants are up to the task.

http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Gear/Mens-Textile-Motorcycle-Pants/LP2832Black

Ride safe.

[Bumblebee]

Any helmet you get, do the research on fit. Research in this case means go in and try it on in the store. Insure it's tight and secure then wear it around the store for at least 15 minutes to insure it fits properly and isn't crushing your brains out. You want one that is a little tight in the store since it will loosen up a little in the first 10 hours of riding. Don't look at price tags, look at fit before all else. Once you find a few that fit properly, THEN start filtering for ventilation, accessories, color and price. $40 or $900 is nice for what it is, but not if it knocks your brains out of your ears. You're on the right path choosing a full face helmet though, nothing less will protect you in a Faceplant.

Any boots need to go at least hiking boot height above the ankle. The harder the ankle support, the better because that's what the motorcycle will fall on and the 4-grit belt sander will grind on. You want something that's secure and will stay on your feet in an extremely violent high friction environment. Some of those slip on harley type boots are about as secure as house slippers. Shoes? Shoes = Shoes will protect your feet/ankles in a crash in much the same way an open face helmet will protect your face in a crash. And remember that on rainy rides, anything low cut will fill completely full of water in even the lightest of rain showers.

Overpants are very convenient. Hip and knee armor is essential. No open butt kind of nonsense for obvious reasons. You do want full length zippers if possible since you can put them on and take them off without taking your boots off. When trying it on, make sure you sit down in typical riding position or preferably on a motorcycle. The knee armor is usually not in the right position when standing. You want it in the right position while in the sitting position plus or minus a bit. If you hit the ground, your knees will be bent at the moment of impact.

If possible, get extra armor and double up what's in the gear. There's no such thing as too much padding when you crash. If you have hard shell armor, put the soft stuff underneath it.

Quiet helmets?   Yea right. There's no such thing. Some helmets just make a little less racket than others. Go to your local hardware store and buy a $14 box of foam earplugs and learn to seat them in your ear canals properly. A box of them will last about a year if you ride a lot, longer if you ride less.

[Soupskin]

Looks good to me.

Like others, I want my ankles protected and I also prefer a full gauntlet glove.

[jdseibe]

Thanks everyone for the input, it helps a lot. like I said, the shoes I wasn't sure on, Ill keep looking around on those, as for the helmet I have tried on an AFX, a Gmax, and a couple others, and the only reason I was looking into the AFX helmets was because of price.. and the last one I tried on fit nice on my head. I know with helmets you get what you pay for, but right now money is hard to come by.. and the 2 helmets I have that I can currently use are not helmets that anyone should probably use.. the first helmet is a vintage open face helmet.. its probably 30 years old... so yea.. probably not a good choice.. the second helmet is a decent HJC, but my brother wrecked his bike with it on.. there is no damage to the helmet.. but idk if id trust it.. so a helmet is pretty high on my list.. its just price is a huge factor.. my bday is actually today and I'm trying to convince my family to buy me a decent one haha.

anyone have any input on the jacket? from what I read on it is that it has really good armor in the elbows and shoulders.. people were saying you don't ever see this kind of armor in a jacket this cheap... but again.. this is my first time buying gear.. so I don't know if its a load of crap or not haha.

[Soupskin]

Oh yeah...

Happy Birthday!

[Burgi]

You seem to be setting yourself up to ride in the heat and humidity of MI summer so another thing to consider with your boots is how well they vent. I tried on the JR shoes and it didn't seem to me they were going to breathe well. Besides the ankle protection I'd look into that for comfort.

[TDodge7]

I have that jacket but in red , aside from it not really being my style I have no complaints except that the velcro they used is junk and the elbow armor doesn't stay put very well but it's all really nice armor , foam with a plastic shell . I keep using it for now , but I'm more into classic looking stuff , give me something black with a chest stripe and I'm a happy guy .

[vert]

You seem to be setting yourself up to ride in the heat and humidity of MI summer so another thing to consider with your boots is how well they vent. I tried on the JR shoes and it didn't seem to me they were going to breathe well. Besides the ankle protection I'd look into that for comfort.

I got Icon Tarmac vented boots for the reasons above and like them a lot.  They vent pretty well or at least better than other boots out there and offer pretty good protection where it matters.  They have Velcro and internal bungee cord style laces that you don't have to lace up, so easy on/off.  The boots are also pretty wide and provide a nice sure footing.  Walking around in them is similar to wearing a pair of hi-tops, although I'd much rather wear shoes/sneakers/sandals when I get to where I am going.

[Bumblebee]

+1 on the full gauntlet gloves. I don't have them myself yet (shorter around the wrist gloves currently) however that's the next item on the list. Hard epoxy/carbon fiber knuckle guards on gloves are a good thing when you punch the ground extremely hard.

and the last one I tried on fit nice on my head

Just make certain that 'fit nice' means secure and tight. Your head must decelerate with the helmet, not against it.

My helmet is tight enough that it has to be pushed down to get it completely on. Also if I don't get a haircut every 6 weeks or less, it starts getting tight - seriously, it's that snug.

the only reason I was looking into the AFX helmets was because of price..
...but right now money is hard to come by..

Money is nice in the social circles and sitting safely on your sofa.
Think of crash gear in terms of being a one time payment health insurance policy that if used, pays for itself while the crash is in progress. Money in your wallet does no good at all if you're skinned alive and your skull is caved in.
It's just money. In 3 months, you won't even be thinking about that money. You'd have likely blown it on something else pointless anyway. If you can't afford it right now, let the credit card deal with it for a couple months. (I was unemployed and seriously having to watch money...then I crashed with no possible income source anywhere in sight. The helmet that fit the best was $450 so I plopped down the plastic card and ordered the helmet and never regretted it for an instant)

Go here:
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/
then milk the birthday thing for everything you can get out of it.
If they like you enough to buy you a present, they like you enough to keep you around if you crash.


And go train to proficiency and remain proficient. Take the MSF if you haven't taken it then at least once a month for an hour or two in a parking lot doing slow skill stuff to the limits of your ability. It helps keep you from tearing up your spendy crash gear and motorcycle and yourself.

[Soupskin]

+1 on the full gauntlet gloves. I don't have them myself yet (shorter around the wrist gloves currently) however that's the next item on the list. Hard epoxy/carbon fiber knuckle guards on gloves are a good thing when you punch the ground extremely hard.

I have these are holding up well so far.  And they are cheap too!

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=5000&L2=2&L3=116&L4=&item=BLT_BLG8-BZ-SML_G

[jdseibe]

I understand the whole spend the extra money on gear thing, but If i can get a decent helmet for a good price (under or around $100) that would be ideal, me spending $400 plus on a helmet just isn't going to happen, I only paid $700 for the bike.. and there is a reason for that.. because I don't have money to spend on super nice things, if that were the case Id be riding a lot nicer bike than I have currently haha.

are their any decent helmets out there that are affordable to someone who doesn't make much money, and can't put anything on credit? I mean I don't want to sound cheap, but I am on a budget here. any suggestions on specific helmets would be awesome.

[Soupskin]

I understand the whole spend the extra money on gear thing, but If i can get a decent helmet for a good price (under or around $100) that would be ideal, me spending $400 plus on a helmet just isn't going to happen, I only paid $700 for the bike.. and there is a reason for that.. because I don't have money to spend on super nice things, if that were the case Id be riding a lot nicer bike than I have currently haha.

are their any decent helmets out there that are affordable to someone who doesn't make much money, and can't put anything on credit? I mean I don't want to sound cheap, but I am on a budget here. any suggestions on specific helmets would be awesome.

A good fitting full face with DOT and Snell stamps on them and you are good to go.

Here is a good guide for you:

http://www.afxhelmets.com/resources/fitting.php

[gammer]

Personally, I like something like this for boots...



It gives ankle protection, yet you can wear it when not riding and it doesn't feel like a boot.

[bajakirch]

I'll give you a thumbs-up on the jacket. I've been watching that one for a while on motorcyclegear.com because I am looking for a mesh jacket for summer use. But the blue color just didn't work for me.

As for the helmet, I don't think that's a bad choice. It's the sort of thing you can buy and use now. Then, maybe 1-2 years down the road you can upgrade and set that aside as your back-up or 2nd-rider helmet.

I've never seen a pair of MC boots I liked, so I make do with a pair of chukkah-style Gortex hiking boots. The do fine, and are comfy to walk around in when I get to my destination. The only thing problem I have is if I run into enough rain it'll make it's way up my pant let and eventually work into the boot. I spent about 3 hours riding today in 50-degree temps with a damp boot after yesterday's wet ride.

With pants, I found a pair of Fieldsheer pants on Craigslist that work well for me. They don't zip all the way up the leg, so putting them on with boot/shoes on is a pain. But I couldn't beat the $35 price. And they held up to 2+ hours of rain yesterday without sprouting a leak. Given you budget, they might be a good choice for you: http://www.powersports4less.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=HH-6011-0305-04

[jdseibe]

Hey Gammer, I really like those boots. where did you get yours from? how are the fit?

bajakirch: thanks, I was trying to do as much research as possible on this stuff, and its really nice to hear what people have to say about first hand experience with it. I found a different helmet that I'm looking at buying, I am going to goto the local motorsports store by me and try it on. its the HJC CL-Max, from reviews its not the best helmet in the world.. but people really like it, especially for around $100 bucks, motorcyclegear.com has it for $89.99 I figured if its not a bad buy I'll go for it. its nice too because its a modular.

I'm trying to be as safe as I can be with this stuff, I have some friends who seriously ride with jeans/tshirt/helmet and that's it.. and the only reason they are wearing a helmet is because its Illegal in Michigan otherwise. I keep trying to convince them to get some gear.. but they don't take me serious because they have had bikes longer than me.

[cmyers]

For pants I love my fieldsheer Four season pants http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/sport/mesh+motorcycle+jackets/fieldsheer_four+season+overpants

If they are in your size they are a great buy for spring/summer/fall use. I wear mine everyday - they arent waterproof, but they flow a lot of air, dont add much bulk, have good armor over the knees and pads for the hips, andd unzip all the way to the hip for easy on and off.

[talespin]

I know with helmets you get what you pay for

That's not necessarily true.

the first helmet is a vintage open face helmet.. its probably 30 years old... so yea.. probably not a good choice.. the second helmet is a decent HJC, but my brother wrecked his bike with it on

Run, don't walk, from both of these helmets. I'm of the opinion (apparently shared by quite a few) that used helmets, especially any over 4 or 5 years old, are no bargains, especially any that have been in a crash. Just because you don't see any damage doesn't mean there isn't any.

[jdseibe]

I know with helmets you get what you pay for

That's not necessarily true.

the first helmet is a vintage open face helmet.. its probably 30 years old... so yea.. probably not a good choice.. the second helmet is a decent HJC, but my brother wrecked his bike with it on

Run, don't walk, from both of these helmets. I'm of the opinion (apparently shared by quite a few) that used helmets, especially any over 4 or 5 years old, are no bargains, especially any that have been in a crash. Just because you don't see any damage doesn't mean there isn't any.

yup, I agree.. I need a new helmet and bad, I think I will pick up the HJC helmet as soon as I get the cash. the 2 helmets I have currently were only meant to be temporary, they were better than having no helmet at all haha. I have always really like modular helmets, and I think I will really like the one that Im gonna get.

Side Note: I took my bike for a spin yesterday with my new jacket and gloves, it was a nice ride, jacket fit nice, the gloves were a bit tight, I think they will break in just fine tho, the helmet right now is the sucky part of the ride, I have been using the full face helmet.. but the shield was all scratched up.. so I took it off and was using a pair of goggles to ride, pain in the butt, I can't wait to get my new helmet.