Gear Advice?

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zazMaxim

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New rider, picking up a bike tomorrow and doing the course next weekend. I was looking for gear and had a few questions:
  • My father had 2 brand new unused helmets lying around; one UNEED and one MHR. Given that they fit, am I (and my eventual passenger) okay wearing these? I googled the companies and they appear to be DOT certified. I was wondering if they were safe or if I should invest in a better helmet from a bike store.
  • I was looking at some jackets at Royal City Distribution and the higher quality and better looking ones with leather and high degrees of protection were around $300-400. Is this an appropriate amount to spend on a jacket?
  • I can't seem to find kevlar jeans which would actually fit well, all of them are way too baggy on me. Is there a place that sells slim fit jeans with knee and possibly hip armor? How much should I expect to spend on them? The videos I watched showed that regular jeans get torn to shreds in seconds, are kevlar jeans worth the expense (some online I saw costing $300+) or will regular jeans suffice until I get my M2 or M and riding on higher speed roads such as highways? I am expecting to take regular roads for the most part, and rarely roads with 80km speed limits even after I have my M2.
  • I was told double layered leather gloves are some of the most important gear one can buy. I will definitely invest in these. How important is the knuckle armor for a city rider who is obviously not planning on going on roads he isn't familiar with or going incredibly fast?
  • Are riding shoes a large priority? I don't want to ride in my steel-toed work boots because they're uncomfortable and probably won't give me a feel for the pedals. I don't mind investing in these at all, as they cost $150-200.
I'm just wondering what I should focus my budget on, as I will be spending close to $4000 just on a bike, insurance, safety cert, possible maintenance, and training. I will probably have $500-1000 tops left over for gear. Thank you in advance for your help.
 
The helmet may be okay for the course, but depending on how old they are, you should get a new one. Consider some used gear, you can get some great deals. And for $200, you can get some great boots (I like them better than shoes).
 
The helmets should be ok. I personally stick to the major brands. Mostly Shoei, but have an AGV. You can luck out and buy a new one someone didn't use.

Again, there are deals out there. As time goes by you end up with lots. Textile isn't a bad choice either. The saying is a textile jacket is good for one fall and leather for many. So far I haven't fallen in my textile, but some of my leather has.

Another choice is overpants. To be fair, I commute in regular jeans in the summer and leathers in the cold.

Don't skimp on gloves. Knuckle armour isn't "necessary", but is handy if a stone hits you there. Had one hit wearing gloves that had extra leather layers at the knuckle. Smarted and the armoured ones would have been better. But then again it's only happened once in a few decades.

Boots are a really good idea. Make sure they have ankle protection.
 
Joe Bass said:
The helmet may be okay for the course, but depending on how old they are, you should get a new one. Consider some used gear, you can get some great deals. And for $200, you can get some great boots (I like them better than shoes).
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Awesome, thank you. I'll definitely pick up a pair of boots. I'll look into the age of the helmets. Does an older helmet provide significantly less protection?

Riceburner said:
The helmets should be ok. I personally stick to the major brands. Mostly Shoei, but have an AGV. You can luck out and buy a new one someone didn't use.

Again, there are deals out there. As time goes by you end up with lots. Textile isn't a bad choice either. The saying is a textile jacket is good for one fall and leather for many. So far I haven't fallen in my textile, but some of my leather has.

Another choice is overpants. To be fair, I commute in regular jeans in the summer and leathers in the cold.

Don't skimp on gloves. Knuckle armour isn't "necessary", but is handy if a stone hits you there. Had one hit wearing gloves that had extra leather layers at the knuckle. Smarted and the armoured ones would have been better. But then again it's only happened once in a few decades.

Boots are a really good idea. Make sure they have ankle protection.
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I'll check the helmets out, thanks. I'll look up some used ones. I hear bike gear gets hot, so it won't be gross and sweaty buying a used one right?

If I wore regular jeans and invested in some knee guards, would that be sufficient until I can find a decent pair of kevlar jeans or overpants?

I'll be sure to spend proper money on gloves. I'll get knuckle armor as well just to be on the safe side.

I'll be sure to pick up a decent pair of boots as well.


Is this jacket sufficient?
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-motorcycle-p...ze/1079427589?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
I want as much protection as possible, without breaking the bank. If not this I'd be willing to invest much more into a decent jacket.

I also found this:
http://altimategear.com/shop/mens-mesh-airway-motorcycle-jacket/
 
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zazMaxim said:
New rider, picking up a bike tomorrow and doing the course next weekend. I was looking for gear and had a few questions:
  • My father had 2 brand new unused helmets lying around; one UNEED and one MHR. Given that they fit, am I (and my eventual passenger) okay wearing these? I googled the companies and they appear to be DOT certified. I was wondering if they were safe or if I should invest in a better helmet from a bike store.The foam inside the helmet deteriorates with time, I would get a new helmet but it all depends of the year, if you check inside under the padding for a date.
  • I was looking at some jackets at Royal City Distribution and the higher quality and better looking ones with leather and high degrees of protection were around $300-400. Is this an appropriate amount to spend on a jacket.That is average for a decent jacket.
  • I can't seem to find kevlar jeans which would actually fit well, all of them are way too baggy on me. Is there a place that sells slim fit jeans with knee and possibly hip armor? How much should I expect to spend on them? The videos I watched showed that regular jeans get torn to shreds in seconds, are kevlar jeans worth the expense (some online I saw costing $300+) or will regular jeans suffice until I get my M2 or M and riding on higher speed roads such as highways? I am expecting to take regular roads for the most part, and rarely roads with 80km speed limits even after I have my M2. Most accident happen within 5 km from the home, I don't use kevlar jeans but it is a risk i take, it is all up to you. I had an ex slide on gravel at approximately 50km hr and her knees got destroyed.Imagine on asphalt
  • I was told double layered leather gloves are some of the most important gear one can buy. I will definitely invest in these. How important is the knuckle armor for a city rider who is obviously not planning on going on roads he isn't familiar with or going incredibly fast. Again falling at 40km/hr can do a lot of damage without proper protection, I have crashed at over 160km/hr while racing and not a single scratch on my hands due to proper gear.
  • Are riding shoes a large priority? I don't want to ride in my steel-toed work boots because they're uncomfortable and probably won't give me a feel for the pedals. I don't mind investing in these at all, as they cost $150-200.Make sure they are the tyoe that restrict your ankle from twisting.
I'm just wondering what I should focus my budget on, as I will be spending close to $4000 just on a bike, insurance, safety cert, possible maintenance, and training. I will probably have $500-1000 tops left over for gear. Thank you in advance for your help.
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Focus on a new helmet, does not need to be expensive
Focus on proper gloves and a good jacket and some kind of riding pants, there are other options from kevlar and you can buy used for all your gear except the helmet, never buy used.
Those are the priorities to get started.
 
ZX600 said:
Focus on a new helmet, does not need to be expensive
Focus on proper gloves and a good jacket and some kind of riding pants, there are other options from kevlar and you can buy used for all your gear except the helmet, never buy used.
Those are the priorities to get started.
Click to expand...

The helmets are brand new, stickers still on them and everything. Completely unused. Will that be alright?
I will spend that much on a jacket if necessary, thanks for the advice.
As mentioned earlier, will knee protection worn over regular jeans be sufficient to protect my knees?
I will definitely invest in a good pair of gloves and shoes as everyone mentioned.
Thanks for the advice!
 
The price is right, but if your main concern is protection, then leather is best. Look for something with ventilation.
I didn't get riding boots until this year, just wore leather zip up boots. Put them on the other day for a ride, and I was like wtf was I thinking? No support, no ankle protection. And I only bought an entry level pair of boots.
I wear jeans, but I also know they will shred if I go down. Kevlar or cordura or overpants are much better.
 
For me, I cannot ride in leather when it is +28C or above. I overheat, get a headache and feel crappy, which distracts me from keeping out of trouble. I need to wear mesh on hot days. This points out the dilemma of riding gear: You need gear for +2C to +32C, and one outfit/material usually can't do it all. You also need to be protected. Add rain to the mix. Leather is more protective but I'll overheat in the summer. Textile jackets are in between.

If you have lots of cash them get everything. If you are low on cash, well fitting leather work gloves would be ok for now. I rode in steel toed construction boots until I found some riding boots. Buy used. There is a lot of stuff out there that people buy and then give up on riding. Take advantage.
 
One thing I didn't expect to love so much are riding boots. Not only does it help protect you but it's so much nicer to shift gears in them. Now when I ride in street shoes I feel like I'm in socks.
My only suggestion is to not go crazy on the gear shopping right away--that is, don't go spending heaps of money that you don't need to spend. You'll figure out in the first season or two what you really want from your gear and how to choose the proper fit.
 
Joe Bass said:
The price is right, but if your main concern is protection, then leather is best. Look for something with ventilation.
I didn't get riding boots until this year, just wore leather zip up boots. Put them on the other day for a ride, and I was like wtf was I thinking? No support, no ankle protection. And I only bought an entry level pair of boots.
I wear jeans, but I also know they will shred if I go down. Kevlar or cordura or overpants are much better.
Click to expand...

Is heat that big of an issue? I see it being mentioned a lot but I figured if you're going at a decent speed, you wouldn't overheat. Is this wrong?

TorontoBoy said:
For me, I cannot ride in leather when it is +28C or above. I overheat, get a headache and feel crappy, which distracts me from keeping out of trouble. I need to wear mesh on hot days. This points out the dilemma of riding gear: You need gear for +2C to +32C, and one outfit/material usually can't do it all. You also need to be protected. Add rain to the mix. Leather is more protective but I'll overheat in the summer. Textile jackets are in between.

If you have lots of cash them get everything. If you are low on cash, well fitting leather work gloves would be ok for now. I rode in steel toed construction boots until I found some riding boots. Buy used. There is a lot of stuff out there that people buy and then give up on riding. Take advantage.
Click to expand...

As mentioned earlier, heat seems to be a big concern. I will try to find a jacket that provides sufficient protection while still having ventilation.

AF4iK said:
One thing I didn't expect to love so much are riding boots. Not only does it help protect you but it's so much nicer to shift gears in them. Now when I ride in street shoes I feel like I'm in socks.
My only suggestion is to not go crazy on the gear shopping right away--that is, don't go spending heaps of money that you don't need to spend. You'll figure out in the first season or two what you really want from your gear and how to choose the proper fit.
Click to expand...

Everyone seems to mention riding boots. I will definitely look into a good pair. For $150-200 and the benefits they seem to offer, it seems like a good idea. I will also invest in a good pair of gloves. Seems like kevlar jeans are not the most important aspect. I'll look into knee guards to wear over a regular pair of jeans. Thanks guys!
 
zazMaxim said:
Is this jacket sufficient?
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-motorcycle-p...ze/1079427589?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
I want as much protection as possible, without breaking the bank. If not this I'd be willing to invest much more into a decent jacket.

I also found this:
http://altimategear.com/shop/mens-mesh-airway-motorcycle-jacket/
Click to expand...

Is that first one a jacket with the armour on the outside????? No thanks....unless I go to a ComicCon.

The 2nd mesh one looks good. Should be good for summer. If you need to save $, just wear a wind breaker over top for the colder days. It's not when you are in motion that's the issue...it's when you are stopped at a light etc.
 
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On the helmet is not about been used or new, is about date in which the helmet was build, if too many years have passed, the foam breaks down and that is what absorbs the impact.

Knee protection should be ok until you have money to get riding pants
zazMaxim said:
The helmets are brand new, stickers still on them and everything. Completely unused. Will that be alright?
I will spend that much on a jacket if necessary, thanks for the advice.
As mentioned earlier, will knee protection worn over regular jeans be sufficient to protect my knees?
I will definitely invest in a good pair of gloves and shoes as everyone mentioned.
Thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...

You can also get a perforated leather jacket that will allow the air to flow through with a removable inner layer you can remove when is hot and put on when is cold
 
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check the date on the helmets.

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hahahahahahahaha....shorts and MX boots.
 
I wear full leather all the time and yes it can get hot, but I have never found it unbearable. It's important to invest in good quality gear that fits your body type. I have mostly alpine stars and the profile of some other companies just didn't work for me. I also got good boots. You need them for sure. Seems like overkill but will save your ankles if you ever go down. Have fun and enjoy!!


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Riceburner said:
Is that first one a jacket with the armour on the outside????? No thanks....unless I go to a ComicCon.

The 2nd mesh one looks good. Should be good for summer. If you need to save $, just wear a wind breaker over top for the colder days. It's not when you are in motion that's the issue...it's when you are stopped at a light etc.
Click to expand...

Hahaha the ComiCon comment was gold. And fair enough, I'll see if I can find a decent jacket in store or online.

ZX600 said:
On the helmet is not about been used or new, is about date in which the helmet was build, if too many years have passed, the foam breaks down and that is what absorbs the impact.

Knee protection should be ok until you have money to get riding pants

You can also get a perforated leather jacket that will allow the air to flow through with a removable inner layer you can remove when is hot and put on when is cold
Click to expand...

I had no idea, thank you. Is there a date after which I should consider it relatively useless?
Thanks, I'll purchase knee protection for now.
And thanks for the suggestion, any idea of the price range for such jackets?
 
DanteGuelph said:
I wear full leather all the time and yes it can get hot, but I have never found it unbearable. It's important to invest in good quality gear that fits your body type. I have mostly alpine stars and the profile of some other companies just didn't work for me. I also got good boots. You need them for sure. Seems like overkill but will save your ankles if you ever go down. Have fun and enjoy!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I'll try the gear out in person to make sure it fits my body type, and buy knee guards until I can find decent fitting kevlar jeans. I'm sure bike shops have a return policy if I walk outside in a set of gear and instantly break into a sweat lmao. Also I see your username says Guelph, is that where you ride? I will be riding and living in Guelph this summer as well!
 
I wore the naked jacket today with just a tshirt under and believe it or not, It was really fresh in traffic and everything. I am impressed with the jacket so far, if i had wore my other leather jacket, i would have died of heat.

I have another jacket that is fully perforated (Mesh) it feels like you are not wearing anything at all, love it but it was too cold in the morning to wear it
Riceburner said:
I have the Naked jacket too. but wore my mesh today.
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