Gear for occaisonal riding?

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yamahadude

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I'm thinking of occasional riding this summer and I'm wondering what is the minimal amount of gear I should be using? Obviously a helmet, but I'm guessing a leather jacket and gloves?

Also, are there cheap rentals for dirt bike gear in the Toronto? Not sure if all the pads, goggles, and armor are worth it for occasional use.

Thanks!
 
Don't understand the "occasional use" idea. You can crash at any time.
Mesh jacket with good back armour (not that thin crap), gloves, ankle boots, textile or kevlar pants.
 
Minimal gear is helmet + whatever you feel safe in. Like others have said, you could be killed 10ft from your house as easily as 1,000km from it. For me, I'm always out in full gear but to each their own.

Also side-rant -- A lot of people seem to forget about their ankles and knees when riding. Arguably to me they are very important, as one crash and you could end up missing most of the season injured vs riding right after the incident....not to mention if you are unlucky, you could mess them up (easily) for life.
 
ATGATT - All The Gear, All The Time

I'm still new to riding and i go out in full leather or if i don't feel like the leather, full textile(jacket and pants) with my leather boots and gloves.

There's a saying i picked up from somewhere, "Dress for the fall, not the ride" or it was "Dress for the crash, not the ride". I'm sure someone will correct me.

As others have said, there is no "occasional riding gear". Unless you want to be like one of those people who wears their helmet, sandals, shorts and a hoodie.

In the end it's up to you what you wear, but i don't think anyone on here would suggest anything less then either Mesh jacket and pants or riding jean(jacket and pants).

Shane
 
I wear
1/2 Helmet and glasses
Leather gloves
Leather jacket
Regular jeans
Boots.

It depends on how much risk your willing to take.

I far from the most protected person out there and have full respect for the atgatt but personally its not for me.

I wear what I want to wear within the confines of the law.

I have and will ride again without jacket and gloves. Its my choice and im willing to accept the possible consequences.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk
 
Defitnitly eye protection is a priority for me, even some bugs are like little rocks when they hit the helmet if your lucky and not in eye... I wear leather, high boots, gloves the usual. I usually have a baseball cap fastened to seat strap..so far in 2 years have lost 5 hats some were good HD hats.
 
Shane.Nicholson said:
ATGATT - All The Gear, All The Time

I'm still new to riding and i go out in full leather or if i don't feel like the leather, full textile(jacket and pants) with my leather boots and gloves.

There's a saying i picked up from somewhere, "Dress for the fall, not the ride" or it was "Dress for the crash, not the ride". I'm sure someone will correct me.

As others have said, there is no "occasional riding gear". Unless you want to be like one of those people who wears their helmet, sandals, shorts and a hoodie.

In the end it's up to you what you wear, but i don't think anyone on here would suggest anything less then either Mesh jacket and pants or riding jean(jacket and pants).

Shane
Click to expand...

It's "Dress for the slide not the ride"
 
Ya eyes are a biggie.

I have riding glasses. 3 pairs. 1 yellow 1 clear 1 tinted (sun). All with the foam around the eyes. It helps a ton. My aviators just didn't do the trick. .

TBH
I hate the states and have no urge to travel there. But since getting my bike I wanna ride to a no helmet state. I wouldn't commonly do it but still want to.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk
 
peterm15 said:
I hate the states and have no urge to travel there. But since getting my bike I wanna ride to a no helmet state. I wouldn't commonly do it but still want to.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Michigan is not very far ;)
 
I low sided wearing kevlar jeans. No road rash, but the way the jeans twisted is left me with some pretty good rug burn. Hurt like a SOB, but I was able to ride the next day (after fixing the bike). Superficial vs picking gravel out of my knee. Would have been an awful mess without the kevlar.
 
minimum by law here is helmet.

other than that up to u.

I wear leather on my commutes to work / any highway use / rides with friends. if im going somewhere close like gym or run an errand not far away, i dont put my leather on.

Just be ware the risks are real. I know the risk, and the choice is mine.
 
I ridden in just a t shirt and jeans once and never again... Doesn't feel right.. I ride a cruiser though

my usual minimum setup is good gloves, good helmet, leather jacket with inner armour, jeans at a minimum, usual leathers, and boots, above the ankle that is....

Best safety equipment is a good brain. Ride smart, responsible and carefully....
 
conundrum said:
Minimal gear is helmet + whatever you feel safe in. Like others have said, you could be killed 10ft from your house as easily as 1,000km from it. For me, I'm always out in full gear but to each their own.Also side-rant -- A lot of people seem to forget about their ankles and knees when riding. Arguably to me they are very important, as one crash and you could end up missing most of the season injured vs riding right after the incident....not to mention if you are unlucky, you could mess them up (easily) for life.
Click to expand...
Yep, one time I went down it was over the bars... my shin hit the bars and I lost a small bit of flesh there. I had riding pants and high boots, but theres still a point there thats not covered. I now have upgraded my protection in this area. rest of me was fine. (I got checked out by paramedics ) .
 
H4x0rz said:
I ridden in just a t shirt and jeans once and never again... Doesn't feel right.. I ride a cruiser though
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Not sure what a cruiser has to do with it? You still can crash or get hit, just like buddy on his scooter or gixxr...
 
ATGATT for me regardless of the temp.
 
peterm15 said:
Ya eyes are a biggie.

I have riding glasses. 3 pairs. 1 yellow 1 clear 1 tinted (sun). All with the foam around the eyes. It helps a ton. My aviators just didn't do the trick. .
Click to expand...

I guess this means you use a half-face helmet?

Which means for 25% of accidents, same as nothing at all.
 
CafeRay said:
I guess this means you use a half-face helmet?

Which means for 25% of accidents, same as nothing at all.
Click to expand...

yup.

Id like to have a full face but the visors screw with my vision. I'm still searching for one that doesn't. I wanted a full mainly for wind noise and bug protection.

1/2 was my second choice as all the 3/4s I tried weren't comfortable.

I really liked the bell 1/2 helmet with the face protection but wasn't prepared to spend 400 on a half helmet. A full that I could see properly through sure. But not a half.

again I know im far from fully protected, that is my choice and I am willing to accept the added risk and possible injuries.
 
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Just get full gear.

At least wear gloves. I don't understand why I see so many people on the road with full gear except for gloves. I'd ride without a jacket before I rode without gloves.

Also, jeans aren't much better than nothing.
 
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