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iCraig
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Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 07:08 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Review Your Gear! Reply with quote

Well with winter coming up I thought this might be a good thread to those of us who are looking for new gear and things.

I'll start:

Arrow Richa Storma Jacket 1 Year Old, I bought this jacket last summer, In its first winter it held the water out and kept me warm, something which the jacket it replaced a Lewis Textile jacket wasn't doing. For £50 on sale it was quite a bargain, and fairly well made, apart from one of the buttons coming off. Now entering its second winter the thing is already leaking like a sieve, I think it might need a waterproofing!

Arrow Dynamic Weathers Padded Jeans 5 Years old, I bought these when I first started riding and they are as waterproof now as they were then, although now with a few melted bits where they have come into contact with my exhaust, all in all for £30 you can't beat em and they're warm too!

ArrowRST Storma Boots 2 Years old, I bought these after my FT Aqua boots split after 3 years of use, I was told they were the best budget boot available at the time. My first pair leaked like a sieve but they were soon replaced by Feridax with a new pair, this pair has lasted 2 years and have only just started to leak only in a torrential downpour. One other thing I have noticed too after all this time is the lining is coming away in parts. But for a two year old £50 boot, its not all bad, they're still warm and in slight rain they're dry.

Arrow Dynamic Weathers Gloves 3 Years old, these things were £30. They were bought to replace a holy pair of Buffalo gloves. They're meant to be waterproof and have never been and they get sodden in the slightest of rain. And they now stink when they get wet too eurgh! But for £30 I can't grumble too much, they've withstood 2 crashes and general abuse too!

Arrow Shoei Raid Helmet 2 Years old. One of the best if not the best helmet I've owned, its seems well built and its fairly quiet. Even after 2 years of wear its still fits very tightly. Nothing has fallen off or cracked and I can firmly say its the best £180 I've ever spent!

Well thats my reviews done, anyone else care to do some? Smile
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scott666
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 22 Feb 2006
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PostPosted: 09:47 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Arrow RSR TEXTILE JACKET. Bought this as my first jacket and realised straight away that it wasn't exactly waterfproof like it said on the label. Its not too bad though and offers protection in all the right places.

Arrow HONDA CBR RACING JACKET. Bought this one from the builth show for £40 and its probably the best money ive spent. Offers good protection in all areas including a back protector and stood up well to quite a bad off a few weeks back and im still using it. Also more waterproof than my winter jacket.

Arrow FRANK THOMAS LEATHER PANTS (DONT KNOW STYLE). Bought these of my brother after my off and they seem to do the job. First time ive worn leathers but there comfortable and seem like they would offer god protection in an off.

Arrow AKITO TEXTILE PANTS. Great textile trousers. Worn them for a year now constanly with the only problem being the zip on the liner breaking.

Arrow NITRO NB40 BOOTS. Bought on the internet for £30 and i really like them. I had these to replace the boots i nearly wrecked in the off and i love them. These are also my first full length boot and i find them really comfortable and they hold off the water well.

Arrow GMAC MERCURY HELMET. Picked it up cheap in a sale and love it. Offers a nice snug fit for my head and there is not hundreds of wind noise. Definitely does the job and would'nt hesitate in buying another.[/b]
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mrbluesbox
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Joined: 14 Sep 2006
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PostPosted: 11:21 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

I Like the idea of this thread.
Mods - hows about a new forum where people can post gear reviews - 1 item per topic.
What does anyone else think.
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Dragonfly
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Joined: 05 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 11:55 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Arrow womans black leather rider jacket picked up on ebay shop. Excellant leather,nice fit and warm. looks sexy Thumbs Up

Arrow Hein Gericke custom boots bought last xmas and still goind even though there scored from last accident. Not waterproof the leak down your legs Sad cheap you get what yuo pay for.

Arrow hein gericke race gloves. fits ok, though they stretched so to big now. air vents for them summer days, freezes you in winter lol nice carbon knuckle design.

Arrow lidle special rain suit, excellant was £12 and does the job! burnt hold in legs with engine and exhaust though Crying or Very sad

Arrow agv helmet, k series hot rod. noisy, thought i was being chased by cops first time i had it on it turned out was whistling wind Embarassed Rolling Eyes nice comfy fit.

Arrow oxford neck warmer, there never long enough to get round your nose and down your neck.
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the grim reaper
World Chat Champion



Joined: 29 Jun 2005
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PostPosted: 12:08 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

My winter kit is as follows:

Hein Gericke 2 piece textile suit, keeps me dry no matter what.

Sidi black rain boots, never leaked and I will never buy any boots other than Sidi now, having owned and hated Alpinestars.

Swift Subzero gloves, just bought them from a mate, they seem excellent and didn't leak in this mornings downpour Rolling Eyes

Arai Quantum F, noisy as hell, comfy though.

Cheers

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dodsi
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PostPosted: 12:48 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oxtar TCS Boots

Brand new off ebay, paid about £60 for them instead of the £180 in any normal shop (being size 13 has its advantages if you want to get boots cheap). Complete peices of shit, ment to be waterproof..they are not my feet still get wet/cold. They have fallen to peices the TCS system 2 of the supports have snapped off even though I kept them oiled etc (with oil supplied with them) and that was under normal use. Complete shite, keep away. Had them 9 months if that.

Sidi Vertigo Boots

These are summer boots so not waterproof, saved my feet in a crash once allready and seem to be well made, starting to show signs of wear but thats because I have worn them a lot and they are 1 and a half years old. are comfy and offer good support and I like the adjustability of them. Will buy again.

Hein gericke evo 2 piece

Used all year round for over a year now and had proved very waterproof. and quite warm for such a thin "all seasons" suit. Have crashed in a pair of the trousers before and offered good protection didnt split at any seams or wear through at about 40mph and the armour was good. was so impressed I bought some more of the trousers and the matching jacket. Still going strong and used them a lot. Still waterproof and comfortable.

Scott Pro 2 peice leathers

Not had them very long so can't comment too well on these. Seem to have good build quality (should do being hand made) and the warrenty is fantastic. When a zip went in them I took them back to the scott factory who replaced the zip within an hour. Great service and friendly people. Yet to crash so cannot comment on protection but they do have full knox armour.

Alpinestars SP2 Gloves

Reccomended on here when i wanted some new gloves, very hard wearing and still going strong, had them well over a year now and no need to replace. Never crashed in them so cannot comment on protection.

HJC AC/11 Helmet

RiDE Reccomended and was half price from £199 to £99 in infinity motorcycles. Very quiet and comfortable (for my head shape) and good ventilation and has a good anti fog system built in. Does steam up sometimes in bad rain and can get rain on the inside of the visor.

Frank thomas jacket and trousers

Complete shit. crap armour..offers shit protection in a crash but is quite warm.

I crashed in the frank thomas jacket and hein gericke trousers, trousers still usable, jacket was lucky not to go straight through, seams burst all over it. Poor build and over priced.


I have pics of the scott leathers factory if anyone is interested from my visit.
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mchaggis
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PostPosted: 13:08 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Helmet: AGV V-Flyer 2 yrs old, £140 in HG. Very comfortable and well made, but far too noisy. The visor doesn't seal properly so you can get dust and water in around it occasionally.

Jacket: Wolf something or other leather jacket, £50 off Ebay inc. p&p. Very well made, crashed in it without a mark at 35mph. Warm and waterproof, top stuff. Thumbs Up

Trousers: Heine Gericke Devon pants,£70, 2 yrs old. Perfectly waterproof, have withstood crashing fantastically (including mini-motos I have been off in them at least 20 times). The knee armour does a top job and there is minimal damage from crashing. The only flaws in them is that they melt quite easily on the exhaust, the velcro at the bottom of the leg is coming away and they smell after they have got wet a few times (like a Barbour jacket Sick ).

Gloves: Heine Gericke 3-finger Pathans, £35, 9 months old. Perfectly waterproof, very warm, very good build quality. Crash well too.

Akito Storm Gloves: £30 from the NEC show 18 months ago. Crash very well, but not especially waterproof (despite their name, though they are better with a monthly dose of Nikwax) nor especially warm in the winter. They're too hot in the summer and make me sweat annoyingly. They end up stinking. I lost one in Tesco last week too, so that's the end of those. Doh!

Frank Thomas Streetmate gloves: £20 from CMC two & half years ago. Absolutely shocking! Not waterproof, not warm, and do not crash well at all (one off and they were already ready for the bin). Nor did they protect my hands when I came off in them. Stay well away.

Boots: Heine Gericke Customs: £80 two years ago. Not very waterproof, but crash very well. Have protected my feet and ankles every time, and are still in good (if scarred) condition after 20k miles.
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Last edited by mchaggis on 12:50 - 03 Oct 2006; edited 1 time in total
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quik_d
Could Be A Chat Bot



Joined: 17 Mar 2005
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PostPosted: 13:11 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Top thread Thumbs Up

Spyke Typhoon jacket - Bought for £130, has titanium plates in the shoulders and solid elbow armour, removable lining, twin front zips and all adjustable sides & arms. Top jacket, after 2 offs theres not a mark on it, can get hot in summer even with the lining out but no too bad. Perfect in the winter, really nice and warm.

Swift speed trousers - £30 from busters, they are perfect in the winter, super warm and waterproof - which is their downfall in summer as they have no vents. CE approved Armour in the knees. but top buy for £30

Joe Rocket Alter Ego trousers- Got them off ebay for a bargain £30, think they are about £130 in the shops, have removable waterproof lining which works and good knee armour. Also have a removable section that reveals vents down the side of the legs and out the back of the trousers. That works as well. Held up well in a low speed spill with just a graze on them.


Swift M2R race boots
A great boot for the £60 i paid for it, and without it my shin and ancle would have been broken when i was hit by a car. It is waterproof to an extent, take a torrential downpour to beat it, lots of protection as despite looking gimmick-y it works, steel rod incorporates in the sole which i didn't know was there till it saved my foot!

Shark RSF2 Lavielle Replica Helmet I got it for £99.99, reduced from £200 as last years colours, seems a good helmet not too loud, best fit i found after trying on helmets for about an hour on the shop, everything from real cheap ones to £250 shoei's. ventilation whistles and i dont think it makes much difference so i leave them closed.

Dynamic summer gloves summer gloves but i have worn them almost all year round for past 2 & 1/2 years, they only cost £30 but in a big off they have protected my hands well and are still structurally sound.

Thumbs Up
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Wave2k
G's Stalker



Joined: 06 Apr 2004
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PostPosted: 13:26 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Arrow Alpinestars SMX2 suit

Cant fault it, but then again i havent crashed in it, comfortwise its good and its held up to my general abuse.

Arrow Alpinestars SMX Gloves
These are OK, pretty cold if its under 20c and i dont think they would do alot in a crash seeing as they are short in the wrist

Arrow Alpinestars SMX boots

Brilliant, had these for 2 and a half years now and still going 3 trackdays 2 tourings and lots and lots of road riding, still going.

Arrow Arai Condor (st george flag)

Pretty good lid, comfortable light and a good fit, can get a bit noisy.
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quacker_boy
Cuddle Bitch



Joined: 06 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 13:44 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Arrow AGV GP Pro: An extremely comfortable lid, for starters. The unique shape means it tucks against the 'hump' on the back of leathers to create a very aerodynamic shape of bike and rider. The design has been very well thought out and means that there is very little buffeting at higher speeds as well as being comparatively quiet for a helmet. The entire inner lining is removable, not just the cheek pads, allowing them to be stored in the freezer overnight to kill the smelly bacteria. Laughing

https://www.robsacc.nl/robsacc/gppro-blackblue.jpg

Arrow Hein Gericke 1 piece: I didn't have much of a choice when it came to leathers and manage to swing myself this set for 150 quid off a friend and he was good enough to throw in a pair of sliders. I found it a bit of a mission getting into the leathers as they are fairly tight on me but strangely also flexible where i needed them to be (knees, elbows etc). It also had a thermal inner lining which made the winter nights out here very comfortable. I was a bit let down when my crash meant they tore a sizeable hole at the knee joint.

https://img129.imageshack.us/img129/6944/imgp2050gs8.jpg

https://img388.imageshack.us/img388/7092/imgp2053fw1.jpg

Lack of money's preventing me buying gloves and boots at the moment but most of my body's covered up so i'm alright.

I'll confess...i only actually wear the leathers when riding a sports bike above 400cc. Stupid i know...the rest of time it's board shorts and shirt...it's too hot for anything else.
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Psychonaut
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 10 Jun 2005
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PostPosted: 15:25 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

AGV stealth Lid very comfy, removable liner a tad noisy though

AGV Longway Comfy but not much space between mouth and chingard, visor gathers moisture in the lower section more noisy than stealth and creaks a bit (poly whotsiname not resin like the stealth)

Swift textiles cheap but great 30 quid and worked well throughout last winter

RST textile jacket worked well for first 12 months but lets in the water now even after nikwaxing

Alpinestars Dyno leather, fantastic but pricey

Swift boots - 40 quid so can't expect much and the sole has lifted after 2 months use and the reflective strip has crumbled letting in water

RST gloves stil going strong after a 16 months

Snowboarding gloves worked a treat last winter when funds ran out (reinforced palm area but no nuckle protection) will get some proper gloves from the NEC
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yambabe
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PostPosted: 19:59 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Suomy Dark Metal helmet Bought from On yer Bike in Oxford just over 2 years ago for £99. Very comfy fit (I have an odd head it seems cos most lids won't even go on, and the glasses don't help) but bad for the visor fogging, quite noisy at speed and whistles when the visor is up at town speed! Just starting to get a bit loose now, I am looking at replacing it at the NEC.

Bikers Gearbox "Cruiser" Ladies leather jacket Bought early on this year at the Gmex show, cost me £170 but the quality is superb. This is my summer jacket and although it does have a warm removable lining it has no armour, just extra padding and layers on the back and elbow. Once again chosen because finding gear to fit my odd-shaped body (short torso, short arms, big bust, comparatively narrow waist) is a nightmare. Big BIG minus is that it has no pockets...... Sad wish I'd realised how irritating that would be when I bought it!

Jeans, with Peter Storm plastic overtrousers if it's wet Yet to find a pair of "proper" bike trousers in my size, textile or leather. Sad

"City of Leather" Cordura textile jacket My winter jacket, bought at Rossendale bike show 2 years ago for £55. 100% waterproof still, warm (removable liner), armour that is nearly in the right places, reflective strips, loads of pockets, can't rate this jacket highly enough. Thumbs Up

Rayven boots Bought for £30 from Stormin The Castle rally 2 years ago. Cheap boots, and it shows. Nice and warm but not waterproof. Prefer riding in my docs (purple, £80 from Schuh in the Trafford Center!) if I'm honest but they're not waterproof either. Must try and get some decent boots this winter!

Unmarked Brand Gloves Both my summer and winter gloves are not branded. Summer ones cost me £25 from the Thundersprint in Northwich this year, black leather, decent padding but no armour, vented for coolness, not waterproof. Winter gloves bought from (I think) Millenium about 3 years ago, also about £25. Leather/textile mix with thinsulate linings and knuckle/finger armour. Not 100% waterproof but takes a fair bit of riding to get right through them!

Oxford Handlebar Muffs Don't know how I got through a winter without these since I was given them last year. Warm, waterproof, windproof, brilliant! Using the switchgear (specially indicators) can be a bit of a pain when they're on though.
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yambabe
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PostPosted: 19:59 - 02 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oops! Embarassed Edited as managed to post it twice, not sure how.....
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ZZR Girl
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
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PostPosted: 12:46 - 03 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gear from a 5’ 4”, size 12, female’s point of view. I can’t comment about the leak factor because I’ve never ridden in really heavy rain for any length of time.

Shoei XR1000 helmet – I had two Shoei Raid 1’s before I got this one. I tried on the Raid 2 but this was a much better fit. It’s light weight with an aerodynamic shape. The pinlock visor is standard and there are front and back vents on the helmet which you can either have open or closed. The helmet is comfortable and quite quiet if you have the vents closed. Mine is plain silver and cost £220 last year. The patterned ones are more expensive.

Yamaha gloves – These are summer gloves but I wear them all the time. Yes, the tops of my fingers get numb in the cold weather but I prefer to be able to feel the handlebars and controls and not be restricted by bulky gloves. They are size S. I love the fit – perfect for small hands and the finger length is great (I found a lot of the gloves I tried on were too long in the fingers). The knuckles are armoured and there is a chamois pad on the underside which is handy for wiping your visor in the rain. They cost £30 last year. The only complaint I have with them is that the very tops of the fingers are fraying. Great gloves overall.

Richa ‘Anya’ leather jacket – Size 12. As it’s a ladies jacket, it’s a flattering fit, in a non-girly colour (it’s black with dark grey panels). It has armour in the back, elbows and shoulders, and a removable padded lining. It zips to Richa trousers. It’s a soft leather so the collar doesn’t choke you. I bought it last year for about £175 but the stitching on one of the Velcro fastenings around the cuff has come undone.

Richa ‘Bison’ textile jacket – I bought this jacket in a sale for £50 reduced from £200. It’s a size S. I tried on loads of different jackets before I found this, and as soon as I put it on I knew it was the one for me. It’s a man’s jacket but isn’t too bulky for the petite female frame and fits well. It has a removable padded lining and armour in the back, shoulders and elbows. It’s got two big front pockets and a zipped breast pocket. The waist and around the sleeves are adjustable and it has a longer flap at the back to go over your bum to help keep the wind out. There’s also a bit of reflective piping.

Dainese ‘Phanta’ textile trousers – I’ve got leather trousers but never wear them. I wear these all the time. They are a Dainese size 46 (equivalent to a UK 12). They are a perfect length and tuck nicely into my boots. The bottom of the legs are half elasticated with zips. There are two zipped side pockets, and a zip to attach to a jacket. They have knee and shin armour, which is in zipped pockets so can be easily removed. The only disadvantage is that the lining cannot be removed and it sticks to your legs in hot weather. There is no thermal lining either. Cost £110 last year.

Forma ‘Street’ boots – Bought these from the first shop I looked in as they were comfortable. They fasten around the calf and ankle with Velcro flaps, which has a tendency to catch on things sometimes. Next time I buy boots I want to get a pair which zip up. Cost £60 last year.
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xlfive
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 26 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: 13:35 - 03 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shoei XR1000 helmet,had a AGV Pacific before this one and that was most uncomfortable,the shoei however is a great helmet,low noise and comfortable

frank thomas leather jacket again comfortable but its four years old now and still no signs of softening of the leather.a tad rough on the neck when doing saftey glances

JTS Leather pants only had these a month but so far there a good fit and comfortable,also waterproof as the storm from hell dropped down on me on the Cat and Fiddle last friday night


Altberg Clubman Classic boots,what can i say had these four years rode both summer and winter,there the best boots i've ever had will definatly buy these again

Hein Gericke Gloves.again great all weather glove but when its down to freezing then i use some cheap sking gloves i got from costco .£8 and warm as toast but no protection
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Bullet
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 06 Jan 2006
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PostPosted: 14:13 - 03 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

RST SRT 6-7, £300, two piece leathers... utter rubbish looked good in the shop, and were comfy but the front zip bust preety soon after purchasing (and yes they are big enough!) sent off to have zip replaced under warenty and its done it again within 2 days of getting it back, will be returning again, this time asking for a refund as i have no faith in them to protect me in a crash anymore also didnt notice at the time but the jacket to trousers joining zip is attached to the lining not the main leather, so not very good in generall.

ARAI CONDOR, £180 discounted from £250, excelent lid for anyone with a stupidly big head like me, very few lids ive found fit comfortably, but the arai is perfect. very comfy, visor demists easily, can be a bit noisey though.

SIDI black rain evo boots, £130, an excellent winter boot, with waterproof flap behind zip right up to the top of the boot, my feet never got wet all through last winter, reasonably flexible, no toe sliders or fancy coloured track suit graphics though, but it is for winter Thumbs Up

BUFFALO SPORT gloves, £30, not a bad cheap summer glove a bit too much stiching and panels really, might burst in a crash? but a good fit for large palms and short fingers, ive had problems with all the gloves i try beeing too long in the finger for the size of my hand, but these fit perfectly and have reasonable ventillation.

SIDI winter gloves, £FREE with the boots, warm comfy and good thick leather what more do you want for a freebie
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fork_oil
Two Stroke Sniffer



Joined: 13 Apr 2006
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PostPosted: 15:49 - 03 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was looking through my gear to lend some to a co-worker for his CBT, and I can't believe how much I've accumulated. I just keep seeing stuff at shows, or on sale...This is all still in use, some more often than others, depending upon the time of year.

Arai Astro R 18 months old. Bought t replace an ageing Quantum F, which replaced an NR3...Comfy, well-made, visor seals properly. Reassuring. Gripes are that it mists up (so a pinlock is on a spare clear visor), and is a little noisy (so I wear earplugs). Will carry on buying Arai.

Shark RSF2 Plain black one was £65 last winter, so purchased to wear when I don't want to bash my Arai walking around the shops, etc, which is what happened to the last one. Not as "nice" or snug fitting as the Arai (everything else always feels perched on top of my head by comparison), but decent enough, especially at this price.

Triumph Sport Leather Jacket/Jeans Retro style, subtley branded. Good fit for me, feel fairly well made for mid-price kit. Survived a low-speed off with minor scuffs. Two pairs jeans, one with holes for summer. Would buy again if I still rode a Triumph.

HG one-piece leathers from 1997 Bought because you usually needed a one-piece for trackdays then. Garish HG colours makes them look dated. Fairly well made, OK armour. Not really worn now because 2-piece is so much handier.

Alpinestars Sprint Textile Jacket Goretex lined and still 100% waterproof after 3-4 years. A bit bulky & a bit cold as there's only a simple baffle over the front zip. A bit tight fitting on the arms with the liner for anyone who isn't a 7-stone weakling, but cuffs are generous to get gloves under. No zip to connect to jeans is an oversight. I've adapted around all the shortcomings though and it's been a good buy.

Triumph Speedking textile jacket Basic sports style textile jacket. Seems fairly waterproof. Surprisingly warm due to good baffle with zip behind main zip. Zips to jeans to keep wind out from below. Generous cuffs useful when raining, a nuisance otherwise. Wear it regularly this time of year.

Rev-It Titanium Textile Jeans Bought because it looked like the zip would connect to the above jacket when I was at the BikeShow. It didn't. Warm and waterproof but only used for one winter. They do different lengths, which is handy.

Sidi Vertebra 2 Boots A bit narrow for my feet, squeek a bit, but otherwise pretty good. Wear these in summer. A good buy.

Sidi Black Rain boots Again a bit narrow, and I bought a size too small in error, and never got around to swapping them. Just losing their waterproofness after 5 years of winter use only. Good value.

Altberg Hog-lite boots Hiking style boot. Very comfy and well made. Took a while to break in for walking, but now very good. Good vfm, used in summer when wearing...

Hood Jeans Kevlar lined jeans. Only a bit cooler than leathers in summer. A bit disappointing really, although there's nothing really wrong with them - I was just expecting them to be more comfy when it's hot. Knee armour is uncomfortable, as there's no extra room at the knees to accomodate it.

Alpinestars Air-Flo Jacket Mesh style jacket. Doesn't look that robust, but has armour. Mercifully cool when I got it back in July which makes it worth having.

Frank Thomas sports style textile jacket Not sure of name. Odd fit (I needed an XXL, when I normally take a Large), which massivley baggy arms, but really tight cuffs (no chance of getting a glove under there) Short cut. Very warm with lining, and waterproof, but hopeless due to the cuffs. Was cheap at Ally Pally a few years back. A frustrating buy - almost quite good.

Belstaff Airblast jacket Unlined touring style cordura jacket with zipped airvents. Keeps you reasonably cool if riding a retro bike. Not enough airflow on something faired. Well made. Would buy the waterproof lining, but not available anywhere since Belstaff went, which restricts its usefulness. The mesh Alpinestars jacket is much cooler.

FT SE33 boots Bought the Sidi's to replace these, but never threw them out. Now 8 yo. Still OK, sole a bit worn. A previous pair of touring FT boots lasted well.

Spidi H2Out textile trousers Still got these, but ought to get rid. Stayed waterproof for two years, now hem is disintegrating. Stupid velcro strap for waist doesn't hold. Were OK at sale price I paid, but overpriced otherwise.

HG Racing Gloves Bought for £50 instead of £75. Bedded in quickly, and now comfy. Wrist strap is too long, and so useless. Cuff velcro is cunning though. Seem a bit thin and lightweight.

Texport TX1 gloves Were on sale, so I bought them, even though I didn't need them. Very well made. Haven't managed to break them in yet. Fingers feel a bit odd still. Solid.

Alpinstars SP3 gloves Basic leather sports gloves. Bought for commuting, and for a spare pair to carry when away. Seem solid enough, and are quite comfy.

HG Pathan 2-finger gloves Very warm and totally waterproof. 'nuf said. Just that lack of protection.

Spada Force 2 WP gloves Armoured sports style winter glove. Not as warm as the Pathans, but feel more solid. Worn when it's not so cold and wet.
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5v3d3b0
World Chat Champion



Joined: 24 Sep 2006
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PostPosted: 18:58 - 16 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Arrow Jacket - Dainese Flanker D-Dry.
Awesome jacket. Good price, elbow, forearm and shoulder protection. There is a space at the back for a back protection which is very cheap but very good. Very comfortable jacket, and completely impermeable to water.

Arrow Gloves - Alpine Stars SP-S Glove.
Very nice gloves with great comfort and good protection, and it's easy to feel the bike even with them on, but they are not the least bit waterproof...Great for summer riding, but English winters are not recommended.

Arrow Helmet - Shoei Raid II.
Very comfy helmet with an antifog visor. Good price, around 200 pounds. Love it to bits.
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syl
World Chat Champion



Joined: 05 Dec 2005
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PostPosted: 20:13 - 16 Oct 2006    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dainese Makmak Jacket (D-Dry) - Completely waterproof, but takes quite a while to dry out on the outside. Armour at the shoulder and elbows. Takes Dainese back protector. Removable lining. Warm - I only ever wear a t-shirt underneath it.

Dainese Zentex Jacket - Definately NOT waterproof - built like a string vest for ventilation. Summer use only. Armour at the shoulder and elbows. Takes Dainese back protector.

Dainese Ike Trousers (D-Dry) - Completely waterproof, but takes quite a while to dry out on the outside like the jacket above. Armour at the hips and knees. Removable lining. Warm.

Draggin Cargo Trousers - Not waterproof, not armoured but comfortable and will protect against "road rash" in a spill.

Oxtar Stealth GTX Boots (Goretex) - plain black, quick and easy to put on. Comfortable. Waterproof. Warm.

Racer Multitop Gloves - Excellent but pricey. Thin but strong and warm kangaroo leather. Useable all year round (OK, my heated grips help in winter). Waterproof.

Arai Condor Helmet - Great fit, if a little noisy.
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