motorbike gear?!

[bangbros69]

im just about to get a zxr400 and i want to get the right clothing so that im protected right, i see some jackets dont have armor in etc whats the best stuff to buy im looking to spend about £75 on a jacket 50 helmet adn 50 trousers but i dont have a clue wat to get want to give me some adivce cheers
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luke

[Kal]

Buy the helmet first because its a must have - end of story you must have a helmet that fits you before you go anywhere near a bike.


As to that. You need to get to a store selling helmets are try a shitload on. You'll know when you've found your size because the stuffing of the helmet will push into you cheeks and it'll feel like your about to have a headache.

A helmet that fits comfortably immediately will be no good once the padding compresses. Most places selling helmets have at least one assistant that knows what they are doing so get some help.

A helmet should have an ACU gold sticker on the back and a kite mark.

Here is the weird bit - every helmet manufacturer makes helmets for a slightly different head shape - so try different makes on to get a prefect fit.

Jacketwise work out what size you are and then buy a bike jacket with additional armour in. Not too bothered about the brand as long as it is designed for bike use.

Don't buy trousers at this point. I say this because if your budget really is this limited you want a decent pair of motorcycle gloves and a pair of motorcycle boots before you go anywhere else.

Trust me you would rather have roadrash on your legs than a degloving injury or having the nub of your ankle worn away. Not pleasant.

eBay is a good source of cheap new and nearly new bike kit - you will be fine in secondhand kit except the helmet - never buy a secondhand helmet.

Cool? Good. Have fun.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[mr jamez]

Get yourself down aldi
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NSR 125F > BROS 400 > NC30 > BROS 400 > Trumpet S4 > '97 VFR 750

[BorderHooner]

I'd rather spend £100 on the helmet and buy second hand leathers.

Hand, feet and joints (shoulder, elbow, knees) all need suitable protection.

If you can't ride with decent protection then stay within speed limits.
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Benelli. Happy as a pig in cacky.

[The Tot]

I'd say gloves are as equally important as helmet - i mean, your hands are what you use to input commands into your motorcycle. You can try on a few decent gloves at the shop then buy them off ebay - doesn't matter if it's 2nd hand, sometimes it maybe better because they've been bedded in.

I can only give you a few recommendations, but have a ganders at HJC helmets or KBC helmets, because depending on store, they have 50% off discounts and are pretty good lids... I'm not saying that they're the best, but they seem the best for that budget. HJC CL14 - HJC AC11, KBC VR1/VR7 are all good starter lids and are very comfortable - got good liners and weigh no where near as much as those nitros

Jacket - measure up your size at a bike shop and just bung it into ebay - you can often get 2nd hand hein gericke leather jackets off ebay for as little as 40 quid. It's all about progression. Once you can afford to, you can buy tarty race rep stuff.

I may suggest alpinestars, because this little graffiti can help to explain why i chose it..

https://s3.amazonaws.com/graffiti/76ebfc593577136c261cc5025aeec220_580x270.png

But to start with, in order of priority

Lid
Gloves
Jacket
Boots
Trousers (i know safety nazis will tell you otherwise how bad it is riding in jeans - but if ur willing to take that risk, you'll be fine)
Then do whatever you want - 2 piece suit, winter gear etc.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[iooi]

[faddius]

Lid most important, forget what people say about one company being good for starters and others being bad or too expensive. The ultimate, most important thing is that it fits correctly. If it doesnt, it wont do its job, end of.

Jacket next, the wind chill and rain will probably get to you before an accident does.

Gloves, very important, get them before trousers. Preferably when you buy lid, jacket get gloves too, most places will offer some sort kind of discount for bulk buying.

Boots, you can still sorta carry on in life if you loose a load of skin and flesh from your leg, but your stuffed if you loose a foot. And clipping your toe on the road or a kerb in trainers really ****ing hurts, you wouldnt believe how much it hurts. So make sure the boots have a hard toe on them or toe sliders.

Trousers, important, but a nuisance in my opinion, I only use mine for particularly long or dangerous trips, when its raining etc. etc.

Try stuff on, thats the important thing, make sure it fits, doesnt ride up when you sit on the bike (most places will let you go outside to sit on your bike or have a dummy bike for you to sit on wearing the gear) and your happy with it.

If your not happy with your gear, you wont go out on the bike due to the guilt of buying the gear and not using it. If needs be, spend a bit more so your happy. Its your life, limbs and digits, dont settle for second best because your being tight fisted.

Lastly, if the salespeople are arseholes, leave, they dont care about you or your safety, they just want the sale to meet targets and bonuses, never feel pressured to buy

[BorderHooner]

Hmmm, the smell of Aldi/Lidl textiles melted and clinging to your bones through the gashes in your skin.

Nice.

Buy LEATHER or well known branded textiles. I wear textiles less and less these days. I normally only wear them long distance when bad weather is expected. When I bought them I got to thinking that textiles were good in winter - well so is leather if you oil them up properly for water repellance and one size too big is ideal with an all in one thermal romper suit underneath. Over leathers rain suits are ten a penny aswell.

I like the idea of getting second hand heine gericke stuff off ebay. I bought a brand new (well worn once!!) two piece for the missus for £80 (rrp £450)
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Benelli. Happy as a pig in cacky.

[faddius]

[mr jamez]

What sort of stuff do you oil/wax them up with? My leathers don't let water in despite being tatty, but they stay soaked for days and smell of ming.
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NSR 125F > BROS 400 > NC30 > BROS 400 > Trumpet S4 > '97 VFR 750

[Kal]

My old leather was fantastic.

It hardly ever leaked unless I'd been out in downpour for a couple of hours.

I never treated, never oiled it, never actually did anything to take care of it apart from washed the inside and left it in the sun to dry for a few days after the cat pissed on it.

Leathers are great.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[faddius]

I use this funky stuff I got at the NEC show, leather wax, natural ingrediants, bees wax yadda yadda. Didnt pay much attention, initially got it to clean my boots but does everything else as well.

Have a look around, plenty of products around, or go have a look on the internet for equestrian wax, the stuff jockeys use for their slacks

[GazzaThePiagg...]

eBay is the best place, can't beat it....

Helmet

https://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=motorbike+helmet

Jacket

https://search.ebay.co.uk/motorbike-jacket_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR10QQssPageNameZWLRS

Trousers

https://search.ebay.co.uk/motorbike-trousers_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR10QQssPageNameZWLRS

You can also use that to search for your size and likings towards colours.

[Kal]

Yes you can, you can beat it with a stick

My first Lid was a flip face that cost me £30 new, I bought my Rhino Jacket new for £20 from the same people. Rock and Blues 2000

The boots I have been wearing for the last two years cost a tenner, new. BMF 2005

Second lid set me back £30. Rock and Blues 2005

Armoured waterproof over trousers. £30 Aldi

My summer weight gloves were £15. Local bike shop

My current lid set me back £39. Local training school.

I have other more expensive kit as well.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Spoon261]

If you have a branch of https://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/ their worth a visit.

[Mudskipper]

[Louise]

Helmet and gloves were my first on the list.
Jacket came last - Ebay jobby - Brand new FT jacket - titanium shoulder thingys - £35 - Tag said £200 (I know possibly BS)
But £35 the jacket is ok.

[T.C]

[nick606]

i read a artical in a mag saying welding gloves are just as good if not better than £300 gloves (cant remeber what mag it was but it was in my college library) so if you have size 11 hands go for them, a nice money saving tip

[faddius]

If a chain snaps at high speed and decides to wrap itself around your leg/ankle it doesnt matter what your wearing, your loosing the foot one way or another.

Still like to see the explanation for how back protectors make injuries worse, and how the foam in the back of jackets are better than a properly designed and fitted back protector....

[T.C]

[faddius]

I dont doubt it, id like to see the explanation and my own judgement on the explanation that is put forth. As I cannot see, in any way shape or form despite all the media and reviews etc. etc. how a piece of inch thick packing foam is better than designed armour.

Perhaps you remember roughly what the initial topic was about, or even the title and ill look it up myself.

[Spoon261]

My last post should have said if you have a branch of https://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/ near you their worth a visit.

You could also try https://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/ again if they have a local branch

These 2 companies often buy end of line products and sell them for half price or less. Infinity is my favourite.

£50 budget for a helmet is not a lot. The normal thing with cheap helmets is a lack of padding. The main problem is lack of sound insulation, make sure you wear ear plugs (available at most bike shops).
As a guide very cheap helmets are for slow speed bikes, 125cc or less and often just for around town. Not for 60mph plus.

I bought a cheap helmet when I was learning on a 12hp bike.
When I passed my test I went on to a bike that could cruse at the motorway legal limit in all weathers (half faired bike), problem was my helmet was useless due to noise and comfort. So I had to buy a decent helmet.

The most important thing about any helmet is how well it fits you, if the fit is to loose (helmet too big) it will be extra noisy / offer no protection in an accident and be uncomfortable. If its to small it will give you a massive headache and you will not be able to think straight (effects eyes etc.) As people have already said different makes and even models fit different head shapes, its very important you try one on before purchasing. There are some golden rules like try a size to big and to small to see if you have got the right size, leave the helmet on for 15 to 20 mins in the shop and see if your forehead is ok (not to tight). There are other things that a shop fitter must check for safety (fit). All this is so important since many shops refuse to give refunds once the helmet leaves the shop.

If you are on a very tight budget, spend all your money on the helmet and buy a very cheap pair of gloves. You can buy the rest when you have saved up, its summer, you will not freeze. My personal choice is to ride with only a T-Shirt on and trousers + shoes in the hot summer (helmet of course). I believe if I was to wear the minimum protection of coat, gloves etc. I would overheat and sweat and loose concentration and control of the bike (much more likely to have an accident). But as many people state if I was involved in an accident I would be in a world of pain without protection.
On a plus point I notice all the other vehicles notice I have no protection and give me far more consideration and room.

Aldi and Lidl only have motorcycle stuff once or twice a year for only 1 week, a few branches keep them for another few weeks but not all.

[damz]

[Louise]