Motorcycle Clothing.

[rezzin]

Scooter time coming up,and im wondering where the best place is to pick up a cheap textile jacket from. Im leaning towards textile because they are generally cheaper,and include armour,and look slightly better. I would prefer to order online. I have done numerous searches on google,bcf and ebay,but i am just wondering if you good people have any advice? Thanks alot.

[Jamie S]

Hi reece.

[rezzin]

Please dont start jay,im after some serious genuine advice here. Go and terrorise the dear auntie bcf and/or random banter section. Cheers bud.

[Ben.]

i went to my local shop where i got my lid, they sell all sorts down there, the stores are probably better because if your new to biking (im guessing you are) then they can point you in the right direction of what to buy. Where abouts do you live? People might be able to point out good shops near you
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follow my racing season
Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[iooi]

Go to a shop and try some stuff on. Sizing is all over the place on jackets. Mine is a large and is a good fit, the Mrs has a med and that is a good fit on me as well, trouble is they are diffrent brands.....
Also if you have any auto jumbles in your area, they are worth a visit as the yoften have good cheap gear as do many of the local bike shows that are on at this time of year.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[rezzin]

Cheers guys,apriciate the input. Looked in the local bike stores,not much cop to be honest with you. Measured my chest,and it was something like 38" so i've no idea if that helps. I looked on a sizing guide i found somewhere,most probbably ebay,and it said i was medium,so im guessing it would be wise to go for large/xlarge? I've found two jackets online so far,that seemed alright,what do you think? Would apriciate your honest opinion.


1. https://www.getgeared.co.uk/acatalog/Speedlevel_Cordura_Textile_Motorcycle_Jacket.html



2.
https://www.getgeared.co.uk/acatalog/FASTLANE_Motorcycle_Racing_Jacket.html


Obviously i know pricewise they arent going to offer much,but i'd much rather pay out £70 odd rather than wearing a coat or such,and coming off and loosing half my skin even at 30mph on a scooter. And ofcourse when i move onto a 125 and onwards i can use my gear,bearing in mind if i dont grow too much. Thanks again.

[Rookie]

Best to actually go to a shop, you won't know what fits otherwise, sizing charts aren't foolproof. Buying too big can be very dangerous, I made sure my jacket fit very well because the pads around your shoulders and elbows have to fit around them well, or they'll do more damage than if you didn't have them. Mind you, they didn't stop my elbow from shattering when I came off.

You'll want textile for wet and/or cold riding, which we're going to get plenty of this year.

There will be somewhere good round your area, search for the closest Hein Gericke, even if you don't buy you know what fits and what you like.

[rezzin]

Thanks rookie,quality reply. What do you wrekon of those two jackets i linked to up there ^. Would they be anygood. Im not sure about the fitting thing,because at that price,i doubt they would have much 'fitting armour' bits in them,or am i wrong? Would you,or anyone be able to reccomend me some online places i could try? Thankyou bcf'ers.

[Ben.]

[Rookie]

They are both around the level of my jacket, and that survived 2 small crashes on the moped. In fact, it survived everything I could throw at it spectacularly, until the paramedics cut it to shreds.

Personally I'd go with the 1st one, assuming it has the armour, but that's down to taste more than anything. They will handle slow speed crashes on a moped as well as any reasonably priced jacket will. I've crashed in my jacket (which is a Bering, really excellent quality kit) a total of 5 times, 2 slow speed scooter lowsides, 2 'lost my balance' very slow ones on big bikes, and one major 'cartwheeling over a bonnet' one. It stood the test of time extremely well.

Make sure you budget for gloves and waterproof overtrousers as well, you're going to want them.

[rezzin]

Cheers chaps,really do apriciate every bit of info i can pick up here. Just searched on google,after rookie mentioned hein gerickle,and found this number on their website. The price caught my eye mainly,it was under mens textile jackets,so im assuming it offers some sort of protection.


Lets call it piece number 3.
https://www.hein-gericke.com/uk/product_info.php/cPath/1_15_7/products_id/2912


*Ponders with a cup of tea..*

[truslack]

Look at it this way:

I have a 38" - 40" inch chest.

My medium Weise jacket fits great

My Large Akito jacket fits great

My medium Winter gloves fit great

My large summer gloves are too big

My Extra large summer gloves are a great fit

My small cordura pants fit great

My medium leather pants fit great
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[alpine]

[rezzin]

Cheers truslack,rookie,alpine,half,iooi . Helpful. What do you wrekon about the 3 jackets i've posted in this thread? *Note* I've already got my lid,nothing glam,but im really pleased with it,its a Tekachi Tk30. Pick the bike up on 1'st october. Just need a jacket,and some gloves and im ready to go.

[olionel]

well Im quite happy with my Spada circuit jacket, go and try one.. bought it on ebay for £70 as it was ex-demo (theyre probably cheaper now), after trying it in a shop though. Bought a forcefield backprotector for £14 to fit, as the standard one is just there for show and its the flimsiest bit of foam ever to be manufactured. Its got ood padding arund elbows and shoulders.

Only problem is it leaks around the zip area (not massively), and the outer pockets get filled with water (dont keep mobile phone/ipod in there) after 2 and a bit hours of torrential downpoor riding. Keeps me dry and warm in cold drizzly weathers.
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1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[rezzin]

Right,im just off to bed,but wanted to give you fine bcf'ers some food for thought. Am i right in thinking its best for me to go to my local bike shop (happenens to be j&s) and get fitted up for a jacket ect,and then come away,and buy online. Unless there isnt anything appealing at j&s obviously. Out of the 3 jackets i have listed above,what would be the best one? I wrekon number 2 looks the best,and number one is better for 'weather' and 'protection',but i've no idea why,probbably just the look of it to be honest with you. Again,any input is much apriciated,as i havent got that long left until im on the road. Thanks a bunch bcf,top lot.

[iooi]

Personally looking at your 3, go for 1 as its a bit longer and will give a bit more wet protection... It amazing how water creaps up under coats etc.

J & S also have a online shop. Have a look there and get a idea, then try on in the shop. As has been pointed out sizing is a minefield on stuff and trying on is by far the best way to get that perfect fit.
By all means look round online and make a note of what looks good to you, then go and barter away in the shop to get what you want at a price you can afford.
You can always walk out of the shop without buying and order online. But if that online order is no good any saving you may have made is going to be eaten up by return postage.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[LeeWat]

If these are the 3 you've got shortlisted, i personally would go for option 1. At the mo i have 2 leather jackets (not worn anymore) and two textile ones, my newish textile one is one of these https://www.hein-gericke.com/uk/product_info.php/cPath/1_15_7/products_id/2015

Nice and comfy with a bit of armour in shoulders and elbows but the back protection is probably about as good as a cheese sandwich, but not as tasty

My old textile one is made by Tecnic or sommert like that and was more like your option 1, this had hard armour at shoulders and elbows and a really hard built in flexible backplate, cost about £300 at the time. Shame its knackered.

One thing to note here, with a short jacket you may get soggy belly/nads as the water tends to creep into the bit between your trousers (unless they happen to be sallopets) and jacket, it you get the 3/4 one (option 1) it tends not to happen.

But as others have said here, go to your nearest shop, find something you like, get the right fit, then buy the same one online, but watch out for delivery charges.

Hope this helps.

Lee.
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Simson S51 Enduro, Kawasaki AR80, Yamaha RD125LC, Yamaha XV535, Yamaha XJ600N, Suzuki GS1100G, Kawasaki KLR250, Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog (4/4/08 Deceased). Suzuki XF650 Breakwind.

[neo680]

Would agree with all who've suggested go to a shop, especially Hairy Gerkin (as I lovingly refer to my local Heine Gericke!).
As an aside, I have BKS leathers (fantastic, tailor made stuff) & many of the repairers (?) I've spoken to rate Hairy Gerkin leathers 2nd to BKS, above & beyond Arlen Nesse, Dainese, etc. (Or however they're spelt! That's why I bought BKS - I could spell it! )

Gotta be a good testimony for the quality of their kit.

(Open floodgate for replies from peeps who've bought shite kit from HG!)
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Never ride faster than your Guardian Angel can fly & always as if you were about to meet yourself coming the other way!
And just remember: speed doesn't kill! It's the stopping suddenly that hurts.......

[rezzin]

Thankyou guys,superb help from all of you. Atleast i've now got the gear side of it all sorted. Should be booking my cbt in 13 odd days,and send off for my licence on the 2'nd of august. Good stuff.

[LeeWat]

I must add as an after thought, Hairy Gerkin (i'm going to remember that one Neo) did a zipper repair on my jacket and loaned me another with no quibbles, great service. But still, shop around for whats best for you.
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Simson S51 Enduro, Kawasaki AR80, Yamaha RD125LC, Yamaha XV535, Yamaha XJ600N, Suzuki GS1100G, Kawasaki KLR250, Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog (4/4/08 Deceased). Suzuki XF650 Breakwind.

[The Tot]

Hein Gericke, you pay for the extra service. They replaced my glove Free of Charge . They're bound to have something in their range to suit your fit. Or you could do what i did, go to Indonesia and find myself a well fitting Alpinestars T-dyno for the good price of £30 quid... straight from their factory with CE approved armour included. . It's good to know where places are.. I'm pretty sure the bike shop i bought it from either steals/pirates the merchendise or get their rejects. But, i only ever use the jacket to do short trips or to go over my leathers.. a tad off topic tho.

If you are buying from J&S, better to buy from their store so that you don't have to contend with their 7 quid postage, whereas Hein gericke will post to your address for free (depends, technically you have to spend more than 150 to get free delivery, but if the store manager gets on with you, should be no issue).
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Nicky-Jano]

[Dragonfly]

[Noxious89123]

Love my leathers, very comfy and good protection, although it's yet to be tested by me... Hope it stays that way tbh!

Very-unwater-proof though, but a 1-piece power ranger waterproof suit fixes that
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi