cloth for beginners

[stranger12]

Hi All,
I just had a post around what bike to choose, now that i have decided on sym 125 then the next step is the clothing .

it will be for daily commute and want to buy something that protects me in case of an accident and fall from the bike . not something top of the range that is very expensive or very cheap. something of good quality

i think i will need to buy a jacket, trouser, boot and glove plus helmet

any thing else needed?

where do you normally buy them from and how much do you reckon it will cost

thanks

[Stonefly]

Depends on where you live, but Mega Motorcycle Store (formerly George Whites) has quality gear at rock bottom prices. My significant other got Frank Thomas leather jacket and leather pants, with armour, for £100 last Sunday.
Also worth having a look on the Ghostbikes website, and also Bits for Bikes website. I can recommend the Spada clothing - i have a jacket and pants, textile waterproof material with full armour. Cost me under £150. Very very warm gear, so not recomended for summer riding, but has kept me toasty all winter!
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Current......Kawasaki ZZR1200 C2H and Kawasaki ZZR600 E7
Previous....Yamaha FS1E, Honda SS50, Suzuki AP50, BSA Bantam D14, Honda CD175, Honda CB250N, Kawasaki Z250A3, Yamaha RD250E, Kawasaki Z400, Kawasaki Z500, Kawasaki GPz550, Honda NTV600, Kawasaki GT750, Kawasaki Z1000R, Kawasaki GPX250

[_Troy_]

Check it the likes of gumtree and eBay. I have bought all of my kit, except my helmet, second hand. It's all been excellent and absolute bargains.

At the moment I have 2 textile jackets, textile trousers, 2 pairs of gloves, a 1 piece set of leathers, a 2 piece, a leather jacket, some boots and free Oxford comfys! In total I've probably spent around £150 in this lot, which really isn't bad going.

No point buying all new when there is plenty of good kit to be had at good prices.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[kawakid]

I'd buy a back protector also. I have come off a bike and landed on my back before, luckily wearing my back protector.

Regarding where to buy gear it all depends on your budget. I bought a 1 piece set last week for £299, but I wouldn't use that on a commute.

For my commute I wear boots, gloves, leather trousers and a leather jacket, plus the back protector. It's mostly in 30s with 1 small section at 40mph.

It's your risk, if all your commute is in 30s textiles, will probably be fine. Tbh you only need the gear if and when you crash.

Having crashed a moped at 18 wearing shorts in Greece many moons ago, funnily enough I always wear leathers now!!

For cheap clothing though I'd recommend a bike show or ebay. The only problem with ebay is that you can't try them on.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[stranger12]

Thank for the advice

i guess textiles is a brand , correct ?
I have also seen buffalo on ebay and you can get a good jacket for around £60.

when you say 30s, do you mean it protects you up to 30mph?

what brands are the top of the range and which one are to avoid and i guess textiles and buffalo is in middle so can be trusted?

[Paris2]

"textiles" are types of clothing, namely protective jackets and trousers that aren't made of leather.

Don't worry too much about brands, go with what looks nice with as much CE approved armour in them as possible.
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Current Ride: Daytona 600

[Rogerborg]

"Textiles" generally refers to cordura (or another brand name) of nylon fabric. Nylon is fairly abrasion resistant - it was used for flak jackets before kevlar and better fabrics came long. However, it can tear and even melt on a long slide on a dry road - it comes down to how far you're planning to slide before hitting something.

Better brands will advertise the density of the fabric in Deniers, e.g. "600D" or "1200D". High numbers mean denser fabric means more abrasion protection but more weight.

Cordura is pretty water repellent but not fully waterproof. If you want waterproof, look for separate layer of (e.g.) Goretex or Hipora branded fabric, or you can try applying waterproofing treatments to the cordura, or wear separate waterproofs over the top.

Another alternative for summer riding is kevlar lined denim jeans. I wear black Draggin' jeans which I can get away with as office wear. Regular denim is the chocolate teapot of protection, you'll be surfing on your skin within a few feet. If you go with kevlar denims, I'd suggest Sartso, Hood or Draggin' - there are cheaper ones available but they use cheaper woven kevlar which is more prone to tearing.

Leather offers the best abrasion protection if you get decent stuff. I'd be more cautious about buying cheap off-brand leathers than cheap off-brand textiles. The fewer panels, the better, the stitching can give way before the substrate.

Whatever you wear for abrasion protection, ensure it's got CE approved armour inserts in the knees, hips, elbows and shoulders, and I would also recommend a dedicated back protector. I suspect the foam inserts in many cheaper jackets offer the bare minimum of protection.

There are loads of good deals on eBay, I just scored some good condition IXS leather trousers for the princely sum of £26 delivered. You do need to be patient though, there's plenty of stuff out there, don't over-bid.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Alpha-9]

I got myself a spada jacket and buffalo trousers and it's perfect for what I need it for

Jacket was £80 and the trousers were a freebie

Leathers i think are restrictive and heavy and need maintaining, and expensive expensive expensive
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Fzr-600 1999

[Nick 50]

I got a Hein Gericke of e-bay for a paltry £15 and have to say it's really great quality so would recommend that brand.
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[Atomic Punk]

Enough about clothing, back to the origonal question.
I start with a duster and gradually work my way up to a chamois leather.
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I may have lost my way but I'm way ahead of schedule.

[stranger12]

[_Troy_]

[keggyhander]

[Shinigami]

i' 3 jackets, 2 textile ones and a leather. I generally wear my cheaper textile one as it feels better and warmer than my hein gericke one. I've not actually worn the leather one yet but that'll be for when weather is a bit better.

Bootwise you can get away with a pair of tuzo cheapies like these
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Tuzo-B3-Short-Touring-Leather-Black-Boots-Waterproof-6-7-8-9-10-11-/180832234001?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Boots&var=&hash=item6fc68c217d

very waterproof and comfy (no problems walking about in them all day) although not particularly armoured they will protect again abrasion.

more protection however = more cash. I'd never ride in just trainers and normal non bike boots will just leave you with wet feet in anything but sunshine
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Sako]

simples -

1 piece or 2 piece leathers, proper motorcycle boots, back protector, a good branded helmet (AGV, Arai etc), proper length gloves (not short type).

this should see you ok, as you progress to bigger bikes, maybe want a trackday you are covered, and if the weather does turn you will hopefully have invested in a rain suit to slip over your leathers.

[stranger12]

there is a dealer and he told me to go in and he will show me the jackets and trouser etc

he said the jacket is normally around 80
trouser another 80,
glove from 30 to 60

is that reasonable

in your view what is the total cost for a reasonable jacket, trouser, helmet, glove boot
so when i go in i can plan my budget and spot it if the shop is expensive

of course i am not lazy and will also google and shop around but it is always good to hear from more experienced guys

[kawakid]

It depends.

What is resonable to one is not to another.

Textile clothing can be cheaper. However it's not as protective and it makes you sweat more in summer.

A lot of us, have various gear depending on the season.

I have 3 pairs of gloves, a vented summer pair, a spring/autumn pair and a thick winter pait.

In summer I have a 1 piece, I also have a vented leather jacket.

The rest of the time I wear just a leather jacket.

If you don't know what gear to buy, buy Ride magazine have a read of the product reviews and then google them/look on ebay.

I made the mistake of buying cheap/bad makes when i got in to biking and it was a mistake. I also bought 3 cheap helmets before buying a Shoei. You won't go wrong with a Shoei/Arai/AGV helmet, you won't go wrong with Apline Star gloves/boots. etc

But do not forget the back protector and don't just buy what one bloke in one shop tells you to.

You also have to consider rain. Personally I carry water proofs that go over my leathers.

Tbh if I were you, I wouldn't touch textiles. Get yourself a leather jacket, some leather trousers that will attach to the jacket. A pair of good boots and gloves.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[stranger12]

thanks buddy,
btw what is gear in terms of bike that you are refering to, is it the clothe?

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[Alpha-9]

I'm going to hazard a guess that English isn't your first language
"Clothes" my friend, "Clothes"


Personally I like my textiles, but i'm a 125 and don't feel I need THAT much protection, although i'm just as capable of killing myself.

Plus my textiles are light and easy, and seemingly waterproof, and have thermal inners, so I can always be warm and dry, and they've yet to let me down, seeing as it was snowing when I first got my bike.

Additionally, I can stick my jacket and trousers over my suit for work each day, and jsut take them off when i'm there, which is a lot less hassle than gettign completely changed each time.
So really it's not about "which one should i get"
It's about "what should I consider when choosing gear/kit/motorcycle clothes" (Same thing btw)

I'd say consider these things:

1. Comfort & restriction
   
2. Practicality for purpose (do you really want full racing leathers on your daily commute? is it easy to take off? )
   
3. Protection (How much protection do you actually want/need?)
   
4. Weather proofing (removable thermals for hot days?)
   
5. Style
   
6. Price - They can go ridiculously expensive!
   

and probably more
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Fzr-600 1999

[kawakid]

[stranger12]

got you thanks buddy

here is what i bought

gloves

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130593853151?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_2619wt_1199

jean

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300670269347?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_3573wt_1185

jacket

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370554442721?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_3025wt_1091

the jean and glove brand is BUFFALO, is it a budget brand?

i appreciate to have the name of some good quality brands that i should try to buy those brands where possible
brands that are proven

i have also heard of spada


finally any suggestion around boots will also be appreciated

thanks