Bike bought, need gear. £500 budget.

[Moif]

I am the proud owner of my very first bike, a YBR 125. Getting it Monday. Big thanks to all that offered advice, very helpful.

So now I need kit. I've got £500 to play with and will be scouring the internet over the next day or so and will be paying J&S a visit in Stockwell.

I'll probably go textiles + waterproof over clothing as I've seen some links posted here on BCF that I'll be revisiting but is are there any brands or anything that you'd recommend for a first timer?

Hi viz is on the list. I've got thermals as I snowboard so that's sorted. So it's lid, jacket, trousers, gloves and boots. For boots I was considering some Army surplus? And maybe hood jeans for trousers?

Excited doesn't even cover it.

[Minty]

Buy the helmet first and ensure if fits and is comfortable. That is the most imprtant bit of kit and will then decide what money you have left.

Dont buy everything else only to find you have £60 left for a lid.

Oh, and mind where you park at J&S.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[JAMSXR]

I have used eBay in recent years, you can save hundreds. Obviously you want to get the lid new.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[Moif]

[Northern Monkey]

If youre riding through winter, then Jeans are not the trousers you are looking for
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Doovy]

[Moif]

[wr6133]

I've stayed drier with old army goretex trousers over jeans than with cheap textile trousers. Only textile trousers I've had that don't leak after a few thousand miles are alpinestars drystar.

[johnsmith222]

As for helmets, I'd aim to get a fixed full face helmet with a double d ring strap. I'd avoid flip fronts unless you're spending decent money because they tend to be heavier, have more things to break, can be noiser, may open in a crash and may be tempted to ride with the chinbar up.

Your best bet is something similar to the HJC FG15 which fits. You can get decent helmets for £100. Also take into consideration the sharp rating too. Remember that fit is the main priority, although if the only helmet that fitted me in a shop was a £400 arai, I'd be going elsewhere and finding a different lid.

£500 I'd say is a massive budget for gear, especially for riding about on a 125, so you should be able to get some decent stuff.

Remember that there's a lot of good deals on second hand gear on ebay.

[c_dug]

I bought some Weise trousers last year, the first time I've bought any non HG trousers.

I am very very happy.

Bearing in mind I crashed in them, removing lots of their shine (which I presumed to be caused by a waterproof coating) and putting a hole in the knee, they still hold tight in very bad rain, the only time they have let a drip through was through the hole in the knee, when I had ridden through incredibly bad rain for about 2 hours.

Based on that I would recommend Weise as a brand.

As for gear in general, you haven't mentioned what type of riding you will be doing, but if you plan on doing more than two or three miles in winter you will want a decent set of winter gloves, and/or possibly consider either heated grips or muffs.

Helmet wise, fit is key, price doesn't guarantee anything, you are basically just paying for quality. Don't fall for the old "can you put a price on your safety" bollocks, if they're sold in a shop for road use they all meet the same basic standard.

[Moif]

[fatjames]

If you're planning on wearing a waterproof oversuit, then hood jeans will be fine underneath but you will be limiting yourself. For showers you don't want to have to get off and put your oversuit on.

I'd aim for a £100 lid, as said before HJC is a decent brand if they fit well.
2 piece textiles that zip together all the way round (£160) then get an oversuit when they start to leak. (£60)
Alpine stars summer gloves (maybe sp2 if your budget allows) (£70)
Get boots that are comfy and waterproof (£150). Last of all, get some bar muffs to keep your hands warm and dry (£50).
Oh, and a pack of oxford comfys (£8).

Looks like £600 max, but you wont need the oversuit for a few months..

[iooi]

Don't forget the neck tube to keep the neck warm.

TBH. Don't bother with the Hi-Viz unless you really feel the need for one and certainly don't spend a lot on one if you do..
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[_Iain_]

Buying eBay unbranded gear is an absolute minefield. Boring sob story below for those who are interested, most won't be.

I bought a YBR, bought my lid new in a shop then got myself some two piece leathers on eBay, brand I'd never heard of. When I crashed it turned out the leathers were cheapo knock offs that weren't made of the right stuff, nor were they stitched in the correct way. My right knee doesn't work propperly as when I hit the floor all the stitching burst on the right leg, and my kneecap got smashed into the floor a good few times whilst deceleraing from the 50ish mph I'd been doing. Buy branded kit, look for reviews as to how well it's held up after a crash.

Give the smaller bike shops a punt too, don't just shop with the big stores - we get a bollocking for selling stuff under manufacturers RRP, however are allowed to do "One off instore promotions" I.e - buy a load of gear and we'll scrub a percentage of the total off. I've done all year round riding in textile & in leathers, and still prefer the leathers overall. 2pc definately more practical mind, with regards the lack of waterproofing, you plan to wear a waterproof oversuit anyway so I'd not worry too much.

For £500 i'd get;

A pinlock lid (Shark S600, Nitro Aikido something like that - £120), waterproof bike boots (Merlin make some reasonably priced offerings - £80), 1pc waterproof oversuit (£40), goretex gloves (Richa cold protect GTX's or Alpinestars WRV's - £90), a cheap, plain, unbranded necktube (£2.50 - not those fucking buff things at £20+) and then I'd spunk the change on some used 2pc leather - £167.50 ought to be enough to pick up something decent.

When buying on Gumtree you might grab a job lot from a seller who's giving up biking. None of the rest of it might be any good, however splitting job lots usually = massive profit. I bought some motocross gloves with a helmet, goggles, boots, jersey & trousers for £60 & sold everything bar the gloves for £135. I made £20 on top of that delivering stuff myself to people who lived within a 5 mile radius of me. Current leathers cost £100, I got to the guys house, tried em on, paid him cash & job jobbed. RRP on them is around £700-800, nowt wrong with them other than a few scratches on the kneesliders. Tape measure yourself to get a rough idea of what sizes ought to fit you & go try on anything in budget thats a size or two either way & localish.

https://www.gumtree.com/motorbike-parts-accessories/london/leather

Oh, and get saving another £60-70 for the purchase of some summer gloves for when the weather cheers up.

Enjoy the bike - they're good little machines
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Rogerborg]

[Clanger]

[Northern Monkey]

I think RAF aircrew boots are the best of the Mil spec boots.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RAF-flying-boots-aircrew-boots-aviation-size-10-5-/231352555236?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item35ddafd6e4

the newer type with the roll over top to hold the lace, not the crappy older flying boot, which is sometimes advertised as aircrew boots
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Val]

Congrats for the new bike! Do not forget to upgrade the headlight bulb with good bright one from Halfords:

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/motorcycling/motorcycle-parts/halfords-bike-it-motorcycle-bulb-hmb417-12v-35-35w

Good cheap helmet with sun visor and pinlock £120-130 like Caberg Ego or say Caberg Vox Daytona even cheaper for £90, Nitro etc

You may want to check Infinity Clapham shop too J&S do not stock all helmet brands like my favourite Caberg

Bare in mind the people have different shape heads. The same is valid for helmet shapes. Some are more oval some not. You need to try which one is your best fit. Do not fall for sales tricks like if you feel the helmet makes you headache it will be better after you wear it a little. Get helmet with good snug fit but not squeezing your head shape.

https://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/product/caberg-vox-daytona-helmet/3686
https://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/images/products/medium/Caberg-Vox-Daytona-Helmet-White-3.jpg

IMO the only item that you can save money and consider second hand are textiles. Good waterproof textile jacket and trousers new or almost new from ebay about £120 total

[G]

For helmets, I'd try plenty on then consider a second hand one (not for everyone, but done me fine.)

I'd keep an eye out for a second hand road crafter if I wanted something for A to B riding, commuting and so on.

Kevlar jeans for getting around along with a textile jacket. Again, consider second hand.

[dou91e]

Funny enough just yesterday I was in the same boat as yourself, A 1st time new gear buyer. I will admit I did not need a new helmet or boots and my budget lower than yours.

I went budget and got some spada textile gear. New jacket and trousers and gloves also spada with oxford under gloves and neck warmer.
All that cost me £150 but I work in the same complex as the shop so got a discount from the £210 it should have cost me.

But today I went into work in the pouring rain in the new gear and was toasty and warm and dry when i took the gear off at work.

Boots.....I have a pair of alpinestars smx5 boots that were given to me and I will say they are great boots. Light enough with good protection and waterproof and warm..... although i will have to adjust the trouserlegs of my textiles to allow them to go over the top of the boots.

[matto]

1. go to a decent shop and get a decent helmet that fits
2. everything else

[bikertomm]

If you're after a textile jacket, I've raved about this one on several posts on here and recommended it loads of times.

£55

I've got the black one (top right 'safetec')

Jacket should have been £100+, perfectly good bit of kit. Lining, armour, more pockets than an overweight american.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mens-Armoured-Waterproof-Cordura-Textile-Motorcycle-Motorbike-Jacket-Collection-/281041042204?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Clothing&var=&hash=item416f59fb1c


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[rideslikean00...]

I'm still using some of the kit I started with.

I had cheap Weise gloves and a Box helmet I didn't get on with (sold them to a work mate who's getting back into biking a few months back, long after I stopped using them) but the textiles are the same, both padded Weiss ones, loads of pockets in the jacket.

Upgraded to Weise Stealth Gloves and a Shark lid (S500 Air), my starter gear which I'm still using is a Weise Colorado jacket and Weise Titan trousers, both have the padding where you need it and are still waterproof some 12,000 miles/six months later after some heavy rain riding. You literally have to be out in the rain for hours before it starts to get through. Removable thermal lining as well, does help a bit going into winter.

One last thing... I'd go oversized on the trousers and arguably the jacket so you can comfortably wear regular clothes underneath. This allows you to layer as well, something I'd definitely recommend on long rides.
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[ukdiceman]

Sorry not read all the tread........
But if not mentioned already, a pair of silk gloves make a massive difference worn under your gloves during cold days, and they are dirt cheap.
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FZ6 Fazer

[Moif]

Cheers all,

Looks like a busy weekend coming up with visits to Infinity, J&S and Getgeared