First set of gear?

[someguy]

Hi all,

I've just bought a bike and done my CBT. I'm going to start commuting into work next week (15 miles each way), which gives me a week or so to get some gear. At the moment I have nothing at all except some old mountain biking gloves and a pair of Dr. Martens - which isn't going to cut it

I'm still a complete newbie, so can someone help me decide what I need please? I am planning on buying a helmet, a jacket, some trousers (or maybe some Kevlar jeans), some gloves, and maybe some boots. I'm also considering fitting heated grips.

If you had up to, say, £1,000 to spend on a set of gear, what would you buy? I'm too old for worrying about looking cool - I just want a good quality set of gear that will keep me warm, dry, comfortable and safe. I'd also prefer to buy gear that I can wear all year round if possible.

Also, if anyone has any interesting links to "what gear to buy"-type pages I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
aytri

[Orennayar]

from my short experience:
1000£ should be more than enough I think.
Look for stuff with removable layers, that'll allow you to go through all weather.
Matching trousers with the jacket is nice if you want to zip them up together.
Goretex gloves are good because they keep your hands dry without being sweaty.
You can have a look over there https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_cat/17
That'll give you a good idea of what's on the market.
____________________
DAS passed: 21/07/14
2011 YBR125(sold)
2009 XJ6N

[Andy_Pagin]

Get thermal lined jacket and overtrousers, you'll need them this time of year.
Boots and gloves, get the best you can afford, preferably gore-tex lined.
Personally I would go for handlebar muffs rather than heated grips, Tucano-Urbano being the best make.
Helmet - ideally go for one that can take a pinlock insert, this is basically a double-glazing thing that almost totally prevents visor misting. Also an internal drop-down sun-visor is useful.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[c_dug]

Find your local J&S: https://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/ Or similar retailer.

With £1000 to spend I would be after two piece textiles with removable thermal linings, brand wise I wouldn't be too fussed but I would want Goretex if you plan on commuting in all weather. I've tried enough alternatives now to have lost faith in anything else keeping me dry!

Personally I prefer sporty style boots for feel (you might prefer touring style) but again I would go Goretex for dryness.

Gloves, personally I don't like winter gloves much (though I'm using them this year). So I'd want Gortex leather summer or three season gloves, then heated grips and muffs when required.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Skudd]

£400 will be more than enough for your commute ride.

Don't forget camping gear is just as good for a lot of stuff as is dedicated bike gear.

Lid, warm jacket with a bit of protection, waterproof pants, protection if you can, boots ( up to you if you want to wear all day or change into them) Gloves.

If you can layer your gear, great, or like I had to do was have a big jacket that I hung up at work.

It does depend on the facilities at work and that is some of the considerations you make when getting your stuff.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Andy_Pagin]

I'd avoid sports boots for commuting, you don't need trackday feedback, and the close fit WILL result in frozen feet. I currently wear TCX Infinity boots, 100% waterproof and reasonably warm. Also nice are a pair of those thermal tog-rated socks they do in Tescos for about seven quid.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[1198]

I've just stuck my Hein Gericke gear on eBay. I've had it a couple of years and found it great. I'd make sure when you pick something it has a zip to secure trousers to coat, loads of pockets (internal and external!!) and enough space in there to wear extra layers. At this time of the year I wear a thermal long sleeve shirt, t shirt, fleece, thermal trousers and jeans under my gear.
Before you lash out a huge amount on gear, I'd be tempted to look more mid range. You're unlikely to be in the seat long enough to find all the advantages of the latest most expensive gear.
Equally, with helmets. A £100 - £150 hat would be just as good for you as a £600 Arai. pinlocks are very good too.
I would suggest not scrimping On gloves though. A decent pair will be well worth the money. Cold fingers equals less concentration and an unhappy and maybe unsafe ride.

[-Matt-]

Have you got somewhere to change properly at work? If not you might be better off with two-piece jacket/trousers I suppose but otherwise i'd consider giving 1-piece leathers a try.

I've been using RST Tractech ones all year round for about 7 years now; can pick up a good brand new set for 300-400, or second hand for much less. Armour/protection wise you're not going to get much better I wouldn't of thought, not that textiles/kevlar are necessarily less safe.

In winter I wear thermal base layers and a thin jumper/tracksuit underneath if its really cold. If its raining one of these over the top (which in itself keeps you suprisingly warm because of the material). Minus gloves and boots you've got decent quality, all season kit for as little as £250 quid if you go second hand Just don't expect to win any fashion awards

For boots i'd recommend these - 10% off with ''GHOSTBIKES15'' code; bit more info and links to reviews here. There are plenty more expensive options with 'better' protection like ankle braces etc if you want to spend more of course.

[Fladdem]

Keep on eye out for second-hand stuff. I bought my Textile trousers for £30, a bit short in the leg but not by too much. They're Wolf Racing or something. I would run with textile gear, usually waterproof. I would avoid Buffalo gear. I have a jacket that started falling apart in no time and some gloves that lasted about 3 weeks of commuting before they looked 3 years old. My Alpinestars SMX-2 gloves, which cost me a pint last year, after a year of use by my mate look to be in better condition, I have used them for off-road, on-road, just waiting for summer again now.

Again, try to look for some good boots, the more simple the design, the better. The less panels a boot has, the less seams that water can get through and as such are better in the rain.

I like Oxford stuff. I have an Oxford Rain-Seal over jacket, which is great in cold weather as it blocks the wind too. I have an Oxford Mondial Jacket as well, which is wicked, but I wish I'd tried on others at the shop, as it's a bit tight around the elbows with my jumpers on underneath. I also wish I'd worn my trousers when I went to get my new jacket, so I could have seen which jackets zipped to it, as I get a fresh breeze up the back of my jacket sometimes, if I haven't managed to get them to sit right.

I don't really care what I look like, but none of my stuff is really that comfortable, I spend the first two or three minutes of every ride, rearranging, and come to think of it, I constantly fidget all the way through a ride. GET SOMETHING COMFORTABLE TO WEAR!

I would suggest wearing some thick jumpers or what have you when you investigate sizes, if buying new, but something with enough adjustability that you can take up the slop when you stop wearing the thick jumpers when the weather warms up again.

Also, factor in some handlebar muffs into the price too!
____________________
Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[bikertomm]

Aytri,

- First up you'll want your helmet.

If your budget allows, and your getting into biking long term - get a half decent lid.

Forget prices for a minute though, go to a bike shop & try on loads of helmets until you see which ones fit your shape head properly. If it's a Nitro/Box/Shoei/Arai it makes no difference - Make sure the best fitting is the one you buy! Generally the more you spend the more features the helmet may have.

- Gloves

Get a decent pair of gloves, can get a half decent pair for £30 - £50.

- Jacket

Around 3 years ago when I just got my 125 I was after a budget textile jacket, with armour..

I found this on ebay, back when I got it, it was £45, it seems now it is £55, but I can assure you it is worth that.

I've got the one in the top right labelled 'black and grey'

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

That's easily half price on RRP, it's a really well made jacket, I've used mine over 2 years. Loads of pockets, an inner liner, reflective bits, armour where you want it etc. (never been cold or too hot inside it really, does a great job)

It's an actual make aswell.

I recommended them to a couple of people on here over the years and they have all been happy too



Oh yeah, you can get matching trousers too, though I have no experience with these!

- Boots

Again, grab a decent pair. Plenty of good makes for reasonable prices. RST / TCX for around £100. Sidi or Alpinestars £150+


Good luck.
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

My gear -

£25 Box BX1 lid (SHARP rated 4 stars, but picked mostly for comfy, tight fit)

£30 Aldi biking boots (low on protection, but excellent "feel" - couldn't get on with my £250 Sidi Couriers - way too wooden)

£150 Spada jacket (this is ace btw - removable lining, really warm and windproof in winter - decent armoured inserts & not bad in summer, plus stood up brilliantly when crashed)

£50 Spada textile trousers - knee inserts too low, and crotch too high so never quite fitted as well as they should. Not bad though, as it's possible to velcro the ankles higher, which brings the knee pads into position. Normally just wear lined karrimores though.

£50 Weiss gloves for winter, £30 single skinners for summer.

That's all I've used for the last 30k miles, with a bit of wild camping, one crash and the 2013 bcf bbq.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[SQL]

I wear the following,

Summer
2 piece leathers (because I got them very very cheap)

Winter
Baselayer
Normal Jeans
Army gortex over trousers
BLJ or My Red one with a hoodie over it

[Clanger]

[waffles]

To add to the advice already given - make sure that gloves and boots are waterproof. It is absolutely no fun at all riding once your fingers and toes are soaked through and shoving plastic bags inside your boots gives you sweaty boot-rash.

Seriously go for layers and goretex
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Old Git Racing]

A grand should be enough to get kitted out. Spend proportionately on the things that will save your life and will hit the road first when someone tries to kill you.
Helmet - Best you can afford regarding protection, fit, comfort. Head injuries kill more bikers than owt else.
Gloves - Your hands always reach out for the deck when you bin it, life is hard when you can't even wipe your arse due to a lack of skin on your hands.
Boots - Same as gloves, missing skin or broken ankles mean you don't even reach the bog.
Other stuff - Spend whats left on gear with decent body armour in, get some base layers and just use more layers to keep warm.
Try things on, look for bargains, avoid cheap Chinese shit off the web.
Good luck and I hope you buy well.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Pete.]

Right now I'm wearing a Dewliner suit with a Richa Typhoon suit on top. It's cosy and dry, no matter the weather. Lobster-claw gloves in neoprene bar muffs take care of my hands and waterproof RST boots my feet. Actually, my boots are worn out and need replacing.

You can't really get combined winter and summer apparel. What keeps you warm in winter will cook you in summer.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[barrkel]

I have a goretex proshell suit (Held Tortona jacket and Frontino trousers), goretex boots (TCX S-Race GTX), goretex gloves (Held Air n Dry) and Schuberth C3 helmet. Retail price of all that would be well over £1500, and good enough for about 10.5 months of the year. Add a ventilated touring jacket and it's just about good enough all year round - I've toured in Spain in summer with all these and a different jacket.

But I didn't spend £1500 on it. I got the jacket for about 150 (from a German site, discontinued line), the trousers for about 350 (Germany), the helmet for 250 (Andorra, IIRC). But spying out these bargains takes time and luck. And it's a serious amount of money unless you know you're committed to motorcycling. I had to buy cheap stuff before I learned the value of the expensive stuff, the biggest lesson being that bonded goretex (rather than floating or removable liner) is worth it.

In your shoes, starting out anew, commuting through all weathers, I'd get a Roadcrafter one-piece suit, goretex boots, some kind of breathable waterproof gloves, muffs, and a helmet that fits.

Only other thing I'd add is buy black stuff, or you'll look filthy in short order.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Snowdonia Rider]

Fook me what a healthy budget just for kit Have a look at RST gear, it's good kit and proper valud for money. As usual it's always best to try gear on first, especially helmets and boots.

My gear:

HJC CS-14 helmet £69, solid build quality, can't fault it.
RST Alpha II jacket £69, totally waterproof, warm, enough pockets with a waterproof one and it's hard wearing. I have the optional back protector with it too.
RST Alpha III textile trousers £59, OK they look a bit Power Rangey but they are warm and windproof.
RST Blade gloves £49, they feel nice and secure and given it's winter they aren't doing too bad warmth wise.
Alpinestars Roam 2 boot £150 but can be had for £99 now. Best money spent ever, feet are constantly toasty and never sweaty. They feel nice and protected like splints but still have movement where you need it.

So all in all about £300 and I'm warm and protected and gear is wearing well. For summer riding kevlar jeans would be a good buy and you're set for all year round. But the choice is yours, I was just showing you needn't break the bank.
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I want your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Suzuki GP125 Suzuki GSX600F Suzuki SV650S KTM EXC250F SkyTeam Bongo 125
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SnowdoniaRider

[Mudshark]

just a note
breathable waterproof gloves and heated grips = not waterproof gloves, as the heat from the grips can make water vapour pass the "wrong way" through the membrane, I think it's mentioned extensively on a thread here. so, big pair of yellow marigolds then...
____________________
R1250RS
XT660X

[RedPanda]

[someguy]

I think I might leave the heated grips/heated gloves/muffs for now and just get a decent pair of winter gloves for now. Good idea?

Also, I'm not sure whether to buy a back protector or not. Do you ride with them?

Anyway... assuming it all fits properly, how does this look for a set of gear? Is there anything you'd change if you were in my position?


Boots: Alpinestars Web GTX - £160
I'm still not sure whether boots are worth it. I'm considering wearing Dr. Martens - bad idea?

Gloves: Richa Cold Protect GTX - £100

Helmet: Shark S900C - £150

Jacket: Alpinestars Andes - £160

Trousers: Alpinestars Andes - £160


That all comes to £730, but I reckon I can haggle it down to £620-ish.

Taking everyone's comments into account, this is just my first list. I haven't started on SportsBikeShop, J&S or GhostBikes yet

Thanks for your help so far!

[-Matt-]

[RedPanda]

I actually have a Ghostbikes voucher for 10% off if you want to use it (min spend £50, attached). It's not a unique code either so it should mean everyone can use it.

Run a quote on https://quotes.thebikeinsurer.co.uk/quote/PersonalInformation1.aspx and "When you complete your quote, you'll be sent your FREE GetGeared 15% discount voucher."
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CBF125 (2013) -> CBR600F (2001) -> 'Ninja' 300 (2014)

[barrkel]

In your shoes, I'd spend more on jacket and trousers, less on helmet and gloves, and I'd get muffs.

I wouldn't get a separate back protector - get a level 2 jacket insert if you're particularly worried about that - and I'd get goretex motorcycle boots.

Other people have gotten by with budget jacket and trousers. I've never had cheap gear stay waterproof for more than 6 months of daily use though. I spent over £500 on cheap gear before I figured out that expensive gear was actually cheaper.

Don't buy a helmet online that you haven't tried on in a store. Extra money with helmets mostly buys you better lining, more features, less weight, etc.; there isn't a big safety difference. Fit is more important than anything else.
____________________
Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[talkToTheHat]

Different brands of helmets are different shapes, and there is some variance between models by the same manufacturer. HJC IS series fit me badly, but the FG15 fit like a glove, shark 900 fits but the sunvisor smashes into my nose, speed r is roomier in the face but pricey.

My ixs trousers and gloves are well made and have stood up to much abuse. Goretex is worth paying for on gloves, the rest of my textiles are solotex/shelltex, leaks have been where seam tape has failed or I have layerd in the wrong order. Double cuffs are nice on gloves.

I wear rst leathers when its not predominantly drizzle. So much more comfortable, leather doesn't bunch and grips the bike properly. A waterproof oversuit is replaceable. Tight leathers are much less of a parachute than a textile touring suit. It always throws me when I'm using the parachute effect as time to slow down when I switch into leather. I probably feel it more than most though sat upright without a screen with a body in a state of major malfunction.

Some swear by leathers or textiles, I believe they both have their place.

Boots. You will get salty road spray thrown up at your boots from the road and water running down the rest of your kit onto your boots, so if you plan on riding in winter, don't skimp here. And embarrassing noob falls will likely mean a bike dropped on your ankle. Plenty of kit CE marked as protective equipment for motorcycle use. Find something strong and warm designed for bike use. I like Altberg kit, easily my most extravagant purchase, but I have one pair of big touring boots I use year round, and at least two of everyhthing else.

I don't go in for expensive biker base layers, but in winter I wear cheap thermals I got on sale from a sports shop, currently campri, sometimes I'll go as far as coolmax undies in the summer. Layered t-shirts and the like underneath my kit can be adjusted, and zip-out linings removed or put in.

It's really important to have jacket and trousers zip together. Otherwise you will get draughts, and they will not protect as well. One-piece suits are great if you don't have to walk around off the bike. Sticking with one manufacturer most likely means that most or all of their kit will zip together, although zup.ie make adapters and you can get items altered if you need to fit a discontinued jacket to new trousers or similar.
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Bandit. does. everything.