First Set Of Riding Gear?

[Rogue_Shadow]

Hi BCF

Just curious what gear everyone started out with? (Jacket, Trousers, Gloves etc)
I'm sure the more experience riders have built a mass wardrobe of kit over the years, adding on what they needed or changing due to personal preference.
But for a newbie, what are the essentials for a good starting kit?
Any recommendations on brands, websites would be appreciated.
Priority on safety, but I'd still like to be able to walk around with my gear without looking like a power ranger

Cheers

[moppy]

Helmet that fits.

Rest of the stuff, eBay. Jacket, gloves, trousers and I got some army boots, tough sturdy waterproof things.

[Quornholio]

I started off with helmet, gloves and jacket. Used steelies originally as boots, wore jeans. I cannot stress how important I believe gloves to be.

[Clanger]

Started out with just denim.

Progressed to leather jeans, and leather jacket.
Umpteen years later, the jacket has gone, but after looking after my jeans and not putting on loads of weight, I've still got them.

I've been given a pair of textile trousers that I rarely wear, because they don't cling to the seat as well as leathers do, plus very bulky and not exactly attractive looking, plus they're not actually long enough for me, so I wear gaiters to bridge the gap.

I also wear my mates old Bering Paddock Jacket...

I have one pair of summer gloves and wear thin gloves underneath if a bit nippy outside. And I have one pair of biker boots, again I rarely wear them, because they are not comfortable to walk in. So I wear Rock Wood leather lace-ups instead.

Base layers for underneath.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[J4mes]

I bought all my gear from Hein Gericke, because they had a "spend £160 and save 25%" deal on.

So I bought all the items separately and saved the money on each one.

The jacket and trousers were HG, they are comfortable with good features - zip out thermals, zips together, plenty of vents, straps to keep the arms from flapping about. They keep me warm and cool when required, and despite riding in a total deluge for about 20 minutes last week I was bone dry when I got home.

It's textile stuff which is fine for me as I mostly commute on my bike with a bit of weekend fun thrown in. Think they were about £160 each for the jacket and the pants, which was handy.

My HG gloves are comfortable but not waterproof.

[Ingah]

Textiles - particularly if you can only afford leathers or textiles, as they are usable in a greater variety of weather/conditions. I started with helmet, jacket and gloves, but with what i know about bike accidents now, i would've made sure that i had proper boots too. And trousers, although slightly less important if budget only stretches so far.

My opinion on brands is that there just a few bad ones, a great deal of expensive and overpriced ones, and then a small set of reasonably priced / cheaper ones that tend to in the bike shops - ways i look at it is that if it was total tat and being continually returned - they probably wouldn't stock it.

And most importantly of all, fit fit fit - get items that fit you best!
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-- Ingah

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[ninja_butler]

You'll have to ask other people's opinions about buying secondhand helmets but what I look for myself are mint condition, good quality used helmets on Ebay. FIT as anyone here will tell you is the most important thing but low-weight and extra features like venting systems are a bonus.

Gloves are the second most important item, I won't even ride the 1/2 mile into town without a pair of gloves. Never go anywhere without them - I wouldn't let anyone ride pillion without gloves either.

Textile jackets and trousers probably give better protection against impacts than leather but leather gives the best protection against abrasion. Definitely worth looking for secondhand bargains IF you can find the correct sizes.

Boots; you might want two different pairs, I've got a pair of Sidi's but I really need to get myself a pair of short ankle boots, more comfortable and better for walking. Ebay is sometimes good for boots but watch out for smelly old pairs that are falling apart.

[GTR1400]

I went to a bike clothing shop near my house and got everything there on that day.

1. Helmet that fits
2. Gloves
3. Boots
4. Textile Jacket/Trousers set

And yes, they are listed in what I believe to be the order of importance with my gear.. helmet most important, followed by gloves, then boots, then jacket, and finally trousers.

Don't be a stingy git. Get everything.

It's pretty obvious to go for actual brands, rather than the cheap Lidl stuff.. but get a helmet that fits, and weigh up how much you want to spend on gear next to how much you value your life.

Don't value your life? Ride naked.
Value your life? Buy everything, making sure it all fits properly.

[recman]

Textiles for me too. Got a good deal at J&S Watford because I bought everything in one go (including helmet), apart from boots.
FT jacket, trousers and gloves have been spot on so far, pretty much the same as J4mes's gear as far as the spec goes I think.

[Kingstondavo]

[GTR1400]

[Benno]

[Rogerborg]

[Rogue_Shadow]

Cheers for the replies.
Think I'll get myself a Textile Jacket and Trousers and a decent pair of gloves.
Having been reading the forum for quiet awhile, a well fitted Helmet is a given
So what are textile's like off the bike? Can I get away with going round a mates, or should I be thinking about carrying a extra set of clothes

[Dazbo666]

Originally got an Akito branded textile jacket and trousers that I bought been discounted at a bike show.
An AGV helmet and a pair of Alpinestars gloves bought from Hein Gericke...
and a pair of Sidi Vertigo boots that were a present from the O/H
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[ninja_butler]

[Englishman]

Before I did my CBT, I went to Millenium in St Helens and got a jacket, helmet, boots and gloves. After riding for the first time on my CBT in jeans, my wife insisted that I get some armoured trousers. She used to work at St Louis Raceway in Missouri and had seen bikers come off. I'm all kitted out now with textiles and have recently bought 2 piece leathers. All the gear, all the time. I will never ride a bike without proper PPE - it's just not worth the additional pain and surgeries not to.
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INSTALLING SUMMER... ████████░░░░░░░░44% DONE. Installation failed.
404 error: Season not found.

[Hokum]

I went to bike gear and bought the Spada Milan tex jacket and trousers. That was 2 years ago and they are still fine. They are my backup set now but still look ok.

Gloves I got HG Balder's which are thin yet offer reasonable strength for a learner.

I've since turned intoa glove whore and have 4 different ones...

Helmets, I suggest you try out what fits.
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Sane: To know when you are doing something crazy.

[JoeDougieDoug...]

I started off with a Caberg flip-up helmet and some cheapy motorbike gloves that I bought when I got my bike. My leathers were also a present off of a friend (he had bought some new ones so I had his old ones) and I didn't get boots until the end of my first month. (before that, I was just wearing steel toe caps)...

After that, I upgraded my leather jacket to a lightweight armoured textile jacket and got some TCX sport boots (the gore-tex ones), I've yet to upgrade my gloves, but after 3 offs, they really need to be
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[Namso]

I got a sort of ok fitting helmet (bit loose around the cheeks), textile jacket, cheap leather gloves and waterproof over trousers the day I bought my bike. I soon added decent boots after my trainers started to get ruined. Bought thicker winter gloves when it got cold for the first time. Bought a very nice fitting helmet and a leather jacket at a bike show and most recent purchase was Kevlar jeans.

Looking to buy leather bottoms after I pass my bike test and want to head out onto the track, I'll probably keep adding to the collection as I go on

[Matt B]

[Elffie01]

All the Gear All the Time.. helmet gloves boots trousers n jacket... they dont have to be top of the range just have to do the job they are supposed to...protect!

You can get the more decent /fashionable stuff later.

Brand new helmet, dont be buying second hand tat as it could have been dropped. or fell on....

I made sure I had everything theres no way I was scrimping on not wearing trousers for example, cos as sure as hell if I hadnt worn the trousers I would have come off and made a mess of my legs.... sods law n all that!

I tried stuff on in the bike shop then went home and searched ebay for the same size stuff that I liked, have to say I stuck to same brand I tried on too cos they are WAY different in sizing for each brand!

But at the end of the day its your choice.

~ I prefer full gear over full scars ~

[moppy]

[Jamopy]