Clothing?

[Andy Rider]

Thanks once again

Some good advice (including LUNCH!)

For what it's worth Teflon-Mike, I have no intention of gearing up before I do the CBT and DAS. Well maybe during the DAS I'll start purchasing bits, lid, jacket etc... As I said earlier the place I'm training at have said they will supply everything apart from boots (and lunch) so I'm in no rush to go splash my cash. Came here for advice on what to be looking at. TBH I wasn't aware there'd be a section on that on the CBT, but makes sense there is. And explains why they were so happy when I said I had nothing at the time of booking. The instructor is going to love me although now I go armed with random internet forum peoples advice as well...

[grr666]

I geared up before CBT.

Fuck wearing clothing from the kit box.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
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[rubyhorse2]

think you've had plenty of advice about what to buy already so i'll just say that whatever you get you will end up changing.

Gear is very specific to each individual and, from my point of view, takes a while to know what you like and need. Its taken me a few years to finally be happy with my various garments.

jacket - one leather with removable internal for mainly summer use

Gloves - fit and protection and the main things, i've got 2 summer pairs, one short and one long, one fully waterproof and one winter set.

Pants - one leather set for summer and hooning, one goretex for winter, rain and general riding to shops etc

lid - one expensive lid for weekend hoons, one cheaper lid for week day commuting

Boots - one cheap commuting pair, one expensive weekend pair and one summer short ankle pair.

As i say, this took a while to know what i needed and which fit best etc. Biking can cost a lot

[TbirdX]

I'm a new biker and needed some gear. I looked about but how can you know whats good for you or not really.

In the end I went with a sportsbike deal that gave me a jacket and trousers for £99, threw in some boots and gloves, (already had a helmet) for a grand total of £185 or thereabouts.

I accept its not going to be best quality but if it gets me through the first year or so I'll have a better idea of what I really want/need without spending thousands first.

That's the theory anyway!!

[Polarbear]

[Andy Rider]

Does that work with bikes as well? how am I meant to know I'll like my bike, after spending several £1,000 on it?

[Doovy]

[Andy Rider]

ha ha already done the sitting on bit of a few bikes. Forgot to make the sounds though!

[Rogerborg]

You're unlikely to get the ideal bike first (or tenth) try, so just get something cheapish and fairly neutral like an ER6 or Blandit. How you get on with that will inform your next choice.
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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

[Paris2]

You may have a better idea of what you want after you had done the tests. You will most likely do these on a 500/600 twin, so you can at least count those in or out.

Most of us have bought with our heart though, not our heads. So whatever you drool over
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Current Ride: Daytona 600

[Nomad Z]

I'd say go for substance before style. If you can get style as well as substance, then all well and good.

In general, bike clothing is supposed to be safety equipment. It has to be able to withstand a certain amount of abrasion if you come off and slide down the road. There are some numbers I read somewhere (can't remember where, or the specifics) about how much flesh is removed for each mile per hour over 30mph if you slide down the road for X time with no abrasion protection. It was being counted in depths of 1mm, I think. That's skin, fat and muscle being scraped off and left on the tarmac.

The purpose of armour is to put increased protection at the bits that stick out because they can take the brunt of the abrasion - knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, upper back and shoulder blades. Helmet and good boots do the same thing.

How much protection you feel you need, or how much you're willing to risk sustaining worse injuries than you otherwise might, is entirely up to you. Personally, I think 400 quid for a posey jacket that has no armour and might not even be waterproof, sounds like a lot of money going in the wrong direction.

There's a saying: Dress for the slide, not for the ride.

As Teflon Mike says, nobody gives a toss what you look like - you're just another biker. When you're on the bike, you can't see what you look like either, so it's arguable that you shouldn't give (too much of) a toss either.

[bamt]

[Andy Rider]

It's a far point about protection over style. and one I will be taking. Think I always was going to! But still willing to pay more for stylish protection

I cycle a lot and wear stupid cycling specific clothing so am well aware how much of an idiot I'm going to look, both on and off the bike

[angryjonny]

When choosing a lid (I'd select based on SHARP ratings and comfort) wear it in the shop for 15-30 minutes. Small pressure points you barely notice in 90 seconds can become agony over the course of a couple of hours. If it's properly comfy after 15 minutes it's probably fine.

Different manufacturers cater for different shaped heads and you'll find you simply cannot tolerate some brands.

Here speaketh someone who bought an HJC for his CBT and then bought an Arai the following day. That CBT was agony.

(Also heed Tef: You need protecting from the tarmac maybe once or twice in your riding career - you need protecting from the weather daily)

[Nomad Z]

Should have said that the armour is also to protect from impacts, given that the sticky-outy bits tend to land first. The one bit that isn't really covered as well is the palm side of the hands.

And, as others have said, effective waterproofing is pretty important if you plan on riding in all weathers.

[talkToTheHat]

RST, IXS, Hein Gerike. Brands worth considering that will be considerably better in your wallet than belstaff.

There is the most amazing bit of long way down where ewan and charley are getting piss wet through in their custom belstaff gimpsuits and a fat frenchman mocks them for not having a cheap oversuit and cheap overboots amongst their extensive pile of kit.

Perhaps investigate combinations of textile, leather and denim from one manufacturer so it fits together?

I did my cbt with my own gloves and lid, gaining some handmedown jackets and trousers shortly after, and I've upgraded slowly since then. I think i kitted she who is occasionally consulted out with a hjc is17 lid, rst jacket and trousers, boots and some ixs goretex gloves for about 500.

Look for "xtrafit" on gloves if you have the pennies. Less bulky. My own ixs goretex/xtrafit gloves see most of my riding and they feel great. It's muffs and heated grips in this weather, but muffs over bigger gloves every time. I only just got my heated grips back on. Don't need them that often with the muffs, but they get used a lot when i dont have the muffs and it is unseasonanly cold and wet.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[bamt]

[Rogerborg]

I've possibly zipped one jacket to one pair of trousers, once, although it may be a false memory.
____________________
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

[Andy Rider]

What are peoples opinions of Dainese? Over priced paying for the name or good quality?

I have source a lid, jacket and trousers all for not much more than I was thinking of spending on a jacket

[ryanguy]

It really is important to be safe and have a helmet/clothes that are comfortable for you, so like lots of people have said, just go try lots of stuff out!

There's some useful info here on things like leather vs. textile and the types of prices you can pay for different brands: https://www.devittinsurance.com/guides/motorcycling-for-beginners/motorcycle-safety-for-beginners/ and as well as this THINK has a really good guide: https://think.direct.gov.uk/assets/pdf/dg_195215.pdf

Worth checking those out for some more details

Hope that helps!

Ryan

[simsim]

Hi Guys,

I'm new on here, and I'm gonna be starting my motorcycle training soon. Can't wait. Was just wandering what the best brand of clothing you recommend?

Cheers

Sim

[Rogerborg]

Best for what purpose?

Best for what budget?

If you're not sure, then RST gear is affordable and decent enough.
____________________
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

[Jmoan]

I would double check what you're getting on the items your looking at, to see if anything's lacking like boots that don't have heel armour and so on.

[Fiona84]

[J10443]

I have had a Halvarssons suit (prime jacket and prince trousers) for around 11 months now and it has been fantastic in all conditions. The suit cost me around £750 for top and bottom but has been well worth it. I got these from Sheffield motorcycle centre which I highly recommend as well.