Newbie Looking for new riding gear!

[DnWin]

I'm sure everyone has very different opinions on riding gears!

That being said I'm riding a 2012 ninja 250 and I'm currently in the market for a motorcycle jacket and gloves. I have no idea where to start or what is an appropriate attire for that.

I rode around yesterday to cruise the neighborhood and it was cold. Ideally I wanted a red jacket just so I stand out at night and people are more likely to see me.

Gloves I dont want anything too expensive or fancy. just something that serves its purpose!

That being said I saw this jacket on ebay. Would you think this will be appropriate to ride with?? I thought it was nifty and creative. Whats your opinion on it??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BAT-NAKED-L...parel_Merchandise&hash=item563635830f&vxp=mtr

 

[revnort]

This smells like a troll for some reason.

OP if you want a red jacket so you stand out at night why choose a black batman one?

You should get a jacket, boots, gloves, and decent helmet. IF you are new to riding go to a cycle gear and get one of each. You should be able to find good stuff in your price range and there will be a variety of things to try on. Boots should definitely be on your list, and if you are not going to get riding pants get knee/shin guards to wear under or over your jeans.

I would not recommend getting that batman novelty jacket.

 

[RX311]

No armor? Schoeller Keprotec is a protective fabric apparently?

 

[DnWin]

i wanted a red jacket but Saw a nice batman jacket...

I got a helmet already I was at cycle gear yesterday. didnt get too much help. I needed recommendations and what not but no one seems to be around to help or want to.

And curiousity. knees and shin guard and what not. when people ride to go places are these very comfortable things to have on you daily??

Thanks for the response I appreciate it.

This smells like a troll for some reason.

OP if you want a red jacket so you stand out at night why choose a black batman one?

You should get a jacket, boots, gloves, and decent helmet. IF you are new to riding go to a cycle gear and get one of each. You should be able to find good stuff in your price range and there will be a variety of things to try on. Boots should definitely be on your list, and if you are not going to get riding pants get knee/shin guards to wear under or over your jeans.

I would not recommend getting that batman novelty jacket.

 

[DnWin]

I wanted the batman jacket too because it looked like it had some sort of padding on it.. and usually people i see riding are wearing a leather jacket too..

Also Brands, Pictures, links to these would be great! I may be stopping by to cycle gear again.

 

[quicksparks]

1 vote for the jacket with the sewn-in washboard abs.

 

[DnWin]

What do you mean??

No armor? Schoeller Keprotec is a protective fabric apparently?

 

[mototireguy]

And curiousity. knees and shin guard and what not. when people ride to go places are these very comfortable things to have on you daily??

I wear these knee/shin guards under my jeans on daily basis but any brand will do. If your knees are important to your quality of life you should wear some protective gear also.

Cover all the normal impact zone corners, shoulders, elbows, knees and ankles with something. Rider safety gear doesn't have to be expensive, lots of dirt bike gear passes the test, just wear something that will at least pass a hammer impact test.

 

[DnWin]

Thanks! do you wear this every single time you ride?? and how much do they show under your jeans?

I wear these knee/shin guards under my jeans on daily basis but any brand will do. If your knees are important to your quality of life you should wear some protective gear also.

Cover all the normal impact zone corners, shoulders, elbows, knees and ankles with something. Rider safety gear doesn't have to be expensive, lots of dirt bike gear passes the test, just wear something that will at least pass a hammer impact test.

 

[CrazyGenius]

Check out BARF 'Riding Gear' section:

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=71

for gears your size that would work for you with some savings too!!

Don't forget a bright & high viz vest you can wear over any moto leather jacket! You can find one at CG or even at clothing recycle stores for cheap.

Another alternative to knee & shin guards is a pair of kevlar jeans. CG just had a sale on those, they went for ~ $70.

 

[revnort]

i wanted a red jacket but Saw a nice batman jacket...

I got a helmet already I was at cycle gear yesterday. didnt get too much help. I needed recommendations and what not but no one seems to be around to help or want to.

And curiousity. knees and shin guard and what not. when people ride to go places are these very comfortable things to have on you daily??

Thanks for the response I appreciate it.

Try a different cycle gear. What area do you live in? There are many alternatives to cycle gear in the Bay Area, but it depends on what is close to you. Road Rider, Scuderia, D-Store etc etc.

As for which gear to get it is a subjective thing. It sort of depends on what you want from your gear. If it is fair weather riding, weekends and track days, get leather gear. If it is year round commuting/touring then get textile gear.

I am going to assume a couple things, that you are new to riding, and that you are not going to be riding in bad weather yet. Everyone should have a nice set of leather gear for the right conditions so start there. If you think textile is more your thing, say so and I will make another post.

Get a jacket that doesn't just have "padding" but has CE approved armor (or something similar). Look for something that is versatile for summer and winter if you plan on riding in the cold and the hot weather. Closeable vents are a good thing. Obviously you don't want mesh summer gear if you are riding this winter.

Gloves are kind of the same thing as the jacket. You'll probably want a winter and a summer pair though.

Riding pants are way better than knee and shin guards. Although knee and shin guards are better than nothing. Most riding injuries in a low side are going to be to you lower extremities. You definitely WANT boots, and you will want to prevent grinding your knee cap off. Especially as a new rider.

The BEST thing you can do is go to a shop and talk to someone. First they can help you make sure everything fits right (and most new riders don't know how this stuff is supposed to fit), which is super important for safety gear, and second they can help make suggestions on what you should be getting. Do that rather than ordering on the internet.

 

[DnWin]

Great Info! I was wondering.. some people who commute by riding to work or events and what not that arent motorcycle related. how do you wear all these gears like boots, jackets and riding pants to different places?

And looks Like i'm spending alot of my gears!

Try a different cycle gear. What area do you live in? There are many alternatives to cycle gear in the Bay Area, but it depends on what is close to you. Road Rider, Scuderia, D-Store etc etc.

As for which gear to get it is a subjective thing. It sort of depends on what you want from your gear. If it is fair weather riding, weekends and track days, get leather gear. If it is year round commuting/touring then get textile gear.

I am going to assume a couple things, that you are new to riding, and that you are not going to be riding in bad weather yet. Everyone should have a nice set of leather gear for the right conditions so start there. If you think textile is more your thing, say so and I will make another post.

Get a jacket that doesn't just have "padding" but has CE approved armor (or something similar). Look for something that is versatile for summer and winter if you plan on riding in the cold and the hot weather. Closeable vents are a good thing. Obviously you don't want mesh summer gear if you are riding this winter.

Gloves are kind of the same thing as the jacket. You'll probably want a winter and a summer pair though.

Riding pants are way better than knee and shin guards. Although knee and shin guards are better than nothing. Most riding injuries in a low side are going to be to you lower extremities. You definitely WANT boots, and you will want to prevent grinding your knee cap off. Especially as a new rider.

The BEST thing you can do is go to a shop and talk to someone. First they can help you make sure everything fits right (and most new riders don't know how this stuff is supposed to fit), which is super important for safety gear, and second they can help make suggestions on what you should be getting. Do that rather than ordering on the internet.

 

[DnWin]

Also I just wanted opinions and what not just so I dont buy gears this month and a few months from now Id want different gears to suit my needs I guess

 

[goodness-707]

If you're near the city, Scuderia has a pretty good selection of gear. Go in and try a bunch of stuff on, ask a lot of questions.

The BMW dealership in Mountain View also has a great selection of the BMW gear line. It's pricey (like most good gear is), but mostly good quality stuff, and different enough from other gear brands that it's worth checking out.

Also, go to a BARF meetup somewhere to check out the brands you can't get off the shelf like Aerostich and Motoport.

I think a few places around the bay stock Held gloves; quite popular. Also, everyone I know that has 'em raves about Helimot gloves. I think that with gloves, you pay for good, not fancy.

 

[DnWin]

Thanks! i'm from SF and i'm probably going to cycle gear to try on things and hopefully someone helps me out this time!

If you're near the city, Scuderia has a pretty good selection of gear. Go in and try a bunch of stuff on, ask a lot of questions.

The BMW dealership in Mountain View also has a great selection of the BMW gear line. It's pricey (like most good gear is), but mostly good quality stuff, and different enough from other gear brands that it's worth checking out.

Also, go to a BARF meetup somewhere to check out the brands you can't get off the shelf like Aerostich and Motoport.

I think a few places around the bay stock Held gloves; quite popular. Also, everyone I know that has 'em raves about Helimot gloves. I think that with gloves, you pay for good, not fancy.

 

[quicksparks]

Great Info! I was wondering.. some people who commute by riding to work or events and what not that arent motorcycle related. how do you wear all these gears like boots, jackets and riding pants to different places?

And looks Like i'm spending alot of my gears!

Yes, to be fully geared up is expensive. For my first two years of riding, at any given time the gear I was wearing had a higher replacement cost than the bike I was riding.

As for what you do when you get to where you're going, no easy answer. If you ride in full gear, you're never going to look 100% non-rider when you get off the bike. Mostly, just don't give a fuck what the non-riders around you think about what you're wearing.

But I understand, you don't want to be a pariah. I find that walking around in moto boots and riding pants with subdued styling (think neutral color textile or riding jeans) does not draw any weird stares. Sometimes I walk around with all my gear on and carry my helmet. Sometimes I lock my jacket and helmet to the bike with a cable lock. Sometimes I change out of my riding boots and store everything on the bike (combination of cable lock and top box). Sometimes the place I'm going has a safe place to stash the gear.

To recap: it's a lifestyle shift.

 

[Geno RR]

When it comes to gear, ya gotta try it on before buying. 2 things i dont go cheap when it comes to my saftey, tires & gear. Go to Roadrider & figure out what works for you

 

[DnWin]

This is a great reply ! thanks alot!!! Do you have a picture of your motorcycle with all these gear attached? I'm leaning towards a padded jacket with gloves knee pads and shin pads under the jeans hoping it wont show up to much. and possibly normal looking boots!

and as for cable locks while youre riding do you just use the mesh tie downs on the back seats?? again pictures of these would be amazing! just so i have an idea.! thanks

Yes, to be fully geared up is expensive. For my first two years of riding, at any given time the gear I was wearing had a higher replacement cost than the bike I was riding.

As for what you do when you get to where you're going, no easy answer. If you ride in full gear, you're never going to look 100% non-rider when you get off the bike. Mostly, just don't give a fuck what the non-riders around you think about what you're wearing.

But I understand, you don't want to be a pariah. I find that walking around in moto boots and riding pants with subdued styling (think neutral color textile or riding jeans) does not draw any weird stares. Sometimes I walk around with all my gear on and carry my helmet. Sometimes I lock my jacket and helmet to the bike with a cable lock. Sometimes I change out of my riding boots and store everything on the bike (combination of cable lock and top box). Sometimes the place I'm going has a safe place to stash the gear.

To recap: it's a lifestyle shift.

 

[quicksparks]

See the attached pic. That's my 1 piece Roadcrafter. I do the same thing if it's just a jacket. Cable lock goes through both arms of the jacket and then through under the triple clamp, and around the helmet chin bar. All that's missing is the top box which I'll put my boots and gloves in. If I'm riding with the top box, the cable lock gets carried in there. Otherwise it's in a backpack.

 

[revnort]

Thanks! i'm from SF and i'm probably going to cycle gear to try on things and hopefully someone helps me out this time!

If you are in SF, also go to Scuderia. It is right around the corner from Cycle gear. They are very helpful and there are even some barfers that work there.

Another place to look is SF Moto.

The D-Store is also right near there but will be pricey.

Both of those shops will have plenty of alternatives to what Cycle gear is selling. I recommend just spending a saturday or weekday morning going to all of the shops and seeing what they have and trying stuff on. You will get better idea of what options are out there and how much they are.

Then you can go back and get what you like.