Im kinda new to this sport bike thing and i was wondering if anyone had any good pointers on what is the right brand of gear to buy. I got the general idea of a arai or shoeii helmet, not to sure what type of jacket is a good one, also need pants that will zip with the jacket, a good pair of gloves and boots, and some protection apperial like back protector etc. But what i am really wondering is what is a good type of brand that i should wear. Any help would be appreciated. I knw we all have to start somewhere...
Thanks
John

 

Low budget gear: I would recommend anything leather from Joe Rocket or Icon. My experience with Joe Rocket is that their gear is good, but they like to splatter their name all over your person. You have to consider where you're living and the type of riding (mostly hot, cold, etc) to make a good gear choice. Perforated leather jackets (like my Supermoto) will be good in the summer but not so good in the fall/spring (they also make supermoto pants to connect to the jacket). If you went with a solid leather jacket, it would be warmer in summer and those cooler mornings. As for helmets in this category, HJC, KBC, Icon will all do their jobs, but their fit/finish isn't the greatest. You can get suits from Joe Rocket and boots etc if you are on a tight budget. DO NOT BUY NO NAME BRANDS. NO EBAY SUITS.

High budget gear: Dianese, Alpine Stars, Suomy, Shoei, Arai. All great brands with excellent quality and fitment. You get what you pay for.

Check out kneedraggers.com for some ideas on what you'd like.

MAKE SURE YOU CAN TRY THE GEAR ON BEFORE PURCHASING! Find a local vendor to support and try on/buy from them. Your gear won't do you any favors if it doesn't fit you correctly.

LEATHER is the best. If you can afford it, get it.

Helmet
Gloves
Boots
Pants
Jacket
Back protector

 

I agree with get the best you can afford.

I disagree with scorpion helmets being not so great on fit or finish ..My scorpion is just as good as (fit/finish wise) as any helmet on the market.
But when it comes to helmetsthey are like clothes ,they are all made different(theyall fit different shaped heads)so you need to try them on before hand.Also when getting a helmet you need to make sure its comfortable after 15+ mins BEFORE you buy it..

Jackets depends on the are you live in..I live in the south and have a full leather setup for the cold days.But for the summer/spring/fall days i usually wear my cortech gx air w/leather..Flows air for the heat,has a rain liner and winter liner.Plus leather in the the abrasion points.

Gloves -go full leather ,normal gloves are ok but not the best if you go down..I wear alpinestars gp pros.
Boots- again depending on where and how you will ride. I wear joe rocket sonics,waterproof,great fit and not to flashy.
Back protector-there are a lot of them out there,some good some bad. I wear one of the top rated ones(forcefield back protector)

 

I am a firm believer in all gear, all the time. But you also have to know yourself and what you're willing to wear day after day. I ALWAYS wear a helmet, jacket, gloves, and long pants. This is the bare minimum (others might disagree). I have overpants as well, but don't wear them very much. Make sure you buy gear that is 1) comfortable to wear, and 2) climate appropriate. I don't know where you're from, but you'll need two jackets, one for hot and one for colder days. I tried just one jacket when i first started riding, but was warm in the summer and cold in the spring/fall. I've now wizened up and have a Cortech GX Air mesh jacket for summer and Tour Master Pivot jacket for cooler days. Neither of these jackets are very expensive but are well made and fit me well. I don't have leather, mostly because i could buy these two jackets for the same money it would take to get one leather jacket. But if you can afford it, definately look at leather as it is by far the best protection.

I did, however, spend money on a nice helmet. I'm a new daddy and wanted the best protection i could get. After much research, i bought a Shark RSI and would highly recommend it. But different brands are made for differently shaped heads, so find what fits you best.

As for gloves...anything leather with padding or hard knuckles will do. If you get one with some vents you can wear it comfortably all summer.

Boots are a good idea, but not practical for me. I usually just wear my work boots as i ride to work and can't really carry around extra foot gear.

You can have the best gear in the world but if you don't wear it, it does you no good whatsoever...so buy something you'll wear every single ride. Some people say mesh won't protect you very well, but it is certainly better than nothing, and as i'm always tempted to go without a jacket in the summer i say a mesh on your body is much more effective than leather in the closet.

 

wifebeater and thong combo is my choice of gear to wear.

muahhahahhah...very good posts here. also try www.newenough.com for their close out gear.

 

What about the crocs? Or Birkenstocks? I like crocs personally cause the red ones match my bike.

 

Yea i live in the cityon the east coast and want to ride on the outskirts so i will go with leather and the maxium amount of protection. Thanks very much guys for the help. P.S. By the way Jmdaley congrats on being a daddy.