Here's the deal... I'm 40 years old and FINALLY bought a bike. I have riden 4 wheelers the last 6 years and used to ride BMX as a kid (Yes, they had BMX back then). I have no interest in racing, doing wheelies, cartwheels, etc. I live in the country with lots of open road to learn how to ride. My plan is to buy a DOT/Snell helmet, gloves and some sort of protective jacket. I don't want to spend a great deal, but being new to riding I need some input. Am I missing any crucial protective gear? Should I look for certain features? Thanks!

 

sounds like you pretty much know what you need. you might want to look into some boots. the racing specific boots are great but i personaly wear a really good over ankle all-leather sturdy work type boot. anything is better than tennis shoes. another item i like is motorcycle jeans. i have a pair of icon and a pair of draggin jeans. never been down in them but they seem much more durable than regular denim. and they're warmer for those cool weather rides. and you mentioned gloves. do not go cheap with these. my first wreck was with a pair of fox motorcross gloves on and my hands got pretty torn up. second wreck was with some leather alpinestars full length gloves and they held up great. as far as features, get a good jacket with a liner so it can be comfortable in a lot of weather conditions. i suggest leather but if you are on a tight budget, the textile jackets seem to hold up pretty well. check around with some of the sponsors on this site and see if any of them will give you a discount on riding apparel. i know one of them has a helmet special going on right now, not sure who or what brand but might be worth looking into.

 

Great tips... Thanks!

 

I'll second the boots -- can't even imagine riding in sneakers. As to what brand to get ... it's mostly personal preference. You'll find named stuff like Alpine Stars is very expensive but in my opinion it's worth it. Their boots usually last me 3-4 years of almost daily riding. If you have a dealer near you I'd suggest going in and trying out all the stuff they have on hand -- write down what ya like and find it for a reasonable price on here. We've got some site sponsors that can get you decent deals on quality stuff.

 

That was my plan. The dealers here have some outrageous pricing, but I'm not above window shopping, finding out what fits best and buying online. Thanks for the input!

 

You'll find lots of different opinions on gear. Personally, I wear a leather jacket, riding pants, boots, gloves and a SHOEI helmet. I wore jeans for a while, until one of my buddies scared me by telling me a story of how they just bust right open upon impact . .

Some tips:

1. Make sure the gear fits right. You probably won't wear it if it's not comfortable. Plus, uncomfortable gear may distract you, taking your attention from the road.

2. You can get some good deals on "last years" gear online from places like www.motorcyclecloseouts.com, www.tonker.com and a ton of others. Shop around.

3. There are a load of threads out there about helmets. But, there was a good article in Motorcyclist Magazine a while ago that rated the very inexpensive ZR-1 helmet tops for street riding. You can get one for under $100.

Welcome to street riding . . and good luck!

Dan

 

Also, consider wearing earplugs when you ride. They protect against hearing loss and fatigue. Don't worry - you will hear everything you need to, but you won't hear that annoying wind in your ears. Once I started wearing them, I haven't gone without them.

 

Great advice. Thanks!

 

Dont forget to read the manual as it has important info pertinent to proper safety, maintanence, and is good for over all knowledge.

 

i'd recommend leather over the other stuff. sooner or later you'll want to ride a bit more aggressive and maybe even drag some knee so i would recommend full gear...and depending on where you want to go, a back protector as well. nothing protects like some good leather (except aerostich stuff)

jeans, dragging jeans, icon jeans, etc. are all just jeans. i've seen them in crashes. jeans don't do anything for sliding in a crash. if you're lucky enough to be flipping or cartwheeling, jeans will be much better, but still horribly bad.

the first thing to come off in a crash is usually a sneaker or two...so do invest in boots...if not make sure boots cover your ankles.