Need Gear. Just got Started
Need Gear. Just got Started
I would love some opinions on gear from any of you guys all i have gotten are a pair of gloves. Im a small 5'5" @ 135. It would be great to hear on what you guys have gotten and what works best for you. Thanks 
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Nor*Jers
What kind of riding are you doing? Commuting? Track days? Hard weekend riding? Your gear is going to change depending on what you need.
For commuting to work in a corporate office I have a set of coretech overpants with a breathable outside and removable waterproof liner. For my top I wear my mesh jacket or my alpinestars leather jacket.
If I am just going for a mild ride usually I wear my one o one alpinestars boots (great support but look like shoes with jeans over them and comfortable enough to wear all day). I then wear icon riding jeans or regular jeans, and my alpinestars leather jacket.
The leather jacket I have also came with leather pants that I can use for track days If I ever wanted too. I wear this if I am doing hard twisty riding all day, along with my sidi race boots. As you can tell each piece of clothing I have works for some applications and not others so you really gotta have something that can be versatile for whatever you need or different gear for each application.
For commuting to work in a corporate office I have a set of coretech overpants with a breathable outside and removable waterproof liner. For my top I wear my mesh jacket or my alpinestars leather jacket.
If I am just going for a mild ride usually I wear my one o one alpinestars boots (great support but look like shoes with jeans over them and comfortable enough to wear all day). I then wear icon riding jeans or regular jeans, and my alpinestars leather jacket.
The leather jacket I have also came with leather pants that I can use for track days If I ever wanted too. I wear this if I am doing hard twisty riding all day, along with my sidi race boots. As you can tell each piece of clothing I have works for some applications and not others so you really gotta have something that can be versatile for whatever you need or different gear for each application.
Im mostly going to be commuting but my commute is going to be throught the mt.s what I had in mind is getting riding boots and just cary shoes in my pack but im open to others opinions. Thanks so far so good on help ^_^
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,471
Likes: 4
From: West Philly, PA!
First out, what is your budget for gear? You need a set budget to begin figuring out what you can buy and how much to spend on each piece of gear.
Second, do not go any further until you get a helmet. Jackets, boots, gloves, pants... they protect against rash (and sometimes broken bones). But when a helmet gets "road tested" it is what can make the difference between life or death. Or vegetative state.
If I only had $300 to spend on gear, I'd spend $200 on a lid and go from there
Second, do not go any further until you get a helmet. Jackets, boots, gloves, pants... they protect against rash (and sometimes broken bones). But when a helmet gets "road tested" it is what can make the difference between life or death. Or vegetative state.
If I only had $300 to spend on gear, I'd spend $200 on a lid and go from there
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC area
I really like Dainese stuff. Its a little pricey but it fits me well. I have Dainese boots / 2 jackets.
For helmets i'd suggest you try them all on if possible.
I've heard good things about Bell and Arai (these don't fit my head at all though).
And Scorpion is a good budget helmet - I've owned 2, but they are a little heavy.
My Shoei RF-1100 is the greatest thing since sliced bread and I will probably continue to purchase Shoei helmets.
I also have Shift kevlar riding jeans. I wear 32 pants usually, but the size 36 Jeans fit me best - they're a little bit but I prefer the room.
Best summer gloves in my opinion are the Rev-it Dirts. they are pretty inexpensive, and ventilate real well.
Anyways that's just my
But then again i'm also the smartest person on the board so.... 
For helmets i'd suggest you try them all on if possible.
I've heard good things about Bell and Arai (these don't fit my head at all though).
And Scorpion is a good budget helmet - I've owned 2, but they are a little heavy.
My Shoei RF-1100 is the greatest thing since sliced bread and I will probably continue to purchase Shoei helmets.
I also have Shift kevlar riding jeans. I wear 32 pants usually, but the size 36 Jeans fit me best - they're a little bit but I prefer the room.
Best summer gloves in my opinion are the Rev-it Dirts. they are pretty inexpensive, and ventilate real well.
Anyways that's just my
But then again i'm also the smartest person on the board so....
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Arizona, USA
I agree with starting with a helmet. Whatever your budget, start with a helmet.
What I see in the Phoenix area is lots of sport-bikers in helmets, frequently armored jackets, and then jeans and tennis shoes. There's a (British?) doctor/researcher/whatever out there who says that most motorcycle accident damage happens to the feet and lower legs (and then to hands, I thought?). Thus, he says to get boots and then pants before armored jackets. IIRC, he says to get a helmet first, but I haven't re-read those recommendations for a few months.
I have a Snell-certified helmet, an armored leather jacket (Komodo), armored Spidi pants, Xpd boots, and Spidi gloves. I even picked up a pair of Forcefield armored shorts recently. I commute a relatively long distance in metro Phoenix every day.
Good luck!
What I see in the Phoenix area is lots of sport-bikers in helmets, frequently armored jackets, and then jeans and tennis shoes. There's a (British?) doctor/researcher/whatever out there who says that most motorcycle accident damage happens to the feet and lower legs (and then to hands, I thought?). Thus, he says to get boots and then pants before armored jackets. IIRC, he says to get a helmet first, but I haven't re-read those recommendations for a few months.
I have a Snell-certified helmet, an armored leather jacket (Komodo), armored Spidi pants, Xpd boots, and Spidi gloves. I even picked up a pair of Forcefield armored shorts recently. I commute a relatively long distance in metro Phoenix every day.
Good luck!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Motorcycle Closeouts :: Motorcycle Apparel - Motorcycle Jackets - Motorcycle Helmets - 9 Years of Closeout Deals!
MotorcycleGear.com (the new name of New Enough) :: Motorcycle Jackets, Helmets, Gloves, Boots, Luggage, Parts and More!
Good deals to be had on both sites. Just because a helmet is cheap or reduced in price, does NOT mean it won't save you life as effective as a Shoei, Arai or Suomy. Get what you can afford.
MotorcycleGear.com (the new name of New Enough) :: Motorcycle Jackets, Helmets, Gloves, Boots, Luggage, Parts and More!
Good deals to be had on both sites. Just because a helmet is cheap or reduced in price, does NOT mean it won't save you life as effective as a Shoei, Arai or Suomy. Get what you can afford.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Im new to riding also so I don't have to.much insight but one of the biggest thigngs I looked for was of my helmet was she'll and dot approved I was told that snell was a higher testing then dot and it wa good to have both also I looked at helmets and got.price range set and money.not to.say.didn't matter bit.if it came down to.two helmets and one helmet was alittle more I opted for. Better brand. I ended up with kbc vr-2r and am happy with it so far not hot and no.problems yet.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC area