new to riding
Joined: Jul 2006
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RE: new to riding
"Best" is totally subjective.
It all depends on what you are going to do. I will try to give you a little insight on what "I" think is "best".
Helmet: Shoei or Arai are "best" but you pay for it. Other manufacturers make helmets to compete with Shoei and Arai's lower end, but I havent found anything to compete with their top end. I ride a Shoei X-Eleven. People will put them down because they are expensive, but until you have ridden with one of these you really don't know how good a helmet can be. For a new rider it MAY be out of your price range. In that case, shoot for a KBC, HJC, or Scorpion. Scorpion is a lot of lid for the money ($100-200). Just make sure it fits. It dosent do any good to get a $500 lid that dosent fit. Even if you can't afford it, go to a shop that fits Arai's and they can help you find that fits. If you buy online helmetshop.com is the place to go. Call them, because they will give you even lower prices on the phone. Exchange policy is excellent if it dosent fit right.
Gloves:
For street riding, just make sure they are leather and are made for motorcycles. DON'T use mountain bike or weight lifting gloves or any other crap you can pickup at walmart. They are a false sense of security. Alpinestars, Joe Rocket, Teknic, Icon, all make good street gloves. You can pick a good pair in the $30-80 range
For Racing or "perfornce riding" you want a full gauntlet glove. I use Teknic Violators because they are kangaroo (best feel) and armored. I actually use these for 99% of my riding because they feel so good and provide soo much protection. They run about $100. BEST are Spidi Penta's but then are $200+ and not enough of an inprovement over my Teknics for me to upgrade until the Teknics die.
Jacket: You will want leather for your primary jacket. Nothing protects as well as leather. If you live where it's hot get a perforated jacket with a zip in liner. If you think you may go to the track later, get one with a "full circumference" zipper for pants. Make sure it has CE Rated armor. CE Hard armor is better. Jackets need to fit "snugly" and are tailored for "on the bike". They may feel wierd when you try them on in the showroom standing up. Loose is bad because it will let the armor shift out of alignment when you go down. Icon is OK for street gear, but the don't have attachment zippers. Joe Rocket, Teknic, and Alpinestars are my first choices. I ride a Teknic Chicane perforated jacket. It's my main jacket unless temps rise above 90*. Then I switch to my mesh gear.
Boots: BEST is Sidi. You pay for it, but do you like walking? Alpinestars and Oxtar are other good choices. It all depends on what fits. Sidi may not fit your feet. Don't buy then without trying them on. Even for street you want full road race boots. You run a GREATER risk of serious injury to your feet on the road than you do on the race track. Again, hiking or work boots do not provide the protection that you need. They are better than tennis shoes, but not by much. NEVER EVER EVER wear sandals or "flip-flops" if you ever go down your feet and ankles will be hamburger. They will actually get ground to the bone. If you absolutely can't bring yourself to buy or wear road race boots, I have had good experiences with the Icon Superduty 2 boots. I wear them when I ride to work and race boots are not presentable. Make sure that whatever you choose protects your ankle from abraision, and you foot from lateral crushing.
Pants: Joe Rocket, Teknic, Alpinestars. Get whatever matches your jacket. If you get something other than what your jacket is, you can have a tailor sew the correct zipper in (they come with the pants).
You may have seen a re-occuring pattern. Stick with Teknic, Alpinestars, Joe Rocket and any of the other top-line companies and you can't go wrong.
It all depends on what you are going to do. I will try to give you a little insight on what "I" think is "best".
Helmet: Shoei or Arai are "best" but you pay for it. Other manufacturers make helmets to compete with Shoei and Arai's lower end, but I havent found anything to compete with their top end. I ride a Shoei X-Eleven. People will put them down because they are expensive, but until you have ridden with one of these you really don't know how good a helmet can be. For a new rider it MAY be out of your price range. In that case, shoot for a KBC, HJC, or Scorpion. Scorpion is a lot of lid for the money ($100-200). Just make sure it fits. It dosent do any good to get a $500 lid that dosent fit. Even if you can't afford it, go to a shop that fits Arai's and they can help you find that fits. If you buy online helmetshop.com is the place to go. Call them, because they will give you even lower prices on the phone. Exchange policy is excellent if it dosent fit right.
Gloves:
For street riding, just make sure they are leather and are made for motorcycles. DON'T use mountain bike or weight lifting gloves or any other crap you can pickup at walmart. They are a false sense of security. Alpinestars, Joe Rocket, Teknic, Icon, all make good street gloves. You can pick a good pair in the $30-80 range
For Racing or "perfornce riding" you want a full gauntlet glove. I use Teknic Violators because they are kangaroo (best feel) and armored. I actually use these for 99% of my riding because they feel so good and provide soo much protection. They run about $100. BEST are Spidi Penta's but then are $200+ and not enough of an inprovement over my Teknics for me to upgrade until the Teknics die.
Jacket: You will want leather for your primary jacket. Nothing protects as well as leather. If you live where it's hot get a perforated jacket with a zip in liner. If you think you may go to the track later, get one with a "full circumference" zipper for pants. Make sure it has CE Rated armor. CE Hard armor is better. Jackets need to fit "snugly" and are tailored for "on the bike". They may feel wierd when you try them on in the showroom standing up. Loose is bad because it will let the armor shift out of alignment when you go down. Icon is OK for street gear, but the don't have attachment zippers. Joe Rocket, Teknic, and Alpinestars are my first choices. I ride a Teknic Chicane perforated jacket. It's my main jacket unless temps rise above 90*. Then I switch to my mesh gear.
Boots: BEST is Sidi. You pay for it, but do you like walking? Alpinestars and Oxtar are other good choices. It all depends on what fits. Sidi may not fit your feet. Don't buy then without trying them on. Even for street you want full road race boots. You run a GREATER risk of serious injury to your feet on the road than you do on the race track. Again, hiking or work boots do not provide the protection that you need. They are better than tennis shoes, but not by much. NEVER EVER EVER wear sandals or "flip-flops" if you ever go down your feet and ankles will be hamburger. They will actually get ground to the bone. If you absolutely can't bring yourself to buy or wear road race boots, I have had good experiences with the Icon Superduty 2 boots. I wear them when I ride to work and race boots are not presentable. Make sure that whatever you choose protects your ankle from abraision, and you foot from lateral crushing.
Pants: Joe Rocket, Teknic, Alpinestars. Get whatever matches your jacket. If you get something other than what your jacket is, you can have a tailor sew the correct zipper in (they come with the pants).
You may have seen a re-occuring pattern. Stick with Teknic, Alpinestars, Joe Rocket and any of the other top-line companies and you can't go wrong.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
RE: new to riding
I have to say I love my KBC. I tried on all brands and it seemed to fit me the best. I have two jackets. One is a AGV leather and has pants with the 360 zipper. The other is a mesh Joe. It is great for warmer weather. It has a zip out liner and a few more extra. It has great pading as well. I would have to stick with Alpinestars for gloves. There are better ones out there, but for everyday wear and protection they have it all around. Make sure you get gloves with knuckles.
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