Gear

[JohnC]

No motorcycle forum would be complete without a gear thread. What are you wearing, how do you like it, and what would you recommend? At this point, I'm just planning on using my Bell M3 helmet, and I do have a couple of pairs of nice armored gloves. Need a jacket, pants, and footwear. Recommend!

[Ginger]

I'm wearing a Joe Rocket Blaster jacket. It saved my shoulder once when I went down thanks to all the padding.

Armored jackets = :thumbup:

Just don't get a stupid colored jacket like I did. Black is where it's at.

Don't cheap out on gloves. My last $50 pair fell apart when I went down. I'd stay away from the bling race boots if I were you... mine gave me a blister last night. I've always like the engineer style boots.

And, uhh, yeah!

[mrbaggio]

I have...
Arai Helmet
Joe Rocket Phoenix 3.0 Jacket
Joe Rocket Phoenix 2.0 Glove
Over the ankle steel toe work boots
Jeans

I will wear that all the time from now on no matter the temp. I had a low side crash today. Bike has some scraches and so does my body. For the amount I slide the gear did its job (I had all of the above on). I got up and walked away from my crash in better shape then most of my childhood bicycle dumps.

Gloves did not hold up as well as I would have liked. The next pair will be a bit stronger.

Two lessons learned today
1. always wear your gear.
2. Don't ride like an idiot and pay attention.

[Ginger]

Glad to hear that you're alright from your mishap... I learned a fair amount from mine, too; all of which I promptly tossed out the window when Pete was egging me on to learn to wheelie... in a t shirt. BTW, what are you riding?

I was underimpressed with my gloves when I went down, too. Teknic Violators... for $40 or $50 I guess you can't expect all that much.

I think I'll be ordering a pair of the Vanson Rockets:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://vansonleathers.com/images/gloves/rocket-gloves.jpg">http://vansonleathers.com/images/gloves ... gloves.jpg</a><!-- m -->
or Dainese Speed Metals:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/33-DAIN05-1.html">http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/33-DAIN05-1.html</a><!-- m -->
Though I'm undecided on whether or not I'll need the solid knuckle protection every day (and whether or not the control trade off is worth it... on that note, I've read that the Held Galaxy's are a great, soft glove that fit nicely in the middle of it all: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://newenough.com/held_galaxy_glove_page.htm">http://newenough.com/held_galaxy_glove_page.htm</a><!-- m -->)

I don't wear anything but jeans for everyday riding... maybe some Draggin' Jeans later on... but until I need new jeans they're prohibitively expensive (though cheaper than brand clothes if you're into them).

My next jacket will be a Vanson, I'm rather sure. The classic Mark 2 (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://newenough.com/vanson_csrv2_jacket_page.htm">http://newenough.com/vanson_csrv2_jacket_page.htm</a><!-- m -->); but probably not perforated. I'll likely purchase some CE armor for it, too, as I feel naked without it now. For summer wear I'm planing on a Joe Rocket Rio - $71 + ship from New Enough right now:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://newenough.com/joe_rocket_rio_jacket_page.htm">http://newenough.com/joe_rocket_rio_jacket_page.htm</a><!-- m -->

I'm riding with a Shoei RF1000 helmet for now, though it doesn't fit my head all that well and that feeling manifests itself on long rides. I feel pressure on the front of my head and it ocasionally can cause a headache (like on my way to the Chapin's place (3+ hours was my trip there). The Arai Astral's fit my head shape better... but everybody's different, best to go try 'em on.

I said something earlier about Engineer style boots (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.redwings.de/pages/shoes2005/thumbs/Eitel_fertig/0970.jpg">http://www.redwings.de/pages/shoes2005/ ... g/0970.jpg</a><!-- m -->). And while I like the look, I don't like the loose feeling that not having laces gives you. I'm really, really picky about footwear, as it needs to fit alright in a bank environment (I'm a teller) and just as well in a bar or club. These seem like they'll do the trick (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://newenough.com/cruiserworks_defender_boots_page.htm">http://newenough.com/cruiserworks_defen ... s_page.htm</a><!-- m -->) as a long enough pair of slacks will cover up the agressive looking portions and the feature list is HUGE. I have a terrible mental image of my ankle grinding away, trapped under a sliding motorcycle, so actual ankle guards and toe protection are a must - which those offer.

And, uhh, yeah.

[mrbaggio]

I'm on a 600rr

I have an astral-x helmet. I am quite happy with it. It gets tons of ventilation. Luckly I wasn't able to test it out on my fall the other day as my head never hit the ground. I slide the whole way on my back/ass.

I also have that image of an ankle bone being ground down in a fall. That made me buy over the ankle boots too.

Those Dainese gloves cost a TON. Are you really getting them?

-Justin

[Feersty]

Glad you're okay Justin. What exactly happened?

[Sijray21]

Just got back from the MSF. A LOT of fun, and i learned a lot, i aced all my exams

As for gear:

Still on my G-force Pro Force 1 helmet used for HPDE (putting it to use later for more HPDE and i'm getting an actual bike helmet soon)
Joe Rocket Atomic gloves ($35 and i love them)
Hiking boots from REI
Jeans

I'm planning on getting a textile jacket of some sort soon, but i'm looking for a bike once i pay off some debts. Then i'll look for a helmet, jacket, better boots, and some sort of pants.


Sorry to hear about the slide Baggio , glad you're alright though, i saw a nasty front-wheel slide at the MSF this weekend....not pretty, kinda looked like a highside

[mrbaggio]

I was on the throttle too much on cold tires going into a corner. Lost the rear tire and the bike was gone. It was a total mental error. I was thinking about other things and just wasn't paying attention to what I was doing.

-Justin

[G.Irish]

I was on the throttle too much on cold tires going into a corner. Lost the rear tire and the bike was gone. It was a total mental error. I was thinking about other things and just wasn't paying attention to what I was doing.

-Justin

How fast did it come around on you?

[mrbaggio]

From the length of the skid, I was spinning the rear tire for about 7 feet (maybe less). When it decided it had a enough of that it felt like I was down instantly. From the time the initial skid started until I was sliding done the road on my back I didn't have any time to react. It all felt really quick even at a low speed.

At least that's how it all felt to me.

[JohnC]

Well, I'm all out of excuses for not riding. Guess it starts tommorrow I bought a FieldSheer Attack jacket, an HJC helmet (which actually fit my big head better than the $700 Arais), and another pair of armored leather gloves. And it all matches the bike too, more out of coincidence than anything else.

Still need something better than jeans on the bottom half - but I can ride like this for now.

[Sijray21]

just bringing this back up

i'm looking for recommendations at helmets. I don't want to spend too much on it, but i saw a few i liked. What do you guys think of the Scorpion sets? i saw the exo 700 and i'm going to try it on for fitment (as well as other helmets) before i order anything online.

i did however get a Teknic Lightning leather jacket in yellow/black (represent for MM ) and should be arriving in the mail some time on saturday -- only $100

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://newenough.com/teknic_lightning_jacket_page.htm">http://newenough.com/teknic_lightning_jacket_page.htm</a><!-- m -->

i also have some Joe Rocket Atomic gloves (black leather with knuckle padding). I like these, they were very inexpensive ($35) and they have treated me well in the very very brief time i've had them. I may or may not have different opinions after a while.

As of now i do not have any boots or pants. My current helmet is the Scorpion Exo 700 Silver/Black/White. The fitment is great, the visibility is excellent, and i love the look as well. Only $160 at coleman's after a 20% discount .

[PDenbigh]

I guess I'll chime in -

I have a Joe Rocket jacket that zipps into my Joe Rocket pants. They are the web type, not leather. The Jacket (no, don't remember model) has a zip out liner that is awesome in cold or wet weather.

Gloves, I am dissatisfied with, but they were some inexpensive JR brand.

Shoes, I have some pretty hard core Asolo mountaineering boots that are pretty high. They have a really stiff sole though, so I can't feel the bike as well.

Helmate is a middle of the line HJC, matt black with an evil smiley face in the back.

For the track, I'm going to have to get, or rent, leathers. From what I have been told, leather is the only material that really stands up to a good slide. If I had it to do all over again, I'd buy leather gear.

I too have gone down, on Rt. 33, a sweet little highside when I was run off the road. I had on my Gear. The only things I hurt were some ribs and my ego. Very similar to Justin's, my mind wasn't in the game. Had I been looking far enough ahead I probably could have pulled it out. This was last summer after having the bike 2 months... doah. In later news, Alison was on the back about a month ago, again on 33, when a state cop came wide around the inside of a turn, ran us off the road, and I pulled it out w/o incident :-) (/ego boost).

[Kaan]

I have always worn a Shoei helmet... you'll find them more comfortable and lighter than your track helmets for the cars.

I have some black leather joe rocket jacket... i'm not sure if they make it anymore... but it has two tie ins on it to hook to your belt so there is seperation between pants and the jacket.

normally i just wear jeans when i ride. Riding jeans are nice, but you know leathers always work best.

i wear some older combat boots for shoes... they are cheap and they work really well

[mrbaggio]

Sorry to hear about the get off Pete. How did the bike fair? Highsides usually make parts go flying.

-Justin

[PDenbigh]

Yeah, parts went flying pretty well. I have the farring mounted in my room as a reminder! The right side was scratched, nothing $$ couldn't fix though. All cosmetic, plus a realignment of the forks.

[Ross.Church]

Just don't get a stupid colored jacket like I did. Black is where it's at.

Any reason why?

[Ginger]

I feel silly wearing it anytime I'm more than 10 feet from the bike.

[.RJ]

Sell it to me then

[Sijray21]

i like mine, it attracts attention and makes it seem like i have muscles, lol