Question about gear.

I've been looking around at extra gear. I already have an Icon Neodaytona jacket, which I am happy with so far. At a stop it gets hot, but once you're moving again it's fine. I have been reading some forums, and keep reading that even for normal street driving, jeans are not enough. Thinking about looking into riding pants, but wasn't sure what would be a good investment. If anyone can help me out I'd appreciate it. I figure, a lot of tools around here will laugh at me for being in riding pants on a 250, but better safe than sorry, and on a 250 I can still go down at 70+.

2 of my friends went down this past weekend... one was in full leathers, the other was in a mesh jacket and jeans. Granted,the 2 accidents were not identical, but the guy in the full leathers is just a little stiff. He rode the bike home with a borrowed brake lever. The guy in jeans had a concussion, some road rash where his jeans didn't give way, and scrapes where the jeans did give way. He was taken to the hospital. He's currently on Tylenol 3's for the pain b/c he didn't want vics or percs.

Basically, if you have a jacket you like, try to find a set of pants that will zip into the jacket. If you stick to leather, then you can use them for street or track.

Thanks Saturn. After reading every post in this forum, I've seen you to be quite helpful. I've been looking at the Icon pants too. Gonna be going to my local shop this weekend to see what they can do for me. They've been real good about kissing my ass price-wise since I bought all my stuff from them, bike included. I guess I was also wondering if Icon is decent gear. Jacket feels nice n heavy, seams seem sturdy too. And of course it has all the padding in the forearms, shoulders and back. Thanks for the quick reply.

Try to find perforated leather pants, otherwise they tend to get a little hot.

Jeans will save your skin if you are going under 40mph, however they tend to get torn after that very easily. My friend went down in sandals, shorts, and a shirt, he has roadrash all over his body, VERY painful. And he only went down at about 30mph.

That sounds pretty ouch to me. I'm glad to hear he's ok. I was actually looking at a pair of Icon mesh pants for summer riding. http://www.onlineparts.com/ICON+Timex+Mesh+Pants+Standard+Lenth+(Black)+(2821 0033).html is actually what I'm considering. Are those worth it, or should I just go all leather. Since I'm also asking about gear, I may as well ask, the Shoei RF-1000 helmet...good one? Right now I have a CKX that I bought so I had something for taking my MSF course. Definitely not ventilated enough, and I know Shoei and Arai are like the best, but Arai is currently way out of my price range.

I also just noticed after double checking my jacket, no zipper at the bottom for zipping into the pants or vice-versa. Is that a serious problem?

Not meaning to intrued... but while riding gear is being discussed... if money was not an issue what brand would you go with for leathers, gloves, and boots?

Thanks.

I also just noticed after double checking my jacket, no zipper at the bottom for zipping into the pants or vice-versa. Is that a serious problem?
No, it's not a problem if you don't have a zipper. It just means you couldn't use the two for track-use. Not a biggie. I'm just a track fiend, so when I buy gear, I TRY to get the "good stuff" so I can run on the track if I ever get enough money. ;)

I don't know if I plan on doing any track riding. I definitely didn't buy my bike for speed. I just wanted something as fun, but more fuel efficient than my Wrangler. Saturn, did those pants seem ok for normal street riding that would basically just be commuting? You also sound like the type of girl that I need more of around here :smokin:

Dark, as far as gear, with money not being an issue, I've heard a lot of people talking, all saying good things about Vanson for leathers. Gloves I hear a lot of people talking about AlpineStars http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/33-ALP-3 are the gloves I have Not much riding time, but when I took my MSF class, I had em on for 6 hrs straight and was comfortable the whole time. Sidi for boots: http://www.newenough.com/sidi_vertebra_2_boots_page.htm seem to be the popular choice.

On a final note, my MSF paperwork can't get to me from Albany fast enough. I WANNA RIDE!!!

g'day all. don't know if they are available in the states but down here we have jeans purpose built for bikes that are as good as leathers. the are 'draggin jeans' and 'redmax' brands. both have kevlar stitching and full re-inforcement where you need it most.check ou their websites
www.dragginjeans.com.au

as for helmets. i think you should spend as much money as you think your head is worth. i go for shoei over arai only for comfort.

We have "Draggin Jeans" as well as a version from... crap.... what's their name? Well, we have 2 companies who offer kevlar-reinfoced patches. But for $80 USD, you may as well shell out an extra $40 or less to get a pair of real riding pants, whether textile or maybe REALLY cheap leathers. At least riding pants offer the chance to put on some knee pucks for a good ole' knee-draggin time! ;)

Down here the jeans are $200AUS but cheap leathers with any knee protection are $400+AUS. My Dainese pants with no velcro for knee sliders were $650AUS so for us the jeans offer 'cheap' protection on rides where leathers aren't suitable.

Sounds to me like I should talk to Saturn about riding lessons. That whole knee draggin thing kinda scares me. Having bad knees already, the thought of dragging em along the ground while whippin through a curve at 70 doesn't thrill me. But Saturn seems to be a REAL rider who knows her stuff and how to be safe.