Which jacket/gloves/etc?

Vtec95Civic · #1 09-28-2005, 09:45 PM

Obviously, safety gear is EXTREMELY important. But how do I know which jacket I should buy. Looking around online I found jackets for $80 bucks, for $350, and everywhere in between. I'm already deathly afraid (pun intended) of even laying the bike down, nevermind actually hitting something. So I want to make sure I'm very well protected.

DealsGap · #2 09-28-2005, 10:50 PM

Joe Rocket makes a very affordable and quality line of leathers. I would recommend buying a 2 piece set of leathers for street use. A jacket alone is not good enough. Denim will do nothing to protect you from road rash, and it certainly doesnt have any armor to absorb and mitigate impact. I use Sidi boots, Alpinestars gloves, Teknic back protector, Joe Rocket GPX leathers, and an AGV helmet. All of which I am very pleased with. They are holding up great so far, and I didnt spend an arm and a leg.

If you are not willing to accept the fact that you have very little chance of riding for any substantial length of time without crashing at some point, I would seriously reconsider riding. The worst thing you can do is fool yourself into a false sense of security.

BullShifter · #3 09-29-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DealsGap

If you are not willing to accept the fact that you have very little chance of riding for any substantial length of time without crashing at some point, I would seriously reconsider riding. The worst thing you can do is fool yourself into a false sense of security.

I agree.

Vtec95Civic · #4 09-29-2005, 12:04 AM

No that's the reason I made this post; I know I am going to fall at some point and would really like it to not hurt so much. Of course pants and boots and anything that will help me not get dead. I just didn't know if one brand was better than another.

Anyways, I also was wondering: where do you put it all? I mean if I ride to a party or something, I don't want to be wearing leathers. Do you carry a backpack and just change at your destination? Do you wear it under the leathers? Mainly I'm wondering about shoes vs boots and where I would carry my shoes while riding somewhere.

Pistolpete · #5 09-29-2005, 12:54 AM

back packs are very useful. i used to ride to work with my suit under my leathers and i was fine but u need a backpack for all the little shit u cant fit inside ur jacket.

as for paties i never ride incase i get tanked and wanna ride home or something....also helmet hair looks kinda funny

Z_Fanatic · #6 09-29-2005, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pistolpete

as for paties i never ride incase i get tanked and wanna ride home or something....also helmet hair looks kinda funny

not if you shave your head, haha, plus showing up in "crotch rockets" usually have an upside for picking up chics afterwards, not that I condone it.

anyway, on to topic, best protection you can put on yourself is helmet, full leather, gloves, back protector, and GP boots. if you're riding day to day, people wear textile or mesh jackets which are easily foldable and light to carry on a back pack. sometimes I dont wear leather pants from point A to B, although I am taking a risk. usually I'd ride wearing helmet, leather jacket, and full cuff GP gloves and casual boots.

but even with all the gears, there's still the chance of getting injured or even death, difference is reduction in injury or open casket vs closed one. and you're 10 times as likely to receive injury in the street than the track. you could go 1 year... 2 years... 5 years... or even 10 without any accident. but still there could be that one ordinary day just like any other, and you feel you have complete control of the bike, until a cage decides to prove to you otherwise.

I wear Teknic speedstar jacket with back pad and air flow hump, Teknic Lightning GP Gloves, and Suomy Spec-1R helmet. They're all great, and helmet is very light, never feel it while riding. Jacket is pretty heavy, feels like close to 10 lbs.

Vtec95Civic · #7 09-29-2005, 01:50 AM

Yeah I have a shaved head so helmet hair isn't an issue, and neither is drinking because I just don't do it.

Jimmiz71 · #8 09-29-2005, 08:39 AM

I wear a Textile/Leather MotoGP Padded Jacket in Gray to match the Bike. For gloves.. I dont know the name brand. but I bought them with my Jacket.. they are black leather with Gel in the palms and Knuckle protection. I also Buzz my head For summer riding, my GF doesnt care for it much but it keeps things cooler under the helmet.

-Jimmy

speediva · #9 09-29-2005, 09:52 PM

I have to say that helmet, jacket, boots and gloves are the quintessential pieces of gear. If you want to ride hard or do more riding than to get you from point A to point B, then you can add the rest.

Granted, that's just the minimum that I suggest. I love my HJC helmet and my Teknic gloves. The rest of the stuff I have is female, so it won't be of much help for you.

DealsGap · #10 09-30-2005, 01:25 PM

What commonly happens with jeans/leathers combos is that the upper body slides as the leathers are designed to do, and the denim grips. This causes the rider to twist at the midsection and often breaks ribs. In addition to that, it promotes tumbling. Tumbling is a major cause of broken bones and dislocations. Then, of course, not having any impact protection on major joints like the knees can make even the simplest of crashes into a trip to the hospital. Dress for the crash, not for the ride.

There are some textile pants that you can zip over denim that have basic CF armor built in that would be good for a trip to the office or something where leathers simply cannot be used, but my personal philosophy after being hit by a car on the way home from work (5 mile commute) in street clothes is that I wont ever get on a motorcycle without leathers again. 2 dislocated shoulders, permanent nerve damage in my ankle, and plenty of road rash were the result of that relatively low speed accident. In contrast, I lowsided at about 80mph in full gear a few months ago (at the track), and I rode it back without a single scratch. Gear works.

Pistolpete · #11 10-01-2005, 03:47 AM

yeh good call bro..... if that shit didnt work smart ppl wouldnt use it.

U might feel safe in denim but after i came off i had road rash under my denim without a scratch or mark on the fabric at all so it really is no camparisson to leathers.

and although iv never been seriously injured on a bike (touch wood) im lucky i was in my full gear during the times i have come down.
Bouncing accross a road under a bike isint the best feeling on earth...... where as standing up afterwards is.......

Z_Fanatic · #12 10-01-2005, 03:52 AM

how many of us are strangers to road rash really, what, never fell of while bicycling or skating? haha... I had so many cuts and bruises... luckily no broken bones. although on a bike, it's 100 times worse.

speediva · #13 10-01-2005, 04:57 PM

Sure, jeans aren't the same as leather... but cheap leathers tear apart at the seams REAL quick like... seen it. I'd rather have my jeans that will more than likely stay on until they wear through.

Besides, almost anything is better than textile which melts when sliding.

DealsGap · #14 10-01-2005, 10:52 PM

Wait, are you trying to say you'd rather not wear protective gear because you might damage it in some way by crashing?

Kurtdg19 · #15 10-01-2005, 11:48 PM

The hardest thing that took a while getting used to was my gloves. I remember when I had first got them, I had problems overreving the engine by accident and then pulling out the clutch and.........wazzaam!.....up goes my front end! Its not that doing a wheelie is scary, but when you don't plan on it, it can be. Moving around takes a little bit getting used to (especially with new gear) but after a while you get used to it. Its all worth it thou.

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