What motorcycle gear do you wear?
Discussion
Need to buy myself all the motorcycle gear from boots to gloves, jacket, trousers and Helmet and I'm having a hard time deciding on what I want.
Riding a sports bike, with a budget of preferably less than 500 but I can double that if necessary.
Undecided if I should go full leathers or not.
What do you wear, photos would be Good too.
Thank you
Riding a sports bike, with a budget of preferably less than 500 but I can double that if necessary.
Undecided if I should go full leathers or not.
What do you wear, photos would be Good too.
Thank you
Depends on how often and what times of year you’ll be riding. These days I ride mostly April-October only and live in continental Europe, so zip-together mesh jacket (with removable windstop liner) + mesh trousers, and waterproofs (topbox/rucksack) is the order of the day.
Back in 1990s when I used to commute every day Weybridge to Soho all year round in all weathers, it was two-piece leathers and the good old FT (not) waterproofs
Back in 1990s when I used to commute every day Weybridge to Soho all year round in all weathers, it was two-piece leathers and the good old FT (not) waterproofs
If it’s a Suzuki GSX then grey hoodie required, cammo trousers and big boots.
BMW GS? Grey textiles, black patches, and lots of pockets. And remember the peak on the helmet.
Honda? Doesn’t really matter, but ladies underwear underneath preferred.
Harley? Leather jacket, but cut the arms off and add some tasteful badges like ‘Road Captain’ or ‘Master at Arms’.
Bonneville? Retro open face helmet mandatory.
For me, it’s ‘distressed’ Indian jacket and Kevlar jeans on the Indians? Fringed Brando-style jacket on the Hurricane. And anything incredibly stupid on the Corgi.
It’s important to dress for the bike
BMW GS? Grey textiles, black patches, and lots of pockets. And remember the peak on the helmet.
Honda? Doesn’t really matter, but ladies underwear underneath preferred.
Harley? Leather jacket, but cut the arms off and add some tasteful badges like ‘Road Captain’ or ‘Master at Arms’.
Bonneville? Retro open face helmet mandatory.
For me, it’s ‘distressed’ Indian jacket and Kevlar jeans on the Indians? Fringed Brando-style jacket on the Hurricane. And anything incredibly stupid on the Corgi.
It’s important to dress for the bike
In winter
Bering Balistik laminated suit - £450 on black Friday
Gerbing XRL Gloves - £150 ish
Altberg Tethera Boots - £260 ish
Gerbings heated vest - £40 secondhand
Summer
Resurgence New Wave Jeans - £220
Roadskin MA1 jacket - £50 secondhand
Can't remember the make of gloves but about £50
White's Bounty Hunter boots - £540
Helmet for both is Shoei Qwest 2 - £220
You can get a LOT of stuff secondhand and many places do 0% credit. Oxford stuff is very well priced.
Bering Balistik laminated suit - £450 on black Friday
Gerbing XRL Gloves - £150 ish
Altberg Tethera Boots - £260 ish
Gerbings heated vest - £40 secondhand
Summer
Resurgence New Wave Jeans - £220
Roadskin MA1 jacket - £50 secondhand
Can't remember the make of gloves but about £50
White's Bounty Hunter boots - £540
Helmet for both is Shoei Qwest 2 - £220
You can get a LOT of stuff secondhand and many places do 0% credit. Oxford stuff is very well priced.
If you are on a budget then Vinted, Ebay and Facebook market place can be a good source of unused and nearly new bike gear. I bought a pair of Keis heated gloves off Vinted for £50, ( they are £180 new ) , looked like they had never been worn.
Sportbikeshop also sell on Ebay, some of it is new, some are returns.
Do not buy a used helmet of any description , no matter who is selling it !
Sportbikeshop also sell on Ebay, some of it is new, some are returns.
Do not buy a used helmet of any description , no matter who is selling it !
£500 doesn't go very far buying motorcycle clothing these days, if you're going for a one piece suit along with boots and helmet etc you'll probably need to allow about £1500 
The other problem is when you buy your kit over a period of years you don't really notice the cost until you sit down and add it all up for insurance purposes at which point you have a WTF!! moment...
The other problem is when you buy your kit over a period of years you don't really notice the cost until you sit down and add it all up for insurance purposes at which point you have a WTF!! moment...
Over a few years you tend to build up a biking wardrobe of favourite gear. I have a few leather and a textile mesh jacket, couple of pairs of different weight trousers, a waterproof suit, high waterproof boots, short summer boots, winter/summer/waterproof gloves etc. I ride a super naked, a tourer and a cruiser, nearly all year round other than snow n ice. Obviously if you only ride in the dry in warm weather you can limit the choices.
Many new riders just dress up as per the stereotype they think they *should* look like, but these days you can get such a wide variety of quality protective gear in various styles, you can just wear whats comfortable and suits your riding. You dont have to wear full leathers on a sports bike if you dont find them comfortable, nor do you have to dress up like a gay pirate just because you ride a cruiser
With a £500 budget I would get a new helmet that fits well for £200 (check the sales, often last years model or colour are discounted) spend £150 on 2nd hand 2 piece suit off ebay, and some 2nd hand boots n gloves with the rest. See how you get on and what you do or dont like about what you buy and then upgrade later as funds allow. No need to buy all new gear to start with until you really figure out what works for you. You can buy used gear try it and sell on if you dont like it, try something else. The more quality big name brands tend to hold value and are easier to re-sell if you dont like it.
Many new riders just dress up as per the stereotype they think they *should* look like, but these days you can get such a wide variety of quality protective gear in various styles, you can just wear whats comfortable and suits your riding. You dont have to wear full leathers on a sports bike if you dont find them comfortable, nor do you have to dress up like a gay pirate just because you ride a cruiser
With a £500 budget I would get a new helmet that fits well for £200 (check the sales, often last years model or colour are discounted) spend £150 on 2nd hand 2 piece suit off ebay, and some 2nd hand boots n gloves with the rest. See how you get on and what you do or dont like about what you buy and then upgrade later as funds allow. No need to buy all new gear to start with until you really figure out what works for you. You can buy used gear try it and sell on if you dont like it, try something else. The more quality big name brands tend to hold value and are easier to re-sell if you dont like it.
As said before for £500 you're going to struggle. Are you going to ride all year round?
Get yourself to J&S and get, if it fits, am HJC C70 helmet. Cheapest 5 star SHARP rated helmet I'm aware of. I use one myself and for £130 including a Pinlock, you won't do better. Not the quietest so get some foam earplugs.
Then I'd have a look on ebay and or see if Essex Biker Centre is near you. They're one of the biggest second hand retailers. You're better buying good second hand stuff than new and rubbish. Local Gumtree as well to go and try stuff on.
My textile jacket was over £400 nearly ten years ago: I must have easily two grands worth of kit.
Get yourself to J&S and get, if it fits, am HJC C70 helmet. Cheapest 5 star SHARP rated helmet I'm aware of. I use one myself and for £130 including a Pinlock, you won't do better. Not the quietest so get some foam earplugs.
Then I'd have a look on ebay and or see if Essex Biker Centre is near you. They're one of the biggest second hand retailers. You're better buying good second hand stuff than new and rubbish. Local Gumtree as well to go and try stuff on.
My textile jacket was over £400 nearly ten years ago: I must have easily two grands worth of kit.
Think about the riding you'll do, if it's just sunny leisure rides then go leather, otherwise get textiles. Oxford do laminate kit cheaply now, I think £300 for trousers and jacket. Decent fitting helmet, HJC, Caberg and AGV all do decent lids for under £200. Comfy boots and gloves, you could be all done for under £600. Prioritise fit and comfort for all your kit, armour needs to stay in the right places when you move.
But if you ride a lot expect to replace most of that kit quickly. Linings will sag on budget lids leaving them wobbly and loose fitting. Fasteners will break, fabric will split and waterproofs will loose their proofing. More expensive kit should be better made so last longer, doesn't always work that way.
But if you ride a lot expect to replace most of that kit quickly. Linings will sag on budget lids leaving them wobbly and loose fitting. Fasteners will break, fabric will split and waterproofs will loose their proofing. More expensive kit should be better made so last longer, doesn't always work that way.
I would struggle for £500, as above my helmet was more than that.
I have:
Helmet - arai profile v which was my starter, and an rx7-v. There are lighter and better helmets but a racer friend of mine has a shelf of all the rx7’s he had on when he binned it, scraped the floor with his head and came off with no injuries.
Boots - dainese axial d1. Great boot and I have the ones that go under the leathers so fine with riding jeans also. When I was learning every biker I knew would tell me a story about crashing and mangled feet. I like my feet, my feet like these boots.
Gloves - rukka goretex gauntlets for winter and rukka forsair short gloves for summer. dainese gauntlets for track.
Jacket - Knox urbane pro mk2. AA rated. most of my riding is in summer but it goes under my belstaff if it’s cold. The belstaff isn’t their biker version it’s just to keep the wind out.
Trousers - This is the weakest part of my outfit really. Some riding jeans I can’t remember the brand with knee and hip pads.
I rent leathers for trackdays, wouldn’t wear them on the road. Neither of my sports bikes are road legal, so the above is for a naked. I live in a hot climate. I do ride quickly on the road at times but have the opinion if I come off it’ll be a collision rather than a slide.
I have:
Helmet - arai profile v which was my starter, and an rx7-v. There are lighter and better helmets but a racer friend of mine has a shelf of all the rx7’s he had on when he binned it, scraped the floor with his head and came off with no injuries.
Boots - dainese axial d1. Great boot and I have the ones that go under the leathers so fine with riding jeans also. When I was learning every biker I knew would tell me a story about crashing and mangled feet. I like my feet, my feet like these boots.
Gloves - rukka goretex gauntlets for winter and rukka forsair short gloves for summer. dainese gauntlets for track.
Jacket - Knox urbane pro mk2. AA rated. most of my riding is in summer but it goes under my belstaff if it’s cold. The belstaff isn’t their biker version it’s just to keep the wind out.
Trousers - This is the weakest part of my outfit really. Some riding jeans I can’t remember the brand with knee and hip pads.
I rent leathers for trackdays, wouldn’t wear them on the road. Neither of my sports bikes are road legal, so the above is for a naked. I live in a hot climate. I do ride quickly on the road at times but have the opinion if I come off it’ll be a collision rather than a slide.
Edited by shirt on Sunday 28th July 00:56
Haven’t ridden for 18 months (still have the bike) and always rode fully kitted out:
Arai RX7 Helmet
Alpinestars 1 Piece Leathers with a Forcefield LVL 4 Back Protector and AS Chest Protector.
TCX Boots
Revit Kangaroo hide gloves
1 Piece Alpine Stars Rain Over Suit (if required).
I would have a look at your budget because protective gear is not something that can be compromised on.
Whilst I always wore leathers, it appears that most people wear textile kit now. Does anyone know how textiles perform in an accident compared to leather.
Arai RX7 Helmet
Alpinestars 1 Piece Leathers with a Forcefield LVL 4 Back Protector and AS Chest Protector.
TCX Boots
Revit Kangaroo hide gloves
1 Piece Alpine Stars Rain Over Suit (if required).
I would have a look at your budget because protective gear is not something that can be compromised on.
Whilst I always wore leathers, it appears that most people wear textile kit now. Does anyone know how textiles perform in an accident compared to leather.
Edited by Rob 131 Sport on Sunday 28th July 09:03
Shark Helmet - £180 on sale - PinLock included and 4* Sharp rated. Shark seems to be one of the very few that fit my head shape!
Spidi Gloves - £40 - short cuff leather with armour.
Bull-it Kevlar Jeans - £89
Frank Thomas Leather Jacket - £130 + upgraded the back protector, shoulder and arm to CE2. Can’t remember cost of upgraded protectors as bought them over months.
Frank Thomas leather boots - £95.
I ride only in good weather though and prefer to bimble along in the Peak District on my cruiser style bike, if was doing track days on a sport bike would be dressing different.
It is possible to get it all for £500 but I’d say it’s very dependant on the riding style you plan on doing.
Spidi Gloves - £40 - short cuff leather with armour.
Bull-it Kevlar Jeans - £89
Frank Thomas Leather Jacket - £130 + upgraded the back protector, shoulder and arm to CE2. Can’t remember cost of upgraded protectors as bought them over months.
Frank Thomas leather boots - £95.
I ride only in good weather though and prefer to bimble along in the Peak District on my cruiser style bike, if was doing track days on a sport bike would be dressing different.
It is possible to get it all for £500 but I’d say it’s very dependant on the riding style you plan on doing.
Rob 131 Sport said:
Does anyone know how textiles perform in an accident compared to leather.
Even high end textiles are a poor relation to leather for prolonged abrasion resistance.If you slide for any distance you don’t want to be in textiles.
Textiles are also scrap after an off at any speed where a lot of leathers will be fine.
trickywoo said:
Rob 131 Sport said:
Does anyone know how textiles perform in an accident compared to leather.
Even high end textiles are a poor relation to leather for prolonged abrasion resistance.If you slide for any distance you don’t want to be in textiles.
Textiles are also scrap after an off at any speed where a lot of leathers will be fine.
Rob 131 Sport said:
If textiles are poor in a crash then why are they so popular.
People tend not to slide for a long time when they have an off on the road. And really, they're not 'poor' in a crash, they just don't have the abrasion resistance of leather. Having said that, there are some advanced textiles which have ceramics engineered into specific areas, which really bumps up the abrasion resistance.It's all balance, and I don't think it's insane to suggest that textiles will almost always be more comfortable and practical than leathers.
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