What do I need?

[Dibble]

So that's it, then. I've booked my CBT and direct access training for January.

I'm a complete novice to this lark, so (apart from the bike), what kit will I need?

Any recommendations as to helmets, leathers, gloves, waterproofs etc? I don't want any race replica/jazzy colours, just good, value for money kit.

Any good dealers in the Preston area?

[andy4200]

One thing I noticed when I was looking for kit was how different the shape of the helmets were between manufacturers. If you don't feel comfortable in one brand then try another, there will be one that's good for your shape. Same with the boots. I felt really uncomfortable in Sidi's but Alpinestars were great for me.

I went for textile kit and ended up going with Wolf stuff as they seemed to have a good combination of weatherproofing, armour and removable linings for summer/winter use.

It's my first kit so take what I say with a pinch of salt and just see what you feel good in.

Andy

[Davel]

You could try J & S Accessories in Northwich or any Hein Gericke shop (good one in Chester).

Tell them what you're looking for and they will probably be able to recommend stuff to your budget,

Don't go too mad yet, maybe just textile stuff and helmet, boots & gloves for the moment - oh and maybe some thermals.

You don't have to spend a fortune but remember that good protection is paramount.

Sure that you'll love it.

[rsvmilly]

If you can get down to the Ally Pally superbike show in January, you can usually get some pretty good bargains on last years stock. I saved over £100 on an Arai 'Doohan' rep.

You will need a passport as it is darn sarf.

Helmets - don't skimp as they are incredibly important. Budget on £200+ for a decent one. Mate got an Arai from the NEC show for £220. Try lots on as has been said before; you may have an Arai shaped head or conversely it may be Shoei or Suomi etc.

Boots - something like sidi rain boots can be got for around £100 at a show. Good quality and reasonable looks - plain black.

Leathers - so long as they have CE approved armour, the world is your lobster. You may consider Cordura instead of leather - better weatherproofing than leather although protection is not *quite* as good (debatable!)

[dern]

rsvmilly said:

Helmets - don't skimp as they are incredibly important. Budget on £200+ for a decent one. Mate got an Arai from the NEC show for £220. Try lots on as has been said before; you may have an Arai shaped head or conversely it may be Shoei or Suomi etc.

You could get an FM for just over 100 that would suit you fine imo. The only difference between them and the more expensive stuff is quality of ventilation, whether or not the lining is removeable and speed of visor removal as far as I can see. Don't believe any cr*p about 100 quid helmet for 100 quid head.

Mark

[jvaughan]

If you want the bare bare minimum... a good pair of Dr Martins / Combat / Para Boots, and a pair of jeans..(if your doing it this weather, dont forget to add a pair of waterproof trousers ontop) with a cheap jacket & Helmet (CE Armour). Dont forget gloves. You should beable to get enough "Protective Clothing" for about £150.

If you want to get the propper clothing straight off... look on spending double / tripple

[rsvmilly]

dern said:

rsvmilly said: Helmets - don't skimp as they are incredibly important. Budget on £200+ for a decent one. Mate got an Arai from the NEC show for £220. Try lots on as has been said before; you may have an Arai shaped head or conversely it may be Shoei or Suomi etc. You could get an FM for just over 100 that would suit you fine imo. The only difference between them and the more expensive stuff is quality of ventilation, whether or not the lining is removeable and speed of visor removal as far as I can see. Don't believe any cr*p about 100 quid helmet for 100 quid head. Mark

Horses for courses.

Dibble, just bear in mind that if you don't buy the gear you would like to end up in then it is a false economy. You'll only end up buying what you really wanted in the long run.

[Dibble]

Thanks people - revised letter to Santa being written - and off out for a look round the local Hein Gericke store...

[dern]

jvaughan said:

If you want the bare bare minimum... a good pair of Dr Martins / Combat / Para Boots, and a pair of jeans..(if your doing it this weather, dont forget to add a pair of waterproof trousers ontop) with a cheap jacket & Helmet (CE Armour). Dont forget gloves. You should beable to get enough "Protective Clothing" for about £150.

Try and avoid steel toe cap boots though as I've heard (and it sounds reasonable) that it's possible for the toes to bend back in a crash neatly amputating your toes.

Mark

[BliarOut]

Never mind that.... They're bloody freezing

[Robbo SPS]

My first lid was an HJC and its great. I bought an Arai RX7 - And its the MOSt comfortable lid ever.

But its 4 times more than the HJC.

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Hein Gerricke is great kit and comes with removable liners, so thay do winter and summer.

[dern]

Robbo SPS said:

My first lid was an HJC and its great. I bought an Arai RX7 - And its the MOSt comfortable lid ever. But its 4 times more than the HJC. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

You certainly do in terms of features but not in terms of safety imho.

I need a new lid, I've had my shoei for 4 years and it's getting pretty shabby. Not that impressed with the quality in all honesty. It's a budget model but really not as good as my old fm. Having said that it's lasted a lot longer without the lining compressing than the fms I've had.

My first lid was matt black - seemed like a good idea in the shop and looked good for about 10 miles

Regards,

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Thursday 2nd December 21:36

[treehack]

buy the best you can afford.in my wardrobe i have £800 worth of dainese leathers £150 worth of boot's and £300 helmet,that's just the road gear.off road gear is £200 MX boots,£150 lid,£120 set of body armour plus m more

[bennyboysvuk]

Hello Dibble,

I can honestly say that I've really done my crash testing in the last year and a half and have found that my kit works pretty well.

Spyke leathers - around £800 (after mods to fit) - I've crashed in these 8 times now at speeds of up to 85mph. They look a bit tatty, but they're not holed or torn!

Swift Dynatec gloves - about £80 - Lasted superbly until the finger and thumb wore through after about 5 crashes. Quality gloves and good VFM.

Sidi Vertebrae boots - About £130 - These have held together well although I broke my big toe on one crash where my toe kicked the floor pretty hard.

As for lids, well here's what I've found so far:

AGV's (Evo) are heavy, but comfortable and quiet with good ventilation.

Arai's (Astro J) are lightweight and very, very comfortable but are noisy at speed and they seem to mist up more easily than AGV's.

Roofs (Daytona) are heavier than the Arai, but quieter at speed and unfortunately, have similar misting problems.

I've only crash tested the Arai and the AGV and they both did a splendid job.

Hope that helps...

[tycho]

bennyboysvuk said:

Hello Dibble, I can honestly say that I've really done my crash testing in the last year and a half and have found that my kit works pretty well. Spyke leathers - around £800 (after mods to fit) - I've crashed in these 8 times now at speeds of up to 85mph. They look a bit tatty, but they're not holed or torn! Swift Dynatec gloves - about £80 - Lasted superbly until the finger and thumb wore through after about 5 crashes. Quality gloves and good VFM. Sidi Vertebrae boots - About £130 - These have held together well although I broke my big toe on one crash where my toe kicked the floor pretty hard. As for lids, well here's what I've found so far: AGV's (Evo) are heavy, but comfortable and quiet with good ventilation. Arai's (Astro J) are lightweight and very, very comfortable but are noisy at speed and they seem to mist up more easily than AGV's. Roofs (Daytona) are heavier than the Arai, but quieter at speed and unfortunately, have similar misting problems. I've only crash tested the Arai and the AGV and they both did a splendid job. Hope that helps...

Ever thought you have chosen the wrong method of transport/pastime?

[Davel]

The only time when you really find out how good the kit is, is when you come off and find yourself in need of protection.

Personally I wouldn't save on boots, helmet and clothing because it's your lifesaver, when you really get to test it.

It'll cost a fair amount but you don't need a one or two piece leather set yet and, as the saying goes 'Colour co-ordinated leathers doesn't stop you riding like a tw*t!'

- although I'm sure you won't...

[mrmaggit]

I'd recommend Altberg Boots. No doubt as a serving policeman you're aware of them, but they do made to measure bike boots, not as expensive as you'd think. I've had mine for 15 months, wear them all day, every day, apart from being a bit heavy, they're like slippers. Waterproof, sturdy, warm, (can you tell I really like these boots?).

Gericke stuff is good without being too expensive.

[MrsMiggins]

As above really. J&S do a good range from IXS - I wear their textile gear and have found it to be really well made. Totally waterproof and warm. Look for the CE mark on any protective clothing - without it the gear shouldn't be sold as protective in the first place.

If you end up buying jacket and jeans separately try to make sure you can still zip them together. When I bought my first leather jacket I couldn't afford to buy leather jeans at the same time. When I eventually could afford it (poor student at the time ) the jeans I bought didn't zip to the jacket. It's much colder and you don't get the same level of protection. Having said that I asked nicely and the jeans manufacturer gave me the matching jacket zip and I swapped it into the jacket so all was well in the end

Oh, welcome to the club, you're gonna love it

[veetwin]

jvaughan said:

If you want the bare bare minimum... a good pair of Dr Martins / Combat / Para Boots, and a pair of jeans..(if your doing it this weather, dont forget to add a pair of waterproof trousers ontop) with a cheap jacket & Helmet (CE Armour). Dont forget gloves. You should beable to get enough "Protective Clothing" for about £150. If you want to get the propper clothing straight off... look on spending double / tripple

I chose this bare minimum approach once as it was all I could afford, I now wish that I had not bothered and used public transport instead as the two pins holding my knee together will suggest. I started biking again two years ago and firmly believe that spend every penny your wallet will allow on safety gear. The alternatives just don't bear thinking about. Jeans will last 0.2secs against tarmac at 30mph then its up to your skin to stop the friction eating your flesh. Definitely go with CE if you can stretch to that and any BS kitemarked helmet is by definition 'up to the job'. Helmets beyond £200 will be priced to suit graphics, ventilation, visor quality, etc. (as already mentioned) Leather is the best medium against tarmac however I read a lot of good things about the other materials now on offer. Back protectors are good for direct impacts; however, upward movement shunts have been known to push protectors towards the top of the spine and breaking neck vertebrae. A lot of 1 and 2 piece suits will have a built in back protector (moulded type not exoskeletal) These won't damage your neck. Boots are the same as lids, price is in direct proportion to aesthetics, most mainline stuff will be ideal alpinestars, sidi, axo etc.

Ear plugs are good defence as well.

Good luck with the tests!

[Davel]

Oxtar boots are pretty good too.

the goretex ones are waterproof and have spline protectors.