Bikers! - Recommend some good, decent, affordable gear!

[biggy7]

Did my CBT on Saturday and loved every second of it!

im now thinking doing a DAS, instructor said that i would only need 3 sessions/days, 3rd session being the day of the test, so im looking into buying some gear

ive had a look around and its a mine field tbh

went to Hein Gericke (manchester) yesterday, tried a few jackets on and tried some leathers on,

i think textiles suited me more, but the price of them was still a bit dear (at hein)

dont forget i have to account for DAS fees, then buying a bike, then insurance, learning to ride aint cheap is it!

i already know what helmet im getting (Lazer LZ6, as recommended by Sharp tests, tried it on at local shop and was awesome!) so need some recommendations for jackets, boots, trousers, gloves.

preferably an all weather type that i can wear all year around

what are Akito and Spada brands like? they seem to be more affordable.

Thanks!

[crashtestmac]

I would always say pay more than you can afford.

I have always got Dainese or Alpinestars. It has alwys lasted and i have personally proven on 3 occasions that the stuff is worth it's weight in gold.

If you are getting textiles get ones that are waterproof on the OUTSIDE, that may seem daft but i had a full BMW Savannah suit that had a zip in goretex layer. This was fine until it rained and you get wet, ou then have a big fecking heavy sponge that is still wet at hometime and maybe even the next day.

Remember that this stuff will literally save your skin when you "DO" have your first crash or small off.


But on the other hand it is summer so shorts, tshirt and flip flops should be ok when the sun is out...

[RSV]

Sidi do pretty good boots at reasonable cost mate and also look the part too, wouldnt scrimp and save too much on your safety kit tho cos you do really get what you pay for and as crashtestmac says it does literally save your skin!
Welcome to the biking community tho mate and good luck with your direct access

[biggy7]

thanks guys

yeh, been told pay as much as you can :d

are there any web sites that do tests on gear? any links?

[RSV]

http://www.ridetriangles.com/nav?pag...source=5431134 Ride magazine usually do pretty fair reviews of products. And they do a best buy system where they review the best value for money so to speak, usually pretty good to chat to the guys at your local bike kit store, they dont usually try to automatically sell you the most expensive stuff in the store Lol. Bikers do tend to look out for each other a bit more

[Fear345]

There is a bike gear shop in the middle of ashton if you come off the dukinfield roundabout heading into ashton where the netto store as just opened it's a little way up that road I've heard some lads who are bikers say the prices are very good.

[crashtestmac]

Actually i can sell you a cracked helmet, a jacket with most of the arm missing and a pair of leather trousers with most of the arm worn away........



That was a joke before i get a ban for trading outside the BST.

The one thing that i would make sure of most it what whatever trousers/jacket combo you get they MUST zip together properly because that chill up your back is a bastard.

Also get gloves that fit under your cuffs and get boots that fi INSIDE your trousers.

Anything you can to keep out the water as long as possible.

[malo]

I can let you have a new pair of no brand gloves, warm and waterproof, and a pair of size 10 boots, been down the road and behaved impeccably, all sliders still there....I know they're not new, but fuck all is a canny price, and it'll free up some coin for other gear.

[RSV]

Unfortunately i cant give away my crash damaged boots or leathers as they where cut off of me in the hospital lol

[shaper]

Don`t forget a decent lock & chain...

http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/

[greaseweasel]

I can highly recommend the Spada stuff. After buying the Spada Circuit Jacket which is only £99 and got the Ride Best Buy award I went on to buy the Carbo Race gloves. All has CE approved armour and is pretty waterproof. The gloves are more summer wear though, but reinforced with carbon knuckles for those road rage incidents .
The jacket is brilliant, really warm in winter and you can take out the lining in summer.
I got the Milano trousers (£49), they're totally waterproof but not breathable and so end up pretty sweaty, I wouldn't recommend these except for winter riding. I use Draggin Jeans for summer wear though.

The Lazer LZ6 is a great helmet, and a decent pair of boots should see you right. Its wrong that you need to spend a fortune as the cost goes into the brand names (as with anything).

Buying expensive when you don't know what you're looking for will probably get you decent gear. But read the reviews etc and you can have some top notch gear at a fraction of the price.

[Rick Sanchez]

get sidi boots their affordable and comfortable just wish i had mine on when i crashed.

My textile trousers protected my legs fine, were as my 300 quid leather jacket did bugger all, and my helmet came off!

[ekkl]

I was quite lucky buying my gear as I was sent to the local bike shop by a good mate of the bloke who sells the leathers and that.

I got a Richa leather jacket and trousers, both armoured obviously with the CE certification thingy for £300, a pair of Oxtar boots that he gave me for £99, a pair of Buffalo gloves that have amazing protection for £45 and a Shoei Raid II helmet for £175, all brand new. All that for just over 600 notes.

Went downstairs and bought a big lock and chain for £90. Think it is called a Mammoth lock.

I am just about to go and buy a pair of summer gloves but a good pair that will give me as good as protection as the winter pair are hard to find. Had a pair of Joe Rocket ones last summer but they fell apart after a month or two, they were expensive crap.

I am also going to buy a pair of Draggin Jeans. Almost everyone I ride out with have some and they are pretty good for the summer.

Pity this wasn't posted last week as I gave away a brand new Ducati armoured textile jacket to my mate as it didn't fit me. (got it with the bike, too small).

As people have said, don't buy the cheapest, it is your body in them!!!

Good luck with the rest of the test and that mate.

[biggy7]

Thanks guys!

have managed to get my gear now, bit and bats from ebay (new gear)

and helmet from a local dealer.

think i did quite well as far as costs goes.

[RSV]

What did u get in the end biggy?

[user]

gear is the MOST IMPORTANT...before you pick your motorcycle you should pick your gear... there is no point of having a CRAZY BIKE if you have no gear, i personally would go with 2 piece suit, a nice jacket and nice set of pants, other then that, i dont ride with boots or gloves , make sure the helmet fits nice and snug also