Budget for your first bits of motorcycle gear?

[TridenT]

Just need to get ready for a MSF course and some light riding (I'm considering buying a bike afterwards). I need to get some gloves, a full face helmet, and a water-resistant jacket at the least.

How much would you budget? I was thinking $150-$200 for the helmet. I was considering buying two pairs of gloves but might just spring for the wet only weather ones since I'll be riding this bike through Fall-Spring in Seattle. $150-$200 for the jacket?

I'm not really wanting to shell out $500 just for a helmet or jacket right now since it just seems prohibitive to entering the field as a college student. I'm going to try to buy a 250cc bike (Probably a ninja; what else is there?) for real cheap. (I'll likely buy new tires for the bike that are made for wet weather) Sell it during the beginning of June when I am moving and get my monies back.

Anything else....? I don't know why I didn't consider shoes or some suitable pants (thinking about the wet weather now... ugh.).

 

[zCypher]

The Ninja 250R and CBR250R are both really nice and pretty cool beginner bikes as far as I'm concerned. I rode the Honda in my course, but never did get to try a Ninja. People tend to speak highly of it though.

As far as budget, well depends on what gear you absolutely want as of the beginning and what kind of deals you can find. In my case the helmet was included in the course I paid for. I started riding with nothing but that. I wanted to get on and practice asap. I should clarify, I do have a jacket, but it's been WAY too hot to wear it, sweating balls without it.

Now that I've put on a few hundred kilometers on my motorcycle, I'm finding what I want most is a good pair of gloves, so that's what I'm getting next. I find that my hands go numb after not too long of riding with no gloves.

$200 is definitely enough to get a helmet, I've seen some much cheaper than that. The important thing is that it conforms to standards, and that it fits as perfectly as possible. Go try on a few.

 

[TridenT]

Yeah, I was starting out looking at $500 helmets because I was really thinking about the long term... And then I realized maybe I should get a cheaper helmet because a cheaper one will be a better purchase for starting out (That way I don't buy an expensive helmet with things I don't actually want or need and then fucking ruin the thing so early on anyway). If I buy a cheaper one without as many features then I know what I want later on and know what I like or could need. So, anything below $200 seems like a fucking bargain to me. I do want it to be DOT and SNELL 2010 (ECE 22.05 would be nice too) approved though. If I am going to crash, I want to crash with something that's proven to work in those tests.

Gloves are expensive and definitely a must. I wear gloves even when I am riding my bicycle because it's so cold all the time here. Definitely want to protect my hands too. If I've learned anything from crashing and falling off buildings, it's that I have an instinct to brace with my hands when I have nothing else to use. (Broke a bone in my wrist instead of my tailbone from doing that once) I'd like to keep my skin.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Just buy a cheap helmet that fits right. Go to a store that sells them and ask them to help you get one that fits right.

Wear work boots or any type of boot that covers your ankle for the MSF class (that is a requirement). Any jacket will do as will pretty much any heavy duty gloves, even gardening gloves and jeans. Don't bother spending the money on gear until you complete the MSF and know for sure that you are committed.

 

[Greenman]

There are DOT and SNELL rated helmets for as low as $70. Personally, I've seen enough evidence to convince me that a SNELL rating isn't worth paying a dollar extra for. Get a cheap full coverage helmet and some $12 gardening gloves from home depot. Jackets can be had from Cycle Gear for as little as $79. Probably made out of human skin, but the price is right.

 

[JulesMaximus]

There are DOT and SNELL rated helmets for as low as $70. Personally, I've seen enough evidence to convince me that a SNELL rating isn't worth paying a dollar extra for. Get a cheap full coverage helmet and some $12 gardening gloves from home depot. Jackets can be had from Cycle Gear for as little as $79. Probably made out of human skin, but the price is right.

Plastic is much cheaper than human skin and much more durable. But yeah, I agree, if you're gonna spend money on a motorcycle jacket for the MSF then definitely get one of those. :thumbsup:

 

[twinrider1]

I believe in some states MSF will loan you a helmet. Call your MSF. Why spend money until you know you're past the considering stage. Borrow one from MSF or a friend.

 

[TridenT]

I believe in some states MSF will loan you a helmet. Call your MSF. Why spend money until you know you're past the considering stage. Borrow one from MSF or a friend.

I'm gonna call and ask if they can. I think they do.

I'm still going to need boots, gloves, and a jacket of some sort though.

 

[Fenixgoon]

edit: for MSF, they usually give you everything you need (helmet + gloves). they require a long sleeve shirt, boots, and jeans, IIRC.


once you buy a bike, i would recommend the allotting ~ $650 for gear

$100 for helmet (HJC is a good starter - get fit in person though)
$150-200 for jacket
$100-200 for pants
$100 for boots
$50 for gloves


the amount i've spent on gear....i don't want to think about it lol. probably $2000-$2500

4 helmets (2 retired)
4 gloves
3 boots (1 retired)
3 pants
5 jackets
1 racing suit

 

[TridenT]

What would you suggest for boots? They need to be waterproof. (Like, pouring down rain and riding in that shit proof) Do you think some timberlands would actually work? (I'd like to have something that isn't exclusive to motorcycles, but... what can ya do?)

 

[JulesMaximus]

What would you suggest for boots? They need to be waterproof. (Like, pouring down rain and riding in that shit proof) Do you think some timberlands would actually work? (I'd like to have something that isn't exclusive to motorcycles, but... what can ya do?)

For the MSF?

Answer: Anything that covers your ankles.

For general riding?

Answer: Something that is exclusive to motorcycles.

Don't believe me? Google image search for 'foot injuries from motorcycle accidents' and you can see what can happen to your feet if you get into an accident wearing regular shoes. The only thing everyday footwear is good for on a motorcycle is that they are very easily removed from your feet in an accident... which isn't a good thing.

Google 'road rash' too while you're at it. It is good for people who want to get into riding to know what kind of injuries can result from not wearing proper gear.

 

[TridenT]

Yeah, I don't own anything that covers the ankles. That's the problem I am encountering. I'm not a boot wearing man, myself.

 

[Fenixgoon]

What would you suggest for boots? They need to be waterproof. (Like, pouring down rain and riding in that shit proof) Do you think some timberlands would actually work? (I'd like to have something that isn't exclusive to motorcycles, but... what can ya do?)

specifically for motorcycling?

My Alpinestars Roam WP boots are amazingly comfortable, very warm, and waterproof. They're $160 i think?

note that that does not prevent your feet from getting COLD. that's something else altogether

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yeah, I don't own anything that covers the ankles. That's the problem I am encountering. I'm not a boot wearing man, myself.

Well, if you never crash it won't be problem. Best of luck with that. :thumbsup:

For the MSF it is mandatory that you have footwear that covers the ankle. Any work boot would qualify. Hell, a high top sneaker might qualify. Call and ask would be my recommendation.

Motorcycle gear is not comfortable, it is restrictive, it is confining, it is hot and sweaty, but it will offer the best protection by far if you are involved in an accident. Leather is the most expensive but it is also the most durable and offers the best protection. It is also the heaviest, most restrictive clothing you will ever wear other than a suit of armor (actually, a 3-4 mil wetsuit might come close). :biggrin:

 

[Greenman]

Yeah, I don't own anything that covers the ankles. That's the problem I am encountering. I'm not a boot wearing man, myself.

Walmart has $20 work boots that cover the ankles. People like them because they're made with the tears of children.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

I agree. Don't spend any money until you're sure you'll like it. Once that happens you should pick up some gear. Helmet should be something you've tried on. Cheaper helmet will protect you but the higher end helmets will usually be less noisy and weigh less. If you want something cheap you could get the new icon alliance dark. It comes with a smoked shield. Or you could grab the icon alliance rubatone, which is pretty much the same helmet and add in a smoked shield later.

motorcyclegear.com has a deal right now if you buy some ht air overpants for $250, you get a $150 gift card to their site. You could buy those overpants, which have a waterproof liner ( i believe it's a 3 season pant) and the helmet for ~$250 total.

Cyclegear is a good place to pick up cheap gear. They have a hi viz vest for something like $30.

Gloves, I prefer full gauntlet. Keeps your sleeves from riding up if you crash. AGV laguna sport are supposed to be good. Scorpion has some short cuff gloves (sgs) that looks like a good value.

I don't ride in the rain but a lot of people recommend frogg toggs instead of dedicated rainwear. Just keep them in your saddlebags. Maybe budget aside some cash for wet weather tires.

When you actually start buying your gear, post again and I'll help you find some deals online. I actually have a slight addiction to buying gear.

 

[TridenT]

I agree. Don't spend any money until you're sure you'll like it. Once that happens you should pick up some gear. Helmet should be something you've tried on. Cheaper helmet will protect you but the higher end helmets will usually be less noisy and weigh less. If you want something cheap you could get the new icon alliance dark. It comes with a smoked shield. Or you could grab the icon alliance rubatone, which is pretty much the same helmet and add in a smoked shield later.

motorcyclegear.com has a deal right now if you buy some ht air overpants for $250, you get a $150 gift card to their site. You could buy those overpants, which have a waterproof liner ( i believe it's a 3 season pant) and the helmet for ~$250 total.

Cyclegear is a good place to pick up cheap gear. They have a hi viz vest for something like $30.

Gloves, I prefer full gauntlet. Keeps your sleeves from riding up if you crash. AGV laguna sport are supposed to be good. Scorpion has some short cuff gloves (sgs) that looks like a good value.

I don't ride in the rain but a lot of people recommend frogg toggs instead of dedicated rainwear. Just keep them in your saddlebags. Maybe budget aside some cash for wet weather tires.

When you actually start buying your gear, post again and I'll help you find some deals online. I actually have a slight addiction to buying gear.

I've been doing a lot of research. I'm pretty sure I'll need 'dedicated' rain gear for the 9 months I'll be riding. (Sept-June) I live in Seattle. It's always raining. I was considering something like this: http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/dainese-xantum-d-dry-jacket It's expensive (for starting out), but even in the video the guy said, "It's great for the pacific northwest." I am pretty sure he hasn't said that about any other piece of gear I've looked at yet.

I have to say, I'm <140lb, 5'9", and very narrow build. I'm very thin. Even nearing 140lb now, I still look like I am 115-120lb. So, a lot of American brands and cuts just don't work for me. Dainese is a lot more expensive but their shit will be more likely to actually fit me.

EDIT: Do you have any brand recommendations for slimmer guys such as myself? Ones to avoid?

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Any of the euro fitting stuff should be pretty good. It's a little slimmer than an american fit. RS Taichi is a japanese company and their stuff is slimmer also. Good quality gear. Might want to check them out also. There's a shop near me that actually carries their stuff.

Revzilla is a good site to buy from if you are unsure about sizing. No restocking fee but I think the return shipping for the first exchange is free. It might be different now though.

 

[TridenT]

Any of the euro fitting stuff should be pretty good. It's a little slimmer than an american fit. RS Taichi is a japanese company and their stuff is slimmer also. Good quality gear. Might want to check them out also. There's a shop near me that actually carries their stuff.

Revzilla is a good site to buy from if you are unsure about sizing. No restocking fee but I think the return shipping for the first exchange is free. It might be different now though.

Yeah, I was looking at Revzilla a lot. They have good videos to go with the products. Pricing could be better (It's not terrible, but their "sales" of things is bullshit. They say something is 15-20% cheaper than MSRP, but in the video from when the product first came out it was even cheaper than their marked down price!). But, it's a place to start and then go to other sites to find it for cheaper at.

 

[TridenT]

Any of the euro fitting stuff should be pretty good. It's a little slimmer than an american fit. RS Taichi is a japanese company and their stuff is slimmer also. Good quality gear. Might want to check them out also. There's a shop near me that actually carries their stuff.

Revzilla is a good site to buy from if you are unsure about sizing. No restocking fee but I think the return shipping for the first exchange is free. It might be different now though.

Moto liberty is the only company that is licensed to sell RS Taichi in the USA. I was looking at this jacket that I really liked of theirs: RSJ285. http://www.gearauthority.com/RS-Taichi-Drymaster-Storm-Jacket-RSJ285 (Not moto liberty, they don't have it)

At RS Taichi: http://pro1.rs-taichi.com/product/RSJ285.html

I was wanting the white one. It's as if it is the only jacket that moto liberty doesn't import. It shows that it has pads in it, but it definitely doesn't look much sturdier than a jacket you'd buy from REI.

 

[Fenixgoon]

I've been doing a lot of research. I'm pretty sure I'll need 'dedicated' rain gear for the 9 months I'll be riding. (Sept-June) I live in Seattle. It's always raining. I was considering something like this: http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/dainese-xantum-d-dry-jacket It's expensive (for starting out), but even in the video the guy said, "It's great for the pacific northwest." I am pretty sure he hasn't said that about any other piece of gear I've looked at yet.

I have to say, I'm <140lb, 5'9", and very narrow build. I'm very thin. Even nearing 140lb now, I still look like I am 115-120lb. So, a lot of American brands and cuts just don't work for me. Dainese is a lot more expensive but their shit will be more likely to actually fit me.

EDIT: Do you have any brand recommendations for slimmer guys such as myself? Ones to avoid?

Buy the Revvit rain suit and save yourself $200. I got mine in safety yellow for $100. It worked quite well.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/revit-pacific-h2o-rain-suit

 

[TridenT]

Buy the Revvit rain suit and save yourself $200. I got mine in safety yellow for $100. It worked quite well.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/revit-pacific-h2o-rain-suit

That's something aimed at "Oh shit. It's raining and I'm totally not ready for that possibility without this suit."

I'm living in Seattle. Usually, it rains all year... Fall-Spring it is cloudy 7 times a week.

 

[TridenT]

Bought a jacket off craigslist. $60 No idea what jacket it is (in the line up that is). It's a Shift jacket. I think it's a summer jacket because it has a lot of non-zipper vents. It has a removable inner liner but doesn't have any zippers for venting air. There are two front pockets but that's it. It's got quite a lot of perforated textile/meshy-stuff on it though. Funny thing about it is, it's a size medium but doesn't feel large on me at all. The person selling it to me said the person who wore it was much bigger than me. But, it doesn't feel uncomfortable yet.

EDIT: Found out what jacket it is. It's an air avenger. http://www.motorcyclegear.com/stree...r_avenger_textile_mesh_motorcycle_jacket.html It's that but gray/black ( http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/at...ck-silver-shift-air-avenger-jacket-silver.jpg ) . It's pretty boring looking and not my style overall, but that's fine. I checked the back padding and it's basically a piece of foam. I'll probably buy something from revzilla to replace it. Here is a post of someone talking about in 2008. It must be an old jacket! http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/gear-sale/382458-black-silver-shift-air-avenger-jacket.html It doesn't smell or have any cosmetic defects that I can even tell about. The left arm the inner liner at the very end is frayed and disconnected a bit. (Elastic band that keeps it to form around your wrist is slightly disconnected) Easy fix though. I'll probably just take it back to my parents and get it hemmed up.

Bought boots off of craigslist. $25 http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/alpinestars-net-air-boots <-- Funny. They said they were those. They're actually these: http://www.revzilla.com/product/alpinestars-web-gore-tex-boots

The boots don't fit great. I'm a size 9. They're a size 9. However, they're a bit wide and actually a tiny bit long. But, for $25? They're used, but not severely. Still have some use out of them. I'll probably clean them up a lot and then put some inserts in them to minimize the wideness problem.

Went to buy the boots. Was sold the jacket too. For $85, I can't really go wrong. Especially on the boots. They're like 1/8 the retail price and definitely have more than 1/8th the life left. They're worn, but not severely. I think part of the sizing problem too is that they're made for people who have bigger calves and ankles. I'm a stick, so it's a bit weird. However, they won't be thrown off during a crash. I did some of these: http://youtu.be/VEhCKL3SdRY?t=6m35s and they managed to stay on.

EDIT9000: Bought some black shoe cream and some shoe inserts. Boots look great now! I'm going to buy some leather conditioner for them and use that.

 

[Fenixgoon]

^sounds like you got quite a deal! nice finds!

shift makes a decent jacket. textile/mesh jackets tend to be "one time use" jackets - if you crash, the jacket will hopefully save you but get torn up in the process. leather tends to hold up much better and can be re-used. i've seen plenty of guys with track day markers on their suits from crashing.

 

[TridenT]

^sounds like you got quite a deal! nice finds!

shift makes a decent jacket. textile/mesh jackets tend to be "one time use" jackets - if you crash, the jacket will hopefully save you but get torn up in the process. leather tends to hold up much better and can be re-used. i've seen plenty of guys with track day markers on their suits from crashing.

Yeah, I was aware of that when I bought it. I'm not too sure at this point if I am getting a motorcycle anymore. I'll be doing the MSF course at the least. Parts of my budget aren't really lining up now. (Unexpected costs are coming in; health insurance went out; I won't have my job after once Fall term starts; job market isn't looking good for the jobs I am trying to get in my position; school and life in general is going to get a lot more time consuming even without a job; I am planning a lot of rideshare road trips and a motorcycle doesn't cater to that)

But, we'll see how it goes... I'm looking for motorcycle gloves right now. I'll probably be getting some <$75 Spring-Summer-Fall gloves.