Gear Suggestions?

[Freakazoid]

Alright well so far I've been mooching off my friend's dad's gear. I'm in the process of trying to find some stuff that would work for me. Any suggestions I'd be more than willing to take.


Helmet, I'm pretty sure I basically got a free helmet so no issues with that (my longterm plan is to buy that vemar carbon fiber helmet though!)

Gloves, I'm looking at something not bulky winterish, dark colors, preferrably black and maybe some grey. Some solid material, what kind exactly I don't care too much. Rain resiliency would be moot because I don't see myself riding very much in the rain (it's what my beater of a car would be for probably). The ones I'm thinking about getting is the now no longer made First Gear Chrometech gloves.

Boots, I'm trying to find somethin that could pull off as being a semi dressy boot when underneath pants. Obviously it won't achieve perfection, but that's the basic idea i'm looking for. So far what I've found is the Icon Standard boots or the River Road Highway boots. Any thoughts on those or any other suggestions?

Suit/Pants/Jacket. I'm a tall rather lanky guy 6'6" 180 lbs, almost all in my legs, if I could find a decent suit I'd be all for it, not sure how easy that would be for a reasonable price (i.e. at THIS point I don't want to pay the price of my bike for the suit ). I'm talking like the bare minimum would be a 34" inseam, 36" to be comfortable. If I couldn't find a suit, I would VERY much like to be able to find a pair of ridign pants that I could use as regular pants as well. Khakis would be excellent, so would be jeans, or any black pants that short of close inspection could pull off as being "normal". So far I've seen Draggin Jeans and overseas has Draggin Khakis. What's people's thoughts on them? Draggin khakis I'm not sure if I'd fit in for inseam, but the jeans I found I can order the specific inseam/waist combination. For a Jacket, I've been wearing a size 44 chest, and haven't had any problems, I was able to bulk up with like 4 layers underneath it (2 tshirts, longsleeved shirt and a hoodie) and not feel particularly tight, a 42 would probably be more too my fitting, though I guess if I'm going for a tight tight fit, a 40 would probably be doable?). I haven't found any jackets that have noticeably spiked my interest, there are a few textile ones that I like but for the most part the leather ones seem to attract my attention more. Oh but for the jacket, for the time being I'd prefer a not strong color because I'll probably be changing bike colors in the next couple years, and if I buy a matching bright red jacket to match my bike, and later buy a green bike, that jacket will be next to useless imo.

Any thoughts/reactions would be appreciated, thanks

[irishcarbomb]

go to the store and try them on, look at them thats the only way...

[Freakazoid]

only problem I've been noticing is the store stuff is much more limited over what I've been looking at. As this is my first set of gear, and I don't plan on doin any aggressive riding with this gear (I want to be safe but not pay alot), I've been looking at stuff like the Chrometech gloves that are discontinued and therefore not able to find any place that has them to try on.

And as for like the Draggin Jeans, I can't find a dealer or whatever around here that has them?

[Squid Bait]

http://www.newenough.com/index2.htm

I just bought a jacket and gloves from them. Customer service was great, and shipping was hella fast. The problem is sizing, they have some pretty good charts, but it really helps to be able to put it on. My gloves fit like... well a glove, and the jacket was only a litte roomy, which I expected since I too have the beanpole stature.

As for helmets, you "HAVE" to try it on first. From my fairly limited experience, the size marking on the helmets has very close to nothing to do with the helmet's fit, especially when you change brand names. So, go to the store, put a bunch on, shake your head around, breath heavy, play with all the venty/vizory gizmos. Not much sucks worse than an improper fitting helmet. If you find what you like, but your local shop (like mine) jacks the prices up, just make a good mental note of brand, model, and size, then go online for that one.

[Freakazoid]

http://www.newenough.com/index2.htm

I just bought a jacket and gloves from them. Customer service was great, and shipping was hella fast. The problem is sizing, they have some pretty good charts, but it really helps to be able to put it on. My gloves fit like... well a glove, and the jacket was only a litte roomy, which I expected since I too have the beanpole stature.

As for helmets, you "HAVE" to try it on first. From my fairly limited experience, the size marking on the helmets has very close to nothing to do with the helmet's fit, especially when you change brand names. So, go to the store, put a bunch on, shake your head around, breath heavy, play with all the venty/vizory gizmos. Not much sucks worse than an improper fitting helmet. If you find what you like, but your local shop (like mine) jacks the prices up, just make a good mental note of brand, model, and size, then go online for that one.

The ironic thing about the helmet thing was the helmet I more or less 'inherited' (noone was using it, nobody wanted to use it, etc) was a PERFECT fit, absolutely wonderful. Though I need to get it checked out, first time after wearing it, sweaty palms, the thing dropped probably about a foot, maybe 2, looks like just scratches but I need to be certain.


newenough I've actually been checking out, that and motorcyclecloseouts.com but I'm sorta afraid to venture outside the brands that sites like ridersinc and kneedraggers offer. motorcyclecloseouts in particular seems to have more 'offname' ones.

How tall are you out of curiousity? And what size glove did you get/size hand do you have? I have like a little over 8 inches measurement but the only problem all measurements seem to leave the 8 inch to 8 1/2 inch range decision up to the buyer.

[Squid Bait]

6'0" 165ish

I too have an 8" hand and the Joe Rocket medium fits me well.

[Freakazoid]

Hrm I'm debating buying a used pair of First Gear chrometechs for like 10 bucks plus shipping. They're medium as well, but probably broken in, maybe?

[78_KZ750_Cafe]

as far as jackets go, i went with the joe rocket atomic in the grey/white/black combo. great jacket. nice close fit, no flapping, tons of protection, lots of adjustments, amazing temperature range, plenty of pockets, quality zippers. i can open up all the vents (chest, arm and back) and ride in 100 degrees comfortably, or close all the vents, zip in the liner, and drive to work when its 38 degrees out and be plenty warm. not water proof, but the water proof one is far heavier.

gloves... eh, personally i don't think they are that key. i just sport regular black leather gloves with an elastic band and a gaunlet flair at the wrist. When I went down my hands were fine and my gloves were barely scratched. gloves just protect your hands from road debris and road rash. in my opinion all the carbon fiber knuckle gaurds are just bling, they don't prevent you from breaking your fingers or hand. just make sure you wash your gloves before you wear them or all the dies will end up on your sweaty little paws.

CF brain buckets are another scam, just more bling. if thats your bag, i'm cool with that, its a free market. But you aren't going to get any more protection from an $800 helmet then you do from a $250 helmet.i'd rather wear a cheap lid that fits well over a pricey one that leaves a red spot on my forehead.

I have no input on boots and pants as I have not gotten them yet. but, after seeing that Uponone video floating around the net where that idiot snaps his foot clean off at the ankle, I'm thinking about boots.

[a5west5]

Try http://www.brocktoncycle.com/

I have purchased three jackets from them this year. All total I spent less than $300.

[southjersey636]

What I have found with gloves is that leather is superior but it doesnt seem to give you the best feel, its the feeling if you were trying to turn a bolt on a car with a pair of thick gloves on and you cant feel the bolt well.

I run now Alpinestars SMX-3 gloves and the material is made out of part spandex, leather, kevlar, there not as protective as a full glove but they are better then wearing nothing and overaul they give me a better feel when riding, almost as if I have no gloves on.

Another key point with gloves are to make sure when you have them on you can reach the levers ok without having to lift your palm off the throttle etc.. make sure you can move your fingers around with ease.