Gear that offers the best protection

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N3WMAN said:
Best protection for street riding:
2-pc full leather suit
Leather Gauntlet gloves
Full riding boots
A helmet that fits
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+1

2piece leather suit - you might find some stuff on sale.
gauntlet gloves - five and alpinestars are both very reputable and my personal favorites (five was made from some guys who branched off of A*)
full riding boots - not bulky skater shoes, full boots, try to bend them side to side, if they bend you dont want them. riders choice (mississauga) sells the daytona boots(best IMO) they also have the dainese boots (not extravagant, but they're alright).
helmet - fit is most important. but as stated earlier... there is scientific evidence to prove that the bouncing of injection moulded plastic helmets may be more likely to cause brain damage whereas fibreglass lids absorb impact more than bounce, but i dont have any personal experience with that... many manufacturers have different tiers of helmets made from different materials, read the labels of the one you want. find a brand that fits, i have a shoei head... bell, arai, and hjc just dont feel the same for me. nothing came close to a shoei in terms of comfort.
 
Saying that gear isn't important because you'll die anyway is... well, I won't say it but it begins with re and ends with tarded. :rolleyes:

I agree that learning to ride properly is the most important thing but in a situation where death isn't guaranteed gear can save you or at least minimize some pretty serious injuries. I'd rather sweat in my 1 piece than spend six months getting skin grafts. The heat is only a problem when you stop moving anyway.

Another thing to consider is that people often die from a combination of non fatal injuries. The body can't cope with a high number of significant injuries. If you can prevent some of those injuries with good gear it can increase your chances of survival.
 
I was surprised by some of the helmet tests from this site. http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/home
Of eight Arai full face helmets tested only one got a five star rating! it was one of the cheapest too. Obviously there is more to a helmet than make and price. It's a U.K. site and the models may not all be available here though.
 
redridernl said:
Saying that gear isn't important because you'll die anyway is... well, I won't say it but it begins with re and ends with tarded. :rolleyes:

I agree that learning to ride properly is the most important thing but in a situation where death isn't guaranteed gear can save you or at least minimize some pretty serious injuries. I'd rather sweat in my 1 piece than spend six months getting skin grafts. The heat is only a problem when you stop moving anyway.

Another thing to consider is that people often die from a combination of non fatal injuries. The body can't cope with a high number of significant injuries. If you can prevent some of those injuries with good gear it can increase your chances of survival.
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I don't think that anyone said gear is unimportant, but rather that it can't protect you from everything. In other words they were qualifying the statement in the same way that you did; "in a situation where death isn't guaranteed." Gear can raise the bar on what sort of incident results in death being guaranteed, but can't erase the possibility. Skill, in addition to proper gear, vastly increases your chance of survival.
 
In that you have no experience you may find that what you start out with doesn't work for you in the long run. You may also find you have more than one set of gear depending on use.

I like vented leather jacket and pants but I also use textile pants and jacket in colder weather or for tripping. I started with leather 30 years ago, went to textile five years ago and now vented leather (I'm thinking vented leather and rain suit is better touring rig then heavy textile but I'm still not decided yet. My point is that you may find you want one piece leathers and after 3 months find that isn't the best for you.

Good boots and gloves are worthwhile. You don't need to break the bank but don't go cheap. I've done that and regretted it. Currently I have Sidi and Puma boots - Sidi for hot weather and the Pumas for cold or for touring. I've bought more pairs of gloves than I want to think about, mostly on the cheaper side, and in the long run I would have been better off spending more initially and buying fewer pairs. I use three different types, vented short gloves for really hot weather (not terribly safe but it's one of the few compromises I make or comfort) leather gauntlets for most riding and heavier gauntlets for cold weather. I also have waterproof overgloves for touring.

You'll probably find that you'll get the most conflicting advice regarding helmets. There is a LOT of brand loyalty. I don't worry too much about the safety as they are all DOT. I worry about fit and features that I find important - which is weight and quality of finish. I use high end Sharks or Shoeis. My wife uses mid range Scorpions.

Good luck and good luck in sorting through all the conflicting advice you're likely to get. By the way, considering that probably most of the people on this forum ride in running shoes, jeans or shorts and a t-shirt with a high end fullface helmet, you're getting pretty consistent advice so far.
 
insert said:
+1

2piece leather suit - you might find some stuff on sale.
gauntlet gloves - five and alpinestars are both very reputable and my personal favorites (five was made from some guys who branched off of A*)
full riding boots - not bulky skater shoes, full boots, try to bend them side to side, if they bend you dont want them. riders choice (mississauga) sells the daytona boots(best IMO) they also have the dainese boots (not extravagant, but they're alright).
helmet - fit is most important. but as stated earlier... there is scientific evidence to prove that the bouncing of injection moulded plastic helmets may be more likely to cause brain damage whereas fibreglass lids absorb impact more than bounce, but i dont have any personal experience with that... many manufacturers have different tiers of helmets made from different materials, read the labels of the one you want. find a brand that fits, i have a shoei head... bell, arai, and hjc just dont feel the same for me. nothing came close to a shoei in terms of comfort.
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That's a bunch of good info. Thanks!
 
Griffin said:
In that you have no experience you may find that what you start out with doesn't work for you in the long run. You may also find you have more than one set of gear depending on use.

I like vented leather jacket and pants but I also use textile pants and jacket in colder weather or for tripping. I started with leather 30 years ago, went to textile five years ago and now vented leather (I'm thinking vented leather and rain suit is better touring rig then heavy textile but I'm still not decided yet. My point is that you may find you want one piece leathers and after 3 months find that isn't the best for you.

Good boots and gloves are worthwhile. You don't need to break the bank but don't go cheap. I've done that and regretted it. Currently I have Sidi and Puma boots - Sidi for hot weather and the Pumas for cold or for touring. I've bought more pairs of gloves than I want to think about, mostly on the cheaper side, and in the long run I would have been better off spending more initially and buying fewer pairs. I use three different types, vented short gloves for really hot weather (not terribly safe but it's one of the few compromises I make or comfort) leather gauntlets for most riding and heavier gauntlets for cold weather. I also have waterproof overgloves for touring.

You'll probably find that you'll get the most conflicting advice regarding helmets. There is a LOT of brand loyalty. I don't worry too much about the safety as they are all DOT. I worry about fit and features that I find important - which is weight and quality of finish. I use high end Sharks or Shoeis. My wife uses mid range Scorpions.

Good luck and good luck in sorting through all the conflicting advice you're likely to get. By the way, considering that probably most of the people on this forum ride in running shoes, jeans or shorts and a t-shirt with a high end fullface helmet, you're getting pretty consistent advice so far.
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Thanks. Yeah, the advice has been great, there's a lot of stuff people pointed out that I never knew.

Thank you everyone!
 
I got a question but didn't want to start a new thread. Going to order a pair of race or sport boots for next season. How do they generally fit, bigger, smaller, or the same as running shoe size?
 
boarder360 said:
I got a question but didn't want to start a new thread. Going to order a pair of race or sport boots for next season. How do they generally fit, bigger, smaller, or the same as running shoe size?
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As with shoes, it depends on the manufacturer. You'll want to try them on.
 
What a load of hooey.....

To the OP, ignore what this guy is saying about gear. Buy the best gear you can afford. Wear it all the time. It is great that you are thinking about gear before you are riding. It shows that you are aware of the risks of riding and are thinking of ways to minimize the risk.



MacDoc said:
yeah but c'mon - rider does not even have a bike yet.
The focus should be on what bike and the training not over board on high end gear.

Seen too much of it end up on the used market and way too many think the gear will save their *****.

Some motocross gear and the MotoPark course would be money better spent initially IMNSHO. Learn to ride, learn to fall, learn what bikes do in soft stuff and slippy stuff.

OP hasn't even mentioned visibility.

OP if you are paranoid I'd suggest you'll have a hard time out on a bike in traffic or adverse conditions....it will NOT be enjoyable.

I'm simply not onside at all with this OPs approach....my 2¢
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MacDoc said:
New rider??
Learn not to fall off.
Take the moto-cross course at Moto-park and get a road machine appropriate to your skill set.

In fatal crashes the level of gear often matters little to the outcome as the forces are too high for the human body.

The stuff geared for protection at the track does just that.....but the lamp post doesn't exist at the track....it does down your street.

Armouring up does not improve your riding skills and in my mind does not make you safer. from serious injury or death.
It MAY make you over confident.

Riding skill is the number one safety feature you can own. Acquire it and if you have the money take the courses offered.

You don't even know you will like riding....decent gear can be had for a few hundred dollars ad there is lots of top notch used stuff out there.

Putting money into a bike with ABS would be money far better spent in my view especially as a new rider where managing braking under emergency conditions will be a challenge.

Starting with an upright or sport touring riding position on a mid-weight with ABS would be my "best practice" recommendation.
Get trained, get saddle time, get modest gear until you know what it's all about.

You are antsying about protection pads......antsy about learning not to need them.
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I see you spew this type of drivel all the time. What? Ride in shorts with no gloves....you'll be more careful and thus live longer.....you expect anyone to listen to that crap? It's obvious that this is your way of rationalizing in your own mind, the fact that you like to ride in flip flops and a beanie......and thats fine. Your personal choice. But here you have a new rider, specifically asking what gear is most protective! And you're here telling newbs that full coverage gear isn't essential, becasue their riding ability will keep them safe is a farce and you know it.

Every day, riders are vulnerable to many circumstances we have no control over regardless of how good a rider you think you are. Your point that many bike fatalities couldn't have been prevented by leathers, boots, gloves etc, may be true. But there is also the hundreds of instances where a minor off can result in a major inconvenience or worse.......a 20 kmh slide on a manhole cover, with full gear, might be a get up and walk away affair. With no gear, maybe you can never wipe your own a55 again. Prime example.

You are doing a disservice to new riders by downplaying the importance of taking as many of the dangers out of the equation as we can beforehand, becasue there are many unknows left in the equation for us to deal with already.
 
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Griffin said:
Good luck and good luck in sorting through all the conflicting advice you're likely to get. By the way, considering that probably most of the people on this forum ride in running shoes, jeans or shorts and a t-shirt with a high end fullface helmet, you're getting pretty consistent advice so far.
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Funny - I was reading this thread and thinking to myself. It seems that when the weather's hot, everyone's talking about riding with almost no gear, and everyone else is shouting "squid!". Now that things are cooling down, everyone's arguing about which full-coverage boot is the best.
 
ddusseld said:
What a load of hooey.....

To the OP, ignore what this guy is saying about gear. Buy the best gear you can afford. Wear it all the time. It is great that you are thinking about gear before you are riding. It shows that you are aware of the risks of riding and are thinking of ways to minimize the risk.
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Thanks, will do :)
 
omnivore said:
And you're here telling newbs that full coverage gear isn't essential, becasue their riding ability will keep them safe...
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That alone triggered my b.s. detector and I hope other new riders can see it too. As a new rider I will not have good riding ability. If anything that makes good gear MORE important to newer riders (not that's it's not important for experienced ones).
 
danarchy said:
That alone triggered my b.s. detector and I hope other new riders can see it too. As a new rider I will not have good riding ability. If anything that makes good gear MORE important to newer riders (not that's it's not important for experienced ones).
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Now see, there you go using logic and common sense. Can't have that man.;)
 
I think it's time for this thread to die gracefully before we get into weird arguments about gear vs. skill. The question was about gear quality and I got a lot of great advice about it, arguing about the importance of gear vs. skill is kind of pointless since they're both obviously important. Thank you to all that replied.
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