Anyone driving (car) to Royal Distributing from Toronto anytime soon? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Anyone driving (car) to Royal Distributing from Toronto anytime soon?

M

MaksTO

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Hey all!

Just booked my M2 course with RTI, it's June 1-2. Thinking of picking up a helmet and some starting bits so I don't have to rent for the course / will have my own gear to use once I pick up my first bike in the coming months.

Is anyone planning a trip to Royal sometime soon? I live in downtown Toronto - with no car, so I'd happily tag along with someone on their way there during the week. Of course I can and would be happy to offset the gas cost for the trip and lunch or whatnot.

Seems the rates at Royal are much more beginner friendly than some boutiques in the city. I am really just looking for safe equipment right now first and foremost, so picking up a helmet is a must along with some gloves and a jacket etc.

If any of you need to head over there sometime soon, reply below and lets organize something!
 
before you head out. narrow down your search on what gear you looking for, mesh, textile, leather. gloves, shorty or gauntlet. helmet must fit your head shape and size (maybe a free tinted shield?) Guessing Royal is as big as GP so it can be very overwhelming on the amount of great gear they have plus you want to sit on some bikes. thought about ordering online and just return if it not right for you. A few years I paid $5.00 on some boots I return to fortnine. Gear is expensive it gotta be a perfect fit!
 
justride said:
before you head out. narrow down your search on what gear you looking for, mesh, textile, leather. gloves, shorty or gauntlet. helmet must fit your head shape and size (maybe a free tinted shield?) Guessing Royal is as big as GP so it can be very overwhelming on the amount of great gear they have plus you want to sit on some bikes. thought about ordering online and just return if it not right for you. A few years I paid $5.00 on some boots I return to fortnine. Gear is expensive it gotta be a perfect fit!
Click to expand...

I browsed the Royal Distributing website and found a few options that looked good and mathed it out in a spreadsheet.
For now I am thinking:
- Basic full face (non modular to save weight. Seeing as I wont be getting a $600 lid I assume the cheap ones will weigh a lot as it is)
- Synthetic jacket: something that will breath well in the city heat in traffic, but still has those plastic inserts for safety
- Leather gloves with protected knuckles
- Alpinestar boots: their narrower profile will likely make shifting on a small bike easier as opposed to the full grain Redwings I have now.
- Reinforced denim: The ones with plastic inserts for falls / are motorcycle specific. I feel like for urban commuting getting leathers top to bottom might be overkill. Though once I plan on collecting highway miles I will likely invest in leather pants / jacket.

Doing the math it seems like, on the conservative end, I will be paying around $1300 taxes in.
 
you just missed Royal's no HST tent sale...everything was no tax, but it ended Sunday...however, GP Bikes in Whitby is having one until Saturday, May 4 for anything online or in store...if you can search their website to see what you like, try it on somewhere close to you, then buy it online through them, they have free shipping for anything over $49, and they're pretty fast and good with returns/exchanges...will save you at least 13 % since you're not paying tax...
 
ifiddles said:
you just missed Royal's no HST tent sale...everything was no tax, but it ended Sunday...however, GP Bikes in Whitby is having one until Saturday, May 4 for anything online or in store...if you can search their website to see what you like, try it on somewhere close to you, then buy it online through them, they have free shipping for anything over $49, and they're pretty fast and good with returns/exchanges...will save you at least 13 % since you're not paying tax...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip!
 
I overheard an employee saying they don't allow returns on helmets once they leave the store because they can't guarantee it hasn't been dropped and don't want to pass the risk on to the next buyer. It may have been out of context, but confirm with them before ordering one online, unless you're 100% sure it fits you.
 
MaksTO said:
I browsed the Royal Distributing website and found a few options that looked good and mathed it out in a spreadsheet.
For now I am thinking:
- Basic full face (non modular to save weight. Seeing as I wont be getting a $600 lid I assume the cheap ones will weigh a lot as it is)
- Synthetic jacket: something that will breath well in the city heat in traffic, but still has those plastic inserts for safety
- Leather gloves with protected knuckles
- Alpinestar boots: their narrower profile will likely make shifting on a small bike easier as opposed to the full grain Redwings I have now.
- Reinforced denim: The ones with plastic inserts for falls / are motorcycle specific. I feel like for urban commuting getting leathers top to bottom might be overkill. Though once I plan on collecting highway miles I will likely invest in leather pants / jacket.

Doing the math it seems like, on the conservative end, I will be paying around $1300 taxes in.
Click to expand...
RD had the 2017 Bell star on sale for $199 during their no HST sale. I would suggest to try and see if you can still secure one. Maybe even try gpbikes. It's an excellent helmet. Very light and cuts through wind like knife through butter.

I agree, full leather is overkill for commuting. Would suggest a mesh+textile blend for the jacket like the Alpinestars viper air for warm weather. I believe this was on sale for $240. Recommend leather jacket with quilted liner for colder weather but maybe you can get that in September.

I like TCX riding shoes personally. Good style and strong. Tried Alpinestars shoes, didn't like them as much as TCX. Looked tiny on my feet, despite being size 11.

I think speed and strength has decent riding jeans. Also check out resurgence jeans at GPbikes. Good styles that don't look like riding pants but provide good protection. Klim k51 or 52 is the best, afaik ... But pricey.

Check out joe rocket gloves. Relatively cheaper than other brands and decent protection.

Happy hunting
 
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MaksTO said:
I browsed the Royal Distributing website and found a few options that looked good and mathed it out in a spreadsheet.
For now I am thinking:
- Basic full face (non modular to save weight. Seeing as I wont be getting a $600 lid I assume the cheap ones will weigh a lot as it is)
- Synthetic jacket: something that will breath well in the city heat in traffic, but still has those plastic inserts for safety
- Leather gloves with protected knuckles
- Alpinestar boots: their narrower profile will likely make shifting on a small bike easier as opposed to the full grain Redwings I have now.
- Reinforced denim: The ones with plastic inserts for falls / are motorcycle specific. I feel like for urban commuting getting leathers top to bottom might be overkill. Though once I plan on collecting highway miles I will likely invest in leather pants / jacket.

Doing the math it seems like, on the conservative end, I will be paying around $1300 taxes in.
Click to expand...
Helmets -- there are lots of decent helmets in the $150 range. HJC, LS2, Bell and Scorpion are all pretty good and between $100 and $150. If you like graphic helments, there are always deals, 30-50% off last year's designs are common.
Synth Jacket - Fieldsheer Highland $140, FirstGear Jaunt -- 2 decent jackets on sale for less than $150
Boots - don't bother if you're looking at a tame street bike, forget the MC boots -- just means you need to carry double footwear whenever you go. . Get a $120 pair of oiled wellington boots, tough, excellent traction and you can walk and wear.
Gloves - Spend the money... hands take a beating if you fall.
Jeans - $100 to $200 for MC armored.

Check FortNine.com for prices, most places will match.

You can get a realistic start at about $600 is you're looking for good gear and have some fashion flexibility. If this is your first time fitting gear, consult an expert, size and fitting matters in MC gear.
 
Relax said:
I overheard an employee saying they don't allow returns on helmets once they leave the store because they can't guarantee it hasn't been dropped and don't want to pass the risk on to the next buyer. It may have been out of context, but confirm with them before ordering one online, unless you're 100% sure it fits you.
Click to expand...
it true with gpbikes. and it does make sense in a way
 
ifiddles said:
...if you can search their website to see what you like, try it on somewhere close to you, then buy it online through them...
Click to expand...

If you try it on at your local shop and like it, then that's where you should buy it. They're not in business to be your own own personal fitting room. Sheesh!

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Jayell said:
If you try it on at your local shop and like it, then that's where you should buy it. They're not in business to be your own own personal fitting room. Sheesh!

via Tapatalk
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They can work to earn business like everyone else. Plenty of stores have negotiated price and i was happy to buy there and NOT take them to the cleaners. Others have told me to go fly a kite and i was happy to spend my money elsewhere.
 
You can try cycle world in Scarborough they have a decent selection of starter gear. Accessible by public transit.
 
Thanks for the gear suggestions! I was actually looking at a matte black Biltwell Lanesplitter. Don't know if anyone has recommendations for a better lid or opinions on that one? But after reading some stuff online, I think I will let my aesthetic leanings go a bit with that and get a white one - apparently white lids are about 25% more visible to a driver? I wouldn't go fluorescent yellow, but white might be okay.

Will look into those other brands as well for apparel.

My only fear of not getting MC specific shoes and going with just my redwings or something, is that I might have a hard time shifting with larger footwear? Maybe not?

Regarding footwear, if I were to go the traditional boot route, I might just get some from my work. We are ordering a bunch of Daytons (BC boot maker!!!) - they are expensive as **** but I can get a decent employee rate... And they are bulletproof full grain chromexcel...
 
MaksTO said:
Thanks for the gear suggestions! I was actually looking at a matte black Biltwell Lanesplitter. Don't know if anyone has recommendations for a better lid or opinions on that one? But after reading some stuff online, I think I will let my aesthetic leanings go a bit with that and get a white one - apparently white lids are about 25% more visible to a driver? I wouldn't go fluorescent yellow, but white might be okay.

Will look into those other brands as well for apparel.

My only fear of not getting MC specific shoes and going with just my redwings or something, is that I might have a hard time shifting with larger footwear? Maybe not?

Regarding footwear, if I were to go the traditional boot route, I might just get some from my work. We are ordering a bunch of Daytons (BC boot maker!!!) - they are expensive as **** but I can get a decent employee rate... And they are bulletproof full grain chromexcel...
Click to expand...

I saw that you plan to buy CBR125. Did you try it? It is a small bike and riding it in big boots might be a little bit uncomfortable.. I personally prefer MC specific shoes because they also provide additional protection (especially if you will get with high ankle). It's easy to damage ankle if e.g. bike will fall on it in a bad way..
 
MaksTO said:
I was actually looking at a matte black Biltwell Lanesplitter.
Click to expand...

You're downtown, right? Town Moto, 132 Ossington Ave., sells Biltwell, among other brands.
 
Jayell said:
You're downtown, right? Town Moto, 132 Ossington Ave., sells Biltwell, among other brands.
Click to expand...

I browsed their site, definitely going to stop by there sometime. Helmet selection is good, but I need the other stuff as well, so going to GP tomorrow should hopefully cover all of or most of my basics. Town Moto seems to deal in much more casual/cafe racer type apparel. Though if I don't find good pants at GP I recall Town Moto having a good selection of them as well.
 
MaksTO said:
Thanks for the gear suggestions! I was actually looking at a matte black Biltwell Lanesplitter. Don't know if anyone has recommendations for a better lid or opinions on that one? But after reading some stuff online, I think I will let my aesthetic leanings go a bit with that and get a white one - apparently white lids are about 25% more visible to a driver? I wouldn't go fluorescent yellow, but white might be okay.

Will look into those other brands as well for apparel.

My only fear of not getting MC specific shoes and going with just my redwings or something, is that I might have a hard time shifting with larger footwear? Maybe not?

Regarding footwear, if I were to go the traditional boot route, I might just get some from my work. We are ordering a bunch of Daytons (BC boot maker!!!) - they are expensive as **** but I can get a decent employee rate... And they are bulletproof full grain chromexcel...
Click to expand...

Best advice I can give you is don’t rush and try lots of gear on.

Find yourself a comfortable jacket that fits. Keep in mind you may want to leave enough room to add a layer on cooler riding days. The jacket selection will make your head spin.

Once you have a jacket, then look at gloves. No sense in finding a pair of gloves and then realizing they won’t work with the jacket you picked afterwards.

Now go sit on a bike or two while wearing the jacket and gloves and make sure there are no pinch points around your wrists and in your hands.

Helmet fit is dependent on head shape so try different styles and manufacturers. Make sure to get help from an experienced salesperson. They will be able to offer advice and check proper sizing and fit.
Adjustable venting is an important feature as is having a quick-release visor. If you wear glasses, or plan on wearing sunglasses take them with you.
Find the helmet that fits best within your budget, then pick the colour.
You can buy a helmet with a transitions visor which saves you swapping out the tinted visor for a clear visor for after sundown.

Shopping for gear is important but it’s also so much fun !!!



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