newbie questions about gear

Dave L

Dave L

Well-known member
Im brand new to the sport of motorcycles and am trying to do it right. I am taking the motorcycle course, have more or less decided on a used KLX250s and have been researching gear. I have read a lot but i didnt find much about dual sports. I want to aim for 50% of/off road riding. Nothing super crazy like jumps but most likely trails, dirt roads etc.

Helmet - I tried on Icon Variant and was told it fit very well. I like it.

Jacket - undecided on leather vs textile. opinions?

Boots - I was shown a basic riding boot but I really like the fit and security of the Fox comp5 off road boot - would this be overkill for everyday use? What about a pair of MX boots. For the road would it be a bad idea to wear my composite (steel toed) leather hiking boots or full work boots?

Pants - I looked at pants with built in knee pads, I looked at motocross pants where I would have to add pads. Can I just wear pads under my gortex snowboard pants?

I have a decent budget but at the same time I want to buy ONE set of gear that fits what I want to do.

thanks for your help
 
Dave L said:
Helmet - I tried on Icon Variant and was told it fit very well. I like it.
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Should be fine for both on and off-road. They are many other similar designs out there you could check out too.

Dave L said:
Jacket - undecided on leather vs textile. opinions?
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If you're riding street, I am always recommend leather. Textile will work better for off-road, but you're going to be sweating like mad trail riding in a textile jacket. I'd say get a leather jacket for street and some body armour + jersey for offroad.

Dave L said:
Boots - I was shown a basic riding boot but I really like the fit and security of the Fox comp5 off road boot - would this be overkill for everyday use? What about a pair of MX boots. For the road would it be a bad idea to wear my composite (steel toed) leather hiking boots or full work boots?
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The fox boots will be the best idea if you are going to be doing any offroading. Street boots are useless in the woods. MX boots are a bit of a hassle for street riding, but the best protection you're gonna find. I wouldn't wear hiking or work boots, they arent going to do anything in a crash.

Dave L said:
Pants - I looked at pants with built in knee pads, I looked at motocross pants where I would have to add pads. Can I just wear pads under my gortex snowboard pants?
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I would buy separate pads. That way you can wear them under MX pants and street pants or jeans. You'll sweat your *** off wearing snowboard pants.

Dave L said:
I have a decent budget but at the same time I want to buy ONE set of gear that fits what I want to do. p
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No ONE set of gear will work best for all situations. I would buy street gear and mx gear. Some things work well for both like the Dualsport helmets, and MX boots. MX gear is generally cheaper than street stuff so it isn't hard to get a set of gear for both.

I would also recommend getting leather gauntlet gloves for street riding. DO NOT ride without gloves, ever.
 
My variant helmet is great! with the visor down, there is not much "upforce" on the head when riding on the highway, and riding offroad is good as well.
 
thanks guys, I guess I will suit up for the street and look to add a jersey and pads once I am ready to hit the trails. I do have a set of full leather motorcycle gloves that cover up past my wrist.
 
BOOTS........top choice

SIDI........adventure

warm and DRY.....with support...and your able to walk normally
your feet out there are very important to support your bike

Im out there EVERY week......cant wait for the snow.....

two stores to trust

Dual sport plus.............hamilton
Riders Choice...............mississauga
 
Recidivist said:
Great deal on a Leatt Brace: http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...4-Leatt-Adventure-Brace&p=1930208#post1930208
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DONT go with a Leatt. It puts all the force on the vertebrae in the T3 area in a crash. Guess where guys have been breaking vertebrae, some of who end up paralyzed... Right in that exact same area, which was fairly uncommon before the Leatt was out. Yes, it protects the c-spine vertebrae but it puts you still at risk.

The atlas brace is the only brace I reccomend.
It has more surface area to disperse the pressure to. The pressure gets dispersed to the shoulder blades which are stronger, and if you snap one of those you still won't be paralyzed.
It also takes the pressure away from your collarbones. Broken collarbones have also gone up with the use of neck braces.
The company is Canadian. It's cheaper than just the basic Leatt, with more adjustability.
They also have some new features this year including a carbon fiber model.

I was one of the first people to have an atlas and I love mine. I never could find a brace to fit me with a chest protector and I tried literally ALL of them. I was used to it by my 2nd lap and won't ride without it now.
 
+1 on the Sidi Adventure boot. I use mine for both on and off road and love them. Not as tall as a full MX boot( 3 buckles instead of 4) but just right IMO. Their easy to walk around in as well and have a great sole.
 
I'm in the same boat ... bought a duallie to ride around town etc and saving my other for longer touring. Matter of fact, its a KLX 250S that I freakin love. I found that if you google your question, then go to the "Dualsport" forum and the "ADVRider" forum answers it will help a lot. I wish I'd done that before I bought my MX boots to use on the KLX because I find it hard to shift, and uncomfortable as hell to walk around in if want to check out something cool i see in the boonies. A couple recommended there were an MSR boot [sorry, cant remember the name but it was white and black with a rubber sole similar to hiking boot] and the Alpinestars 2 which is like a mid heigh MX boot with more flexible bottom. The most highly recommended was the Forma Adventure boot that runs 299 via Atomic-moto. At first I thought 299 was alot, but then I read the rational behind spending that and it makes sense. The boot is high quality and will last years and years considering a person could easily drop 100 bucks on jeans or something that might last a couple. One guy said that its better to invest in something worthwhile, than waste money on something else. [ and end up buying the better one second time around anyway] Good luck ... you'll love the KLX
 
I am slowly building up my gear. so far what I have:

Alpine Stars textile jacket with armour
Shift Recon pants (off someone on the board for cheap)
Alpine stars Tech3's (got these new off ebay on close out for $120 shipped!)
and a pair of leather/kevlar gloves.

I still have my open face HJC helmet that I used for the course but it will be replaced with a dual sport style helmet. I also plan on getting some knee pads, elbowpads, chest protector and jersey for the real offroad stuff.

Oh and I guess I will need a bike at some point as well
 
Dave L said:
I also plan on getting some knee pads, elbowpads, chest protector and jersey for the real offroad stuff.
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Instead of buying them all separately buy a compression suit.

Like this:
661_comp_pressure_suit_10.JPG


I got a 661 compression suit for mx and mtb. It works really well and helps keep all the pads from moving in a fall.

There are a few different brands, but they are all pretty similar. Dainese, 661, Acerbis, etc.

Should be able to get one for around $100.
 
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N3WMAN said:
Instead of buying them all separately buy a compression suit.

Like this:
661_comp_pressure_suit_10.JPG


I got a 661 compression suit for mx and mtb. It works really well and helps keep all the pads from moving in a fall.

There are a few different brands, but they are all pretty similar. Dainese, 661, Acerbis, etc.

Should be able to get one for around $100.
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i got that thing but with short sleeves, for like 60 bucks at royal.
 
N3WMAN said:
Instead of buying them all separately buy a compression suit.

Like this:
661_comp_pressure_suit_10.JPG


I got a 661 compression suit for mx and mtb. It works really well and helps keep all the pads from moving in a fall.

There are a few different brands, but they are all pretty similar. Dainese, 661, Acerbis, etc.

Should be able to get one for around $100.
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I'd like to give one of these a try actually.
 
so many options for gear. i ride enduro and try to use gear on street and dirt. When hot, i wear mesh gear and keep a light rain suit in a bag that doubles as a windbreaker if things cool off. If i'm doing trails i wear a compression suit and my mesh jacket over top or a jersey. I have to take the padded armour out of the jacket for the compression suit to slide inside but it works. I've got high military boots that are leather with goretex lining. They are about $225 versus the some of the more expensive sidi boots. I've also got Alpinestars offroad boots if I'm doing serious dirt.

You'll have to try a few things out and see what works. I typically drag a dufflebag on the rear seat with extra gear if there is somewhere to store it before you hit the trails. This allows me some options.
 
NorthernLance said:
so many options for gear. i ride enduro and try to use gear on street and dirt. When hot, i wear mesh gear and keep a light rain suit in a bag that doubles as a windbreaker if things cool off. If i'm doing trails i wear a compression suit and my mesh jacket over top or a jersey. I have to take the padded armour out of the jacket for the compression suit to slide inside but it works..
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Never worn a compression suit but I am looking to get a SM for next year and want to have the MX look, would a compression suit be safe enough for on-road?
 
My two cents, go for a drive out to Hamilton to Dual Sport Plus and talk to the lads about gear. You won't be disappointed.
 
Bagel09 said:
Never worn a compression suit but I am looking to get a SM for next year and want to have the MX look, would a compression suit be safe enough for on-road?
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If you mean intead of leather I dont think so,for street get leather jacket and pants that have protection.The compression suits are very good for offroad as everything is in one piece,no need for seperate elbow,chest and back protector although I never used the back protector part in mine for offroad.
 
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