Newbie needing gear advice

[badmofo]

Hi girls and boys, I'm a total beginner, just bought a GN250 (and before you all start hassling me, I know its a slow and reasonably unatractive bike, but it's just for commuting to uni on). I've gotta go get some gear and I checked out the motomail outlet store in Kingsland. They have Nitro helmets for $79. Is this a good brand? seems kinda cheap but they look good to me. Also what's the best kind of gear for the warm humid auckland conditions cos all the jackets i've tried on make me feel like I'm in an oven. I guess you can't tell what it's like until you're riding with the wind chill etc but what's best, leather or synthetic with armour? It'd be nice to have some flash gears to attract the ladies, but then they'll see my GN and run, haha.

[Devil]

Hi,

I assume the helmet will be up to NZ safety standards, so thats a start, but you may find something a little more comfortable and quieter if you spend a little more money. the HJC CL-14 ive found to be a decent helmet thats easy on the wallet (Deals can be had around the $199 mark).

For cool gear, you want synthetic (deals with the rain better than leather as well!). Most jackets/pants come with a zip out thermal liner in them, so check for that the next time you're trying them on, you definately dont want that in during summer in auckland!

Dry weather, I wear a pair of draggin jeans ($199ish) to work which have kevlar lining in them. I also purchased the accessory knee armour for them ($30 ish) just for peace of mind. Not waterproof though! I believe Shift and Tecnic also sell similar products.

When you're shopping for all your gear, try and buy it all at once if you can, this will give you the best chance of working some kind of discount out of the shop.

Send a PM to AMPS and they may be able to help you out with a deal.

Ride safe.

Devil

[Ixion]

Don't diss the GN - they are a jolly good little bike. And excellent for commuting. I think most (all?) Nitro helmets are fibreglass - and it's a well respected name. I'd think it would be quite sufficient for commuting purposes that seems a very good price.

Jackets, I use both. But if you intend to commute in winter you want textile, cos leather in the rain is a pain. There are some clever vented/mesh ones out there , but I just go with the cheap and cheerful m'self. Some have removeable linings, a good idea becos you can remove the lining in summer which makes it much cooler. Heretic that I am am, I'd say that around town gloves are more important than jacket, you're more likely to be tossed than slide.

Oh, and welcome, and enjoy biking!

[badmofo]

thanks for the tips, I was thinking waterproof textile gear cos you can never be sure about auckland weather, even in summer it'll be blue skies all day then it'll rain on my way home damnit. Yeah the Nitro helmets were on special from $149 down to $79 and they seemed pretty good. I'll be going down the motorway from Te Atatu peninsula so I think I'll deffinitely get a jacket, specially as I'll be going slower than all the cars while I'm on my learners which seems like a kinda dangerous and stupid rule to me.

[Rosie]

I just bought a fairly cheap Teknic textile jacket (sequoia), and the vents on it are HUGE (under each arm, and one across the back of my shoulders) I assume they would have a similar men's jacket. The vents don't do much at 50km/h, but are better than nothing (the body armour is also much better than nothing). And its waterproof.

[Colapop]

The following is an unpaid presentation by Quasimoto Leathers - Giving motorcyclists the hump;

"Okay here it is, honest unbiased advise
Synthetic sweats alot so hot and sweaty in Summer warm and dry in winter, synthetic is hopless if you want to move on your bike ie sport riding, you need stretch panels for that.
Leather is better in Summer but colder in winter (get leathers with a lining inside (like mine, oops coulnt help that)
Leather should be a size to allow you to put a bit of extra clothing underneath ie thermal pants long sleeve vest, and back protector .
Room, well there is no room in synthetic it just doesnt give, leather is loverly to ride in and with stretch panels its a dream !
Protection, well simply put when was the last time you saw a racer wearing Synthetic ? well there is a reason for that mate, its better. Ive had 7 customers crash in my gear and guess what, its all completely usable. I have crashed turn one taupo doing about 130kmph I walked away and the leather is good as gold.
I recommend buying leather and a one peice rain suit 2 or 3 sizes to big so you still have heaps of room to move in it. Thats what I use and would never go back, I dont get wet cold or sweaty and Im comfy.
Thats the honest truth, ask anyone."

And that's from a KBer who arguably supplies leather to the stars!! (in their own minds of course)
PM Quasievil, top chap and top quality product from what I been told. Just ordered a new set, for less than I would have paid at two different bike shops for synthetic.

[flash]

so did you buy his gear colapop? or ae you just brown noseing?

also ive got all the quasimoto gear, and i love em to bits!!!. the leather jackets hotter than a textile

[Lou Girardin]

Heard of breathable membranes colapop? It's called that because it allows moisture to evaporate through it. So you don't get sweaty.
Leather is useful for racing or other situations where you intend to fall off a lot.
It can stand more than one slide better than textile, as for protecting better in a normal, sane speed road bin is debatable.
But you're quite welcome to join me in April riding down to Welly. I'll wear my textile gear with T shirt and shorts underneath, you do the same under your leather gear. I'll even shout you coffee to thaw out.

[Motu]

Speedway riders have moved to textile the last few years - and don't say oh,they only fall off at low speeds,they are moving bloody quick (160kph sideways in the turns on a longtrack) and the surface loose,rough and it takes longer to stop sliding,and there are solid walls.They are not DriRider of course,but purpose built racing textile with armour suits under.Dirt riders also move around far more than road riders,they use textile for freedom of movement.

Who the hell wrote that Quasi blurb,it's fulla shit!

[Lou Girardin]

Who the hell wrote that Quasi blurb,it's fulla shit!

C'mon Motu, it was honest unbiased advice.

[thealmightytaco]

Cordura doesn't breathe terribly well, and old leathers that are nice and thick and work bloody well and look aight (and breathe a bit) can be had pretty cheap on trademe, I got kitted out for $160 for pants and jacket. I went for new boots though, $200 is a bargain for a normal pair of shoes these days. And helmet was a hand me down from brother, he moved to Oz and left his helmet behind, so I aint got much to help you with there.

[babyB]

hay there badmofo welcome
realy i think its your own preferance & depends on what you intend on doing realy. i own both leather & synthetic each has its bonus

just remember ..DONT put ya leathers in the washing machine!

[Highlander]

My jacket is leather, custom fit birthday present from my folks 16 years ago. Still in good nick (never slid down the road in it though). Never been wet through even riding in thunder storms, coat it with Nikwax (from the Kathmandu shop) occaisonally seems to work wonders. Pants are synthetic, shoulda got the removable liner jobbies though, too hot with anything other than shorts at this time of year.

Here Baby B I'm not stalking you even though this is the second thread in the last few minutes I've posted after you.

[R1madness]

Welcome dude. First things first. The GN is the exact right choice for your needs. Dont appoligise for it. Love it, thrash it, have a good time. It will hose off most boy racers from a standing start across an intersection so blow them away and laugh like a maniac.

Now, riding gear.
Nitro helmets are fine. if it fits properly then all is good. The main difference between a cheap helmet and an expensive one is the comfort and noise level and quality of the lining and graphics, not the safety of the helmet.

Leather vrs textile. Well it depends on how fast and often you intend to crash. I use full leathers when i plan a fast ride. Other than that i use textile for its conveniance and comfort. You can whip out the armour and walk into a resturaunt or nightclub in a textile jacket and look pretty tidy but that never works in leather.

Gloves - Proper bike gloves are a must have item. You can get inexpencive ones for under $50. Always use them. The one time you dont will be the time you fall of at 15kph and rip your hands up. You will only do it once.

Boots - not strictly necessary for road riding but try to wear shoes that cover the ankle bone if you can.

[ducatilover]

i found the dririder codura stuff bloody good, waterproof and breatheble, amoured and very good for coming off gns in [oil and rain and rimutakas argh ]

i have a zeus flip front thingy helmet which has survived two crashes with no damage and is also very comfy but fogs up really easy.

gloves- mine were $100 and are waterproof to an extent.

doubt that helps