Jacket and helmet

[quattro]

I'm flying into Auckland on the 1st Oct and I'll spend the first month-ish on the road. I have two jackets that I can bring with me.

One is a short, summer Furygan textile jacket. The other is an awesome Richa leather touring long jacket that's suitable for autumn through winter. Both have removable thermal liners.

TBH, I just bought the Richa jacket in June and I'm anxious to use it, mainly because it's the superior jacket but at the same time, even with the liner removed, it would probably prove to be a bit sweaty. The short jacket might prove to be a little chilly for the rest of the year... so what do I do, peeps?

What's the most affordable decent, low spec helmet I'm likely to find do you reckon? I believe there's an excellent yet affordable HJC out this year? Any experience of these?

BTW, the rest of my gear will be Kevlars and ..... a pair of Oxblood Doc Martens!!! Yes, I'm reliving my teens!

[oracle]

I had one of these for my last helmet http://www.colemans-suzuki.co.nz/products/666-road_helmets/1872-hjc_cs12n.aspx a great little low spec helmet and I found it quite comfortable. It was quite bad with wind noise at speeds higher than about 70km/h but I wear earplugs and eliminated almost all of that (amazing what some properly inserted foam earplugs can do)

You can get cheaper but I wouldn't touch them, as they are brands that just feel cheap and poorly made (even though they pass the safety standards) and only generally save you about $40

[quattro]

I had one of these for my last helmet http://www.colemans-suzuki.co.nz/products/666-road_helmets/1872-hjc_cs12n.aspx

WTF?? Is that all they cost? I'll buy two of them for that!! My hearing is pretty sensitive and I invariably end up wearing earplugs anyway.

[oracle]

WTF?? Is that all they cost? I'll buy two of them for that!! My hearing is pretty sensitive and I invariably end up wearing earplugs anyway.

Well, if you're willing to spend more you can obviously get a better helmet, as I said it's a low spec, no frills helmet. HJC seem to be quite good value (esp compared with shoei or arai)

Yeah so do I my ears feel like they are furry inside after a ride if I don't.

[quattro]

Are there any Auckland shops in particular you'd recommend, oh wise one?!! I'd spend more on a lid if it meant better comfort. Is there no GST on helmets in NZ? Is that why they're a bit cheaper than I'm used to?

[oracle]

Lol wise one, just a moniker a friend from high school gave me cause I was a no-it-all, I'm fairly new to the whole biking thing and still learning lots but willing to put my 2 cents in if I have experience. All but one of the bike shops I've been to here have been really good and good service, although you may have to ask them for help rather than them approaching you however I prefer this as this gives you time to look yourself and they don't seem like used car salesmen. Coleman's Suzuki seem to have the cheapest HJC, I really like the guys at Red Baron they've been really helpful to me in the past. However if you go to Barrys Point Rd there are about 5 bike shops within 1km of each other (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=Barrys+Point+Road,+Takapuna,+Auckland&hl=en&sll=-41.244772,172.617188&sspn=38.47597,79.013672&vpsrc=0&t=h&z=16)

Nah, you still pay GST on helmets here. Our GST is 15%, unsure what it is in Ireland though

[quattro]

That's brilliant. I'll get the plane to drop me off there! 21% here but that doesn't explain the difference. They just seem to be downright reasonable! I think we just get screwed here. There are a lot of people who actually travel across the border to Northern Ireland (ie the UK) to shop for bike kit as well as new bikes.

[oracle]

Lol I'm sure someone on here or where you are staying will be willing to give you a ride, I can't say I will because I'm a student so have no idea what I am doing from one day to the next usually but we would all rather have a safe fellow rider and put a few minutes out of our day.

Yeah sounds like their may be huge duties or just huge profits for bike shop owners

[quattro]

Lol I'm sure someone on here or where you are staying will be willing to give you a ride...

I've actually landed on my feet in that respect. My workmate's son is going to pick me up from the airport and put me up for a few days at his place on the Whangaparaoa peninsula while I find my feet. It's just sheer good luck that he's going to help me find a bike, seeing as he's a biker that's owned most of the bikes I've been considering!

[oracle]

I've actually landed on my feet in that respect. My workmate's son is going to pick me up from the airport and put me up for a few days at his place on the Whangaparaoa peninsula while I find my feet. It's just sheer good luck that he's going to help me find a bike, seeing as he's a biker that's owned most of the bikes I've been considering!

Wow you are really lucky. Have fun with your time in NZ and if you feel like riding with some people, stick up a thread and you should get some interest and ideas of where to go

[Furyos J]

I recently got a HJC fg-15, they are around $400 nzd and a very nice helmet, quiet and well made, composite shell and 4 star rating.
As for jackets, ive been wearing a textile with removable liner all year, a little sweaty in summer with liner out and vents open, but still ok. a little cool in winter, but ok if you put a hoody on underneath, get some good waterproof gear to wear over top if planning to ride next winter

[blackdog]

I came across this while browsing, and immediately thought of you. It's in Whangarei but at a dealers, so you could probably do the deal before you leave home and arrange for it to be delivered to you when you arrive in Auckland by negotiation. Anyway, just a thought and it looks like a lovely machine perfect for a tour 'round the country and a bloody good deal to boot.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-404772444.htm

Let us know what you think, and look us up when you're passing through Wellington.