Gear for a newbie

[vtech]

Just want to know your thoughts and opinions on different brands around (helemts, leathers, gloves, boots and wet weather gear)
cheers

[alanzs]

I personally like Arai helmets at the moment, but have had a few amazing Shoei ones as well. Technic makes great gear. It will probably get down to how much do you want to pay? Don't buy a used helmet, just in case you thought of that.
Go to a few shops and try to get a good price. Also, negotiate the price, as many shops will give you a better price, IF you ask. Amazing what asking does...
Ride safe, figure the cars are aiming at you and never get in their blind spot...

[AllanB]

Oh man what have you done with this thread! :spanking:

It all depends on your budget of course - yes a $1200 Arai is spiffy but there
is nothing wrong with a $300 HJC helmet.

A good place to check for gear pricing is in the NZ motorcycle magazines - usually lots of features and advert pages with bike gear.

Gloves - Spend some bucks on good quality gloves - you really don't want to spend weeks healing your hands after a spill.

Boots - plenty of good road boots around and under $200 now.

Jackets and pants - again dictated by budget and again some good buys out there in the textile market - leather is dearer.

I'd have a look about - get yourself a idea of prices (take a notebook and record brand $ etc) then see if you can get a good deal with one dealer for the lot. You should be able to get a decent discount for head to toe gear.

[Romeo]

PS: Never hurts to throw up a thread in the Online Trading section asking for some <acronym title="Make sure you state your sizes though!">old gear</acronym> - as long as you've got the cash on hand.

[CDFloss]

The helmet depends on the shape of your pip. I tried on some flash Shoei's, and they felt all "ooooh aaaah" on the inside, but didnt fit my head well. I'm happy with my <$300 HJC CL-ST.

I got some decent waterproof leather boots for around $170.
For jacket/pants I went with Ixon because they feel well made, were cheap (compared to AlpineStar for example), and they've kept me 100% dry commuting every day over the past month or so. :woohoo: Draggin jeans (or similar) and a textile or leather jacket is another possible combo (although you may get damp in the rain then).

Gloves - I got some pretty cheap Macna (possibly Magna?) leather/textile winter gloves. They're not the warmest winter glove, but are relatively thin so still have good feel, but most importantly they're 100% waterproof so far as well (except when you forget to tuck the gauntlets under your sleeves when its pissing down :shit:).
Of course I've only had all my stuff for less than 2 months, so it could fall apart tomorrow for all I know, and I dont have anything else to compare it to.

Search these forums, there's heaps of useful tid-bits.

Cheers.

[vtech]

Im wanting to spend about $1000, is that enough?

[CDFloss]

Im wanting to spend about $1000, is that enough?

Roughly. My stuff came to a little over a grand I think. Maybe 11 or 12 hundred. But shop around and be sure to get a discount if you buy it all in one go.

[Usarka]

Gos omewhere with a good range (like motomail for instance) and tell them your budget.

if they try to sell over the budget flick them the bird and try somewhere else:)

For a helmet the fit is probably the most important consideration......

[AllanB]

I'd put a grand as the minimum for some reasonable gear. HJC offer a good helmet at keen prices.

Have a look here - its a Auckland shop - they do have prices listed so it will give you an idea of costs. Auckland may have cheaper places to shop (I'm in Christchurch) - anyone help here?

http://www.motoretail.co.nz/index.cfm

I'd definitely look at the full set from one shop deal - you should get the best price this way.

Having said that often shops have run-out prices on jackets etc.

[vagrant]

You should also check out Cycletreads in Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna

http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/content/welcome.aspx

They have loads of gear at all different price points, and are prepared to dicker on price.

[alanzs]

I recall Honda Botany had a head to toe package for around $600.00. It pays to shop around and remember the 13th commandment; Though shalt never payeth full retail"