New rider needs advice.

[firecracker]

Heya, For years I've admired those riders out cruising on their bikes. So I've decided to finally get my a#* into gear and do somethin' about it. In terms of a bike and gear, which is most practical to get first? Or is it more a case of which ever happens first? I'd appreciate your thoughts!:rockon:

[portokiwi]

Bike & helmet last thing you want is the wrong color helmet for your bike.
gear dosnt realy matter cant go to wrong in black lol:2thumbsup

[alanzs]

Get gear first. Wear it, go to the shops in it, get a latte, go to the bank, whatever. Then, if it looks good, try getting a bike...

[ckai]

Get gear first. Wear it, go to the shops in it, get a latte, go to the bank, whatever. Then, if it looks good, try getting a bike...

:clap:

If you're buying from a shop, most places will give you a deal on the gears if you buy the bike.

If you're buying privately, different ball game.

I got my helmet as a b'day pressie before I got my bike. Asked for it as a bit of an incentive. It worked because a month later I had my licence and bike (pity the helmet didn't match the bike - new one does though :)). Got most of the other gear discounted with the bike.

If you do a search on first-timer gear you'll find everyone pretty much says don't skimp on helmet. And it's always funny seeing someone ride a crusty old bike with flash $1000 shoei lid :)

[robo555]

For me I started with helmet and gloves.

I got a FFM helmet, 'cos it looked good, works well, and cheap. Not super light as expensive ones, but that's no biggie.

Got gloves because I figured since it was only starting out, any accidents will most likely be low speed, and at low speed, scraps on hands are more inconvinient than scraps on knees/elbows. This paid off, in a slow speed fall, protected my knuckles, got a hole in the pants but no damage to knee.

[retro asian]

I was told that cheaper helmets don't spread the impact force out as well as the more expensive ones, so went for a $500 Shoei

[Bend-it]

Not much to add to the sea of wisdom here...

Buying from shop? then get it all at once...

Buying private or from trademe? Then get a black helmet 1st, which goes with just about anything. Don't ever get a 2nd-hand helmet. So buy helmet, then bike, then gear to suit bike. :) The shop might give you a discount if you tell them that's also where you bought your helmet...

On the other hand, you probably won't hang on to your first <250 bike for very long, so yeah, just whatever eh... Much more fun riding than shopping... for me anyway... :)

[firecracker]

Cheers for the corker advice guys, I'm goin for the helmet, gloves, jacket option and then I'll get my wheels. Kinda lovin the ol cafe' rocker looking honda's from the 80's-early 90's. The CD250U for example. Figure this is a good first choice. Nice n reliable, slow and steady.:third:

[carlosliu]

My recent experience is like this:

buy a black HJC helmet and gloves from cycletreads
pass BHS test and get 6L
read posts on this forum, and decide which kind of bike to buy (VTR250 for me)
get one from trademe
start practicing on the quiet road around my home
head to motomail for more gears (happy with their summer sale, I got jacket, pant, boot and a tinted visor)
voila, ride ride ride ...

:woohoo:

[Rob Taylor]

Ok all good advice...But Buy LEATHER GLOVES AND JACKET not cordura...Let the battle begin:2guns:

[TOTO]

Armoured leather protects you best, while corduras are good for one time fall and still not as protective. Make sure you wearing all the gear when starting on a bike as the first 6 months you are most likely to fall off. Wear your gear always - it will save your ass. Dont be shy to spend 300 - 400 bux on a helmet to preotect your head - thats a nice middle range helmet.


so yea - gear first, bike second.

[YAMASAKI]

Ok all good advice...But Buy LEATHER GLOVES AND JACKET not cordura...Let the battle begin:2guns:

+1 for leather. they'll last you a lot longer and are worth the little bit extra.
and get some boots, they don't HAVE to be bike boots (although they are best) but make sure they're high enough to give you good ankle protection.

I'd go for something other than a black helmet. Black blends in with the background which isn't a particularly good thing.

[ManDownUnder]

If buying from a shop ask them to include a helmet and gloves on the purchase, then negotiate on price. They have better margin on those items (therefore give bigger discounts on the overall purchase).

As for gear to get first, helmet, gloves and jacket. Leather shoes at the very least, boots ideally then bike pants.

Helmet don't have to be the $800 ones unless you're planning to rider really fast and your head needs the absolute best. An average helmet will do just as well as an expensive one in a medium speed off. Most important it the fit of the helmet. Must be good.

[portokiwi]

Saw a realy nice helmet at cycletreads the other day:blink: cant remember the brand but it was a filp top with built in sun visor.... $195.
Not bad at all:gob:

[The Pastor]

Make sure you get armoured gear, the armour makes the world of differance between "owies" and finding out what color your bones are.

[StatX]

Saw a realy nice helmet at cycletreads the other day:blink: cant remember the brand but it was a filp top with built in sun visor.... $195.
Not bad at all:gob:

Got me a shiny, black Zeus :D $189 I think it was. Had a leather jacket for a while, found it in the shed a couple of years back, just been wearing it as a jacket, so that did me :sweatdrop

I kept getting pretty much the same advice - Helmet, Gloves, Jacket, Boots, Pants...

With the helmet, you don't have to pay mega bucks for good protection, just do some research into what you're buying :)

My two cents,

- S

[Racin Jason]

Make sure you get armoured gear, the armour makes the world of differance between "owies" and finding out what color your bones are.

Absolutely good advice, and if you get into real serious sport riding get some leathers and a back protector. I see people riding scooters and small bikes with shorts and T- shirts all the time! No Gloves! It only takes one fall and you'd never ride like that again!
Funny how they think because they are on a small bike the crash will be less serious???

Anyhow not trying to put you off but you feel so much safer and more confindent when you're wearing good gear.

[firecracker]

Why don't I see many riders with white helmets? Aren't they a good option in terms of being seen by other road users?

[Fatt Max]

Got my bike, jacket, gloves and lid all at once from a dealer.

Managed to score a major deal on the price of the gear, they threw the 'On Road' costs in and I got a few little 'freebies' chucked in.

Good luck to you mate and whatever you do....enjoy every minute of it!!

[caseye]

Damn fine advice that Fatt Max, what he said mate enjoy the riding and with good gear you won't go wrong.
White helmets? don't know never appealed to me.

[Pegasus]

As a passenger for many years, I already had most of the stuff, and slowly upgraded to better fit & quality. Then I found when I got the bike, they didn't have much room to move on the price, "but could do me a deal on gear". At least they threw in On road costs.

What ever you get to start with, you will want to upgrade after a while.

Then again I am a Addicted to shopping. :laugh:

[Usarka]

There's a good article somewhere that the less expensive DOT standard helmets may be better in a crash than the more expensive SNELL rated ones. The most important thing is buy what is comfortable - nothing wrong with a $180 comfortable lid or a $900 comfortable lid.

I'll bite Mr Taylor et al :D - cordura vs leather is horses for courses. Commuting in all sorts of shite weather? Then cordura is grand. Whatever you buy check the quality of the stitching and # of panels to see how it'll stand up sliding on tarmac. Again, get what is comfortable for you.

[Geeman]

I got my licence and spent my restricted time on a CD250u - you could do a lot worse...

[firecracker]

How did you find your bike mate? (as in was it a wee cracker?) There's just something about the shape of those older hondas' that spins my little wheels. What year?

[awayatc]

you will likely change bikes a few times,
but good gear will outlast your bike....
You don't need a bike...
You want one,
so don't skimp on the goodies
You will regret it...

[90s]

I was told that cheaper helmets don't spread the impact force out as well as the more expensive ones, so went for a $500 Shoei

You should have read the many threads on helmet testing. In terms of protection nearly all helmets do about the same - with fit being more important than the helment - and many *cheap* helmets outperforming the "leading" brands.

Having said that what you get for your money is real - comfort, lower wind noise, lower weight etc.

Any Dot or Snell helmet will protect you if it is a good fit - so go for comfort etc rather than name. And the only non-complying helments you'll find in NZ are some dodgy TM imports - best not take the chance eh?

[90s]

Make sure you get armoured gear, the armour makes the world of differance between "owies" and finding out what color your bones are.

Good advice from the master - and the reasonable start armoured cordura with built in back-pad, shoulder & elbows (teknics, dryride, rjays etc) is all good stuff that will do the job.

For any jacket you try in a shop or private sale ideally sit on the bike with the jacket and your helment on to see how it fits and if it obstructs your head-turning etc. At least try the jacket with your helmet on.