Ideas for doing things on the cheap

[klyong82]

- Leather gloves from the warehouse for $6. These ripped pretty bad when I fell off recently and my hand got a big cut. Not recommended to go cheap here. Perhaps next time I'll just wear fingerless gloves underneath haha.

damn man.....go to the Online Trading section and ask Quasi to sell you some proper gloves for $20 plus postage.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...d.php?t=102395

[Ixion]

can you explain it in a simpler way?

Yep. You cunts have way too much money, and y'ain't worth what y' spend on gear. Unless the spend was less than $2.50 (or, 75 cents in Mr Carv er's case) .

[aewilliam]

I am abit surprised that more people don't do things on the cheap. Thought it was the Kiwi way haha. (Having been here for 13 years I think I'm getting towards being a full Kiwi).

I was cheap before even coming to NZ >=)

- Helmet. Just bought cheapest brand new.

Helmet is probably the one thing I personally would'nt wanna go 'cheapest' on...suggest getting an AU/NZ approved one with the best SHARP ratings, and make sure it FITS PROPERLY. An expensive but not great fitting helmet can/will DO more damage (not prevent less damage...DO damage) than a lower priced but well fitted helmet.

I used skateboard knee pads and elbow pads. They weren't ultra cheap ones. They are the ones that slip on and they came from Cheapskates. I wore these underneath my clothing. Was happy I was wearing knee pads when I came off as my knee is still abit sore a week or so after and my pants were ripped around the knee.
- I bought some shin guards for Hockey from the Warehouse for about $20. They have a ankle strap too.

Shift MotoX knee/shin guards, $25

- Didn't know how to protect lower arm, chest, shoulders or back on the cheap. Thought about maybe using Gridiron gear haha.

Shift MotoX armoured jersey w/ back protector $80

- Leather gloves from the warehouse for $6. These ripped pretty bad when I fell off recently and my hand got a big cut. Not recommended to go cheap here. Perhaps next time I'll just wear fingerless gloves underneath haha.

hmmmm, question to put to others - what would the stainless steel mesh gloves used for filleting fish be like if used or under/over leather/cordura gloves?

Also thought about use of bullet proof or stab proof vest but I don't think these things come cheap.

These cost aLOT.
Remember the big hoohaa after the f***ked up order for the Police? many $$$s wasted on that waste of taxpayers money, and resultant lack of protection for the good people of po-po.
think couple hundy$ or so from the Army Surplus store on K'Rd each.

- Bought some ankle wraps from the warehouse for $5 each as I heard that the ankle can be stuffed pretty easily in a fall.
- Steel toe leather boots bought from No. 1 shoe warehouse. $60. Didn't want to go too cheap on these. Boots were reduced from $100.

I hope you got lace up boots that go to mid shin or so? These would provide sweet ankle support. Probably more than the ankle wraps...
Gusset boots (elastic sides) won't really support much, if at all.


Jackets?
Army Surplus store has heavy as hell (maybe bulletproof, who knows...) leather jackets. Think they were just over $100 from memory?

Pants?
Get some 1000D Cordura from sailmakers, get it stitched up yourself.
Could even do the same for a jacket maybe.

Happy cheap riding

At least the Scorpio, once going again, will help keep stuff on the cheap!

[The Eliminator]

Hey all U guys and gals out there ,recovery is easy if you wear the right gear .
If you want to go cheap , no prob . But get the protection . This can be done two ways , Just fork out for the good expensive gear and no crying . or look around the the Op shops , Salvation Army shop . Sometimes if you are lucky you will get the right gear for half nothing and because it worn and old you really look the part .So no ra mind cheap s--t , protect urself . You even get some gud stuff cheap here on KB .
By the way alowha all , this is my 1st coment on KB .

" The Eiminator "

[jono035]

Army Surplus store has heavy as hell (maybe bulletproof, who knows...) leather jackets.

If by bullet you mean air-rifle slug, then maaayyyybe....

I'd imagine that as a first-look the best thing to get would be some form of impact protection for back/elbows/shoulders, then worry about the sliding damage...

[Moki]

Hi.

I just thought I would post some things I did to keep costs down as much as possible as $$$ is tight for me. Opinions welcome of course and other comments as to how people tried to save money.

- I used skateboard knee pads and elbow pads. They weren't ultra cheap ones. They are the ones that slip on and they came from Cheapskates. I wore these underneath my clothing. Was happy I was wearing knee pads when I came off as my knee is still abit sore a week or so after and my pants were ripped around the knee.

- I bought some shin guards for Hockey from the Warehouse for about $20. They have a ankle strap too.

- Bought some ankle wraps from the warehouse for $5 each as I heard that the ankle can be stuffed pretty easily in a fall.

- Steel toe leather boots bought from No. 1 shoe warehouse. $60. Didn't want to go too cheap on these. Boots were reduced from $100.

- Leather gloves from the warehouse for $6. These ripped pretty bad when I fell off recently and my hand got a big cut. Not recommended to go cheap here. Perhaps next time I'll just wear fingerless gloves underneath haha.

- Helmet. Just bought cheapest brand new.

- Didn't know how to protect lower arm, chest, shoulders or back on the cheap. Thought about maybe using Gridiron gear haha. Skateboard wrist guards might also be good but might interfere with normal riding and normal use of gloves.

Also thought about use of bullet proof or stab proof vest but I don't think these things come cheap.

I recommend the best and safest thing you can do is to stay off your bike until you "get it".

[High_Voltage]

You have to have a semi big accident then youll appreciate buying decent gear. I did when i wrote off my suzuki 250.
Ive heard with cheaper helmets are two halves glued together basically as opposed to quality 1s where there one single mould. If you want to be thrifty try trademe or i got my jacket and pants from an army surplus store in onehunga who also sold leathers. I was lucky enough to get a brand new leather jacket for 160 which was mistakenly put on the 2nd hand rack and the leather pants to suit were around 120.
Also another recomendation is to not buy 2nd hand helmets coz who knows how the previous 1 was treated
And look in bargain bins in bike stores coz they sometimes sell old stock which no1 wants to buy for cheap.

[StoneY]

Every bike shop has a good 500 dollar starter rider kit with all you need for basic 'stay in one piece at legal speeds' crash gear

Be cheaper than all the rubbish crap from the warehouse in the long run-

And bike boots impractical? Riggers gloves? What a dinosaur- cant have any blood flowing in his hands or feet

I havent got 'magic gear'

Just a middling armored jacket, good pants(300$ the set), 99$ riding boots, 200$ helmet and 70$ gloves, and ride anywhere, any weather, warm n dry

670$ and I can stand next to the posers and not be spat on

[=cJ=]

Shrug, I guess I'm a poser, I've spent shitloads on nice gear.

On the plus side, it's about as safe as I can get, comfortable, looks nice, and should last the distance. I just couldn't see the point in cheaping out when the cheaper gear I tried was nowhere near as nice/comfortable to wear, and I was in the position where I could afford the nicer gear (well, sorta could anyways... )

[ready4whatever]

saw a tribesman hoon past me today on his harley, must of been going 200km/h. nothin but his patch on. good way to lose your skin

[hospitalfood]

i have found the best way to get cheep gear is to steal it off a drunk biker.

to start with make friends with some peeps on KB, sooner or later you will be on the piss together.
now, buy some sprirts and try to get most of it down the best kitted rider ( you could pratice this with me ). if you can get your hands on some presciption drugs chuck them in the mix to, a joint would not hurt either.
once the rider passes out it is best to smack them over the head with a brick to be sure, but dont hit to hard, you don't want to kill.
then, you simply take their kit and bail............

P.S. if you are a little guy, don't do this to a big guy because his kit wont fit you.

[cheesemethod]

I have much love for cycle treads when it comes to good cheap gear.

Nortek Armoured Cordura jacket $125
Ok, so it's not gonna last 10 years, but I've had a good year and a half wear out of it and it's holding together nicely. Zip out winter liner is fantastic. Have had one bin straight onto my elbow/side, nothing broken, no bruise, jacket still in tact, just a few minor scuffs. Not particually waterproof but I'm sure some 3M spray would sort that out.

Cordura pants $105
Can't remember what brand but they're great, zip out winter liner shorts, keeps you warm in winter. Big cushy knee pads work fantastic.

Oxtar Boots $99
On special from $250 rrp. Amazingly waterproof and warm.

Nibo gloves $55
Good leather, big plastic knuckle protector.

So $384, + a $140 helmet I bought way back when in Hamilton. IMO you can kit yourself out quite nicely in real bike gear for $500

[boomer]

Shorts, a wife beater and jandals.. don't come much cheaper than that !

Another money saving idea by McBoomer !

[pritch]

This is a piss take thread, correct?

One hopes so but....

I often agree with Ixion but not this time. Should you be unfortunate enough to highside, those riggers' gloves would likely be long gone by the time you hit the deck. Which latter time is when you actually need them. I keep mine for gardening.

It isn't just biking gear, it's any specialised clothing. The market is smaller so the prices are higher. If you do actually find yourself in a situation where you need the gear to work for you it'd be best to be wearing something designed for the job.

Once upon a time people used to wear a lot of army surplus clothing: greatcoats, boots, anklets, leather jerkins, flying helmets etc. But their bikes only did 80mph if they were lucky. And they couldn't hold even that for very long before bits started dropping off.

At the velocities attained by most modern machinery good gear is an investment.

[jono035]

It isn't just biking gear, it's any specialised clothing.

Yeah, gotta agree with you there. I think the tendency is for people to underestimate the complexity that goes into the design and testing of things. Looks the same is not a good indicator of ability to keep your skin on and your bones whole.