Recommended gear for starting out?

[dynamite9585]

Girly and I are getting our class 6's sortly and looking at our first bikes.
with the first purchase comes all the required kit (helmet Ect)

being we are both students and budget is a factor, whar kit do you suggest we get off the bat?

we know not to go cheap on the helmets (a $500 helmet is worth every cent you paid for it 1 sec before you hit the black top)

but the $100 boots, gloves $200 jackets pants ect. are they really worth the investment for people starting out or do they become more of a "i want to be a little more comfortable" item down the track?

[Suntoucher]

For me, I picked up a set of Fox knee and elbow pads(pretty sure they're MX), fit nicely under any clothing and are effective, while not being overly expensive.

Also recommend back armour of some description.

All armour is worth the investment, especially when starting out, but I can personally relate to not being fully protected due to budget constraints.

Don't fall off?

[imdying]

If you ignore fashion and are a bit canny (with your money), stout gear is quite cheap. Get some cow, might as well have something that'll take the scrapes whilst you're in the phase that you're most likely to fall off during (even if that's just forgetting to put your feet down when you stop or something equally daft).

[dynamite9585]

Don't fall off?

well thats the plan......
i have seen enough MX gear on trademe to outfit a small afircan nation.
but didn't think MX stuff would be much use for road riding.

PS. one other thing we need to do is come up with an affordable bike to bike communication system.
suggestions? i'm fairly handy with a soldering iron so making up a couple of cables isn't an issue, just need a place to start.

[The Pastor]

Girly and I are getting our class 6's sortly and looking at our first bikes.
with the first purchase comes all the required kit (helmet Ect)

being we are both students and budget is a factor, whar kit do you suggest we get off the bat?

we know not to go cheap on the helmets (a $500 helmet is worth every cent you paid for it 1 sec before you hit the black top)

but the $100 boots, gloves $200 jackets pants ect. are they really worth the investment for people starting out or do they become more of a "i want to be a little more comfortable" item down the track?

1st gear works for well for me when ever i start out on a bike trip.

[p.dath]

I'm assuming you are going to be mostly road riding.

Check out my guide on motorcycle helmets. You probably don't need to start out with a $500 helmet.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...orcycle-Helmet
A $130 4 or 5 star SHARP helmet can be just as good as a $500 4 or 5 star rated SHARP helmet. Their is no relationship between helmet safety and cost.

Next, try to get a balance of all over protection, including boots, pants, jacket and gloves. Blowing all your money on just one area like a jacket would be a mistake.

Check out the ACC "Ride For Ever" web site for a good guide on what to look for specifically in motorcycle gear.
http://www.rideforever.co.nz/gear/

[phill-k]

This would be one of the most contentious questions on here. Personally after all the research I undertook when getting back into motorbikes some of the big name brands big ticket prices don't necessarily mean any better protection. From my own experience all my gear came from 1tonne (great prices, great product, he's a member here and has a webstore) except my helmet which I needed to fit locally.

good luck and remember you don't need to buy top name brands, especially where there is a standard for the product.

[ital916]

A $130 4 or 5 star SHARP helmet can be just as good as a $500 4 or 5 star rated SHARP helmet. Their is no relationship between helmet safety and cost.

http://www.rideforever.co.nz/gear/

Can being the operative word but in reality a $130 dollar helmet rarely comes close to the more top ends ones, as for the sharp ratings...I dont trust em. A top of the line 300 quid racing designed arai having a lower rating than a budget 30 quid lid...don't think so mate. I would like to know their testing procedures, the experiments, control tests, methods, results (inlcuding outliers) etc.

As for there being no relationship between cost and safety. I would not be so quick to say that. Yes, all helmets for sale meet the safety standards required of them but you will find the more expensive helmets exceed these standards, they do not aim to merely meet them.

As for all customers I fit out. I recommend, if you have the coin go with a better brand like shoei, arai. If for the simple reason, they last longer, have better parts support, better ventilation, usually come equipped with anti fog measures specifically designed for the helmet, have better build quality and additional safety features etc etc.

I'd say mate, if you are getting into it, for the first year of your riding, ride with all the gear. This is the time in which you will make most of the learning mistakes (IF you make any, it is not a when). What you want to focus on is three things - PROTECTION, WARMTH, WATERPROOFING. Looking cool can come later when you have more experience and can make INFORMED descions from that experience to branch out gear wise.

The more comfortable you are on the bike, the better your skills will develop.

A good textile jacket + pant + boots + gloves combo will cost maybe 400-500 bucks. A good helmet usually starts around $200 for entry level ones all the way to $1500 or more. Your head, your choice, do the research. I recommend personally shoei xr1100s but that all depends on if they fit your head. Everyone has a different head shape, dont go off measurements alone eh.

If you want any more info on gear, feel free to ring me at motomail on our 0800 number. Im happy to kick tyres and give you a run through the massive amount of gear in the industry.

Dont be afraid to shop around for the best deal or save up coin a bit longer. It will pay off. We at motomail do a full kit deal for 500-600 which is pretty quality, only the helmet is really entry level the rest of the kit is decent.

[p.dath]

Can being the operative word but in reality a $130 dollar helmet rarely comes close to the more top ends ones, as for the sharp ratings...I dont trust em. A top of the line 300 quid racing designed arai having a lower rating than a budget 30 quid lid...don't think so mate. I would like to know their testing procedures, the experiments, control tests, methods, results (inlcuding outliers) etc.

Read their web site - it's reasonably clearly stated.
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/content/sharp-testing

And I guess I have to put this question to you - why do you think your $1000 helmet is any safer? Just because it cost you more? Even though there is no test or standard that it has been subjected to where it got a better score than a $130 helmet?

I'll say it again. Most $1,000 helmets are no safer than most $130 helmets for street use.

Helmets designed for the track are quite different because of the impact speed - you you often have to accept a higher energy transfer into the brain - which the cheaper helmets designed for street use often don't suffer.

As for there being no relationship between cost and safety. I would not be so quick to say that. Yes, all helmets for sale meet the safety standards required of them but you will find the more expensive helmets exceed these standards, they do not aim to merely meet them.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I 100% disagree with you. Take a read of my BLOG article on the different types of helmets, and then tell me what you think:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...orcycle-Helmet

[ital916]

Read their web site - it's reasonably clearly stated.
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/content/sharp-testing



I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I 100% disagree with you. Take a read of my BLOG article on the different types of helmets, and then tell me what you think:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...orcycle-Helmet

Oh, my apologies on the sharp thing. They have updated the website since I last went. I will read with great interest. I find it how as an engineer, I find test reports interesting.

Edit: My faith in the sharp system has now grown after having read the information. Thank you for the link p.dath. I am however still a little annoyed at no figures being published, I find it odd.

[Milts]

I agree completely that a $200 helmet can be just as safe as some of the $500 ones. I wouldn't go overboard on a helmet, but check the reviews of whichever one you do buy. The links posted above are very comprehensive.

As for gear, good boots and gloves are worth the money. Don't go for the cheapest glove in the store/online; you will notice the difference. Ask yourself what conditions you'll mostly be riding in, and take that into consideration. If you can only afford one pair of gloves, perhaps buy a light(ish) weight pair and a pair of thermal undergloves rather than buying only summer gloves and freezing in winter, or winter gloves and having icky sweaty hands all summer. Same with boots, but make SURE they are waterproof and well armored. I would expect to pay a minimum of $600 for gloves, boots, jacket and pants if you want a decent set.

There is an ongoing debate on this site with codura vs leather. It seems that codura isn't as durable when you slide along the ground, but provides more comfort and waterproofing (unless you get expensive, fitted leather). Some also argue that the armor in codura can move about and will not protect you as completely in a crash. However, many people still use codura particularly for commuting + touring.

Go to a few of your local bike shops, and ask them if they can cut you a deal on a full set head-to-toe gear. You may get an even better deal if you also buy your bike through them, I don't know if you're planning to get a bike 2nd hand or new, private or shop sale... but something to think about.

You can get some very good deals on gear online but you will also to some extent get what you pay for, and cheaper gear will not last as long or protect you as well in a crash. Read reviews of any item you buy beforehand. I personally bought the jacket I use most online for $140 and while it's not bad, it probably won't last a whole lot longer and I do notice some quality issues. Same with the cheaper gloves I got. Sidenote - avoid gloves with a 'floating' thermal liner. They are a right bitch to get on and off if your hands are even slightly damp.

TLDR - go to a bike shop, get a bulk deal if you can, get the full lot. Oh and check out the threads on bluetooth bike to bike comms in the 'online trading' section if you're after something like that. The search function is your friend!

[sil3nt]

What sort of bike and what sort of riding?

Sports bike with weekend riding and trackdays - Leathers
Commuting and casual riding - Textiles

I use Textiles as i just commute and go for the odd casual ride. www.1tonne.co.nz have good affordable gear.

I plan on getting leathers for when i upgrade to a sports bike and hit the track every now and then. Leather for driving 40kph through town seems silly to me.

[ital916]

Read their web site - it's reasonably clearly stated.
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/content/sharp-testing

And I guess I have to put this question to you - why do you think your $1000 helmet is any safer? Just because it cost you more? Even though there is no test or standard that it has been subjected to where it got a better score than a $130 helmet?

I'll say it again. Most $1,000 helmets are no safer than most $130 helmets for street use.

Helmets designed for the track are quite different because of the impact speed - you you often have to accept a higher energy transfer into the brain - which the cheaper helmets designed for street use often don't suffer.



I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I 100% disagree with you. Take a read of my BLOG article on the different types of helmets, and then tell me what you think:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...orcycle-Helmet

No I do not think it is safer because it cost me more. If you read me post again I say the cheaper helmets may be as good but usually not. This is because price is related most of the time to time spent in materials, design and testing.

For example the resons I think the shoei xr1100 helmet is a better choice than say an rjays gp2 helmet. Both of which we stock is that the xr1100 has the dual eps liner, providing better impact absorption which the rjays doesnt, the xr1100 is lighter, better designed aerodynamically etc. I also stated the more expensive helmets have better ventilation, removable and washable liners, more parts availabilty, a longer lifetimes becuase of this. Better construction quality. So I accept that a lot of money is spent on non safety added features.

What you are forgetting is comfort is an important aspect of safety, a product of greater cost is usually more comfort features. A beginner starting with a shoei I assure you will be better off in the future than with an rjays.

As for high speed, low speed impacts. I canot see the logic in an argument stating entry level helmets are not designed for or are expected to be designed for high speed impacts?

[Quasievil]

Girly and I are getting our class 6's sortly and looking at our first bikes.
with the first purchase comes all the required kit (helmet Ect)

being we are both students and budget is a factor, whar kit do you suggest we get off the bat?

we know not to go cheap on the helmets (a $500 helmet is worth every cent you paid for it 1 sec before you hit the black top)

but the $100 boots, gloves $200 jackets pants ect. are they really worth the investment for people starting out or do they become more of a "i want to be a little more comfortable" item down the track?

Maybe come and see us, I can tell you all about all the stuff you need to know, Im in HamiltonI can also show you a few products including 5 star helmets, we have a bunch of gear here at good prices and also some sellout gear, should be able to sort you out well within budget.

Anytime is ok also.

[p.dath]

As for high speed, low speed impacts. I canot see the logic in an argument stating entry level helmets are not designed for or are expected to be designed for high speed impacts?

Helmets are made from different materials, and those different materials entry transfer characteristics vary with speed.

For example, plastic shell helmets tend to absorb a lot of energy because they flex but fracture more easily. So having an accident at 200km/h in a plastic shell helmet could be very bad. But at 50km/h you may be much better off than a helmet that has minimal flex at that speed.

However a fibreglass helmet is very hard, but transfers a lot more energy towards the brain. However a fibreglass helmet is not likely to fracture in a 200km/h off. However at 50km/h it will transfer far more energy towards your brain.

Yes, you still have the inner liner, but that is there to try and absorb the excess energy that the outer shell was not able to disperse. The more energy you can disperse in the outer shell the better.