2 questions inside

[FJRider]

oh come on Fj say it as it is

you pay for you get if you want cheap there's a red brick building in your town go spend fj's $10.00 there.

or you could do as someone suggested a few months ago here, ride naked oh the joy gravel rash

Trust me on this ... there is NO joy in gravel rash ...

[Highlander]

Trust me on this ... there is NO joy in gravel rash ...

the "Joy" in gravel rash is the sadistic nurse brushing the gravely bits out of your bits and loving every second of it.

[FJRider]

the "Joy" in gravel rash is the sadistic nurse brushing the gravely bits out of your bits and loving every second of it.

with the best part is he's (the nurse) gay ...

[SMOKEU]

the thing that sits in ya helmet is the most important piece of safety kit, and it comes with each body free of charge. Problem is that some dont understand how to use it. (starting to sound like........)

If that thing inside the helmet is defective to start off with....

[rwh]

Remember, if you are commuting on a scooter or a 1000cc sports bike, an off at 50kph is the same. Painful. Gear up.

While I haven't come off (or ridden, for that matter) either, I'm not convinced. Yes, the slide along the ground is probably similar - unless the bike is on top of your leg. In that case, I'd rather have the scooter than the big bike.

On the other hand, my bike is rather heavier than a 1000cc sports bike, and I mostly ride in ordinary jeans. Really must get round to checking out some kevlar ones ...

Richard

[SMOKEU]

While I haven't come off (or ridden, for that matter) either, I'm not convinced. Yes, the slide along the ground is probably similar - unless the bike is on top of your leg. In that case, I'd rather have the scooter than the big bike.

On the other hand, my bike is rather heavier than a 1000cc sports bike, and I mostly ride in ordinary jeans. Really must get round to checking out some kevlar ones ...

Richard

That's what I thought. Last time I binned a bike I was in leathers and I still managed to break my hand. Good gear won't really stop you from breaking a bone.

[caseye]

While I haven't come off (or ridden, for that matter) either, I'm not convinced. Yes, the slide along the ground is probably similar - unless the bike is on top of your leg. In that case, I'd rather have the scooter than the big bike.

On the other hand, my bike is rather heavier than a 1000cc sports bike, and I mostly ride in ordinary jeans. Really must get round to checking out some kevlar ones ...

Richard

Each to their own, I own and use Rhino jeans(kevlar lined with a know type armour at knees and hip) for shortish , work commutes.
I also own good Q Moto leather trou which are always worn on long rides, trips.
My jacket is coming form Q moto too and will always be worn over any other sort of protection, despite the heat.
I've seen the results of long slides without good gear and I would not wish that sort of injury on my worst enemy.

[superman]

Decided that when I was getting a motorbike I wasn't going to cheap out on the gear. So found a 5-star Sharp Rated helmet, and got a set of leather gloves, jacket, and pants from Qmoto. Plus some epic boots.

Good gear definitely feels much nicer than a 4 hour ride at night in jeans (while I awaited the pants). Plus you got to have the full gear, not gonna have some biker bitch at me about raising their ACC levies.

Means I can smoothly transition to track day without having to buy anything more than a back/back and chest protector.

Now lets hope I don't suddenly get fat in the next couple years and won't be able to fit in my expensive leather no more

[pritch]

Most people don't wear the same gear on a moped that would be appropriate on a bike. There was a relatively recent thread where someone commented on being amused at seeing a scooter rider in full kit.

I don't wear leather jacket and boots on my moped either. Always a helmet and gloves, and some sort of a jacket though.

[Gremlin]

I own at least 3 full sets of gear. Most expensive is $3000 for jacket and pants, $225 for gloves, $470 ish for back and chest protector, boots are $500, helmet probably $900 ish? Doesn't include all the extra bits and bobs. Don't use it for around town commute tho, as its comfortable below freezing.

[wysper]

Most people don't wear the same gear on a moped that would be appropriate on a bike. There was a relatively recent thread where someone commented on being amused at seeing a scooter rider in full kit.

I don't wear leather jacket and boots on my moped either. Always a helmet and gloves, and some sort of a jacket though.

This is interesting.

I believe the risk is the same, as if you are travelling at legal speeds in town, the off is pretty much the same no matter what bike you ride. This is assuming a no collision off.

The interesting thing for me here is that a few bikes ago, when I changed from an SV to a DR, I felt when I was riding the DR round town I didn't need the same level of gear I would automatically put on when riding the SV.

I think subconsiously what we ride affects how we gear up. It shouldn't but it does.
Look at all the comments about gearing up no matter how long the ride. Surely it should be the same with gearing up no matter what the ride. (if possible keep replies to that last comment out of the gutter )

[Grubber]

This is interesting.

I believe the risk is the same, as if you are travelling at legal speeds in town, the off is pretty much the same no matter what bike you ride. This is assuming a no collision off.

The interesting thing for me here is that a few bikes ago, when I changed from an SV to a DR, I felt when I was riding the DR round town I didn't need the same level of gear I would automatically put on when riding the SV.

I think subconsiously what we ride affects how we gear up. It shouldn't but it does.
Look at all the comments about gearing up no matter how long the ride. Surely it should be the same with gearing up no matter what the ride. (if possible keep replies to that last comment out of the gutter )

I actually think your right. We often change our thought pattern somewhat when we jump on a dirt bike to shoot down the road to the dairy as opposed to the big road bike. Also right about the fact that we shouldn't!

I have a helmet at $900 a Cordura jacket and pants at $600ish a leather 2 piece at $1900, boots at $350, gloves for winter at $190 and summer at $250. Plus a few bits of warmer gear for the winter.
Would be lucky to find me wearing anything but ATTGAT now days. Had a couple of falls and it bloody hurts at speed.

[Ocean1]

$10 heads in $10 helmets ... how much you value your ass will determine how much you spend on the rest of your riding kit.

Scars are cool ... right ... ???

The best you can afford is the guide ...

I agree a 10$ helmet is likely to be less than the very best you can buy, but don’t make the mistake of equating price with quality.

I'd suggest a full face helmet with a standards compliance rating. But outside that there's very little correlation between the price and the protection offered by any one brand or model over another.

In fact if you want value for money I'd take note of all the big flash adds and buy something else, I'll guarantee in most such cases the advertising budget is more than the manufacturing one. I’d rather pay for the product, the shiny pictures aimed at the fashion brigade won’t keep my head safe.

[scumdog]

I'd like to think that one day you might get brave and buy a bigger motorcycle.
Wysper has hit the nail firmly on the head, the off speed and results are exactly the same no matter the size of the bike.
For Gods sake get geared up, wear gloves, jacket, trou and boots at least.naturally a good full! FaCE helmet.

Or wear leather pants & jacket, fingerless-gloves and a 'shorty' open face helmet if you want, your choice.
Just be prepared to be possibly more hurt if you come off your scooter if you're wearing that sort of gear.

But for somebody starting out I'd follow the advice of these other guys.

[Toaster]

That's what I thought. Last time I binned a bike I was in leathers and I still managed to break my hand. Good gear won't really stop you from breaking a bone.

Exactly right but it does stop other surface injuries and is well worth good money on good gear.

People also need to remember that falling off had little to do with the bike and everything to do with what your body will hit. Sliding happily along the road like those on TV is unrealistic.

In NZ we have potholes, rough surfaces, uneven surfaces, road markings, cats-eyes that would hurt like hell, signs, fences, ditches, wire barriers, livestock and all manner of other road users to smash into.

The better the gear (if you do come a cropper) and the more defensively you ride the better your chances of surviving your ride the first place.