Gear advice for a beginner?

**crystalball** · 13th September 2011, 18:01

Remember to get gear for the season i.e winter or summer. Ride alot comfortable with dry gear and cooler gear for hot months. Leave pair jeans or shorts at work then do not have to carry them in your bag or wear them under bike pants.

**PrincessBandit** · 13th September 2011, 19:09

Originally Posted by Damantis

Regular safety boots prob don't have ankle protection. Sliding your leg down the road with the 200 odd kilos of bike on it will grate your ankle like cheese. Also, imagine what happens in a shoelace ends up in your chain.

Yep, boots very important. Whenever I see riders wearing sneakers etc. I just think to myself "I hope you never come off, dude, and your tootsies meet the chip up close and personal". Having been in a position where mine have, I can say that proper boots (under-rated by some) are essential.
As for steel cap, I have heard mixed reports. Scariest scenario, although not sure about likelihood, is them being crushed and your toes being amputated

Ankle protection is also high on the priority list.

**wysper** · 13th September 2011, 19:49

Originally Posted by PrincessBandit

Scariest scenario, although not sure about likelihood, is them being crushed and your toes being amputated

Ankle protection is also high on the priority list.

I think that is extremely rare. I am sure some where on the interwebs will be an account of someone having their toes amputated by steel cap boots. But I think it was a myth mythbusters busted at some stage.

However, proper motorcycle boots are the go if you can afford them.

**Desert Eagle** · 13th September 2011, 19:53

I went and got boots after my laces kept getting caught in the pegs.
boots are much easier than stomping on your feet to release a caught up pair of laces every second time you pull up at the lights...

**skippa1** · 13th September 2011, 21:26

Originally Posted by Quasievil

If you dont have a pressing need right now as you havent got your bike yet my recommendation would be to save up some more money and get decent gear, i.e a quality named brand, especially if youre intending to ride in the longer term, cheap gear can be a false economy.
Go to some of the stores around Auckland and look out for good brands on sale, there are heaps of brands, Revit for example has a good ladies range and its well made and will last longer than a cheap no name brand.
In Hamilton we have Boyds Suzuki who have a large stock holding all on sale!! there must be an equivalent in Aucks , Cycletreads ?

What ever you do look at think about its construction, thickness, stitching type how many rows, etc etc

Perhaps even get a Kiwibiker Mentor to go along with you, they would have the experience to know whats good and whats not.

good luck anyway and welcome to biking !

+1 on this one. In my accident I very good gear, it was all written off and saved my bacon. Funnily enough as I did the big tumble thing down the road, both feet hit the road hard, right on the toes. I had $800 Sidi boots on, I think that if I had steel caps my feet would have hit the toes of my boots a lot harder and I would probably have broken toes, I still ended up with black toenails

. Get good gear, I'm not from the "any gear is better than no gear" team. If you think it is worth buying gear, buy good gear.
The way I explained it to my daughter with her scooter was, go outside and rub your elbow on the road with either your cheap gear or worse still no gear. As hard as you can

. If you are happy to do this and put up with the pain, then go for it.

If not get good gear. Get gear with armour to.

**sam.la** · 14th September 2011, 19:53

overwhelmed by the amount of help received here. I think I will take an experienced rider to Cycletreads and see some good gear and hopefully be kitted out.

**Dangsta** · 16th September 2011, 18:25

Hi, was in similar boat as you as new to bikes. After a lot of shopping around, I took a ride to Eltham and grabbed 1tonne leather jacket and pants for $640. Really happy with service, price and gear. Got a Shoei Raid 2 helmet and can't rate it high enough. Totally different experience riding at speed with quality head gear. Got some A* SP2 gloves (again didn't dick around with hand protection) and got some decent 2nd hand boots on TM. Best of luck

**crystalball** · 16th September 2011, 18:34

Just get cheap gear to start use extra money to get better bike. Once wore pair lace up leather shoes no gloves just long sleave shirt and cotton trousers.I used my helmet and the side of my shoes to slow me down and stop me skidding for to long down the road lol. And my amazement only a compound fracture and no grazes.

Its how you fall to.

**4AGE** · 16th September 2011, 18:45

Originally Posted by crystalball

Just get cheap gear to start use extra money to get better bike. Once wore pair lace up leather shoes no gloves just long sleave shirt and cotton trousers.I used my helmet and the side of my shoes to slow me down and stop me skidding for to long down the road lol. And my amazement only a compound fracture and no grazes.

Its how you fall to.

I hope you are being sarcastic.
Otherwise that is the worst advice in the world.

**steve_t** · 16th September 2011, 18:53

Originally Posted by crystalball

I used my helmet and the side of my shoes to slow me down

Originally Posted by 4AGE

I hope you are being sarcastic.
Otherwise that is the worst advice in the world.

Ummm

**Animus** · 16th September 2011, 22:19

Over the years I have accumulated various kinds of gear. I now ride with alpinestars smx-r boots (tried work boots, leather shoes, proper biker boots are all I will ride in now), alpinestars rc1 leather jacket (back protector, gp armour all over, looks cool, I have a ducati textile jacket that I have crashed in and it does the job but leather jackets are a lot more fitting), alpinestars st-5 drystar pants (waterproof, windproof and have all the protection plus you can walk around in them without feeling like david bowie) and clover gloves with shoei xr1100 helmet. This setup is the most comfortable so far and protection all over. Fork out the dosh for good gear, treat it right and it will last a very long time.

**sam.la** · 18th September 2011, 01:59

This is what I'm planning on buying:

Helmet:
http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/product...l_face_he.aspx
Gloves:
http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/product...our_glove.aspx

Jacket:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-406512332.htm
Pants:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-406512399.htm

are these okay?

**sam.la** · 18th September 2011, 02:12

I actually just checked out 1tonne and I can get kitted out in leather within my budget... is all the equipment at 1tonne top quality stuff?

Only concern is they are in Taranaki so I won't be able to try the stuff on before buying...

Jacket:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...=&categoryid=3
Pants:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...id=bestsellers
Gloves:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...id=bestsellers
Boots:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...id=bestsellers
Helmet:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...id=bestsellers

**otter** · 18th September 2011, 10:40

Originally Posted by sam.la

I actually just checked out 1tonne and I can get kitted out in leather within my budget... is all the equipment at 1tonne top quality stuff?

Only concern is they are in Taranaki so I won't be able to try the stuff on before buying...

Jacket:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...=&categoryid=3
Pants:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...id=bestsellers
Gloves:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...id=bestsellers
Boots:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...id=bestsellers
Helmet:
http://www.1tonne.co.nz/index.php?pa...id=bestsellers

Looks like a good price for your kit. Only thing I would be wary of is the helmet, I'd go to a bike shop and try them on (they'll help you make sure you have the right fit) instead of buying online. Also, I'd rather get something from a decent brand, you don't know what 1tonne is sending you for something so important.