New Biker Needs Help

[Jeeper]

before today i was after a leather jacket but after riding today on 70kph i dont think leather can protect shet hahaha seller was in jacket/armor with cups on shoulders elbows, maybe because he rode northshore to manukau on 100kph

A proper leather jacket is the best protection. If you don't believe that, search on YouTube for textile/synthetic vs leather skids and see what comes out on top.

[Murray]

how many L plate do i need to show on my motorbike 1 or 2?

Just the 1 on the front of your helmet!

[layton]

i had a 2008 ninja 250.. was a great wee bike until it exploded all over a honda! trust me, you want insurance! i think you should get a friend to help you service the bike somebody who has some experience, would hate to see you strip the sump threads or totally overfill the bike. when i was new to all this bike stuff i had a tendency to over tighten things! now im real good at removing broken bolts and fixing threads

i can also vouch for getting good gear, never ride without good gloves each time gravity kicked in my hands where first to go down and slide. i spent around $1000 on my first set of gear and that was only entry level stuff

[nzspokes]

i had a 2008 ninja 250.. was a great wee bike until it exploded all over a honda! trust me, you want insurance! i think you should get a friend to help you service the bike somebody who has some experience, would hate to see you strip the sump threads or totally overfill the bike. when i was new to all this bike stuff i had a tendency to over tighten things! now im real good at removing broken bolts and fixing threads

i can also vouch for getting good gear, never ride without good gloves each time gravity kicked in my hands where first to go down and slide. i spent around $1000 on my first set of gear and that was only entry level stuff

Yerp, have a $1600 jacket and just bought a $1600 helmet.

[nzspokes]

i can ride just about fine

[caspernz]

Bring me some popcorn, this thread has got some butter in it...

[Dharmbir]

Bring me some popcorn, this thread has got some butter in it...

you need some Castle Rock,if you want popcorn

[WALRUS]

before today i was after a leather jacket but after riding today on 70kph i dont think leather can protect shet hahaha seller was in jacket/armor with cups on shoulders elbows, maybe because he rode northshore to manukau on 100kph

You're right. Leather is pointless and overpriced. That's why MotoGP and WSBK racers all wear street wear with armour 'cups' on their shoulders and elbows

A proper leather jacket is the best protection. If you don't believe that, search on YouTube for textile/synthetic vs leather skids and see what comes out on top.

These days, a decent textile jacket is just as 'safe' as a half decent leather jacket.. But the difference as far as I can tell is Textile gear saves your skin in ONE fall where as leather has a bit more staying power.



Young master Dharmbir, please do yourself a favour and get a leather jacket.

[Moi]

OK, you've got the bike.

Once you've given it a thorough service it'll be ready to be used. However, you may not be ready to ride it.

Take yourself to a motorbike dealer and have a look at the gear they have. Try on various brands and check for good fit, the shop people should be able to guide you in that. Basically you want the jacket/pants to be "snug" but not tight so the armour doesn't move about when you need it to do its job and that they don't cut off your circulation... Keep a record of brand and style and size. If you decide that the gear is worth having and the credit card will cope with it, buy it.

If the credit card won't deal with the cost, then you have a good idea of what will fit you when you start looking on somewhere like trademe for a jacket or pants. Just because the jacket is second-hand doesn't mean it's past its use-by date. There are many reasons why people are selling gear. If you see something that would be suitable check the photos carefully for anything that is not being shown - mainly it's been "down the road" and they're not saying so. If that's the case, walk away. If the jacket looks good, either go with the buy-now, if you are prepared to pay that for it, or go the auction route. If you win the item, great. If not, try again.

If you do win the auction, you can always replace the armour in the jacket with new armour if you feel it may be worth while doing so.

Textile gear is good for all seasons, generally, as it often has removable winter quilted liners. It is not as expensive as leather but it does have it limitations - mainly being that if you have an off in it, it may need to be replaced. Some insurance policies will cover gear, some don't - worth checking when you buy your insurance. You also need to maintain it, washing in tech wash helps it maintain its weather proofness, to a point. No textile gear is waterproof, unless you pay as much for it as you have for your bike!

Leather gear is the best. However, it too has its limitations. It doesn't like getting wet and certainly doesn't like being forced-dried. It may not be as warm as textiles in winter. There are some on here who only ride in leather all year and deal with the cold of winter in various ways - layering with appropriate gear is the way to go. It requires maintenance and care. But in saying that, if you buy quality gear now you will still have it in 30 years, provided you care for it. Leather will survive a "down the road" better than textile and if it is damaged it can be repaired.

Gloves are important because it is natural instinct to put our hands out to safe us from a fall. That's fine if you standing on grass and trip over. However, at road speeds you need to have gloves that will stand up to the task and buying from a reputable brand you will get protection commensurable to the price. A pair of $150 gloves will not be as good as a $400 pair - generally - but the $150 gloves are likely to do a better job than a $25 pair.

Same can be said for boots - protection for the foot and the ankle is important. You don't want to have to learn to walk again because you had a crash in a pair of sneakers and lost the toes on your foot. There are bike sneakers available, however the cost is similar to boots which will do a better job of protecting you feet.

You're in South Auckland, there are several motorbike dealers out that way. You could take yourself to Moto1 and see what they have and get an idea of what you'll be paying for new gear. I have had no dealings with that retailer so I am not giving an endorsement in any way, just pointing out that they are out your way. So are Botany Honda and several others. Do a google search for someone near you and go and see them.

You are likely to spend as much on buying good gear as you have spent on buying the bike. Gear protects the two most important organs in your body - your skin and your head...


If you've got this far, then a wee story: Earlier this year a mate had a low-speed off, about 25km/h when he slid along the road. He suffered cracked ribs, cracked shoulder blade and bruising for Africa. The head of ER told him that he suffered only a bit of "battering and bruising" because he was wearing good appropriate gear. If not, then he'd have been facing "road rash" damage and possible skin grafts to repair the damage. The issue with skin damage is that it takes a very long time to heal, is very painful and you never ever have quite the same movement again in the damaged area. The skin loses its elasticity as it repairs itself. Plus a quality helmet written-off but no head trauma.

Here endth the sermon...

[HEsch]

Bring me some popcorn, this thread has got some butter in it...

Sounds like a troll.

I've put a large lot of popcorn in the microwave.

[Jeeper]

You can buy leather jackets with thermal liners that are removal for summer. Generally, quality, features and prices move in the same direction (they are highly correlated).

[FJRider]

These days, a decent textile jacket is just as 'safe' as a half decent leather jacket.. But the difference as far as I can tell is Textile gear saves your skin in ONE fall where as leather has a bit more staying power.

Have you checked (actually seen) out the Icon gear that featured in that vid ... or did you just read the headline banner .. ??? They sell a range of clothing that will not suitable as motorcycle "Safety" gear but still carry their brand name. To state (all ??) TEXTILE gear is shite is bullshit at best. I've been wearing good quality Textile gear for the last fifteen years. A few off's at various speed (some requiring hospital care) and was never damaged enough that it could not be used ... either to continue the ride home ... or on the next ride.

You wear what you can afford ... and as long as the buyer is aware of any particular items limitations ... there should be no "I didn't know" issues. I have seen some pretty serious injuries on riders that were wearing cheap quality gear ... because some wankers told them leather gear was always best. New Zealands climate provides rain on a regular basis in both the winter and summer. And I've seen plenty of "I only wear leathers" type of riders ... that only ride in summer. Day riders may get away with it (sometimes) ... and the sight of riders trying to quickly clamber into their wet gear can be amusing. Most seem to leave it until the last minute.

Racing leathers worn on race tracks can (and are) worn on public highways ... but public highways bear little similarity to racetracks. Less roadside furniture, no traffic coming the other way, more smooth and consistent/known riding surfaces (and run-off areas) and (usually) a better standard of training for the riders involved ... and they are more aware of their own ability (and limitations) than many road (only) riders.

No riding gear will save the rider from all or any injury. Or protect them from all weathers. "Half-decent" gear will give the wearer "half-decent" protection. Whatever the material used in it's construction. Every riding accident/incident will vary ... both in seriousness and factors of risk. What you hit or land on ... and how you hit/land will (usually) vary. All motorcycle clothing needs care and attention to keep it fit for the purpose. There are plenty of good quality waterproofing/cleaning products available for both leather and textile gear ... but few are using (or aware of) them. All have their limitations ... and benefits. Whatever the price of your gear ... it needs looking after to continue to do it's job.

Riding dirt bikes off-road used to be the best method of learning how to ride (and how to fall off) a motorcycle. Maybe it still is. That's how I learned, and I survived plenty of on road crashes. How I'm not really sure ... with a few of them ...

[FJRider]

you put cops and alright in the same sentence ,you feeling alright mate

Mostly ... they give you a hard time, if you give them reason to.

If you have ... don't expect less.

[OddDuck]

Just to add to the convo about riding gear...

Vents are fantastic to have in summertime

Thermals are equally fantastic to have in winter - strongly recommend wool not polypro, you do not want the stuff melting onto skin if you take a slide

Winter gloves are for winter, summer gloves are for summer, and it's a good idea to have both types with you if you're touring

Rainsuits can go over the top of textiles or leathers and give an extra layer against cold slipstream as well as rain

Getting cold increases your chances of a crash

Getting hot, sweaty, and dehydrated also increases your chances of a crash

Motorcycle jeans don't cost that much more than fashion jeans but have armour and non-shred linings

... and it's usually OK to take new gear for a test sit on the bike to make sure it'll fit properly when you ride. Do the shop a favour and leave something on the counter so they know you're coming back.

[Hemming]

Hi I have just traded in my Kawasaki Z300 2016 to Spectrum.

Found it perfect bike to blitz around town and handles well on the open road. It was my first bike and loved it. Had it 2 1/2 years sad to trade but needeed something bigger now getting into touring. Did the East Cape on it no troubles at all never missed a beat.

They call it the Street Fighter for simple reason it is easy to handle and great around town etc...

Couple on Trade Me around $5000 or Give Beau a call at Spectrum Motorcycles Takapuna.

Has brackets for venture racket, after market exhaust and USB charger.

Best of luck.