Boots and helmet??

[Scamp]

Hey there Miss L - got to start with saying "Great choice of bike"

How's the boot purchase coming along? I felt like I tried on every boot in the shop and still didn't find one I liked the feel of. The guys got 4 more pairs in for me to try and I ended up with a pair of Gaerne's. They're mens boots, but my feet are about the same size as yours and the fit great.

Enjoy the shopping (that's the girlie part) and then enjoy getting out on that GPX of yours.

[Little Miss Trouble]

Hey Scamp,
I ended up with a pair of Dainese boots, first ones I tried, tried a couple of pairs after them but noting quite compared after having my feet in these ones. They look good and don't scream bike boots so I'll be able to get away with wearing them other times too

[HenryDorsetCase]

Like someone else said, online auctions can be a good source of kit: I bought a pair of Sidi Vertebra's for under $NZD220 and they were unmarked... I was stoked since they're about 500+ in the shops. Because my road boots are Sidi i knew they'd fit.

I got a Shoei Raid 2 from the local harley shop for $499: the X1000 was $599 but I spent the extra coin on a "whisperkit" which is makes the thing quieter. I wanted to buy an Arai, and tried on a bunch of them but nothing fitted as well as the Shoei. A friend on mine loves his CL14 HJC also, but it wasnt right for my head shape. Those carbon ones are cool!

I have this thing about gloves as well, and Ive decided you do get what you pay for. I bought one pair which fitted well when new but then got wet and grew about two sizes.... Nazran or something they're called now I only use them for commuting. My favourites are a pair of old stock Dainese street gloves I got out of the specials bin at one of the stores for $100. My next pair are going to be either expensive Dainese or Alpinestars. Since your hands are the first thing that you will put out in a fall, I think its worth spending money there.

Goretex/Cordura riding kit you will be able to get reasonably priced instore: I have a cordura RJays jacket I got from motomail for under $200 which I thought was excellent value.

shop around....

[howdamnhard]

Botany Honda had a $600 deal for all your basic gear.Motomail is also good.The cheaper helmets tend to be heavier.Glad I was wearing decent gloves and jacket otherwise would have lost some skin other day when I wiped out in the wet.Rather buy all the reasonable quality gear you can afford,than buy only one item and blow your budget,that way you will be reasonably protected all over and not leave some area open and vulnerable.Just make sure it all fits properly otherwise it won't be much use.

[peterpan]

I see on tardme you can buy a new V-can helmet from $100 up that comply to NZ safety requirements. will anyone admit to buying one or trying these out.

[Devil]

The cheaper helmets tend to be heavier.

FFM M7 ($150-$200), 1300g. Pretty light!

[NZsarge]

I can highly recommend upgrading to hard armour if your jacket can take it, I came off the other week and the jacket and pants took the brunt of the impact but the hard armour made a big difference to how much damage I received, just a shame it couldn't stop the broken ankle

Bummer about the get off dude...hope the ankle mends quickly

[vifferman]

I understand entirely! nobody bothers talking to me in the morning anymore til I've had my first coffee.

Huh.
My brain has started giving me dyslexia lately.
I was absolutely amazed when driving back from Papamoa on Saturday to read "Truck Drivers are Dangerous".
Then when I read it again, it resolved itself into typical Transhit nonsense:
"Tired Drivers..."

I was pretty excited there for a moment.

[Templar]

My partner and I just bought complete kits for ourselves. She too was very concerned that her bike boots should not scream bike boots, but in the end there is nothing she could find that was waterproof/breathable/comfortable and did not, so has decided her touring boot can look a bit bike boot and her day trip dry weather boot can be fashionable.

For touring she went with a BMW all round boot (think that's what it's called) and for day trips has her heart set on a pair of Harley boots at AMPS. The BMW gear is amazing, very pricey but reeks of quality. We went down there to look at their bluetooth helmets, which they don't do anymore, and walked out with a small mortgage and quite a few pieces of kit. They're pretty nice guys too.

[surfchick]

i had a nightmare getting boots first off. I wanted total protection, but something I could turn up and lecture in if i didn't have time to switch boots to shoes... i checked everywhich store in AK and finally went nuts on the net and finally read enough reviews of US boot chippewa (rally) to decide to import my size. It's all leather, super sturdy and the sole is the best most hardwearing (and non-marking) rubber in the world -vibram. they're all leather lined and stiff leather ext with easy entry via the velcrve rippers. and best of all they look decent and not bulbous. I've had mine 2 years, and the soles are almost as new with almost daily winter wear. Actually the sole of the boot's been designed to have grip over greasy road surfaces... handy. Indestructable boot wear and tear-wise

good luck finding you way through!

[klingon]

oooh now THAT'S a fine looking boot right there
I think I might have just found my next pair of boots.

[Sanx]

Just wondering - do all the biker girls have 14 pairs of bike boots for different occasions?

[Little Miss Trouble]

Well I've ended up with an HJC helmet, the Spool sandy jacket, can't remember the name of the gloves but they have nice hard knuckles Revit womans pants in the short leg and the very comfy dainese boots.
Already have my eye on the draggin camo pants too - coz the jeans dont fit, wouldn't it be great if they made half sizes

[Little Miss Trouble]

Just wondering - do all the biker girls have 14 pairs of bike boots for different occasions?

haha I don't. yet...

[The Pastor]

I find cheap helemets are just as safe as anyother helmets (full face only). I'd buy a cheap set of everything execpt pants and armour, any decent thickness leather jacket will do, but armour is the key.