Gear for a newbie

[vtech]

Just want to know your thoughts and opinions on different brands around (helemts, leathers, gloves, boots and wet weather gear)
cheers

[alanzs]

I personally like Arai helmets at the moment, but have had a few amazing Shoei ones as well. Technic makes great gear. It will probably get down to how much do you want to pay? Don't buy a used helmet, just in case you thought of that.
Go to a few shops and try to get a good price. Also, negotiate the price, as many shops will give you a better price, IF you ask. Amazing what asking does...
Ride safe, figure the cars are aiming at you and never get in their blind spot...

[AllanB]

Oh man what have you done with this thread!

It all depends on your budget of course - yes a $1200 Arai is spiffy but there
is nothing wrong with a $300 HJC helmet.

A good place to check for gear pricing is in the NZ motorcycle magazines - usually lots of features and advert pages with bike gear.

Gloves - Spend some bucks on good quality gloves - you really don't want to spend weeks healing your hands after a spill.

Boots - plenty of good road boots around and under $200 now.

Jackets and pants - again dictated by budget and again some good buys out there in the textile market - leather is dearer.

I'd have a look about - get yourself a idea of prices (take a notebook and record brand $ etc) then see if you can get a good deal with one dealer for the lot. You should be able to get a decent discount for head to toe gear.

[Romeo]

PS: Never hurts to throw up a thread in the Online Trading section asking for some old gear - as long as you've got the cash on hand.

[CDFloss]

The helmet depends on the shape of your pip. I tried on some flash Shoei's, and they felt all "ooooh aaaah" on the inside, but didnt fit my head well. I'm happy with my <$300 HJC CL-ST.

I got some decent waterproof leather boots for around $170.
For jacket/pants I went with Ixon because they feel well made, were cheap (compared to AlpineStar for example), and they've kept me 100% dry commuting every day over the past month or so. Draggin jeans (or similar) and a textile or leather jacket is another possible combo (although you may get damp in the rain then).

Gloves - I got some pretty cheap Macna (possibly Magna?) leather/textile winter gloves. They're not the warmest winter glove, but are relatively thin so still have good feel, but most importantly they're 100% waterproof so far as well (except when you forget to tuck the gauntlets under your sleeves when its pissing down ).
Of course I've only had all my stuff for less than 2 months, so it could fall apart tomorrow for all I know, and I dont have anything else to compare it to.

Search these forums, there's heaps of useful tid-bits.

Cheers.

[vtech]

Im wanting to spend about $1000, is that enough?

[CDFloss]

Im wanting to spend about $1000, is that enough?

Roughly. My stuff came to a little over a grand I think. Maybe 11 or 12 hundred. But shop around and be sure to get a discount if you buy it all in one go.

[Usarka]

Gos omewhere with a good range (like motomail for instance) and tell them your budget.

if they try to sell over the budget flick them the bird and try somewhere else

For a helmet the fit is probably the most important consideration......

[AllanB]

I'd put a grand as the minimum for some reasonable gear. HJC offer a good helmet at keen prices.

Have a look here - its a Auckland shop - they do have prices listed so it will give you an idea of costs. Auckland may have cheaper places to shop (I'm in Christchurch) - anyone help here?

http://www.motoretail.co.nz/index.cfm

I'd definitely look at the full set from one shop deal - you should get the best price this way.

Having said that often shops have run-out prices on jackets etc.

[vagrant]

You should also check out Cycletreads in Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna

http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/content/welcome.aspx

They have loads of gear at all different price points, and are prepared to dicker on price.

[alanzs]

I recall Honda Botany had a head to toe package for around $600.00. It pays to shop around and remember the 13th commandment; Though shalt never payeth full retail"