Help with my gear?

[Bonmaklad]

Ok So i'm a noobie biker just bought myself a hyon GT250r, passed my test on saturday, love the bike but oh cause I love myself as well.

So my theory was to get full leathers. *cough* saw the price and thought what the hell thats stupid, so my new plan was to get draggin jeans and wear my leather jacket (isn't armoured) but under my jacket i've bought a full exo skeleton Motocross armour thing it's got a hard core back plate shoulder, chest and elbow plates.

Now is this good or should I just stay off of my bike until I get a 2 peice leather set?

If so can someone explain to me the reasons why they are better?

Please be gente i'm a noobie and even though i've wanted a bike for 6 years i've still got my family saying your going to die die you will! so.. umm I love bikes I know i'll come off so whats going to save my life?

[MSTRS:Me]

I know i'll come off so whats going to save my life?

Good gear, good management, good luck.
Tip the scales in your favour by getting the best gear you can afford. Check out TM for used stuff - nothing wrong with that - perhaps think cordura instead of leather for the time being. Have a word with Quasi on here about what he can offer.

[firefighter]

I know i'll come off so whats going to save my life?

those expensive leathers you saw.......oh and luck - lots of luck.

[portokiwi]

Welcome mate, As the others said.... Buy what you can afford, Upgrade as you go along.
They people on the site time to time sell off good gear cheap.
Main thing is Enjoy your bike.

[Bonmaklad]

So is it instant death if you come off? is it the impact of the floor that does it or sudden decrease in speed like hitting a tree?

[klingon]

Bike gear has a couple of main functions. One is to give you some protection if you come off, and the other is to keep you comfortable while you're riding so you can concentrate on riding instead of thinking about how cold you are!

I wear cordura because it's waterproof as well as warm, and also you can buy lots of different bits so you can mix'n'match depending on what you want at the time - I have a summer jacket, a winter jacket (with zip-out liner), winter pants & draggins.

It also depends what kind of riding you'll be doing. All my winter gear is big enough to go over the top of my work clothes because my main use of my bike is for commuting.

Also don't forget gloves & boots.

So far I haven't needed my gear to save my life, but it's nice to know I have a second line of defence if I ever do come off.

For me I wouldn't get value for money out of leathers because I wouldn't wear them often enough.

[disenfranchised]

those expensive leathers you saw.......oh and luck - lots of luck.

Don't scare the guy!!

Depends on what sort of riding you'll be doing.
If you're just going to be starting off in the 50k zones, then the draggin jeans will be fine.
There's no armor in those, so it can still hurt a lot if you land on your knee, but like you've mentioned with your top half, you can get some motorcross armor to wear underneath.

[klingon]

So is it instant death if you come off? is it the impact of the floor that does it or sudden decrease in speed of a tree?

There are all sorts of scenarios.

Sliding along the road you'll need gear that will hold together (especially along the seams), stay covering your skin without riding up (good design, good fit), and not give in to friction and melt with the heat!

For the sudden stop at the end you'll need your armour.

For encounters with other traffic & high speed impacts you'll need plenty of luck!

[MSTRS:Me]

So is it instant death if you come off? is it the impact of the floor that does it or sudden decrease in speed of a tree?

NO. Every crash is different, but rule of thumb is that what you hit will determine the severity of injury. Gear (good or otherwise) can help and that's all.
Sudden deceleration is a killer, and leather is best for that long slide.

[klingon]

I think the most useful advice for you at the moment is to learn to ignore those little voices in your head that say you will come off and you will die! PLENTY of people on this site have been riding for 20, 30, 40 years with no serious injury. When they started riding a lot of the gear we take for granted was not available, and even if it was the 'culture' of biking said you could ride in jeans & a T-shirt.

I'm not saying you should ride without good gear (30 years ago it was acceptable to ride in a car without a safety belt and with a baby in your lap - we have moved on since then). I'm just saying you need to be prepared for the worst but not think it is inevitable.

[Bonmaklad]

ok so what i'm using it for at the moment is commuting but I commute the other way at the moment, i'm out at kumeu but then next month i could be back in town so I guess I need things to go over my suit.

I've got full waterproofs.

I've got at present this set up:

full Motorcross body armour
armour road gloves
work boots (they cover my ankle and I can use them for work)
good helmet
suit trousers slash jeans <<< ahh i know but my theory is I won't die i'll just lose a leg.

[klingon]

I'm currently reading The Biker's Bible by Graham Allardice. (It's a kiwi book and had some very useful info.) He says ride like you're naked and invisible. Apart from being very cold I think that is excellent advice. Wear all the gear... then ride as if you don't have any gear at all.

[Quasievil]

ok so what i'm using it for at the moment is commuting but I commute the other way at the moment, i'm out at kumeu but then next month i could be back in town so I guess I need things to go over my suit.

I've got full waterproofs.

I've got at present this set up:

full Motorcross body armour
armour road gloves
work boots (they cover my ankle and I can use them for work)
good helmet
suit trousers slash jeans <<< ahh i know but my theory is I won't die i'll just lose a leg.

We got some Kevlar Jeans you can have for $130 I will throw in some knee armour for free, only a few sizes left though, hopefully your small waisted?

[F5 Dave]

All the gear all the time. I hate slogans, but this one makes the best sense. Most accidents happen on short trips (the sort people say I'm only going down to the shops so I won't bother).

Good boots gloves & armoured riding gear. Try Trademe, 2nd hand gear is cheap. Time off work or school can't be replaced so easy & some injurys don't heal. I shudder when I see people riding in trainers- socks as ankle protectors.

Most bike related injurys these days are the legs. Because many don't protect them.

[Bonmaklad]

coolio yeah i know I mean i had my first slight crash during my training and test where i slid out at 20kph and i paniced slightly until i suddenly realized i had the smallest graze on my leg and a bruise popped up a day later, must admit i feel more comfidant now.