Slowly picking up better gear...

[iplante]

I currently ride in a Scorpion textile jacket and shorty Cortech leather gloves but I've wanted better gear for a while.

Today I went to Motoprimo to try on gear and see what sizes I need to try and get good deals online..

I found a nice Vanson drifter leather jacket on which I got a deal ($299.99 instead of $399.99). They installed CE elbow and shoulder armor and a level 2 CE back protector. First time I found a leather jacket that fits that well. Definitely fits better than my Scorpion jacket. The jacket is blue too, which is different for me. I usually get black gear.

I am probably gonna get Alpinestar SP-? gauntlets for gloves, not sure which model yet. I found I wear a 7.5 in Sidi and Alpinestar boots I plan on picking a pair of either soon.

I can't find a decent pair of pants that fits me to save my life (literally?). I'm thinking the Stryker knee/shin guards and shorts under regular pants are going to have to do the trick..

My partner thinks this board is making me paranoid and that I need to chill and get more affordable gear. She also doesn't think that she needs better gear because she rides a cruiser. How can I convince her otherwise?

Pics of the jacket soon..

[StephenA]

[antiant]

Originally Posted by iplante

She also doesn't think that she needs better gear because she rides a cruiser. How can I convince her otherwise?

Show her pictures of what happens when people don't wear their gear, or don't wear the sufficient amount of gear? The Road Rash Queen is a start. Regarding other gear, if you're having a hard time finding pants, maybe try getting some custom leather pants? You might be surprised at how affordable they may be?

[nautica]

A lot of gear from what I've tried on are made long and may require some hemming, some are also long when standing but once you're sitting it's good. The only concern with longer pants is the armor could sag and if it's not adjustable to the proper height it's virtually useless, so separate armor would be required.

[iplante]

Thanks for the advice guys. The longer pants are a big part of the problem: even if they fit my hips the knee armor hangs below my knees on my shins or even ankles, lol.

I'll show her the pics. She keeps insisting that she would crash differently on a cruiser than a sportsbike and doesn't need as much gear but I don't buy that.

[csmith12]

I find it interesting that people think sport bikes crash differently than others. Maybe they do but I could honestly care less about that debate. But I am pretty sure most crashes involve the rider becoming disconnected from their bike and most skin reacts the same way to scraping across the pavement.

[iplante]

Back of jacket

[iplante]

Front of jacket

[Panda]

Originally Posted by iplante

She keeps insisting that she would crash differently on a cruiser than a sportsbike and doesn't need as much gear but I don't buy that.

I see people in the city zip around on scooters in tshirts, sandals, and half helmets all the time. Always makes me cringe a little...asphalt doesn't care if you are on a cruiser, sportbike, scooter, or atv when you are sliding across it at 30mph.

[iplante]

So thoughts on my new jacket? What I had before was a Scorpion nip tuck.

[antiant]

Looks good, although I don't see any perforation or vents, so it might be a little hot in the summer? Still better than textile and mesh though, as far as protection. A little sweat doesn't hurt, provided you stay hydrated (you don't want to get heat exhaustion either).

[iplante]

There's zippered vents on the sides and inside the arms they are zipped shut in the pics

[hexstylee]

just picked up a GP Pro jacket, love that thing. I will admit it is a little hotter in the sun, but at night was a dream. Wore just a t shirt under not too cold not to hot just perfect.

[tnr4]

KILLER jacket. Very nice.

It's really unfortunate about women's pants. I guess there just isn't enough market share to make good development profitable, which sucks. I was shopping for my wife, and came across Teknic's kevlar jeans for women, and they had unusually good reviews (and also have Knox light armor at the knees). So if you haven't checked into those, you may take a peek. I really like the armored shorts/knees + kevlar over top option for commuting and going out. It's pretty stealthy, and I don't feel naked like I would in jeans.

Good luck in your continued search!

[iplante]

Thanks for the recommendations, Travis. I'll look into the kevlar jeans.

The jacket is super comfortable, I wore it when I rode my partner's Shadow the other day (my bike is still in the shop getting painted ). It was 70+ that day and I wasn't too cold or too warm, just perfect. The vents are nice.

[iplante]

Just picked up some Alpinestar Stella SMX5 boots haven't ridden with them yet but they fit well and are comfortable to walk around in.

Q: pants inside or outside the boot? Pros and cons of each?

[iplante]

Bump. really curious about what you guys think on pants inside vs outside the boot.

[nautica]

It's really all preference on which way to wear them. If you wear tight pants or leather then you'll have to tuck them in, if you have a looser pair of pants then you'll probably need to wear them outside the boot.

[lgk]

that jacket looks good on you

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by iplante

Bump. really curious about what you guys think on pants inside vs outside the boot.

I try for inside the boot first.

[tnr4]

Originally Posted by allanoue

I try for inside the boot first.

Yup, me too. The only real safety concern is that the pant leg, if it's baggy, can catch on the pegs when you go to put your feet down, and then you end up pulling your own bike down. The only pants I can really get into my boots, though, are my leathers. So I just try to be extra careful about really lifting my feet up and over when I'm coming to a stop.

[tfkrocks]

I tried to fit my jeans in my A* boots before but that didn't really fit. Either way, I still wear overpants as well and that definitely won't fit, so I keep everything outside my boot. I'd go for whatever feels most comfortable or works for you.

[iplante]

Originally Posted by lgk

that jacket looks good on you

Thanks

Also thanks for all the suggestions, I appreciate it! I'll definitely try to fit my pants in at first.

[00NissanNinja]

I usually wear my pants outside the boot since nothing I have is so baggy that it has the potential to get caught on anything. That and the fact I'm always wearing race boots which I rather not show off. I only do inside the boot if I'm on the track or if my pants easily fit in there. Otherwise just a matter of preference like the others said.

[toddblue68]

Pants outside. But as was mentioned, watch them getting caught as you put a foot down. Only because pants inside creates hot spots (my leathers sure do) on the ankles after a while.

Don't give up on textiles too quickly. I really like that leather jacket you've got, but here in the south, leather starts to suck 3.5 seconds after you hit the first stop light. There are some products that do a really good job protecting you on the street and are custom made. I chose MotoPort, myself...have not crash tested it but enough people have and posted up that I'm far more confident than I was in other mesh jackets I've owned.

The fact that you're considering what the tarmac does to the human form shows you're taking this serious, and that's to be commended. I read on a forum one that the best test for your gear is to put it on, take off running as fast as possible across the parking lot and dive to the ground. It's tongue in cheek of course, but for those that wear no gear, it should raise at least a modicum of concern.

Enjoy the Ride.

[iplante]

Thanks for the advice, Todd Thankfully, Minnesota doesn't get as warm as Texas... I think I'll be fine this summer with the leather jacket.

I've finally picked up a pair of better gloves. I got the Alpinestar Stella SP-2. Got a pretty cheap deal ($20 off) by buying them on Amazon. I tried them on in store of course... I like the fact that these have some white on it.

I guess I used to like black-only gear, but I'm expending my taste in colors

If any ladies wanted to pick up some SP-2s for $100 here's where I got them from: http://www.amazon.com/Alpinestars-St...1YF.0NMMM2A_tt

[iplante]

Well ****. Amazon just cancelled my gloves order because it's apparently out of stock. Even though they had 10 in stock when I purchased it.

****.

[antiant]

^That sucks, but on the bright side, there are a selection of gloves in that category that fit that general price range.

[iplante]

Yeah. But I fell in love with these gloves though
It's hard to find good women sized gauntlets. I've tried many men sizes, and they are always too big on the palms

[iplante]

Well I found a pair of SP-2s at a local shop for $109.99. All black though.

I'm happy. Now I just need pants

[iplante]

I'm thinking of getting riding jeans for pants. I like the following 5, which seem to have good protection and also seem to hold up good in a crash:

1. Drayko Drift
2. Drayko Renegade
3. AGV Corsica
4. Alpinestar Axiom
5. AGV Women's Aura

I usually wear men's jeans as they are more comfortable than women's. Does anyone have any experience with the jeans listed above? I'm still thinking of getting stryker knee armor to wear underneath..

[iplante]

I got pants! I went with the AGV Sport Solare Vented Pants. They were affordable and I read a few reviews mentioning crashing and sliding in them and they seem to hold up pretty well. Of course, it not any leather pants, but I compromised to get a pair of pants that I will actually wear.

So far, they seem to fit. I'm wearing dickies shorts and they fit well... before I take the tags off though I'll try them on with a pair of jeans I also want to make sure they fit well over my boots.

My gear quest is over for now!
- Jacket: Vanson Leather Jacket with CE-rated elbow, shoulder and back armor
- Pants: AGV Sport Solare Vented Pants with CE-rated knee pads, foam hip pads
- Gloves: Alpinestar Stella SP-2 gauntlets
- Boots: Alpinestar Stella S-MX5 boots
- Helmets
* HCJ CL-16 helmet, black
* Bell Revolver helmet, black

I may look for a better helmet soonish. I'm not sure I'm 100% happy with mine... But for now, it definitely works!