Could use a little help selecting gear :)

[wtfh4xx]

I go tomorrow to pick up my 2010 250r SE, however I need some gear to ride it!

Here's some gear im looking at:
Icon TiMax 2 jacket - http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-2-Jacket.aspx
Joe Rocket boots - http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...ang-Boots.aspx
Cortech gloves - http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-2-Gloves.aspx

And to be honest, I could use some help selecting a helmet.
I know snell/dot are reqs, but not sure what features to look for etc.

Thanks for your guys help and input

[kkim]

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...le-helmets.htm

[wtfh4xx]

Originally Posted by kkim

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...le-helmets.htm

Perfect link! ty

[wtfh4xx]

I think I found a helmet
Exo-700
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...T.ac=Cart_Item

[Mr.E]

I'm a huge scorpion fan. I personally got the EXO-500. It's not snell, its DOT and ECE but I'm fine with that. The EXO-1000 has been on sale for some time now at places. Its got a lot of bang for the buck. But I do hear its a little on the heavy side, which is why I went for the EXO-500. The Exo-700 is good too. I love anything scorpion. Lol.

The reason I prefer scorpion over others is because it usually has the same features as the 300 or 400 helmets, for less. Their faceshields have everclear fog free stuff on it, which is nice because no one loves fogging. The built in visor that drops down is a huge plus. It beats having to carry sunglasses or two faceshields (If you dont want to that is.). The new Exo-500 has a "Cracked" feature. Allowing the faceshield to be in a cracked position, to let more airflow in and (if needed) help defog. Also the airflow from what I understand its pretty good on scorpions.

A word of advice though, Im not sure if you but online or go to cycle gear, but if you buy online go into a store and try a helmet on. Some say scorpion runs too small. Im a large and ordered a large, its a little tight but thats how it should be. This really goes for any helmet, try it on, see how it fits. It should be a little snugg.

Congrats on a bike btw! x-) Ride safe.

[rockNroll]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

I think I found a helmet
Exo-700
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...T.ac=Cart_Item

Go to your local cyclegear and try some helmets on. Some brands will fit some people better than others. cereal! I like Shoei, the most comfortable helmets I've ever owned are suomy, arai doesn't fit me well, hjc makes me want to drive a pencil into my forhead ... get the picture?

[Moldbuster]

Starting to sound like a broken record here!
You want full length boots. Short ones have a tendency to come off, leaving your feet exposed. Also, if your pants ride up, the longer length protects your shins. And...some pants and leathers are designed to tuck in.

[Moldbuster]

Speaking of pants...you DO intend to get pants...Right?
Jeans are not protective gear...not even a little...at all.

[wtfh4xx]

haha, yes I do.
The situation is that here the weather can get up to 115 in the summers and snow in the winters.
Obviously if its too hot to wear protective gear, i wont be riding.
However, I dont wanna pass up gorgeous 95 degree days :P

So im kinda in limbo between protection and comfort, all the gear needs to breath cuz its effin hot up here!
Also I would liek some boots that I can walk around in, otherwise im gonna need to carry a backpack EVERYWHERE just to swap between my gear and my clothes.

The boots appealed to me because I could hop off the bike and not need to swap shoes.

edit: Awesome signature btw, totally fits hahaha

[kkim]

how about these? they are so cheap, but seem to be pretty well built. they are hard to pass up.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71249&

[rusninja]

protect and fall, live to see another ride. Just comfort gear if it saves your butt your going to be parked on a couch or bed healing up x]

[gfloyd2002]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

haha, yes I do.
The situation is that here the weather can get up to 115 in the summers and snow in the winters.
Obviously if its too hot to wear protective gear, i wont be riding.
However, I dont wanna pass up gorgeous 95 degree days :P

So im kinda in limbo between protection and comfort, all the gear needs to breath cuz its effin hot up here!
Also I would liek some boots that I can walk around in, otherwise im gonna need to carry a backpack EVERYWHERE just to swap between my gear and my clothes.

The boots appealed to me because I could hop off the bike and not need to swap shoes.

edit: Awesome signature btw, totally fits hahaha

I also live in a hot climate and breathing gear is a must. But I went through hundreds of dollars, wasted, looking for riding shoes/boots (and jacket, pants, gloves) that were cool and could be worn around off the bike but were inexpensive. A waste of money to go with cheaper gear you are just going to later decide don't protect well enough or that wears out quickly. I have now repurchased high quality jacket, gloves, pants and settled on a full boot -- All I wish I would have just done from the start. Bascially, you can't get protective, cheap, breathable and good off the bike all in one package. Pick three of four (but make sure protective is one of the three) and count yourself lucky if you find something.

On the boots, don't go with the riding shoes, really, you'll regret it after your first getoff. After fist buying a riding shoe, I ended up with BiLT Trackstars, which are cheap, breathable and protective, but not great for walking off the bike or being incognito at the store. You might spend more for a good touring boot or race boot that is very comfortable to walk around in.

Some suggestions, in addition to the Trackstar, but more expensive:

A* SMX-5 - protective, vented and comfortable walking
A* Net Air - moderate protection, vented and comfortable walking, styling more like a traditional, non race boot
Cortech Latigo Air or Sedici Laguna Air (same boot) - protective, vented and somewhat comfortable walking

[Moldbuster]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

haha, yes I do.
The situation is that here the weather can get up to 115 in the summers and snow in the winters.
Obviously if its too hot to wear protective gear, i wont be riding.
However, I dont wanna pass up gorgeous 95 degree days :P

So im kinda in limbo between protection and comfort, all the gear needs to breath cuz its effin hot up here!
Also I would liek some boots that I can walk around in, otherwise im gonna need to carry a backpack EVERYWHERE just to swap between my gear and my clothes.

The boots appealed to me because I could hop off the bike and not need to swap shoes.

edit: Awesome signature btw, totally fits hahaha

Read the post I just did on Safety Gear....Wahat You Need... It explains the boot thing. Also, they make plenty of tailpacks which can fit boots. Remember, there are hundreds of thousands of other riders who commute and they find a way.

[wtfh4xx]

Those Bilt trackstars seem to be the hot item :P
Ill get a pair and try them out.

I tried on the cortech gloves today and they felt great, also saw some gauntlets from cortech and tried them on. Was surprised how much reinforcement is added by the full gauntlet.

Also found a nice HJC helmet that fits me well at a local shop.

And finally came across this jacket which I feel pretty set on
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-2-Jacket.aspx

Looking forward to your guys input

[kkim]

whatever piece of gear you buy online, just make sure the return policy is reasonable with the online retailer you deal with. for this reason, I like to buy a lot of my stuff from motorcyclegear.com...
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/

checkout their "closeout" section and especially their "last chance bargains".

[Moldbuster]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

Those Bilt trackstars seem to be the hot item :P
Ill get a pair and try them out.

I tried on the cortech gloves today and they felt great, also saw some gauntlets from cortech and tried them on. Was surprised how much reinforcement is added by the full gauntlet.

Also found a nice HJC helmet that fits me well at a local shop.

And finally came across this jacket which I feel pretty set on
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-2-Jacket.aspx

Looking forward to your guys input

I think the guys have a hit on their hands with the Bilt Boots. If it helps more guys get good foot gear, I'm all for it.

And yes...the gauntlets DO add a lot of reinforcement. Here is an experiment you can try...put on a set of short gloves...try to pull them off. Not so hard is it? Now try to do the same thing with a set of gauntlets. In that same way, full length boots stay on.

The jacket...600 D material is decent. I suspect the armor isn't CE-2 certified but that can be upgraded if that is the case. If it fits your budget, go for it but plan an armor upgrade.

[wtfh4xx]

Originally Posted by Moldbuster

I think the guys have a hit on their hands with the Bilt Boots. Of it helps more guys get good foot gear, I'm all for it.

And yes...the gauntlets DO add a lot of reinforcement. Here is an experiment you can try...put on a set of short gloves...try to pull them off. Not so hard is it? Now try to do the same thing with a set of gauntlets. In that same way, full length boots stay on.

The jacket...600 D material is decent. I suspect the armor isn't CE-2 certified but that can be upgraded if that is the case. If it fits your budget, go for it but plan an armor upgrade.

Jacket.

Removable, CE approved armor at the elbow and shoulder with an articulated triple density back protector

[wtfh4xx]

Summed up the shopping list.

Bilt trackstar boots
Cortex gx series 2 jacket
HRX series 2 pants
CL-16 Hellion helmet
Cortech Accelerator 2 Gloves

What say yee oh great guardian of safety Moldbuster?

[Moldbuster]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

Summed up the shopping list.

Bilt trackstar boots
Cortex gx series 2 jacket
HRX series 2 pants
CL-16 Hellion helmet
Cortech Accelerator 2 Gloves

What say yee oh great guardian of safety Moldbuster?

The armor is probably CE certified...not CE-2. A helmet is more visable in solid colors...but that is up to you. So with the caveat that you upgrade the armor when possible to CE-2 (try Knox armor), and you go to gauntlet gloves...you are blessed. Go forth and ride.

[Moldbuster]

Full gauntlet gloves...
http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=6460

[wtfh4xx]

Thanks, whats the difference between CE and CE-2 approved?

These gloves get your approval?
A* Sp-2
Remember I need my gear to breath for the summers here

[CThunder-blue]

Originally Posted by Moldbuster

And yes...the gauntlets DO add a lot of reinforcement. Here is an experiment you can try...put on a set of short gloves...try to pull them off. Not so hard is it? Now try to do the same thing with a set of gauntlets. In that same way, full length boots stay on.

Not all short gloves are made equal. My Dainese 4 stroke gloves are extremely hard to pull off. I have to grip them by the fingers and really tug to get them off. They're just as difficult to remove as my old A*'s SP2 gloves. They offer just as much hand protection as a full race glove, but no wrist/forearm protection for obvious reasons.

[CThunder-blue]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

Thanks, whats the difference between CE and CE-2 approved?

These gloves get your approval?
A* Sp-2
Remember I need my gear to breath for the summers here

I sold my pair a while back. Gauntlet gloves make riding really safe, but really hot at the same time. Find a pair that are perforated. I didn't like the sp-2's all that much.

[Moldbuster]

Again, the SP-2 is a short glove. Not hard to get off. I have a set, don't wear them anymore.

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=6906 It is hard to wrong with a set of Held gloves.

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=6963 Best wrist attachment system on the market.

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=6960 What I wear.

Gauntlets not only give you more of a chance that the gloves will stay on, they help secure your jacket sleeves from rolling up in ina reverse slide and give you extra support/protection in the wrist. Hotter as mentioned? Not been my experience.

CE-2 ratimgs are a more advanced safety rating for armor. Better impact protection, higher G-forces. It is not the be all end all, but it is a good place to start. As in all things, there are differences in cost so cheaper gear will usually have lower rated armor...it is up to you to do the research on any particular piece of safety gear.

[SSR]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

And to be honest, I could use some help selecting a helmet.
I know snell/dot are reqs, but not sure what features to look for etc.

I believe, but am not confirmed, that different helmet manufactures make helmets for different head shapes. So as rockNroll suggested, try them on. What fits for me might not fit for you.

As long as their DOT approved, you're fine. SNELL is required for the racetrack, but their has been some controversy over some of the tests a helmet needs to pass. SNELL 2010 took some steps to fix these controversies. But what's more important than SNELL certification is that it firts correctly.

A correct fitting non-SNELL helmet will protect you better than a incorrect fitting SNELL certified helmet that flies off your head.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

Thanks, whats the difference between CE and CE-2 approved?

I wrote a quick description on CE1 vs CE2 back protection here: http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showp...3&postcount=18

[Moldbuster]

Originally Posted by Boom King

I wrote a quick description on CE1 vs CE2 back protection here: http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showp...3&postcount=18

[wtfh4xx]

Wow guys excellent info!

I bought my HJC helmet, Bilt trackstar boots, A* half gauntlet gloves, and cortech air series 2 jacket. Just need to buy pants now.

Also went for my first ever ride, WHAT A FRICKEN BLAST.
I've never ridden a dirt bike or anything, just lotsa BMX when younger.
I picked up on everything pretty fast, my brother whos been riding about a month was pretty surprised.

Thanks for your guys help getting me into safe gear

[Moldbuster]

Originally Posted by wtfh4xx

Just need to buy pants now.

Yes. Yes you do.

[CThunder-blue]

Originally Posted by Moldbuster

Again, the SP-2 is a short glove. Not hard to get off. I have a set, don't wear them anymore.

I have a hard time understanding what you mean by short glove. The SP-2 has the same length as the Held glove you're suggesting, but you call it a short glove?





This is what I call a short glove:



If you have/had an easy time taking off the sp-2's, maybe they weren't the right size? I'm not saying that to be condescending. If you've never tried on a pair of Dainese 4 stroke, then please don't condemn all short gloves as "easy" to take off.

[Moldbuster]

That Sp-2 is definiteoy different than the SP-2 I have which came with a piece of gear I bought. If Alpinestars has changed them, I retract my statement.

However...I still believe the Held to be a superior product.

[rockNroll]

My SP2's are long (I don't wear short gloves) and they're a bitch to get off. A's gloves run small too.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by rockNroll

A's gloves run small too.

Good point. In fact, from trying on various items from their line I find most of their stuff is more of a "euro fit".