[Taylor]

OK so I need to start from the ground up with gear and after trolling around the net I am pretty content with what Alpinestar have to offer both aesthtically and price wise. I'll only be riding on the streets, no daily commute as such so it will be all fun when I get on the beast, so am trying to keep this in mind.

Whats everyones thoughts on a two piece or jacket and a good pair of kevlar jeans, and also actual boots or a pair of riding shoes?

I'm really not sure but would like to purchase before my bikes delivered in five odd weeks.

 

[Oni]

Here is my advice.

Buy a 2 piece suit (cheaper than buying a jacket than pants later) and buy some Kevlar jeans/cargos. I have been using my Kevlar Cargos (draggin jeans) for over 5 years on my commutes to work and around town. Though i still prefer leather pants that zip to my jacket for any performance riding. Just that extra layer of padding is nice.

Fitting is the most important factor with a suit. Sometimes you can't always get the design you want cause it doesn't fit right. I myself am quite small (not short) so only Dainese suits fit me. Alpinestar suits have to much space even with a back protector. So i suggest you try on alot of suits to find the one that fits you.

Boots well depend on your budget. I use Aplinestar Supertech R boots and would buy them again. They are comfortable to walk around in and provide superior protection. Other brands to look at are Dainese and Sidi.

Gloves i use the Dainese Full Metal Pro gloves. They have excellent protection and grip.

Also get a back protector, either one that can slide into the back of your jacket or one that you strap on underneath. There are a few brands out there that you can look at. I just go with the Dainese ones.

 

[Ad_raz]

I had a two peace alpinestars suit & sold it for a one peace dainese only because I prefer one peace suits which I wear for long/fast rides with sidi boots. It's comfortable & it's makes me feel at ease wearing full gear on longer journeys. I just prefer one peace as sometimes the zip on my two peace which links both jacket n trousers together kept coming undone. For things like going to shops/pubs etc I wear a alpinestars jacket with Kevlar jeans & alpinestars fast back riding trainers. I find this sort of gear is much more user friendly in terms of walking around or just socialising (you don't look like a power ranger ready to take on the world).

Best advice I could give you is just try stuff on before you buy it as some brands can come up too short or too big etc. At the end of the day whatever you personally feel is the most comfortable for you is the best option to go for. Remember to do some bending & crouching (tiger hidden dragon) moves in them when you try them on to check flexibility etc

 

[rjjr]

I would definately go with riding boots. You're feet and ankles are pretty vulnerable. I have a two piece suit right now but the bottom zips to the jacket and it can be awkward to put it on zipped or to zip it after you put it on. I've decided to order a one piece suit but can't say if it's better or not. Get the best helmet you can afford.

 

[Taylor]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll certainly be doing some kung fu like you suggested Adraz.

How's everyone found there local shop compared to purchasing off the net after you have tried gear on in shop?

 

[Genie]

Just remember when buying riding gear, there is NO such thing as "ENTRY LEVEL RIDING GEAR!!!!", you've just put +20k into your new ride, so scrimping on riding gear is a no go here.
I suggest like many of the previous posts, stick with known and trusted brands, Alpinestars, Dainese, Sidi etc……
COMFORT is the key, make sure it FITS PROPERLY being uncomfortable is a hazard, Leather is going to give you the best overall protection, to make it easier to get in and out of your leathers and more comfortable, buy some undergarments such as skins (Alpinestars make these check their website).
Ask yourself what your vast majority of riding is going to be. Will it always be dry weather riding?? (Weather/Waterproof) Riding in a lot of warmer weather??? (Perforated Leather), and as said previously your greatest investment should be your HELMET!!!, if your $$$ allow you, carbon helmets weigh less, so on long rides this will result in less fatigue to the rider.

Anyways that's just my 2 cents, wishing you many happy, safe rides in the future

 

[Genie]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll certainly be doing some kung fu like you suggested Adraz.

How's everyone found there local shop compared to purchasing off the net after you have tried gear on in shop?

Just be aware that you can't purchase helmets from overseas, you have to have the Australian Standard sticker on it to make it legal here. All the other gear, well the world is your oyster……………….

 

[Ad_raz]

How's everyone found there local shop compared to purchasing off the net after you have tried gear on in shop?

As long as the size you try on in the shop is the same size you order online there should be no problems & be exactly the same. Just as long as you buy from an authorised online retailer, So not fake etc. I normally try in the shop then order online as it's usually cheaper & I've not had any problems. Sometimes though in my shop if your buying a lot of gear you can usually get a bit of discount which makes it cheaper than on the net. Maybe be worth a try with your shop. It will be interesting to know what gear you decide to go with when you finally get it



Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[Rob09]

Just remember when buying riding gear, there is NO such thing as "ENTRY LEVEL RIDING GEAR!!!!", you've just put +20k into your new ride, so scrimping on riding gear is a no go here.
I suggest like many of the previous posts, stick with known and trusted brands, Alpinestars, Dainese, Sidi etc……
COMFORT is the key, make sure it FITS PROPERLY being uncomfortable is a hazard, Leather is going to give you the best overall protection, to make it easier to get in and out of your leathers and more comfortable, buy some undergarments such as skins (Alpinestars make these check their website).
Ask yourself what your vast majority of riding is going to be. Will it always be dry weather riding?? (Weather/Waterproof) Riding in a lot of warmer weather??? (Perforated Leather), and as said previously your greatest investment should be your HELMET!!!, if your $$$ allow you, carbon helmets weigh less, so on long rides this will result in less fatigue to the rider.

Anyways that's just my 2 cents, wishing you many happy, safe rides in the future

This is very good advice. The only thing I would add is to buy once and once only. I have numerous pairs of gloves, helmets, Kevlar jeans lying around that I bought with my wallet rather than my head.

Buy smart and you'll only buy once. I went from Kevlar jeans and jacket, to two piece A* suit, to finally one of the top of the line Berik one piece suits. After half a dozen rides in it, I wouldn't ride in anything else and wish I just bought the suit in the first place.

Boots are something I put a lot of thought into, I can never understand how people ride in shoes. I wouldn't get on any bike, road or motorx, without good boots on. Anyone who has broken an ankle on a bike knows how easily it can happen.

Lastly, as Genie wrote, fit is paramount. If it's uncomfortable, you'll avoid wearing it. If the protection can move around, (too lose) it won't be there to do it's job. And x2 on skins, they're awesome, especially with a 1 piece suit.

 

[azn370z]

On the street I wear dainese leather jacket, gloves, knee pads, boots, alpinstars shorts, forcefield back protector, and drayko Kevlar jeans.

On the track I wear dainese leather pants.

I'm a big fan of dainese but there Kevlar jeans aren't very good because the fabric doesn't stretch when you want to lean off the bike.

I've actually tested the gear and it saved my body. The Kevlar jeans tore though but I bought another pair. Whatever you do, don't skimp on gear and wear all your gear.

Personally I don't like wearing a suit unless I'm at the track. I think you will feel more comfortable in a jacket and Kevlar jeans.

 

[mcouper99]

I would definately go with riding boots. You're feet and ankles are pretty vulnerable. I have a two piece suit right now but the bottom zips to the jacket and it can be awkward to put it on zipped or to zip it after you put it on. I've decided to order a one piece suit but can't say if it's better or not. Get the best helmet you can afford.

+2 on the riding boots advice. Last summer I was heading over to tech inspection, hit an oil slick/dew patch, and laid my bike down. In addition to a badly bruised ego, I wound up with a sprained ankle that took weeks to heal. I was wearing hiking boots at the time, which provided little protection when my foot got caught between the peg and shift lever. Had I been wearing my track boots, I'm reasonably sure my ankle wouldn't have been hurt.

 

[Taylor]

Appreciate all the feedback !!!!!

 

[Taylor]

Just be aware that you can't purchase helmets from overseas, you have to have the Australian Standard sticker on it to make it legal here. All the other gear, well the world is your oyster……………….

I didn't consider this at first but glad you mentioned it. Out of curiosity when and how is the Australian approved label affixed. Is this done at factory or do suppliers in Aus put them on......?

 

[Genie]

I didn't consider this at first but glad you mentioned it. Out of curiosity when and how is the Australian approved label affixed. Is this done at factory or do suppliers in Aus put them on......?

Manufacturers place the label on the helmet, most manufacturers prevent resellers of helmets supplying/selling their helmets outside of their country/region anyway. I definitely know that Shoei do this.


Helmet standard
An approved motorcycle helmet is a protective helmet for motorcycle riders of a type that:

* Complies with Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1698:2006 Protective Helmets For Vehicle Users, as amended by Amendment No. 1 of 28 September 2007 and Amendment No. 2 of 27 May 2009; or

* Is an earlier version of Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1698 or Australian Standard 1698-1988 that was in force at the time of manufacture or importation; and

* Has a mark certifying compliance with an above standard.

Motorcycle helmets manufactured after 31 March 2011 must have an identifying mark from a body accredited or approved by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) certifying compliance with an above standard.

Accredited companies
Accredited companies that certify motorcycle helmets can be found on the JAS-ANZ website. As of September 2013, there are four JAS-ANZ accredited bodies that can certify motorcycle helmets to comply with AS/NZS 1698.
The four JAS-ANZ accredited bodies that can certify motorcycle helmets to comply with AS/NZS 1698

What to look for
* All helmets sold in Australia must comply with the Australian Standard and are marked accordingly

* Consider the protection and comfort of the helmet

* Choose a light-coloured helmet that will offer better visibility to other vehicle drivers day and night

* You should not buy a second-hand helmet, as it may have been involved in a crash or have experienced UV degradation, nor should you lend your helmet to others, as it can affect how the helmet fits your head when returned.

* Remember – helmets are produced in a range of sizes to satisfy a mass market. Your head shape and size are unique to you, so take the time to follow these steps when buying your new helmet.


Hope this helps…….

ALSO...

Remember, removing the sticker will get you in trouble too, its the first thing a Police officer usually looks for when they pull you over……….

 

[Genie]

And just to confuse you a little more, the laws vary from state to state……

So here is a link to a little interesting article from our friends a Australian Road Rider

State of Helmets

Enjoy

 

[Evolution]

If I link stuff off a specific vendor, it's only because I do buisness with the same people a lot. I'm not in any way connected to any of them.
Starting from the ground up:

As for boots, I wear Alpinestars SMX-5 boots. Great comfort for all day wearing/walking around. I rode down to last year's Austin TX MotoGP round all three days and walked around all day in them. Have also done several track days in them. Good quality stuff, been using them for a couple of years now.

Alpinestars S-MX 5 Boots Black from SportbikeTrackGear.com

As for pants, when I'm just cruising around town running errands, I usually wear some AGV kevlar cargo pants
AGV Sport Excursion Kevlar Cargo Pants Khaki from SportbikeTrackGear.com

For anything more serious, I have some Alpinestars pants for my Carver 2 piece suit. Alpinestars Carver 2 Piece Leather Suit Black/White/Red from SportbikeTrackGear.com
I'm currently talking to Vanson about making a custom one piece suit, but that's going to be around 1,700 USD.... yeah, I might wait a sec on that.

For a jacket, I wear the Carver jacket from that suit with the bio armor spine protector in it. When I'm on track I like a bit more so I use the Knox Aegis spine protector with the chest protector KNOX Aegis Back Protector Black V14 from SportbikeTrackGear.com

When it gets really hot (I've been living in TX and recently moved to GA), I wear a textile Fieldsheer jacket with an armor insert for the spine (I know some people don't like textile stuff). I just picked up a new textile jacket with a wind/rain and a thermal liner from Cortech though and I like it a lot Cortech GX Sport Air 3.0 Jacket - Motorcycle Superstore

For a helmet, I've been riding with an Arai Corsair V for a long time. Great helmet but really expensive and the venting is setup more for a 3/4 crouch position. If you are sitting straight up then it doesn't vent well. Next month I'm switching to an Arai Signet-Q for the street. I really love the Arai Max Vision pinlock visors. Cuts down on that early morning fog very well.

 

[jarelj]

<snip>
For a helmet, I've been riding with an Arai Corsair V for a long time. Great helmet but really expensive and the venting is setup more for a 3/4 crouch position. If you are sitting straight up then it doesn't vent well. Next month I'm switching to an Arai Signet-Q for the street. I really love the Arai Max Vision pinlock visors. Cuts down on that early morning fog very well.

If the Corsair V fits you, it's not likely that the Signet-Q is going to fit, they are different shell shapes for different heads. The RX-Q fits nearly the same as the Corsair V, I wear the Corsair V size Large on the track and the RX-Q size Large on the street. the Signet-Q is the "long oval" shape for those with narrow/long head shape, it replaced the prior Profile models. Corsair V and RX-Q are "intermediate oval" shape for most people. The RX-Q is optimized for "street" riding, so the venting is quieter and more appropriate for a higher head position than the Corsair V. You can put the Pinlock visor on any of the Arai helmets, I put one on my RX-Q and it's great for anti-fog and I put in the dark visor for sunny days.

Make sure you get fitted up at an authorized Arai fitting center so you're not spending hundreds of dollars on a helmet that doesn't fit correctly, we have a 5-step process we use for helmet fitting and most people left to their own devices seem to select the wrong size without assistance.

 

[Rowan]

+1 for the RXQ = Corsair 5 fit.

Good helmets, better for street.

 

[Evolution]

I'll definitely double check the RX-Q. I tried one on and it felt different from the Corsair, but I'll do some further investigation. Unfortunately there's nowhere to get fitted close to here. There's only one dealer in the area that is listed as an Arai vendor but when I went to try on helmets they had zero Arais. Despite being listed as an Arai dealer they only have Shoei, icon and a couple of others.

 

[devill66]

Be carefull with taking advises about clothing and boots. What works for one person can become a pain in the ass for another. Fit different brands, feel it and if you are not shure look for another boot or anything else. I walk on italian shoes Always, a friend of mine hates the small fit of them.... same with riding gear...