Finally have some monies for gear

So the wife let it slip that I'll be getting some money for Christmas to get some real gear. I've done some research online and have a Cyclegear store a couple miles from me, which I go into every now and then to just look at stuff.

I have never bought any real gear.

I live in the south which has very hot summers with oppressive humidity and winters rarely go lower than the teens.

I would like to ride most of the year, I pride myself on being tougher than mother nature. Meaning I wouldn't mind cold weather riding.

I have no idea on what I should be looking for, IE; separate warm and cold gear? A compromise that's passable in cold and heat but not great at either?

I have no idea the amount I'm getting, I guess that will be the biggest factor in what I'm looking at. But what should I be looking at for...let's call it a good starter gear collection that can be built off of?

I need a new helmet as mine has likely aged out. I really want this jackethere Due to the good reviews and testimonials of people whom have put it to the test.

What about my lower body? Do I need special pants or an armored under garment?

Do I really need special riding boots or are my leather 8" work boots good enough?

My rides will normally be on twisty back roads with some urban riding thrown in. I'm on a sportster not a sport bike but a get off at 40M.P.H would feel the same no matter what bike I'm on.

So, what do I need and what would be a luxury for gear?

I'd look for an armored mesh jacket for most of the time riding.You can always layer a hoodie and sweatshirt if you need more warmth. There are some decent kevlar reinforced jeans available that won't break the bank. As for footwear, I like my composite toed wellington styled boots. They're light enough to be comfortable but sturdy enough to provide some real protection if needed.

rhok has a really nice line of riding jeans that have armor in the knees and hip.

Mesh armor jacket for sure. The mesh jackets are wonderfully cool because of the airflow; I never mind wearing mine even on miserable humid days. I think mine is a Joe Rocket.

I looked at the jeans but ultimately bought Icon mesh riding pants. Denim jeans really aren't very comfortable in the heat. The mesh pants are, and you can just wear them as pants with only your skivvies under them if it's really hot out.

Remember, real motorcycle gear is tailored to fit you comfortably while you're in the riding position, so normal clothes will always be a compromise.

I've purchased a lot of my gear either used from classifieds or new from places like Motorcycle Gear .com

My impression is that things like leather hiking boots and sturdy jeans are only "good enough". I was amazed how much better my experience was with proper riding pants and boots. Not only were the pants tailored to riding position and armored, but little details like the inner knees having more texture to help me grip the tank. Similarly with the boots. Not sure it will be the same on a Harley with fat, rubber foot pegs, but on my Ninjette or my STrippleR the tread of my hiking or work boots kept slipping down with the blocks around the pegs. That meant I either had almost no grip, or my feet were locked at an awkward angle. Good riding boots let me put my feet exactly where I want them on the pegs and stay there nicely. Not to mention the features like no laces, low-friction scuff plates where I'm likely to go down, and stiffening to hold my foot in place so I don't snap it off at the ankle.

What should you get? What fits well. I say something with the capacity to add and remove layers easily depending on the weather. My jacket and pants are each three-layer textile deals. Outer layer with options for venting and integrated armor panels, water and wind-resistant layer below that, quilted thermal layer below that. My dad has a Joe Rocket jacket that I kind of prefer their system. It has the mesh armored layer in the middle, with the water/wind shell on the outside of that.

I really would like to get myself a nicer leather jacket at some point, but it seems like they do not offer nearly as much flexibility for the amount of weather they can be used in.

Just my opinion but Most of the inexpensive mesh riding gear will friction melt in an accident. Do you really want that in an open scrape / wound?

I'd suggest investing in high quality purpose built gear like Motosport / Cyclesport stretch or mesh Kevlar with pads.

You can save a lot of money by buying used if necessary. Good gear can last you a lifetime.

Boots without laces or with covered laces are much safer than those with open laces.

Cheap riding gear is like a cheap tool. It may work ok for awhile but always seems to fail when you need it the most.

Chet

I've heard enough horror stories about Motoport's customer service and inability to accurately size gear to not recommend them, not to mention they're the ugliest pieces of gear I've ever seen. They make Aerostich look stylish.

My day to day combo is/was a Klim Traverse jacket with the optional D3O armor and Aerostich AD1 pants. All-weather capable, durable, not ungodly expensive, comfortable in hot weather as well as cold, actually waterproof, easy to layer underneath. Everything you need and nothing you don't.

I also have a 2pc set of leathers that'll be what I use when I get a dedicated street bike again. Jacket is an old Olympia, name unknown, pants are cortech/tourmaster. From my road trip last spring:

In the brutal heat of a deep south summer, find a nice mesh jacket/pants combination or match the jacket with good kevlar riding jeans. I really loved my Rev'It Air jacket from a few years ago.

Boots: I always wear my Alpinestars Web Gore-tex boots. Tourmaster Solution WP before them (originals, not the current model).

Love my Aerostich elkskin guantlets.

Love my Icon Alliance helmet in hi-viz.

minimac wrote: I'd look for an armored mesh jacket for most of the time riding.You can always layer a hoodie and sweatshirt if you need more warmth. There are some decent kevlar reinforced jeans available that won't break the bank. As for footwear, I like my composite toed wellington styled boots. They're light enough to be comfortable but sturdy enough to provide some real protection if needed.

I agree with this, even my Speed & Strength armored textile jacket is nice to ride in. I wore it with the insulative vest even in the summer and didn't really have any complaints.