Gear questions... Yes, i'm new!

[PhoenixFire]

So I'm newer around here... Looking at getting a 250 this spring. I need new gear... Badly. What's your opinions on what I've picked out? And as for jackets, which one do you think is better? All are around the same price point.

For helmet, I'm undecided. I was considered an HJC for right now... But it will be more decided after I go try some more on.

Jackets I'm looking at:
 Joe Rocket Aura jacket
Alpine Stars Stella Jacket
Rev It! Raven jacket

I really like the look of the tighter more form fitting leather jackets.

For gloves I'm looking at:
Alpine stars stella Tyla gloves or alpine stars Stella sp-2 gloves

I'm extremely picky about gloves. They have to be touchy enough yet hard enough to take a tumble. I really won't be able to decide until I try them on.

Pants, I've only really looked at one pair of Rev It! Pants. They are a leather/textile mix.
I'm a bit hesitant to go with leather mainly because of fluctuating weight etc. Do you think these pants are good or should I consider something else?

For boots, last but not least, I'm pretty stuck on the SIDI fusion Lei boots. They're gorgeous and awesome!

So help me out here?

Thanks :3

[*~c_dubya~*]

It'll all really come down to fit- what's best for me might not be best for you. Try everything on.

As for the jacket- you said you like the form-fitting leather... Good call, but make sure it's long enough to zip to your pants, and make sure there's enough room for armor. Also, make sure that you can comfortably sit in the 'hunched' riding position without cutting off blood supply to your arms/hands.
Gloves- I've only used Icons (2 pairs of shorties and 1 set of gauntlets for racing). They're responsive in the palms and fingers, but have armored knuckles and tops of the fingers.
Pants- get something that breathes. If you do go for leather (which is always the safest material), try to find some with a perforated crotch... swimming in your own crotch-soup after a day of riding gets pretty uncomfortable.

As for the helmet- this is where fit is the most important. HJC lids have only a couple of shell sizes (2??) that they size with different cheek pad thicknesses. These pack out (the pads squish and the helmet becomes too large of a fit.. this is fixable with replacing the pads but who wants to do that all the time?). My first lid (an HJC) packed out within my first season. I will always stand by my Shoei RF1100s especially after my helmet destroying crash this summer.
Make sure you get a salesperson to fit your lid- they'll know how it's supposed to fit your noggin.

Happy shopping!

[PhoenixFire]

Thanks :3 Keith thinks we should meet btw thanks for the awesome tips though, much appreciated

[*~c_dubya~*]

hahaha, yeah, just saw in the other thread who you are.
I feel like we should all have a wing night sometime in the very near future =)

[PhoenixFire]

Deal! Text Keith sometime and figure out a good time for all of us. Sunday after the bike show would be perfect!

[CDN]

In my opinion, the Rev'it! Raven Jacket is your best shot. Blackfoot also has the ladies Raven glove, which will be far superior to the two choices you listed. The Tylla and SP-2's aren't much glove at all. The pants will zip to your jacket if you go Rev'it! for pants, which will enable you to do track days in the future. And you can never go wrong with a Sidi boot. They have the Vertigo Lei for women if you like pink designs on your boots.

[PhoenixFire]

Thanks epic :3 I'll be dragging Keith down there soon

[CDN]

Thanks epic :3 I'll be dragging Keith down there soon

Blackfoot doesn't have a lot of Sidi stock, you might want to try GW to try the Sidi stuff on.

[PhoenixFire]

Deal. Thanks for the heads up

[*~c_dubya~*]

the only place i've seen womens sidis is at Bow Cycle... GeeDub's kinda shit for womens boots- good for lid selection though.

[PhoenixFire]

I'll keep that in mind I think a day of dragging Keith around to motorcycle stores is in order... Although I doubt he'd complain

[CDN]

Oh yeah, and my last piece of advice: spend as much as you possibly can on a helmet, and have someone correctly fit you for it. If you want, get me to come along with you, I fitted people for two years and didn't have a single complaint. It's kinda important!

[cosmo]

and get a softer helmet! harder lining may look good on paper, as you think it protects you more, but this just means the shock is transfered to your brain instead of lost in crushing the helmet lining! you also want it quiet enough wind wise not to make you tired or annoyed after a few miles. as dub, i like the rf1100. but if you have the extra money to go for an x-12, i'd say go for it! also look into schuberth, really quiet helemets, although they're very big.

'sides that, i don't think bike jackets are meant to go over armor, dub. protections, yes, but usually they have "pockets" to slide protections in. and a back protector is thin enough to fit under any jacket. if you can fit a proper field armor under your jacket, the jacket is too big. nice and tight means it'll stay there when it counts.

[Wrench87]

nice and tight means it'll stay there when it counts.

That's what she said.


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[PhoenixFire]

Can I block you? Like now? Stop being an idiot or I'm going to break that pretty camera around your neck.... I know where you sleep.