Anyhoo, Linoge e-mailed me with a simple request:
JayG,
So I sent this random question off to Ride Fast a little while ago, but I figured all the data I can amass is a good thing... assuming I was considering delving into the realm of "transportation by means of fewer than four wheels", where would be a good place to start learning/shopping concerning safety gear like helmets, jackets, and the like?
I have already figured out that DOT/SNELL certifications are a good idea for helmets, but such certifications on jackets do not seem to exist, and objective information about them seems hard to find as well. Any equipment/store names to look for? Any online shops better than any others? Anything to be mindful of? Thanks for whatever help you can provide :).
A while back I'd mentioned looking for a new jacket (which I still am, BTW) and got a few links there. I also posted my general thoughts on wearing gear around the same time. I dashed off a quick reply to Linoge:
Linoge,
Let me ruminate on this a bit. I'd like to answer with a post tomorrow morning - I have a feeling that there might be a reader or two out there with some ideas and pointers.
In a nutshell, wear the most protective gear you can *COMFORTABLY* wear. There are as many options & opinions available as there are bikers on the road. Some folks will tell you not to ride in anything less than full leathers and full face helmet; others will tell you you're good to go in a tank top, shorts, and boat shoes.
I fall somewhere in between. I prefer to ride with a helmet, although I have been known to take it off on back roads or in traffic. I tend to prefer a 3/4 face helmet or full, simply for wind resistance, rather than a half, although in the full heat of summer (not as much an issue for me as for you), a half-helmet is certainly better than nothing.
DO NOT SKIMP on helmets - DOT and Snell ratings are a good start, I happen to like the fit of HJC helmets myself. Shoei and Arai are also good brands, albeit a bit pricey. There's a train of thought that says don't buy a $50 helmet unless you have a $50 head; however I'm not about to spend $5mil on a helmet... ;)
For gear, there's little IMHO better than a good, thick leather. The ballistic nylon with reinforced joints might work better for you, though. Tourmaster and Joe Rocket are very good brands for lightweight but tough jackets.
...but wanted to expand on my answer a bit, as well as open this up to other riders who might be reading this as well.
You can spend pretty much any amount you want on gear. There's super-hi-tech ballistic nylon-and-kevlar jackets that are waterproof, skid-resistant, heated, and come with new car smell built in (okay, I might be exaggerating on that last part). You can drop anywhere from $40 for a pair of steel-toed boots at Wal-Mart to $500+ on sculpted riding boots that match your bike and suit.
I like it simple. I've got the same jacket that I bought when I was 18 years old (Ronald Reagan was still president at the start of the year, FWIW) that I bought in anticipation of owning a motorcycle. It would take 6 years before it happened, but happen it did. I have a pair of leather chaps that I bought at the local leather shop. I have a new HJC ¾ face helmet and a pair of HH boots I bought when I got my first motorcycle (a 1979 Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special, in case you were wondering).
Basically, you can expect to spend $100 - $300 or so on a helmet. You can pay from $200 - $500+ on a jacket, $100 - $500+ for pants, and pretty much anywhere from $50 - ??? on boots/gloves/goggles/etc. Gloves you're going to want several pairs, from insulated gauntlets (or, ideally, heated gloves) to fingerless for summer riding.
For the best value, I've found that there's nothing better than exploring your local merchants. I found a leather shop in the basement of a professional building in the city next to my town that sells everything you could ever want at a very reasonable price. We got my son his first riding jacket there last year for ~ $60 - certainly reasonable for a jacket he'll only get a year or two more out of...
There's thousands of places online; I have only dealt with a handful and haven't come across any that have been ripoffs or even questionable. AVOID E-BAY. Also avoid anything described as "buffalo leather" - this is a code word for gear stitched together from hundreds of scraps; there's a reason it's selling for $50 on e-Bay... Your local Craigslist is a good place to pick up lightly used equipment, provided you have no qualms about buying an article of clothing someone else has worn...
DO. NOT. BUY. A. USED. HELMET.
Buy new. Buy something that's DOT and Snell approved. Buy a name brand (the aforementioned HJC/Shoei/Arai/etc.) from a reputable dealer, ideally a motorcycle dealer. Do not buy a helmet marked as "novelty" - these are the chromed beanies or German WWII helmets or anything that's not submitted for safety testing. These are not designed to protect your skull, they're designed to prevent you from getting a ticket. Here's another bummer about helmets - they should be replaced every 5 - 7 years. The plastic and foam that absorbs impact gets brittle and essentially useless over time - much like a child's car seat.
Some brands that I've used myself and had good luck with are HJC helmets, HH boots, and Harley Davidson gear. I've heard good things about Joe Rocket & Tourmaster jackets and Shoei helmets. Some websites for gear are NewEnough, LeatherUp, and Fox Creek Leather.
That's about all I have for now, but I'll bet there's plenty more good information out there... Anyone got some tips for Brother Linoge?
That is all.
19 comments:
I think you pretty well nailed it Jay.
One thing you can't emphasize enough though is good leather and WEARING IT. I don't care how hot a day it is. You can always unbutton a jacket a bit and you can also loosen sleeves to let cooler air run up them (though I got a bee up there once and it wasn't pretty).
The worst injuries I've seen among friends has been road rash, including a couple of friends who needed serious skin grafts.
For helmets, if you're going to wear one, I'd suggest two, not one.
You want one to ride every day and another for inclement or very cold weather (a full-face job). Even light rain at 65 MPH is really uncomfortable and hail can actually be dangerous. (as in put holes through most glasses and take out an eye).
My advice is: don't worry about being stylish or wearing what everyone else is wearing.
Heavy leather and denim are always good choices, but leather gets hot in the summer time.
The nylon mesh jackets are a good idea in the summer but can be as expensive as leather. I've got a "Nitro" brand jacket that works very well, has proven to be extremely durable, and was about half the price of an equivalent "Joe Rocket" jacket (be warned, Joe Rocket makes a Jacket they call the "Nitro", I'm talking about the brand name Nitro).
Unfortunately, I can't find a web presence for them and very few online outlets seem to carry them. I got mine at a motorcycle shop so just shop around.
Good leather boots that cover the ankle are a must, but you don't have to get fancy. I wear heavy leather "engineer's boots" that I picked up on sale for $50. I prefer steel toed boots, but that's just my preference, I wouldn't consider it a requirement.
Old style combat boots (fully leather uppers, not the "jungle boots with nylon sides) work very well if you don't mind looking a bit "dated".
Gloves are important especially for new riders. Heavy, padded palms are a good idea as well as reinforced knuckles. When a new rider falls, their first instinct tends to be to put their hands down. Asphalt and concrete can be very unforgiving to bare skin...even when not moving, or moving slowly.
Full-face helmets are a very good idea if you don't have a windshield. Catching a bug in the face at 40 or 50 mph can be...distracting...especially if it's the stinging kind or a hard-shelled bug.
If you've got a windshield, a three-quarter helmet would do fine. I don't recommend half helmets or smaller unless you're experienced (meaning, you've been down more than once and know how to go down with minimal damage...it's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when" and how well prepared you are for it).
I guess my primary advice would be, keep bare skin to a minimum, wear the best protection that you can comfortably wear, and pay attention, because there are cage drivers out there who are actively trying to kill you.
Oh...and enroll in an AMA Motorcycle Safety Course. I've been riding since I was about 13, have over 30 years of experience on both street and dirt, have been through the motorcycle safety course three times and still learn something new every time I revisit it.
Good one Bill, I didn't think of that.
Having a full-face helmet (or at least a good face shield for your 3/4 helmet) is a great idea for inclement weather.
Even with a windshield, as Bill said, rain is uncomfortable, which is distracting (distractions on a motorcycle are bad)...and your glasses/goggles WILL fog up (even the ones purported to be anti-fogging).
Which brings up another point: Sunglasses are not eye protection. If you aren't using a full face helmet, use good, close fitting motorcycle glasses or goggles that prevent wind/foreign objects from coming in around the edges and have polycarbonate lenses.
For the (brief) period of time I was riding, I was happy with an HJC full-face ($140), and a leather jacket from, believe it or not, Wilson Leathers. *Most* of their stuff is "garment" leather and too thin to ride; my jacket seems to be an anomaly and is thick heavy leather. It scuffed gently when I laid the bike down and that gave it some nice character.
GOOD GLOVES. I've still got the shredded-palm pair of gloves from my lay-down. A winter set and a summer set are worth the money.
Riding pants of some kind. I wore regular jeans, and the pair I had for my lay-down are now in the rag bin. Cough up for the double-front jeans or some good leathers.
In colder weather, a neck gaiter ($15-20 from outside sports shops) is worth its weight in gold.
I will slightly disagree on the used helmet bit... buy used IF you know the source AND trust them WITH YOUR LIFE. I sold my helmet to a guy I know for a fair price and full disclosure - I'd laid the bike down but my head didn't touch the ground.
Bill,
I'll disagree very slightly on the leather in the summer.
A good leather jacket, even with all the vents in the world, is going to get HOT in the summer, especially in a place like TN.
IMHO, it's better to wear a thick denim jacket and be comfortable than to wear a heavy leather jacket and be miserable - might as well take the air conditioned car.
This is one area where the ballistic nylon/Cordura jackets really come in handy - with the kevlar-reinforced impact zones, the lighter weight, better-ventilated Cordura jackets are much better for warm weather riding.
EXCELLENT point on the helmet, too. That's exactly what I have (although my full face needs to be replaced) - a full face and a ¾ face, both HJC.
Sailorcurt,
Good point on the boots - you want something that covers the ankle with plenty of support. If you ever need it, you'll appreciate not having your ankle smashed to bits...
And I prefer steel-toed boots for one simple reason: Upshifts...
(although with the FLHT I've got the heel-toe shifter and it's less of an issue...)
And yes, it's when, not if. I talked about my time a while back, and I wrecked a moped (stop laughing) at ~ 30 MPH wearing a tank top, shorts, and boat shoes. Hence the sensitivity. Oh, and no helmet...
Zercool,
Of course if you know and trust the source of a used helmet that's fine. I was just talking in general.
I'll second the Joe Rocket armored jackets. I dropped less than $175 on mine, and it held up admirably well in my lay down.
It's cool in the summer, and warm enough with the removable waterproof liner.
Don't think of it as a rain jacket, though. You'll sweat enough under than liner that you might as well have ridden in the rain without it.
And get some Kevlar reinforced Draggin' Jeans. Worth the $80 you'll spend.
This'll sound kinda silly, but I used to wear a white coverall over my regular street clothes when I went for a ride. Made me a lot more visible on the bike and kept the clothes from being splattered with road crud. I just took them off when I got where I was going.
'Course I had the Polish royal double eagle on the back and an upside down "Polish Racing Team" logo on the front pocket while rolling down the road on a BMW R5, heh. I may have to try to find a red one for the Duc.
Schott Brothers - if they are still in business - had really good jackets. Be sure to get one that has gussets in the sleeves/ shoulders so when you cross your arms the sleeves don't ride up.
I'm from the old school and wouldn't wear nylon anything when riding. Hint - nylon melts and burns; leather and kevlar just abrade.
emdfl
I generally get my gear from NewEnough.
Joe Rocket makes a great summertime jacket called the Phoenix. I wear a Ballistic in cooler weather.
HJC helmets work.
When I bounced off the left-turning truck last year I was wearing the HJC CL-12, Ballistic, JR gloves, jeans & boots. A pice of metal went under my shoulder armor & cost me some bone, & nothing would've kept me from losing those inches of femur. Otherwise, I was okay. WEAR THE GEAR!!
Just to second what everyone else has said on the "ballistic mesh" jackets- they are WONDERFUL in hot sticky weather. I bought an Alpinestars jacket, which was pretty spendy, but it has all the pads (elbows, shoulders, back and chest), and it's comfortable enough to wear all summer. In other words, I'm not tempted to leave it at home and risk going without the gear.
I'm also a fan of HJC helmets. I wear a full face helmet all the time, as I've seen the damage that can still occur to people wearing half helmets.
Jay and everyone else who commented - thanks for the advice, hints, suggestions, and ideas. I am still not sure if I am going to pursue this wild-assed idea (especially since I have not entirely flown it past the Financial Aviso... er... wife), but the information is still useful nonetheless. Thanks again!
Stupid question, though - for biking pants, can one wear other pants beneath them? I am considering commuting, and having to maintain a wardrobe in my office seems excessive.
Pretty good advice so far. For leather gear, LeatherUp.com usually has great prices, decent quality, and a no question, 100% return policy. However, if you need to talk to a real live person, forget it. That part of their customer service gets an F for fail. Old saying: There are only 2 kinds of riders; those who have gone down, and those who WILL go down. It's going to happen. Basically any part of your body you're fond of needs to be protected. Denim is ok, but it's no match for asphalt. Leather is king, but it's hot. Ballistic nylon mesh with armor in the back and joints is the next best thing. First Gear, MotoGP, and TourMaster all make reasonably priced mesh jackets.
On helmets... get the best you can afford, and get it from a reputable shop, not online. A helmet needs to fit properly or it can be worse then no helmet at all. Just like with clothes, different brands often size different. I'm gonna vear from some of the other guys here, but IMNHO the only choice is a full face or modular. Remember what I said about protecting body parts you like? I've been in one accident where the full face over open face may not have saved my life, but if I didn't have that full-face helmet life probably would not have been worth living. Open face helmets dont do much to prevent the pavement from grinding your face off as you're sliding down the road face down.
Modulars are full-face helmets that have a hinge for the chin protector. They tend to be a bit noisier then full-face, but if you wear glasses it's worth it. And never ride with a modular "open".
Last, and this still falls under safety gear, take the AMA or MSF safety class. It's worth it, and most insurance companies will give you a discount for passing it.
And, since this is mainly a gun blog lemme say this. Motorcycle safety gear is like carrying a handgun. If you need it, your life may depend on it. If it doesn't work, or you left it home that day it can't help.
Stupid question, though - for biking pants, can one wear other pants beneath them? I am considering commuting, and having to maintain a wardrobe in my office seems excessive.
Yup. The pants are usually made to go over your normal pants (the exception is there are special jeans you can buy if you want to "look cool" and still be protected) or you can buy a pair of chaps which also go over your regular pants.
I've said any number of times that when they'd start sending me reminders for my accident appointment, I'd quit wearing gear except for right then. Until then, I'll dress like I'm expecting every ride to involve a crash, because you never know.
I ended up sliding down the road last summer. Again: last one was a quarter century ago. Nope, it hadn't gotten any more fun in the meantime. Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket and pants literally saved my butt (at one point I was sliding along in a seated upright position with my legs straight out and the seat of the pants has the wear marks to prove it). Great job by the gear and the only problem is that I was wearing some of the older Phoenix gear, like 2.0 or whatever. When I looked for replacements, I was dismayed at the flimsy appearance of their newest offerings. Went with Tour Master for a new mesh jacket to replace my toasted Phoenix, as it seemed the closest to what I'd had before in terms of weight and other features.
However.
I stopped at Aerostich in Duluth on the way to Canada about a week after that last spill (Riderswearhouse.com or some such) and bought a jacket from one of their two-piece Roadcrafter suits off the seconds rack (about 1/2 price) and before the weekend was out, I went through about as heavy a rain/thunderstorm as I've been in on a bike (had trouble seeing either the center or fogline for awhile because it was coming down that hard and a few strokes of lightning were that flash/BANG variety where they're almost simultaneous) and the part of me that was covered by the jacket was pretty much dry. Oh, Goretex, nice bonus. On top of it being obvious at a glance that it's a well-made piece of protective gear when checking it out.
Went up to their store to raid their seconds rack this spring while there was still snow alongside the roads that far north and found the pants that matched; must've been hanging alongside the jacket and didn't even notice when I was buying the jacket.
This stuff's a bit warm whenever it's over 85 or so, but it's danged good gear. And I'm attached to having skin. ;^)
ThoreMo
Ok, I'll admit it: I'm one of those idiots who doesn't wear a bukit. However, that's my choice. Soon, I'll be adding the bukit for bad weather, and it'll be an HJC...
Chaps for the legs, over Draggin' Jeans (www.dragginjeans.com?). I also have one of their jackets: very reasonably priced.
My "everyday" jacket though is now a Cortech (don't remember the model). Heavy denim with armour, cost $100. Add in Cortech gloves (currently using Scarabs). Personally, I don't like fingerless gloves: I like the idea of keeping my fingers.
For boots, I got a pair of Sidi Full Bores off Evilbay: they're old motorcross boots (also the same boots out of the original Battlestar Galactica). VERY heavy, and good protection...
But I still prefer riding without a helmet... :P
But I still prefer riding without a helmet... :P
Well, I wouldn't tell this to a newbie, but I'm pretty sure you'll get no argument that no helmet is way more enjoyable (except in the rain). I have a 1/2 helmet I wear on the rare occasions I would otherwise go lidless. Generally when it's a short ride on 25-35mph roads. I still wouldn't recommend anything other then full facial coverage for anyone until after they've had their first MAJOR laydown. If, after you've had a few broken bones and some roadrash you still want to take the chance at least you know what you're in for.
It's a personal choice. Thing is, we can quote statistics back-and-forth, with nobody "winning" in the end.
It's a personal choice. Thing is, we can quote statistics back-and-forth, with nobody "winning" in the end.
Exactly...statistics mean nothing when referring to individual choices and liberty.
I always wear a helmet (half helmet...which some would chastise me for as insufficient), but I would never deign to tell anyone else what they MUST do under threat of violence...which is what the authoritarian legislators do when they mandate such things.
Seatbelt laws are the same thing...of course I do believe that insurance companies should have the option of refusing to pay for medical costs resulting from failure to use such safety devices; it's a personal choice not to use them, and it's a personal responsibility to deal with the consequences of that choice.
Gear is a personal choice. You are going to balance comfort, protection, and yes style and cost. It all depends what you want. Some folks dress for comfort, some dress for style, some dress for going down or getting hit, and some barely dress at all... I've seen guys riding in flip-flops... if that works for you, I guess that's fine, but not for me.
So you have to first decide what you want and how you choose to ride, then go from there. But do note that a primary reason for gear is comfort, and coming in a close second is protection. I mean, when you're on your bike, comfort is a 100% of the time matter... going down is hopefully an infrequent thing, but certainly when it happens you want to be well-prepared for it.
Me? I prefer to have gear that is high visibility, but still "cool" both in terms of comfort and style. In the end, my goal is to ride, stay alive, stay comfortable... I want to enjoy what I'm doing, and do it for quite a long time. As someone else wrote, it's not IF you go down, it's WHEN you go down, because sooner or later you will.
First time I went down I had on full leathers (a full set of Harley Davidson FXRG gear). In that situation they provided me with skin protection (I ended up on rocks on the median) and padding to help on the landing. I also was glad for a full-face helmet because tho I don't remember it, looking at the helmet afterwards it was evident my chin and face hit ground.. without the full-face, who knows what would have happened to my ravishing good looks.
Second time I went down in the rain. Road was slick, I was turning left, and the bike slid out from under me. Not going fast at all, but there's road wear on the butt of my leather pants and a few other spots (e.g. jacket tail, elbow).
I think leather is best for toughness (unless you get something like eSquad jeans and/or Armalith-material based clothing). Denim is OK, but tests show that it doesn't last long against the abrasion of concrete. That said, in the summer I do wear Draggin Jeans. I've never liked the concept of chaps as I think it's a little too Villiage People for me, plus I felt that chaps always left unprotected the most likely place to get wear: your butt. But Draggin Jeans in combination with chaps, that could work out OK... tho it's not a combinatio I have first-hand experience with.
I've got a Joe Rocket Sonic 2 fully perforated leather jacket to wear in the summer, and while it's warm when I'm idling at a stoplight, when I'm moving (especially if I wear something like an Under Armor shirt), then the airflow isn't too bad and I can get along OK even in the Texas heat... it only sucks at the stoplights.
In the end, it's a lot of personal decisions having to balance many factors. And if you have to clear this with the Mrs. beforehand, you can bet that safety is going to be #1 on her list. Whatever you do, remember that it's really like guns... don't skimp on your gear, get lots of training and practice.
If you have a windshield, a three-quarter helmet going to do. I do not recommend half helmets or smaller, unless you have experience (ie, they were more than once and know how to get off with minimal damage ... it's not a question of "if" is a matter of "when" and how prepared you are for it).
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