Topic: Post about your gear!!

[putnaja1]

Well, after a few years of non-riding, I'm getting back into it..  As I am gathering up my riding gear to go riding, I thought I'd post here to ask all what you guys are using.

Things are a tiny bit different since the last time I was gearing up to ride- which was in the late '90s..  I found out that Arai helmets are no longer sold mail order, so, none of the dealers around me will carry Shoei helmets in favor of selling Arai in the stores..  Sounds a little weird and expensive, but I guess Shoei is their closest competitor..  I've traditionally worn Shoeis, but I won't buy a helmet I can't try on, so I got myself an Arai Astral-X.

As for leathers- I am electing to go the leather route for the first time ever- I am strongly considering an Icon jacket that is 1.2-1.4 mil thick.  I got myself some leather gloves too, "Riden" I think they are called, with molded leather armor over the knuckles, leather in the palm, and on the fingers, with mesh in between- it's a non-gauntlet glove, which suits me fine. 

I am trying to decide between leather pants, or jeans with knee pad and abrasion protection underneith.  I gotta read up on that a little more and see what others use.  Also, instead of buying motorcycling boots, I'm gonna buy a pair of rugged boots at sports authority or a similiar store..

What do you guys ride in?

[Noel]

I usually ride in fourth or fifth gear, although first and second see a lot of use, especially at lower speeds.

[Noel]

Seriously, I've always ridden in blue jeans, a sport jacket made up by Z leather (local) and any of the half-dozen full helmets I seem to have collected over the years.

Since working on the GP look for my SOHC, however, I've been thinking about going retro with my riding gear. I think the Davida "classic" helmets are pretty cool, although they're not DOT and I kind of doubt they offer much protection.

The tough part has been finding leathers that replicate the look of the 60's GP scene. Anyone have any ideas?

[Uncle Ernie]

Arai or Davida, depending on mood/inclination.  I have leather pants, but they take too long to get on/off. so, jeans (Carhart double knee... loggers or something like that). First Gear jacket.  Either antique Bates gloves for really cold, old Thurow deerskins for intermediate, elskin ropers from Riderwearhouse for summer (those gloves are phenominal), Redwing boots with hiking laces (never break and always stayed tied), Smartwool or Bridgedale socks all year (since I started wearing marino wool, I NEVER get athletes foot anymore).
Olympia Moto Sports makes a 2 peice that is good for all year and I have several testimonials from people who like them better than Aerostitch. The liners come oput for warm weather. Worth looking into.

I think helmet technology has improved, so the main thing is to get a helmet that fits. I'd sort of like to get a Suomy just to put on the table and look at.  I'm wondering when someone will comwe out with a reproduction of the Cystine Chapel ceiling.

Noel- I have many catalogues. I assume the GP jacket is simple. Vanson comes immediately to mind, but I'll look around for you.

[Noel]

Noel- I have many catalogues. I assume the GP jacket is simple. Vanson comes immediately to mind, but I'll look around for you.

Hey, thanks!

Yeah, the old stuff appears pretty simple, which may be why I'm having a tough time finding it. Everything's got too many zippers, patches, geegaws, etc. I also figured Vanson would be the ticket, but they don't have anything either. Close, but...

I may simply be too picky, looking at old pictures of Hailwood etc. and trying for an exact match. May turn out to be a choice between "close" and "custom".

Maybe I should just drop twenty pounds and keep wearing my old "Z". 

[cbjunkie]

HJC helmet. leather jacket and jeans - boots are Frye. they rock.

[Terry in Australia]

I wear a black open face helmet in summer and a Shoei full face in winter, an old "Marlon Branflakes" leather jacket and (if I can lose about 20 or 30 pounds) a pair of custom made leather jeans, based on a pair of Levis 501's, as I don't like regular leather bike pants much. I've got bike boots, work boots, army boots, Harley boots, etc etc, they're all good, but with the addition of gore-tex oversocks and gore-tex lined gloves, I'm toasty warm on those chilly Aussie winter rides. 

I might try a pair of Aussie kevlar lined "Draggin Jeans" next, they provide about the same protection as leathers, without the daggy "Village people" look of leather pants, and the creaking noise that precedes a leather clad biker. (except Bob, he makes that noise normally, ha ha!) Here's a link: http://www.dragginjeans.com/ Cheers, Terry.

[cbjunkie]

terry - you made my day, mate! consider me slain by the draggin'... great prices on the jackets!

[Uncle Ernie]

Apologies for misspelling that church that Leonardo DiCaprio painted.

[eldar]

Well I got myself a full-face lid and a mossi vantage jacket which fits very good. I use hiking boots. They provide a good amount of ankle support and protection without the weight of clunky boots. Currently  I wear denim jeans but might get some module pants which zip in with the jacket. I have gauntlets but you dont wear gloves in a typical North Dakota summer. Not if you want to be able to grab anything with all the sweat from humidity!

[usgazza]

 I too have a half dozen full face helmets.  I don't have the guts to splash  out for a Davida, plus I am afraid of pain and would not like road rash on my nose and chin. 

I have 4 different jackets.   Leather, textile and 2  JR mesh jackets.

Leather pants for long trips, but mostly jeans.

hiking and motorcycle boots

I look for deep discounts whenever I can get them.

Check out www.newenough.com . 

Later,
G

[Vatch]

heavy leather jacket, HJC helmet, leather contoured gloves, engineer boots, and recently got a pair of those dragginjeans, which I have fortunately not had to test.  plain jeans suck when you wreck.  even if they don't rip you can get serious friction burns through the fabric.  This I have tested 

[Jonesy]

Starting from the top down:

-HJC 3/4 helmet for summer riding, HJC full-face for Spring/fall cold days
-Turtle Fur baclava fleece for cold weather
-Power Trip Ballistic nylon/body armor jacket for warm weather, Standard leather bike jacket for cold weather (both have removable insulated linings).
-Honda leather riding gloves or Power Trip heavy insulated gloves for the cold
-Heavy denim jeans
-Leather chaps for cold or long rides (not so many bug stains on the jeans!)
-Carolina army combat boots.

For the cold weather long-distance rides I'll layer up with a long-sleeved t-shirt with another short-sleeved tee over top of it and then a sweatshirt to supplement the insulated jacket. A pair of Bauer hockey longjohns and thick hunter's thermal socks take care of the lower half. The only part I've ever had trouble keeping warm was my fingers. Other than those, I stay pretty toasty.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Davida pudding bowl helmet (John Cooper Racing edition)
Davida Aviator T2 Goggles that work with glasses
Davida leather face shield (when it's cold)
6ft white silk flying scarf
Unik Leather jacket. '50 Greaser/Rocker/Marlon Brando/The Ramones/pick your cliche, that's the style
Leather gloves.  Gonna get some black Teknic Violators though.
Draggin' Jeans or sometimes 501s for short trips, legs "cuffed", of course
Military "Green" Jungle Boots or Chuck Taylors for short trips

(This may be controversial):
If my ride is going to be taking me in or near a bad area, I also carry a 9mm Beretta and two spare mags in a Galco shoulder holster under my jacket.

I think the Davida helmet would be fine for skidding or abrasion, but would only be so-so for an impact.  Still better than nothing.  Though I do need a full-face.

[Japbikemike]

..."Village people" look of leather pants, and the creaking noise that precedes a leather clad biker. "

The ONLY reason I bought a bike was to wear the leather pants.

[Noel]

If my ride is going to be taking me in or near a bad area, I also carry a 9mm Beretta and two spare mags in a Galco shoulder holster under my jacket.

Controversial indeed! The sensible motorcyclist leaves home with nothing less than a .45! 

[GroovieGhoulie]

If my ride is going to be taking me in or near a bad area, I also carry a 9mm Beretta and two spare mags in a Galco shoulder holster under my jacket.

Controversial indeed! The sensible motorcyclist leaves home with nothing less than a .45! 

Once I get a good rig for it, I will!!! 

[Noel]

Give Mitch Rosen a ring. IMO, he's the only game in town.

[GroovieGhoulie]

I was gonna go with a Kramer, but I'll check Mitch out.

[Noel]

Kramer's good stuff; a heck of a lot better than average, IMO. It's just that nothing else comes close to Rosen, at least as far as I have seen.

Now, let's see if I can talk you out of your bottom feeders and into a revolver! 

[GroovieGhoulie]

Kramer's good stuff; a heck of a lot better than average, IMO. It's just that nothing else comes close to Rosen, at least as far as I have seen.

Now, let's see if I can talk you out of your bottom feeders and into a revolver! 

No need.  Got a couple of P&R S&W model 19s, a P&R Highway Patrolman, a Chief's Special, and am lined up on a 5" 5-screw Pre-27 and a 4-screw or 5-screw model 29.

I'm a S&W sixgun fanatic.

[jsaab2748]

I'm a S&W sixgun fanatic.

ghoulie, which was Harry's weapon of choice?

[Japbikemike]

Smith & Wesson, model 29, 44 magnum.  Are you feeling lucky punk?

[GroovieGhoulie]

Bit of movie trivia:

The M-29 .44 Magnum was rather hard to get in those days because prior to that film, there wasn't much demand for it.  Many shooters said it was just too much gun.  Many shots in the film, (to include the famous "the is the .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world" scene), were actually shot using a Model 57, which was a .41 Magnum.  The gun was the same size as the .44, but just chambered for the slightly smaller .41 Magnum.  On camera, you'd never know.

The director put up his personal M29 for use in many scenes as well.

[heffay]

I think i'll change the topic back to its original theme... that ok w/ you jackers?

AGV riding jacket... love it (hand-me-down from dad)
an arai full face helmet in matching green for the kawi
an arai full face helmet in matching black for the honda
jeans in the summer and sweats, jeans, and insulated riding pants (non of which are armored) in the winter
i've been using my sketchers over the ankle work boots but the gf recently decided to get me riding boots for my bday and here's the ordeal:
she ordered alpinestars (the ones that look like moonboots)  they suck!  they're uncomfortable and grab too much right above the ball of my foot... we took them back
we then ordered icon "field armor" boots... get a half size bigger if you like to wear socks.  also, i just tried them on the cb350f... they're so damn stiff and bulky that i can't get my foot under the shifter!... we're taking them back too.  I think i'll stick to a riding/work boot like the sketchers.