Topic: what riding gear do you wear

[wannabridin]

hey guys!  just wondering what kind of riding gear everyone wears.  after working at a BMW/Triumph shop, i heard from far too many "old timers" who still had all their limbs, no concussions or skin grafts, that being a little uncomfortable is way more important that being unprotected.  so i just wanted to see what everyone was wearing and what they thought of it!

currently my summer setup is

ICON Variant Helmet w/ silver reflective shield: http://bikerperformance.com/icon-variant-helmet-black-rubatone-p5634.html
AlpineStars S-MX 2 Air Carbon gloves: http://www.amazon.com/Alpinestars-S-MX-Air-Carbon-Gloves/dp/B001A3D1RU
SixSixOne Vapor Upper body suit: http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661Moto.aspx?id=6b4f1d23-963a-4dc9-a39b-97f4b5918ec8&product=6f92a858-a35d-4ab0-8573-20f01ef8523b
Joe Rocket Honda Performance Mesh Jacket, black (pads removed in favor of SixSixOne): http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/39/13183/ITEM/Joe-Rocket-Honda-Performance-Mesh-Jacket.aspx
Icon Leg Field Armor: http://www.amazon.com/Icon-Field-Armor-Street-Motorcycle/dp/B0029VSN2K/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1274209336&sr=1-2
Red Wing steel toed work boots
Regular Levi's jeans

Coler riding Riding (not too cold here in TX), same as above except the jacket, shoes and gloves:
Leatherup.com jacket w/o pads, in favor of Vapor: http://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcycle-Jackets/Mens-Advanced-Impact-Resistant-Armor-Naked-Leather-Motorcycle-Jacket/54950.html
Joe Rocket full gauntlet insulated gloves, no link...
Insulated Red Wing work boots; Halliburton paid for these and they're nice!


I'd like to get a pair of riding boots that could work well for everyday work and stuff, and also a pair of chaps to prevent the jeans from taking the brunt of a possible slide/fall.  Lets hear/see what you all have!!

[Duke McDukiedook]

Usually when I ride to/from work or other errands:

HJC CS_LP Full face helmet
Field Sheer Mesh jacket (Summer) Joe Rocket Alter Ego 2.0 (Winter & cold)
Joe Rocket Alter Ego pants w/Carhardt suspenders (keeps the pants up)
Joe Rocket gloves
Steel Toe Red Wing work boots
 
I would like to get a pair of boots that are higher up on the ankle, maybe some engineer boots.

[flybox1]

HJC matte black FS-15 w smoke shield.
Cortech GX Sport Series 2 Black/White
http://www.bikebandit.com/cortech-gx-sport-series-2-jacket?WT.mc_id=1484958&CAWELAID=338430182
Tourmaster Venture Textile Pant
http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/catalog/Venture-Pant-p-174_4.html
Alpinestars Ridge Boots
http://image.automotive.com/f/accessoriesandgear/9096076+pheader/0802_crup_01_z+alpinestars_ridge_waterproof_boots+black.jpg
ICON Pursuit gloves
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/300/2006_Icon_Pursuit_Perforated_Glove.jpg

awating funds for a Juggernaut...
http://highvelocitygear.com/juggernaut.htm


...and dont forget my SOHC4 patch.. 

[tramp]

full wrap helmet
leather motorcycle jacket
leather cloves
long pants, chaps when really cold
boots
yes i have fallen down and gone boom

[Gordon]

Full face helmet
Mid-calf height leather riding boots

Cold weather:  Leather riding jacket with armor and leather gloves, textile over-pants with armor
Warm weather:  Textile air-flow jacket with armor and textile air-flow gloves, jeans

I don't care too much about brand names, just decent quality. 

[sangyo soichiro]

Funny, I just started a thread in the "Equipment & Gear Reviews" section asking about an Icon jacket.   

[mgbgt89]

I wear steel toe dickies workboots, Well one is steel toe, the left toe wore out so bad from shifting the steel toe fell out.

Honda armored textile jacket with back protector.
Fulmer full face helmet
Long welding gloves
If it's cold out i wear my cortech tourmaster pants. I know i should wear them at all times, but they are much to warm for summer riding. I really need some summer pants. Jeans don't offer much protection.

I went down after hitting a patch of ice last winter at about 50MPH, and those pants saved me a lot of pain. They took the brunt of the road rash, the jacket barely had a scratch. Helmet never touched the ground.

[wannabridin]

flybox one sent me a message,

Hey wannabridin.
I want to know how you like your vapor armor??
i've had my eye on a juggernaut as i'm 6'5" and spine plates can be added on that one fit down to my arse.

http://highvelocitygear.com/juggernaut.htm#lb4

i like the looks of the vapor.  its pretty similar to the juggernaut.  just worried about it riding up during a ride as i'm riding in a pretty aggressive position.  i hate when my sht dont stay put!  Grin

thx
later
flybox1

and here is how i responded to him.  this is just in case anyone wants to know first hand experience with this padding:

the vapor is AWESOME!  i'm 6'3"ish, and i bought the large size and it fits me perfect.  pads don't even think about moving once it's on!  very comfortable, you can't even tell its there!!  it doesn't stick out far like other padded suits do, and it doesn't wrinkle up my undershirts! 

i do like one feature about the juggernaut, and that's the adjustable shoulder hold downs, but i've never had a problem with mine.  you have to be kind of careful taking off the arms around your wrists, as it's a thin material, but other than that, ZERO complaints!!  i don't think you can add any spine plates to the Vapor, but they cover the top of my tailbone, and i feel confident in that it would protect me in a fall/slide...

[Rocking-M]

full leathers, Dianese Jacket and pants with armor. Arai helmet. Alpinestar or Oxtar boots.
I've hit the sausage maker with the gear on and that a high side at 70mph after deer contact.
Nary a scratch but, broke my leg. I think the bike tagged me hard when it passed.

[74cb750]

Full face HJC helmet
Leather gloves/or 3 fingered gloves (due to loss of use of 2 fingers)
Work boots
Gericke jacket with many pads (learned the hard way)

[scrapvalue]

Flip flops, speedo and sun tan lotion.

Oh ya, almost forgot, sunglasses.

[Frankencake]

Floral print shower curtain, welding goggles, army boots, and a pissed off look.

[Alan F.]

...and also a pair of chaps to prevent the jeans from taking the brunt of a possible slide/fall.

I've had chaps for cool weather riding for 2 seasons now, they're good for wind protection, and help a little with flying rocks and stuff. Best feature is that they always cover the tops of my boots keeping the wind out.

But don't fool yourself for a minute into thinking they'll help you once you get separated from the bike.  Good quality riding pants are high on my wish list.
-Alan

[fmctm1sw]

I ride on the cheap.  $80 walmart helmet, long pants, long sleeve shirt, leather gloves, and timberland boots.  Sometimes a $60 Icon lime green reflective vest...  I don't ride in the rain..

[bikerbart]

Flannel hot pants,rainbow suspenders and a ww2 combat lid.OH yeah,and pasties.

[wannabridin]

...and also a pair of chaps to prevent the jeans from taking the brunt of a possible slide/fall.

I've had chaps for cool weather riding for 2 seasons now, they're good for wind protection, and help a little with flying rocks and stuff. Best feature is that they always cover the tops of my boots keeping the wind out.

But don't fool yourself for a minute into thinking they'll help you once you get separated from the bike.  Good quality riding pants are high on my wish list.
-Alan

good point.  the only problem i've had is finding a set a pants that work well in the summer and/or winter.  something with a zip out wind liner would be good for all year riding.

anyone heard of such?

[Gordon]

good point.  the only problem i've had is finding a set a pants that work well in the summer and/or winter.  something with a zip out wind liner would be good for all year riding.

anyone heard of such?

Yes, that's the kind of overpants that I have.  When I was looking at textile riding pants I think I only saw one kind that didn't come with a removable liner. 

[Fabricator]

The lid: AGV S-4 (F face)
The bod:  Up top, 1.4mm thick leather jacket with lots of dual density armor.

http://www.theridinggear.com/Motorcycle-Jackets-Men-Motorcycle-Jackets/c40_36/p933/Silver-and-Black-Motorcycle-Jackets-With-Pads/product_info.html

The bottom gets the pants version of what is in the jacket.

http://www.topgearleather.com/product/407F/V-Pilot-Style-Motorcycle-Leather-Pants.html

The hands: Kevlar reinforced medium gauntlet gloves

http://www.leatherup.com/p/Motorcycle-Gloves-/Xelement-Black-Leather-Gloves-with-Kevlar/96846.html

The feet:  Barefoot... Just kidding... Tall steel toe work boots (Hopefully some real riding boots after I finish a large job in a week or two).  Proper gear is certainly not cheap, but I feel safer wearing it for sure!   

***14 years ago I wore a department store leather coat and jeans, a "puddin bowl" open face helmet, and "mechanix" gloves....

Fabricator

[sangyo soichiro]

The sarcasm in this thread cracks me up!  


Anyway, I was curious...
A lot of the gear you guys are showing is pretty hardcore stuff.  But what do you wear when you don't want to walk around looking like Ricky Racer, Batman, or a Star Wars stormtrooper, like when you're just going to a movie (unless you're actually going to a Batman movie...)?

Stormtrooper


Batman


Or Iron Man

[flybox1]

good point.  the only problem i've had is finding a set a pants that work well in the summer and/or winter.  something with a zip out wind liner would be good for all year riding.

anyone heard of such?

ive got these and use them year-round.  a little warm in hot summer when stopped, but great otherwise.
i rarely use the liner in the cold.  instead i throw on a pair of stretch thermals.
Tourmaster Venture Textile Pant
http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/catalog/Venture-Pant-p-174_4.html

[wannabridin]

The sarcasm in this thread cracks me up!  


Anyway, I was curious...
A lot of the gear you guys are showing is pretty hardcore stuff.  But what do you wear when you don't want to walk around looking like Ricky Racer, Batman, or a Star Wars stormtrooper, like when you're just going to a movie (unless you're actually going to a Batman movie...)?

Stormtrooper


Batman


Or Iron Man

if i'm just going to a movie, i'll take off the knee pads, but i still wear everything else.  i'd rather not leave my helmet attached to the lock on my bike, it was too much money for someone with a knife to just walk by and snag it...  i'll throw the gear in the friends car that did ride  

and that ironman helmet is pretty cool actually, haha

[grumpy]

...Joe Rocket Alter Ego 2.0

I've been looking a those.
How do you like them?

How's the airflow with the flaps opened up?

Around here it can be in the 40's on the way to work and in the 80's in the afternoon. I need something that'll work over a wide temp range.

[Brown Bomber]

I usually just wear my Kawasaki hat, the salesman said it had carbon fiber in the bill, and that's why it cost almost a hundred dollars.

[Frankenkit]

I liked my joe rocket alter ego jacket, but don't get the black.  Black mesh is still hot.

I have probably too much gear (blame female accessorization)  but everything has a purpose (just as your wife will tell you she needs every one of her 50+ pairs of shoes)

I have a pair of Hood jeans with hiprotec armor in them for when I'm going to class or 'round town and don't dig the snowmobile suit look...  (also have the forcefield body armor pants, which get worn on longer trips under regular jeans... they're a pain to change in/out of, but comfortable on long trips and have way better protection)

leather jacket like the Fieldsheer Scout (?) (forget the scout edition)
and light grey/silver mesh fieldsheer jacket

the best, most useful overpants I've tried are the Olympia all-season or multi-season, something like that.  Good, breathable mesh with a super-warm, waterproof, wind-resistant zip-out liner.  I have been in some awful downpours in those pants and always stay warm and dry (at least my bottom half does...)

Milwaukee leather zip-up boots, Olympia cold-weather gloves, Scorpion perf. leather gloves for summer... HJC IS-33 helmet.

I have chaps that look and fit really well... I'll wear them occasionally with the Hood jeans because the jeans have kevlar to cover my butt... but I usually only wear them when I'm going for a special look or something.

[jesus freek]

I normally wear black steel toe work boots, blue jeans, Joe Rocket perferated armored coat, black Olympia kevlar gloves, Bobster goggles with the yellow lens and a Honda Line helmet from the early 70's. I am in search of a leather jacket