Modern Vespa

Hi, im chris from indonesia.

im new in vespa, motorcycle and this forum too. just got my LX150 few days ago and can somebody help me to find out what helmet and jacket should i use?

this my first experience for motorcycle and i choose vespa for my first experience. it feels good every time i drive it.

and hope i can get more information about vespa here.



Thank you

I'm no expert on helmets or jackets so can't help. Just want to extend congrats to you on your new scoot. What color? You picked a good one to say the least and it only gets better. Enjoy and be safe!

i pick the red one. yeah, just now i try another brand of scoot. still vespa kill my heart to choose other. i love to use it. but my vespa license still on progress. thank you bro

Congrats! Considering that you're in Jakarta, I'd say you should look at mesh (for the heat) jackets with armor. Helmets? I think there's a sticky on here somewhere. There are many stylish helmets for Vespa riders, but a good compromise may be a modular helmet.

I've visited friends in Bali (Denpasar/Kuta). How's the traffic in Jakarta?

For a jacket try and find one that has the zipper in the front.

Welcome to MV...

yeah here the traffic is killing everybody, since now its rainy day and flood everywhere. ooh denpasar is nice place to chilling. in jakarta its a place for work, so traffic its our daily problem.

thank you

will enjoy it and hope can make a little community here with some friends.

sure i must find that one with zipper.

Welcome to MV!

One of the coolest jackets (with armor) is Vanson Leather Vent Max series:

http://www.vansonleathers.com/prod-Vent_Max_4_Series-615.aspx

I'm not sure but you may be able to find a local manufacturer who might be able to provide similar since I'm not certain what the import restrictions may be.

Wife bought me a modular full face helmet back in 2009. You can lift and drop the the chin bar. HJC SyMax3 has a slide down sun shield, hence I don't wear sunglasses. The venting systems works well. I use earplugs when using helmet.

http://www.revzilla.com/hjc-helmets?gclid=COfbv76u37MCFQhyQgodgmgA2w

Son got me denim riding pants with kevlar reinforced knees and rear. There are various outlets to purchase.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/14/67/908/35799/ITEM/Alpinestars-Logic-Kevlar-Denim-Pants.aspx

I would recommend a pair of ankle high shoes (cover the ankle bone). Had rider in our group take a spill and ankle bone exposure and injury wasn't too bad...but it took off some skin...healing time was long. Wish he had ankle high shoes.

Good Luck in your efforts.

im not sure here if they have a good quality in here. all the riders wear that in here but some of my friends told me its not quite help, just a jacket hanging in your body.

thank you man, i will take a look of all the link and choose the most fit for me. thank you.

Hi Chris,

I suggest that you have a look at this U.K. Government site before you buy a helmet: http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/ I happen to use a Shoei XR-1100, but there are many other options.

A jacket made of heavy cowhide gives the best protection but it isn't practical in your climate. Like a previous poster, I like Vanson (I have a custom made leather jacket and trousers from them for my sport bike), but Vanson is a small company with very limited distribution. There are several companies that make quality textile jackets and pants whose gear should be readily available in Indonesia.

I agree that you should consider footwear that protects your ankles. Personally, I wear leather boots, with internal reinforcement, that come up to my calfs. These offer good protection while being comfortable enough to walk in. Mine are made by a company called Vendramini, but you are unlikely to find the brand in Indonesia. I'm sure that other companies must make something similar.

You might also consider gloves with protective padding. When I did my motorcycle course, at one point I was going extremely slowly, lost balance and went down Of course, the first thing I did was put out my hand to break the fall. I was wearing a pair of Held Phantom gloves, which paid for themselves right then and there. A skinned palm with grit embedded in the wound is not my idea of fun.

I'm buying my first scooter today. In principal, I don't see what the difference is between an accident on a motorcycle and an accident on a scooter, but I have noticed that scooter riders, compared to motorcycle riders, tend to wear less, and lighter, gear. It remains to be seen whether I continue to adhere to the philosophy "all the gear all the time", or instead start taking more risk.

Hi Chris,

I think this is all pretty location specific. In Europe I would wear leathers and a full-face helmet. In the US, depending on the State I would wear a half/full helmet and usually a leather or ballistic nylon jacket. But in the summer, on a small road, in states where helmets weren't the law, I would cruise around without either -- just a pair sun glasses I know...

I'm in India right now, and wearing even a light weight jack is overkill (unless it's raining). And while the requirement (only the driver) for a helmet seems to ebb and flow here, if I'm on a big road (doesn't mean speeds are fast) I wear a half helmet. But if I'm just in the neighbourhood then no helmet. The speeds are very very slow here. Rare that I even get to 50 Km/h.

I think in Indonesia helmets are worn by the driver but I would think that any sort of leathers might be too heavy for the climate. My suggestion is a half helmet with a visor that pivots up, and has openings near the ears. In countries like Indonesia, and India, driving is very audio based -- you need to hear the exhaust & horn sounds of cars and bikes to know what's happening around you.

thanks for the advice. i like to get it all. but the problem is, actually im not fully drive this vespa. i just drive it 3 times a week for office day if its very traffic or maybe saturday night around the city. yeah gear is very important. so i must slowly pick up. but i know what you mean. thank ylu for your advice redge

agree, the exhaust and horn like you said. its somehow makes me think twice to drive vespa out there in afternoon or maybe when people rushing back home. i pick car if i can choose that.

now i'm still brand new in vespa community also brand new in driving a bike. so i still not wearing helmet and without license also without jacket sometimes.

i agree with your style. not using helmet and sunglass on. its cool. must have some of it. and i will only use when im not going far. its not safety in here.

thank you for your advice

Hi Chris,

Just wanted to say welcome. Can't add anything on getting gear that hasn't been already said, other than although I hope you never crash, you can't predict them and it's better to assume they can happen any place, any time. I wouldn't want to greet ground or metal even at 10 mph without something protective between. Enjoy your ride!

Aloha and welcome to the forum. I rode on the outskirts of Jakarta and didn't have any gear. Even tho there were a lot of scooters people knew how to ride them. Rode one in Bali as well but i did steer clear of the major cities. I'm not used to it so i'd be killed for sure. Gear or no gear. Get whats comfortable for you. If your over heated that can take your mind off the road which is more dangerous IMHO. Good luck with the scoot and pics when you get it. Have fun and be safe.

hi fledermaus,

yeah, its very dangerous somehow. i will find the gear to make safety first and enjoy the ride. thanks for the advice. i hope i can find the proper suite for me.

hi judy,

most of all the people here drive like a stunt man. we often said they have 7 lives. so they never and ever afraid even they facing the big container truck.

i want to share to all. 2 days ago before i join this forum, i drove my car back home and when i pull offer from highway to main road, i saw 3 girls with 1 scooters without helmet without jacket and rode like they are the only one in the road. its almost 23.00. and suddenly i give them a horn and tell them to go to the left side because its very dangerous and people who pull off from high way still in high speed. and after i give them a horn they seems like angry with me because they dont like me to horn them. they try to chase me. and i let them chase. after awhile maybe they dont realize in from of them the police is waiting for them. so bad luck for those 3 girls.

so better to put on gear for our own safety and watch out the police

True. People here don't like it when you horn them either. Must be an island thing. Get some good gear your comfortable with and have fun. Be careful. I loved taking the little paths into some of the villages. People were surprised when i showed up. Everyone came out of their houses to see me. Quite fun.