Modern Vespa

I've done a search on Modern Vespa for what riding gear people are using but it's all quite old. I'm interested in what people are using for touring at highway speeds. My MP3 is great on the highway and I can easily cruise at 70mph (~110kph) so I figure I should be wearing some armor. (The asphalt doesn't care if I wipe out on a bike or a scooter
I've got my old riding clothes from when I rode a bike, Langlitz leathers and Sedeci jacket and pants that I wear. I was wondering what others do for armor when out cruising?

Hi RichWa
I wear the same riding gear as any other motorcycle.

Comfortable boots with full ankle support up most of the shin. These are "TCX X-Five Plus Gore-Tex Boots" but they're not available anymore

Mesh over-pants for protection that I can wear over regular jeans or shorts; not as good as full leathers but much more flexible and breathable.
https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/bilt-blaze-3-mesh-pants

Choice of jacket, a kevlar mesh jacket for hot summers and a 4 seasons full jacket for everything else. Buy what style you like and is comfortable.
https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/bilt-techno-2-jacket

D30 back protector insert. All crash pads upgraded from stock to D30 types in pants, jacket, everything.
https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/klim-d3o-viper-t5-pro-back-protector?sku_id=797931

Full face modular helmet with Cardo intercom and built-in sun visor so I don't have to remember my sun-glasses and a pin-lock insert to prevent cold-weather fog.
https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/sedici-sistema-3-helmet

Perforated leather short cuff motorcycling gloves or breathable but I also have heavier mitten style for cold weather.
https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/alpinestars-chrome-gloves?sku_id=1840774

Airbag vest with the nylon tether secured to the heavy steel seat hinge bracket under the seat. I would have bought the Electronic version but it wasn't out at the time and I'm happy with the one I've got.
https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/helite-turtle-2-airbag-vest

When its raining I put over-pants over the mesh pants and combine with a good rain coat over the jacket. Works very well to stay dry without having to buy specialized rain specific gear and packs away in a backpack when not needed.

Rain over-pants (get 1-2 sizes bigger than your regular pants so it fits over it) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M5S99NX

Rain shell, should be big enough to go over your 4 seasons jacket.
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/121904

Thanks! I'm going to consider getting an air bag vest. I like the idea, if they work.

I have a BMW jacket with integrated airbag system co-developed with Alpinestars.

While I generally really like Alpinestars products the BMW branded airbag system I don't.

It is heavy as lead, it doesn't breathe, and as soon as the sun appears I sweat to death in it.

Also, there is little flexibility and if you move too much the system goes offline and no longer arms the airbag or records the GPS location until the magnetic clip goes green and reactivates all the systems.

In addition, you have to send it off every couple of years to have all the electronics snd systems verified. True, they do wash fabrics but that makes for one expensive wash.

I've gone back to standard Alpinestars jackets with their optional back protector and 3DO shoulder and elbow inserts.

Olympia jacket similar to the Dakar-3 but an earliere model.

Olympia airglide pants.

Joe Rocket 3/4 height Mercury boots.

Sena modular helmet.

My gloves are substandard in my view and I will be replacing them with higher quality ones with palm sliders. Anyone have a recommendation?

Caveat. I do sometimes where my Velcro riding jeans and doc martins for commuting.

Bennets' really like the MotoAirBag. More coverage and higher certification than anything else out there, and the reviewer says it is well ventilated. They've more thoroughly independently tested the most airbags out there.

Best mechanical trigger made, as it locks up like a seatbelt, so inflation is quicker, as it mechanically detects a crash, and you don't then need to get to the end of the tether for it to be deployed. Electronic ones seem needlessly more complicated for road use, more expensive to reload, and electronics constantly exposed to the elements and rain makes me wonder about longevity.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-armour-and-base-layers/motoairbag-m1-review-airbag-vest

I just ordered a pair of LS2 Swift gloves yet to be delivered. Only CE 2 rated gloves under $250, and they are $100. Easiest choice of all my protection.

https://www.mcgearhub.com/motorcycle-gloves/ls2-swift-gloves-review-guide/

I'll say up front that I'm an Toreador Pants sort of guy. Started with armored jeans/good motorcycle boots and and armored jacket. Went on eBay 2 years ago and bought 2 Olympia suits. A summer mesh and a 3 season waterproof. Easy on and easy off. Where whatever underneath my mood or occasion call for. Easily stored underseat if necessary and modular helmet in top case. Now I wear the armored suits 85% of the time. Cooler or warmer as needed and waaaaay more comfortable. Picked up on Facebook marketplace because (like the MP3) I wasn't sure how I was going to like them…but def a two thumbs up experience.

While a airbag is a nice novelty, your choice of helmet is the most important piece of safety gear. It can make the difference between walking away relatively unscathed or sucking applesauce through a straw until the end.

Buying the best helmet is a must, not a choice. That means at least a modular or integral helmet (no jet or open face buckets) from a top of the line producer like Arai, Schuberth, Shoei. No bargain basement/online Chinese dogshit.

And no matter what, don't ever buy a helmet without a test fit. Finding the correct shell size along with custom fitting is a necessity. The better shops offer proper fitting at no to little extra cost.

A loose helmet can be as dangerous as no helmet

Bones can be mended, brains not so much.

And lastly, always replace your helmet at least every 5 years in order to maintain maximum protection.

While I respect what you're saying, there's more good helmets out there than just the most expensive brands. Once you get great protection, the extra money spent is more comfort; lighter weight, better ventilated, luxurious liners and sound reduction.

DOT standard is the legal requirement in the US, but it's a very poor standard. Look for one that is also ECE 22.06 rated. Snug fit, high certification, and a visible color all provide safety. Also check out the Sharp's guide:

https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets

I also wouldn't refer to an airbag as a novelty, but it only should be considered after you have everything else; helmet, boots, gloves, jacket & pants. All gear should be rated, as there's lots of motorcycle fashion out there that isn't protective. Even the best helmet can't save you from a neck injury, however a helmet combined with an airbag can.

Earplugs are often forgotten as protective gear too.

Regardless, the helmet is the single most important piece of protective gear.

A airbag jacket in combination with a flimsy helmet is next to useless. Don't get me wrong, airbags DO save lives but vehicle airbags are the real lifesavers (see link).

?si=9f96WKq3gk3PbYDf

When it comes to protecting my body and especially my noggin' I don't care about price. Even a "expensive" bucket is cheap as chips for the protection it offers.

Let's do the math:

Assume you pay 750 Euros/Dollars for a flagship bucket. Over a 5 year estimated lifespan, that is only about 40 cents a day. In some countries such as the US that has very high healthcare costs, that 750 is gonna be spent before you arrive at the hospital.

The cost of the flagship devices goes into R&D which ultimately yields better future products, while the focus of mainstream buckets is to meet the minimum current mandated legal safety standards. And we all know that the government has our best interest at heart.

But in the end it all comes down to this. Your melon, your money, your choice

I agree that there certainly are flimsy helmets out there that shouldn't be used. The DOT standard in the States is from the 70's, which only requires the manufacturers to test, and they can even self-certify them before they bother testing them, as long as they think it will pass. While it's law in the US to have a DOT certified helmet, trusting a manufacturer will meet a 50-year old outdated standard with your life is ridiculous.

The new 2024 ECE 22.06 standard that replaces the 2001 ECE 22.05 standard is a great leap in safety. Sharps further tests them to provide additional information beyond that. Sharps has stated there is no correlation between price and safety of reputable brands.

The best way to judge a helmet's safety is independent testing. ECE 22.06 now has overtaken Snell, which used to be the high mark for rating. Sharps provides additional information beyond just the ECE rating.

The reality is with research, you can buy both a top-rated helmet and a top-rated airbag for the price of a luxury brand helmet, which if you didn't research, it may or may not be as highly independently-rated. 750 Euros can buy you both the top-rated airbag, and an ECE 22.06, Sharp's 5-star rated helmet. Both a highly-rated protective helmet coupled with a highly-rated airbag is going to exceed the protection of a highly-rated helmet alone.

Just like you shouldn't buy a model of bike or model of car based solely on the reputation of the brand, you shouldn't buy a model of helmet based solely on the reputation of the brand either. Just like you read independent reviews of a new model bike or car, so should you evaluate independent testing of the specific model of helmet.

Once you have verified the safety of the helmet, if you prefer a brand and/or the refined features it has, styling or comfort, certainly that is a very valid reason to upgrade.

sabaert, I agree with you that a helmet is the single most important piece of protective gear, however there is a better way to compare model safety than brand reputation alone. In any event, we should all be happy that the protective gear is continually getting so much better.

A motocross neck brace also works well on an upright riding-position street bike, even though you rarely if ever see a road rider wearing one. I already have one and will wear it until I get an airbag. You couldn't use it on a sport bike as it would restrict your vision as you can't tip your head as far back when laying on your gas tank, but on a MP3 there's absolutely no restriction, it's lightweight on your shoulders, and hardly even noticeable.

While MotoGP racers with a complete pit crew under track conditions benefit from electronic airbags, as a recreational rider I trust a neck brace more than I would an electronic airbag, that could go offline, miss a subscription requirement, software error, battery discharged or be ineffective in a tunnel. I have enough problems with my phone; I don't want that complexity in PPE.

A mechanical airbag like the top-certified MotoAirBag which has a impact-sensing mechanical trigger would protect the neck and collar bones like a neck brace, but also vital organs in your chest plus protect your back, ribs and hips, yet the complexity of these airbags is not much more complicated than a seatbelt. There's very little to go wrong.

You can recharge it yourself, though they recommend a factory inspection every four years. It can be self-inspected after crashes and re-used.

Airbags will get more popular, as well as airbag pants, and it may ultimately even bring more people into the sport.

I'm not judging just based on brand.

I currently have about a dozen helmets with the oldest being a Schuberth C3 Pro which I have taken out of circulation a few years back. My oldest helmets that are in circulation (22.05 rated) are Schuberth C4 Pro buckets.

The majority are 22.06 and a few are on the Sharps list, BUT the diff in build quality and noise suppression between my Schuberth C5 helmets and the Roof (both 5 star rated on the Sharp list) is night and day.

The Roof is practically unusable without ear plugs

The quietest helmet in my collection is also the oldest, namely the Schuberth C3 Pro.

Schuberth is known for extremely high quality and are the quietest helmets available. They make incredible helmets.

Though I think you would agree that safety on a 22.06, 5-star rated helmet from a quality, though lesser brand will exceed the safety of a 22.05, 4-star rated Schuberth, even though the Schuberth would still be nicer to ride in.

My only point is, first judge a helmet by the rating, then if your budget allows for more, certainly consider paying more for comfort, especially if you are planning on long tours. Things like lighter weight, noise, & buffeting (all within reason) may not be an issue on shorter rides or commuting, though become an issue when racking up many miles touring.

We both agree, everyone should ride with a really good helmet.

Funny story about a young adult we went ATVing with one time. We gave him a helmet & asked him if he knew how attach it, and he responded yes. The next time we stopped we had to untie the big knot he had tied under his neck.

Yeah, I'll readily admit that I have a helmet addiction in the same way women have a shoe addiction.

But I know somebody who works for Schuberth so I can get just about every bucket they make at bargain basement prices.

One thing about Schuberth quality. Several years ago pre pandemic era, their C4 (non Pro version) really tested my loyalty to the brand. Pieces actually flew off that helmet along with intermittent comm system problems, and despite multiple exchanges from Schuberth the problems persisted and pieces kept falling off the C4. Turns out Schuberth never road tested the C4, only wind tunnel tests, along with a push from the new management to push the C4 ASAP and as it turns out prematurely.

The C4 Pro followed not too long after, which addressed the problems the C4 had, and that is really what the C4 should have been from the very beginning.

One thing I should mention is that nobody should consider a carbon helmet if you plan to have a comm system. The effective range of a comm system is reduced to about 1/4 or 1/3 distance of the same comm system in a non carbon version of said helmet.

The lighter weight is welcoming, but the disadvantages is not worth the price and exclusivity. The carbon helmet is the bucket I rarely use since FM radio reception is reduced to almost non existent.

The majority of the collection are the current C5, and a few lightly used C4 Pro.

But the best built and quietest Schuberth I own is the retired C3 Pro. That helmet really set bar so high considering it was released nearly 15 years ago.

Appreciate the info about the carbon conflicts with the coms, something I haven't heard before. Is that just with the ones that are built into the helmets, or does it affect the external ones as well?

Guessing the helmet companies would try to solve that issue, as all their top tier, and likely their highest profit margin helmets are made of carbon. With coms becoming so popular, are carbon sales down?

I've never had a com system before, but have been thinking about getting them. I really appreciate my carbon kevlar moto helmet on my ATV, where on the extremely rocky trails out here, the lightweight helmets are a lot less fatiguing, plus when I have to deal with trailering, I tend to do longer days, or even multi-day trips.

I need to talk my friends into getting jobs at places I want discounts...

The carbon comms issue is for those buckets with integrated comm system as the signals have trouble penetrating the carbon.

However, going external is only a temporary solution as there is legislation in the works when only integrated comms will be permitted.

Date is unknown as of yet

This video may be helpful

?si=rAiX4zDr--F4E4H4

Here's what I use for a hand guard, or what I call a windguard. Unlike my Sport 500, where it attaches to the actual handlebar, you can only attach the handguard to the bar end screw at the end of the handlebars. That is if you don't want to cut some handlebar cover plastic. So it's main purpose is to stop the cold wind and some light branches. I had to heat gun it to slightly bend it to have the brake levers .


Cheers,
Tross

Here's what I use for a hand guard, or what I call a windguard. Unlike my Sport 500, where it attaches to the actual handlebar, you can only attach the handguard to the bar end screw at the end of the handlebars. That is if you don't want to cut some handlebar cover plastic. So it's main purpose is to stop the cold wind and some light branches. I had to heat gun it to slightly bend it to have the brake levers .


Cheers,
Tross

These are the ones I have

https://share.temu.com/BrtoiTYDL8A

Tross Any chance you could post a picture of your handguards? Looks like the Temu listing is no longer available.