Modern Vespa

Hi guys,
Hate to sound like such a nooby, but just when I thought picking out my scooter was confusing, now I am looking into getting the appropriate gear to ride with. I have a Fulmer Modus Helmet which I love, but when it comes to clothing, it all becomes a blur made up of:
Pants
Leather pants
Riding pants
Anti-abrasion pants
Leather jackets
Riding material jackets
'Armor' pad jackets
Vented Jackets
It all makes my head spin. I don't even know any "Top" Brands that I can trust. And the prices jump from 89$ - over $400 bucks just for a jacket. I use my scoot to commute to school, so I'm looking for something that either I can wear into class or can be taken off quickly(over normal clothes?). IF ANYONE WITH ANY EXPERIENCE can share some words of wisdom, that would be extremely appreciated.

I am a new guy myself, but I bought a CORTECH textile jacket and pants. A friend of mine has been riding for 20 years and his opinion was leather offers perhaps the best protection, but you can't just throw it in the washer and leather gets real hot in the summer. The CORTECH items I bought have liners for when it is cold and a second liner for when it rains. I took both out for the summer. Get clothes that have CE approved armor. Wear gloves, and boots that cover the ankle, and of course a good helmet. Wear Toreador Pants-All The Gear All The Time. What you wear and how much is personal preference, but for me being such a new rider it is comforting to know if I take a little spill at least I will be better off than if I am in shorts and a T shirt. My vented Jacket is pretty awesome...if you open the vents in the front and back the air blows through...of course if you are at a stop light you are hot.


John

Well, you know they say opinions are like a__holes. Everyone has one.

Essentially, pick the gear you like.

You've got a helmet. If it fits well, and its not too noisy, or too heavy, then you're good. Next, select some gloves that fit well. Gel inserts in the palms are nice, as they cut down on vibration. Knuckle inserts are good, because they protect the back of your hands in a spill.

Jackets, again, find what you like. You can throw thousands at good gear, but if it doesn't fit you well, or is too hot, or is too cold, then how much it costs doesn't matter. There are several threads on this forum that cover what people got, and what they paid for it.

Look around, do some google searchs, goto the local bike stores and try some stuff out. I'm sure you'll put together just the right combo for you.

Unless you are wealthy, start off with good helmet and gloves, and wear your normal jeans and jacket for skin protection. Now you can focus on a good helmet that is comfortable and safe with/without vents.

As you ride and read, you will hear others support or blast products they bought. Still, it's what you feel comfortable wearing. I just would tell you not to got out there and spend over $1000 on gear you may not wear.

Good Luck, and send us a pic when you get done.


Ciao 8)

Hi Luthorhuss

You're right, it's a case of "too much choice". Your riding gear is, largely, up to you but as a minimum:

* Riding Gloves
* Protective Jacket (with a removable waterproof liner)
* Helmet
* Wet weather pants

Jackets can get confusing - Leather or Textile. They both have their own pros and cons and people will debate until well after the cows have come home about the merits. I have chosen a textile jacket. It is an RJays Octane. It is technically a summer jacket and it has a zip-out wet weather liner. It also has removable body armour and heaps of pockets. You can make it into a winter jacket by simply putting on a jumper underneath.

Gloves are also a major point of contention. I have tried both textile and leather and can say that although textile gloves can be cleaned easily, they don't offer as much protection as leather gloves. It is your choice whether you like really heavy leather gloves or the lighter leather type. You just must go along to a dealer and try them on.

Helmet - full face or open. I have tried both and can say that the open face is cooler to wear in summer and is less prone to fogging up due to the wind flow around the visor. The downside can be wind noise which can get deafening above 70kph. I have recently upgraded to a Shark full face helmet and can say that they cut wind noise down considerably and offer much better wet weather protection compared to an open face style helmet. If you are willing to pay top dollar, you can get a flip-up style helmet that the 'jaw' of the helmet flips up and converts the helmet to a more open face style design.

Wet weather pants are usually cheap and you will thank yourself for spending the money if you get caught in a downpour. Having wet pants from the knees up is not a pleasant feeling.

I hope this helps. I'm sure that other forumees will be able to give you more ideas as well.[/list]

Try
http://thekneeslider.com/motorcycle-jacket/
They have some helpful info esp. for first time riders.

Unfortunately some things are trial and error....no one really lets you demo the products!
What ever you decide wear it in the store while you look at things if you can.
I ride with gloves, jacket, modular helmet, boots.
I have rain gear in the trunk JIC.
I am wishing I went with a textile mesh jacket because of the heat.
I choose full padding including back into the jacket because I'm a newer rider.
The lesson I learnt a month ago...
I rode to work which is 4 km away from home, in t-shirt, sandles, and shorts. I was too hot in my leather jacket so I left it all at home and when I went to put my feet down at the one traffic light here in town I had no grip, so with feet sliding sideways I went down with all that weight between my thighs!
I locked the tilt on the way down... it prevented the bike from falling on me, and hopped off it, however, it only bought me a few more seconds..
As I stood up on the oppostie side of my mp3 leaning over tilt-locked, I watched it fall over in slow motion and scrambled to grab it.
I caught it before it hit road and as I scrambled to grab it I cut up my ankle and burnt my leg on the pipe.
On the way home I took a rock in the knuckle, and just about went off the road.
I now wear full gear all the time.

Personally for me, I mostly ride with:

1. Fullface Helmet.
2. Mesh-type armored gloves.
3. Cargo shorts.
4. Hooded sweatshirt.
5. iPod Shuffle.
6. Sneakers. (I own over 400 pairs)

lol - your not perchance related to Imelda Marcos are you?

that's a whole lot of shoes.

NO mate, he owns a shoe shop!

Most people who stick with riding usually end up buying the good stuff, so if this is more than a fad for you then my advice is to skip on the cheap gear and just get the good stuff up front. Quality gear will be relatively comfortable and offer you the most protection for that inevitable pavement ride. Don't buy anything online unless you've had a chance to try it out in a store somewhere and know it will fit you well. Gear that doesn't fit you is next to worthless and honestly why bother wearing an armored jacket if you're gonna rock shorts, you might as well get matching road rash.

"why bother wearing an armored jacket if you're gonna rock shorts, you might as well get matching road rash. "

Wear what you want to crash in.

Because you will.

Guarenteed.

I am a new rider also. I have a FieldSheer armored jacket and pants. I wear gloved that have good knuckle protection, helmet and boots. The gloves have already proven there worth.. took a rock in the knuckle that would have hurt like @#$%.

I put it all on over my business casual work cloths twice a day. Here is my thing. I may get sick of having to put it all on. I may like the open feeling of just the wind. But the FIRST time I hit the road with out it, I am going to hate life. So I wear it.

The whole ATGAT thing is personal preference. You are trading what you feel is safe; for what you feel is comfort/coolness/freedom what have you.

Personally, I am already ugly I don't need road rash scars to help

Have always ridden with Toreador Pants. Rode the scoot up and down the block today just to ride and see how it felt.... total roundtrip of 1/2 mile in shorts, t-shirt, sandals and helmet. Boy, I felt naked and vulnerable!

I don't know how those squids do it.

Oh to be young and invincible again........NOT!

I should have inserted my <SARCASM> tags

I encourage folks to ride comfortably without all the heavy protection. No gloves, beany helmet, sweatshirt, sandals, and shorts. It feels wonderfully free to ride like this.

But the real reason I suggest this is because my best friend is a surgeon and he needs all the organ donors he can get.

I tell people that 60mph on a scooter really isn't as dangerous as 60mph on a motorcycle..........

Pay no attention to the truism: "Its not if you will fall, but when."

88

P.S. Personally, when I want to move my MP3 out of the garage and park it on the street, I put on heavy-duty armored pants, a fully armored jacket zipped completely, a full face helmet tightly secured, leather gloves which are padded and armored, and tall riding boots.

I guess I'd better sell that Roadcrafter then! Can anyone use a custom sized 50R? I can buy quite a few pairs of shorts with the proceeds.

The sarcasm is getting just a wee bit old. I say that with kindness.

Hey 88andstillriding:

Post a picture of yourself with all your garb on. Please leave the helmet on as this will entice us all and leave us with eleavator eyes.