a helment,jacket and gloves.Is there anything else i need.Any advice?
do you have a Cycle Gear ,store near you ~ i got a great one on clearance for 50 bucks , another great place is Helmut shop .com
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Don’t buy cheap gear,the road is harder than you think.
Trust me I’ve had a few accidents.
Buy a good lid and invest in a back protector,mine has saved me twice after high-siding and landing on my back.
They will not completely save your back but will take some of the hurt out!.
It is expensive but you cannot replace a brain or a back.
Next is a good pair of boots as foot/leg injuries Are the most common.
And then a good strong jacket/trousers,most are well Made these days but make sure it has hard armour in The elbows and shoulders and maybe knees if you can Get on with it or buy a one piece suit,job done.
Decent gloves can be found for reasonable money,don’t Be fooled by the latest designs at ridiculous prices Though.
Arai,shoei,agv,shark,all do safe lids at good prices If you don’t buy top end.
Plain colours are always cheaper.
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Carhardt Jeans, they provide the thickest denim at the best price. Special jeans cost 100 - 300 and have a smaller weight denim pile
Helmets all have to meet standards - DOT or Bell, a helmet should fit properly first and foremost. You can compare a Wal-Mart to a $250 designer dealers helmet, when you take them apart inside they have Styrofoam like shells and foam padding. Many times the extras are based on the material used for a lining and design or name brand but the nuts and bolts portion that is there to save your head is all the same unless you get into the air bladder or gel type models …or exotic outer shells…
Gloves are ridiculous and many times the pricey motorcycle versions offer less protection then a pair of rawhide work gloves from Tru-Value Hardware - it’s design image that you are paying for
Do you want to look good or be safe? Buy things that fit properly and allow you the correct mobility above all else, if you want to have a “look” then go to the dealer and be outfitted - they’re good at that stuff…
There’s nothing that proves it has to say motorcycle to make it safe or even right on a label and often because it does say motorcycle the only thing that happens is that it cost you more and protects you less
Kevlar will stop bullets but not an 80 year old woman behind the wheel of a ‘75 Ford LTD.
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Helmets are expensive because they are still cheaper than a new head.
Anything else apart from what you mentioned?….
Yes, boots.
Bike boots are a very underrated piece of kit…..I see people out all the time with helmet, gloves, jacket and no boots.
Try and imagine if you can, coming off and the bike landing on you and maybe you sliding just a few feet down the road like that with just a sock to protect your ankle.
Slow speed spills are something you should walk away from with just a bruise or two, but have a bike land on you without boots protecting your very exposed ankle joint and you’ll be lucky to walk again.
My husband put himself under a Kwak weighing well over 400lbs a number of years ago and was fine for us to fly away on holiday two days later.
But then he’s a believer in boots as well.
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Helmets are expensive because there is currently NO REPLACEMENT for your head. Brain injuries are permanent, and so is death. So how much is your head worth to you? I ahve no qualms about spending over $300 on a good helmet that FITS and doesn’t distract me while riding.
You also need pants or overpants to complete the gear. You also need to take an MSF class to get you started, and I recommend a book titled Proficient Motorcycling to keep you riding longer than the average squid.
Remember that a bike MUST lean to turn; no lean, no turn. Also remember that it is far more stable while on the gas than it is with zero throttle, so slow BEFORE corners, not in them. Practice, learn, reflect, study, practice, repeat.
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You get what you pay for. You can buy a cheap helmet at Wal-Mart. These are street legal helmets that meet the minimum DOT standards. But would you trust your life to this helmet.
This equipment is so high because of the high mark-up the motorcycle dealers take on them.
You have three choices.
1. You can get the cheap stuff from a department store and take your chances.
2. Spend a little more at the motorcycle dealer and get the good stuff.
3. Search the Internet and find some quality safety equipment for less than your dealer charges. See the link below for a place to start. However you may find a better place to shop on your own.
http://www.powersportspro.com/
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HJC helmets are decent DOT approved helmets and you can find a nice one starting around $75. It is your head after all, so don’t be too cheap.
You should look at textile cycle jackets which are just as good, but not as expensive as leather cycle jackets. Shift, Joe Rocket, Tourmaster are some brands which are affordable. Expect to spend about $100 for a lightweight jacket and more for heavier jackets.
Gloves are always a good idea and while many people just wear gym shoes or work boots while riding, a good pair of cycle boots will keep yout feet better protected
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I’ve been looking to replace my helmet and noticed, among the some of the top brands, Arai and Shoei seem to fix their price while an AGV doesn’t and can be had pretty cheap. For example, if you go to a motorcycle shop the AGV Stealth will be about $350 (the MSRP) but you can get it online for $250 - or less. B&M and online prices for Arai and Shoei are pretty close to same. That may be the reason it’s hard to find a shop that actually carries AGV.
If you can find a shop that carries AGV, go try one on then buy it online.
http://www.kneedraggers.com/list/1013