Popped into my local (literally just down the road) J&S shop this morning. Incredibly helpful staff gave me loads of tips. Bought a LC2 helmet with a full flip visor that goes right over the top so you can ride with it up. Its a bit modern looking but at least they had it in white!
Looked at some boots but not sure whether to go casual or touring....I hate the whole changing your boots whenever you get somewhere thing but the casual boots look a bit lacking in protection....
Also looked a few jackets as I have 'ahem' expanded a little since my last riding and my old jacket is a bit snug. The sensible option is something like a RST Paragon but it just feels a bit much - my eye kept straying to the less aggressive leather wear.....
Altberg dual use boots?
I use safety boots a lot rather than my motorcycle boots, I'm not sure there's masses of difference in crash protection between the two.
Also looked a few jackets as I have 'ahem' expanded a little since my last riding and my old jacket is a bit snug. The sensible option is something like a RST Paragon but it just feels a bit much
I favour the layering approach which is obtainable these days with modern, protective base layers.
I have a Knox Urbane 3 jacket, a level AA jacket which is a mesh under jacket sort of thing. You can wear it on its own in the summer and it's nice and cool. This time of year you wear base layers under it, and then whatever you want over the top. I normally wear a waterproof cagoule type thing to keep the weather out. Works well.
My eye is drawn to the Adventure Spec Supershirt 2 which is much lighter than the Knox but it's a bit spendy.
To be honest, I absolutely hate bike gear. So it's great these days that you have the option of high rated safety under jackets that you can wear owt else with.
I've gone down the layering route too but bought one of these instead https://www.ghostbikes.com/products/5452-black-premium-air-armoured-motorcycle-shirt
The back protector is a bit bulky but works as an inner jacket with normal sized waterproof softshell and waterproof over the top.
They are are a bargain at the minute😮
Yes to be honest that was my take away from visiting a couple of shops - helmets apart, bike gear is still bit rubbish really isn't it. I mean I loved the Daytona touring boots but £500!!! Yet the next couple of rungs down were so basic I felt like spending 200 quid on some plasticky boots with stupid thin slippery soles was equally wasteful. I mean my helmet was 'only' £250 and it fits like a glove, has loads of features and well you can spend that on a mtb helmet!
I'm very tempted to just get some safety boots from Screwfix - Dewalt do some with a fibreglass toebox and a fibreglass footbed with a boa fixing for 100 quid - I bet they are every inch as safe as the cheaper motorbike specific boots
Most of the jackets had some god awful quilted zip in liners making them feel fat and padded but not very warm. I'd rather use one of my extensive base layer collection and a lighter jacket and perhaps a waterproof shell over the top on the odd day when I'm caught out
At the end of the day, I'm only riding a Bonneville 15 miles to work not tracking a Ducati or doing the long way down
Make sure your boots have ankle protection.
A jacket with back and elbow armour is a minimum requirement for me.
Using a base layer with armour will allow you to use your other jackets that you already own.
You could use armoured under shorts and a normal pair of jeans too.
You only find out how much protection you need when you have an off
I bought a richa textile jacket and trousers. Not totally waterproof in a couple of hours downpour. Decent price IIRC back, shoulder, elbow, knee hip armour. comfy, vented, zip in lining so suitable for 3 seasons. Textile is the way to go IMO
I find the Richa stuff good, nice balance between quality and value - my boots were £80 and are great.
I also find Oxford stuff very good value and again the quality is fine - you can pick up a textile Oxford jacket from Sportsbikeship from about £100.
I'm also going to get some heated gloves - RST battery powered ones at £180 are quite tempting.
I'm also going to get some heated gloves - RST battery powered ones at £180 are quite tempting.
Why gloves and not grips? On my last bike I fitted some Oxford ones with the massive comedy controller. I see now you can get the same ones but with the controller built into the grips so there is just a little button and led on the grip...why would gloves be better? With grips its always there and so even on a slightly chilly summer evening you can whack them on with your summer gloves..surely heated gloves are really bulky?
heat grips only warm your palms and if you have thick gloves on not very well at that
I just prefer heated gloves, had some Kies ones previously. My hands are always cold so also fitted some hand guards to keep the wind off. I prefer the heat on the back of my hands/fingers rather than having to "grip" the grips to get some heat. I don't find heated gloves bulky, no more so than my waterproof Oxford gloves.
Yes to be honest that was my take away from visiting a couple of shops - helmets apart, bike gear is still bit rubbish really isn't it.
Well, you did go to J&S.
They're always absolutely packed full of kit but not necessarily nice kit. They can have some nicer stuff but it's a bit buried under all the hideous, heavy, ribbed black stuff.
Any jacket or trousers I've ever bought I've ditched the thermal liner. As you say, better to use decent outdoor base layers. Much more effective and less bulky.
I think no matter what motorcycle kit says that it's waterproof, it's always better to still wear a waterproof shell over the top in downpours.
I find that textile often has a waterproof membrane inside but the outer material just has a water resistant coating. They tend to wet out after a while and then become stupid heavy and cold. Plus they can take an age to dry out. A waterproof shell you keep on the bike and throw on when it gets minging works really well I find.
I commute in all weathers on mine and I always have a waterproof shell with me and some Oxford waterproof boot cover things. They look ridiculous but work brilliantly.
Some days when it's dreadful I wear my wellies. 😊
J&S are okay and the one in Leeds it's bang next door to Sportsbikeshop 🤣
My first choice is always Sportsbikeshop though as I always find their staff extremely helpful (just previous experience)
Some days when it's dreadful I wear my wellies.
Deriboots. anyone remember them?
I still have my rukka waterproof onsie as well
Any jacket … I've ever bought I've ditched the thermal liner. As you say, better to use decent outdoor base layers. Much more effective and less bulky.
Heated gilet ftw
Heated grips can reverse the water transfer direction in waterproof membranes, actively pumping water into the glove rather than the your hand heat pumping it out. Can end up warm but wet.
When I stopped biking 10 years ago I sold my Daytona boots on eBay. I almost cried when I saw how much they cost now when I was looking last year. They were amazing but I couldn’t justify the cost for the miles I do these days.
I've got some hand me down Daytona boots. The 'carbon' plastic heal ankle and foot bed support had cracked so a bit of tape and an eventual redesign of the calf part made them a better bit for the position my legs and feet are on the scooter.
Dutch style agu poncho for water and windproofing over my 20+yr hein gerike motorbike jacket and trousers.
The new bar mitts are a welcome addition for this year's winter commuting.
Bought a pair of Alpinestars gore tex Sports touring boots. Decided the safety boots were too heavy and too short without real ankle protection. They are probably as good as many of the shorter moto specific boots though but the Alpines at least have anti twist frames etc. I guess after the helmet the boots are probably the next most important bit of safety gear - still £200!
I was surprised that bike clothing is if anything cheaper than it was when I sold up in 2010. I paid about the same amount (numbers not inflation adjusted) for my goretex Daytona and Alpinestars SMX boots in the mid 2000s! I gave most of my kit away and a couple of years ago chucked two immaculate Shoei lids in the bin as they were a decade out of date.
Mrs Davy and I hit Sportsbikeshop for all new kit last summer and it was very reasonably priced and I've found their returns policy excellent after breaking a visor attachment.
We both bought AAA rated jeans rather than textile trousers, I had both textile and leather kit previously, the Hein Gericke textile stuff with old goretex was just about manageable off the bike on a hot day with all the vents open. It did stay dry in the rain.
I hope the new aramid lined jeans are as good as the reviews, I skated down a couple of tracks on my back in my leathers and got away largely with light scuffing... I'm not super excited about not being able to zip my jeans and jacket together..
The only thing I think you have to be aware of with the textile motorbike stuff is the safety ratings. Personally I don't ride in anything unless it is at least AA rated ( because A rated stuff really isn't suitable in my opinion. I read an article in one of the bike mags when the A,AA,AAA ratings came in and they said that most pairs of normal denim jeans would pass an A rating test). If you want the highest level of protection then the vast majority of the Textile stuff is out (there are a few now that pass the AAA rating test but for years none of them did) so you have to check the labels carefully. As for waterproofing then as some others here have said you are better with a waterproof over layer than relying on the waterproofness of a jacket/trousers.
Armour influences the rating. The thin bits of plastic in my AAA jeans would appear to fall some way short of the pre-formed knee armour in my old CE tested kit. My new level 2 RST textile jacket feels far less armoured than my old HG stuff, which was a also a much better fit in terms of keeping the armour where it is meant to be, particularly on the elbows and forearms... Perils of buying online just based on ratings and reviews.
There is a Fortnine video somewhere on YouTube about motorcycle gear that is an interesting watch.
The only thing I think you have to be aware of with the textile motorbike stuff is the safety ratings. Personally I don't ride in anything unless it is at least AA rated
I'm planning on getting the Bowtex Elite V2 protective base layer.
It's AAA rated. Only snag is the price. It's eye watering at getting on for £400 but then, compare that price with your average AAA rated full jacket and it's probably not quite so hard to swallow.
Something like this that I can layer works much better for me, riding off road and on road like I do.
I suppose the great part of any hobby is having yet another avenue of wonderful stuff to spend your cash on 🙂
I’ve got a revit nucleous jacket (AA) and their Sierra jersey (Class B ) out of the Dirt series which seems to be nice,I suppose the only time you’ll actually know how good it is ,is when your sliding down the road 🙁
I think for my hot weather and road speed restricted case of 45kph(it a quad in Spain a lot were registered as tractors) it’s not bad and you can use it without a top .
Ive mostly stuck to Revit but tbh I’ve had some good offers and the choice of Europe to pick the best prices.
I picked some John Doe AAA jeans at a stupidly silly offer but not ridden them but they do feel like a nice pair of comfortable heavyweight Jeans ,I can see why people would like them and the theory is they breathe well.
I’ve also got a few secondhand things a lovely Sand4 jacket and the sierra jersey , a lot of adventure stuff seems to be bought and used a few times here then put in the cupboard.
My favourite and possibly oddest is the Revit riding trackies and hoody sweatshirt both AA which actually zip together, I got the trackies very reasonable from a shop , I reckon they priced them to move them on as it’s got to be a niche market, the matching top I managed to get heavily discounted but had to wait.
I’ve also got some causal boots with all the ankle and anti crush stuff that Fortnine recommended, I think you could live in this stuff and forget it’s actually protection.
It’s funny one though I’m going down mountains on a road bike in effectively my pants and an micky mouse helmet but probably the same speeds on my quad. 🙁
I'm not super excited about not being able to zip my jeans and jacket together..
Revit do a jeans belt with a zip that attaches to their jackets, may be worth seeing if the manufacturer of your jacket does this sort of thing.
Armour influences the rating. The thin bits of plastic in my AAA jeans would appear to fall some way short of the pre-formed knee armour in my old CE tested kit. My new level 2 RST textile jacket feels far less armoured than my old HG stuff, which was a also a much better fit in terms of keeping the armour where it is meant to be, particularly on the elbows and forearms... Perils of buying online just based on ratings and reviews.
Armour material has moved on a lot in 20 years. My old back protector was a lot thicker and very inflexible. The one in my new jacket is thinner, a lot more comfortable, yet still as highly rated.
I agree about fit, you really need to make sure it sits in the right place for your body.
John Doe jeans are brilliant. I used mine a lot last summer. Added class 2 knees and swapped the hips to class 2. Different height knee pockets are great getting the knee protectors in the right place. Thankfully not came off in them but they look superbly build. Not cheap, but if you get them in the sale they are worth it.
You aren't at the peak of mount stupid, but you definitely haven't yet dropped into the valley of despair... That will inevitably happen when you get back on a bike, and experience some of the roadcraft exhibited by other road users!
To reiterate... I started riding again in 2017. Bought a bike, was incredibly rusty on it for a few days, that went inside a couple of weeks, then started realising just how bad other road users were, just how out of my comfort zone I was in anything other than perfect conditions (which nobody ever experiences on a commute of course!!!), and then started riding more with other riders and seeing just how bad a lot of them were too...
FFWD 9yrs, I now average about 10k miles on a bike per year. A few months back on a bike in 2017, I thought I was a really good rider. 8 1/2 years on, and a LOT of training and experience, I know that my ability now just about matches where I thought I was 8 years ago, yet I am in reality a whole world apart skills and ability wise compared to where I was then, but I also know I still have a lot of room for improvement too... A big part of why I now am training to become an Advanced Observer myself, as the ability to see mistakes in others and coach it out of them, is a real skill to improving your own abilities and awareness too.
This sums up my last couple of years TBH.
The good thing is, you always improve every time you do something new. So once you hit the valley of despair in the dark, on the motorway, when it's raining, and a car you'd not spotted in the mirror buzzes past you in a wake of spray and turbulence and you're convinced you're going to die before the next junction, the only way is up.
The only thing I think you have to be aware of with the textile motorbike stuff is the safety ratings. Personally I don't ride in anything unless it is at least AA rated ( because A rated stuff really isn't suitable in my opinion. I read an article in one of the bike mags when the A,AA,AAA ratings came in and they said that most pairs of normal denim jeans would pass an A rating test). If you want the highest level of protection then the vast majority of the Textile stuff is out (there are a few now that pass the AAA rating test but for years none of them did) so you have to check the labels carefully. As for waterproofing then as some others here have said you are better with a waterproof over layer than relying on the waterproofness of a jacket/trousers.
Slightly unnerving, but heavy jeans will pass AA as well, I just kind of assumed my armoured motorcycle jeans were kevlar, nope they're just AA rated denim. Which is sort-of fine, but next winter I'll probably get some AAA ones with a full kevlar lining, mostly for warmth but some bonus protection.
I ride a Harley though, so aside form the ever present risk of being hit by a car which there's not much I can do about other than polish my riding skills, the risk of sliding down a road is relatively low, or will be at low speeds. So I'm more bothered about having L2 pads than AAA fabric, and not cooking in them at the destination.
Good to hear the views on the V85. I wanted so much to like it but with the missus on the back it just didn't have that 'get out of trouble' shove that my old Bandit 1200 did. Therefore, I recently became a complete cliche and got a 2016 1200GS but I can now see why they're popular.
With 15% more power, the V85TT would be all the bike I’d ever need. For my current use it’s perfect, but if Mrs H wants to get back into touring, I’d probably look at a Tiger 900, which was spectacularly competent when I tested it, but lacked a bit of difference relative to the Guzzi
I’d probably look at a Tiger 900, which was spectacularly competent when I tested it, but lacked a bit of difference relative to the Guzzi
I've had mine from new in 2020 in GT pro flavour. It's a brilliant bike and I can't think of a reason to change it any time soon.
The Tiger was a much better bike than the Guzzi, but Italian V-twin (even though it’s not a 916 or a Mille R!) meant heart won over head
Well, I've now done about 600 miles on my little Bonnie in breaks between the rain. Nice run from Brighton to Poole and back along the back roads (A272) was fun and it was the first sunny day in Feb so loads of bikers out.
Pretty happy with my gear, also bought some RST Jeans (AAA) which are quite chunky with armour but very warm and comfortable - way better than my original 15 year old textiles! Also, if anyone is interested Dainese have an extra 20% at checkout off already discounted prices in their outlet store. I picked up some Blend boots and gloves plus some mtb kit as well.
As for choice of bike, pretty happy - super easy to ride and sounds nice when you roll off the throttle, but really could do with a 6th gear and just a touch more ooompf...... I've decided I'm now deffo a modern classic/ retro cruiser guy. Once I got my riding legs back I did go for a quick ride on a 2021 Triumph Tiger 900 but really didn't like either the looks or the riding position (though it was very nippy and the brakes were unbelievable) so I'm glad I didn't succumb to the 'everyone buys adventure bikes now' philosophy.
Must admit I'm eyeing up a T120 or a Speedmaster now.......
Potholes are literally everywhere.
