New Kit - Where to begin?

[PIGGLET]

What are you saying?

Ignore Bill he hasn't got a clue

Things to check:

1. Did Charlie & Ewan use it?
2. Does it have a BWM badge on it
3. Can you pay more for it if you order it from Touratech?
4. Does it colour coordinate with your bike?
5. Will you look good?
6. Does it make you feel like a gnarly off road Dakar God?

If you answer yes to all of the above then buy it and enjoy the experience

Yeh thats the other popular school of thinking

 

[WAREGS]

hmmnn being of the Internet generation this will be hard for me, although under long distance selling act u have 7 days to try a product and return if its not suitable.......cooling off period i belicve its called...

 

[PIGGLET]

I know it's a ball ache but you'll be much better off actually going into a few shops and trying kit on, especially if you're new to riding and are unsure what you're looking for, especially with helmets.

 

[WAREGS]

i guess.....

i think your definately right on the helmet, but for clothes and accessories i would always shop through the net, having said that i have trade accounts for Garmin, Pacsafe and Burotn McCall so not to worried about pricing on these!

 

[Fruitcake]

having passed my test in Feb and picked up my shiny GS in May - I've also been sorting out my kit. Luckily I'd bought good stuff when i decided to become a pillion. You might want to think about buying 'coordinated' top and bottoms so's they zip together. i didn't but that's cos I bought 2 different brands to get stuff that fitted.

I ended up replacing all my thermals tho cos it was chuffin cold on the bike in jan/feb - I got icebreaker merinoin different thicknesses and would seriously recomend them.
I also got silk gloves and socks to use as liners!! And ended up wearing ski socks to keep my tootsies warm. Oh and I also upgraded my buff to a fleecy buff!

Don't get me wrong - the outer gear I got is great - Hein Gericke goretex breeks and boots - both waterproof and a Frank Thomas jacket - also v waterproof. breeks and jacket have lots of protection and have removable liners which is great for the summer.

I've still to solve the decent gloves issue. My heated grips are tops but i dont understand why motorbike glove makers can't come up with waterproof ones with removeable liners like those who made snowsports / mountaineering ones. How long does it take to get your cold damp hands back into a pair of soggy gloves where the liners dont come out fully but are not attached at the end of the fingers

Good luck with your test

 

[Fanum]

You might want to think about buying 'coordinated' top and bottoms so's they zip together. i didn't but that's cos I bought 2 different brands to get stuff that fitted.

I can't remember where, but I'm pretty sure there's a company who does Zip interfaces so you can match up the zips of different makes of jackets/trews.
I think you just tell them what the two makes are and the models and they knock up a thin strip of slightly stretchy material with the correct two zips on to make it all match up

I've still to solve the decent gloves issue. My heated grips are tops but i dont understand why motorbike glove makers can't come up with waterproof ones with removeable liners like those who made snowsports / mountaineering ones. How long does it take to get your cold damp hands back into a pair of soggy gloves where the liners dont come out fully but are not attached at the end of the fingers

Summer gloves and muffs

 

[Steve the Kiwi]

I brought all of my kit over a space of 4-5 months. Having a real good look around trying plenty of different brands of clothing and helmets on etc. And then waited for the right prices to come around. I nabbed a brilliant Rukka Steel gore-tex Jacket for 160 GBP new from a German shop on ebay (they pulled the add in the morning so i think it was a cockup) good summer gloves out of a bargain bin etc etc only thing i paid full price for was a pair of HG Rallye goretex boots (same manf. as BMW Savannah but 150eur less) These are the dog's low bits! good overlap with yer trou in the wet and wind, so comfy half the time i don't take them off when i get to the office.
+++1 for Icebreaker as well i used under my dry suit diving, skiing climbing and under bike jacket. Don't be tempted by cheaper stuff.

I agree on the internet buy thing but as the others have said try it on in the flesh! I found pants a right sod to find something that fitted well ON A BIKE - jump on one in the shop to see how the Armour on the knees feel? how long are the legs? does it feel comfy around the gut when sitting etc etc. Also look to see if there are any motorbike shows coming up. good time to see a bit of everything at once and some good prices.

Like getting into anything new, there's a chance that you'll buy something that after a bit of personal experience you'll find it not so suitable for you. But with plenty of reseach and a good look around for reviews ( with a pinch of salt) on here and main stream media you can limit the factor

Good luck!

 

[WAREGS]

Thanks for all the replies,

good question actually, are there any bike shows coming up?

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Hmmmmmmm, I was perhaps thinking that this may have included more comments about how good or bad the new Givi lid is?

 

[WAREGS]

has any one got a Shoei Hornet DS? what are they like?

 

[Stujw70]

Good luck with your search, a few reasonable places around where you live

Bike stop in Old Stevenage is very good, they do Rukka & Dainese kit

Hideout in Royston do Harlvessons plus others

Over in Luton you will find a Hein Gericke store with a reasonable choice of kit.

 

[WAREGS]

Stu, where abouts is the Hein Gericke Shop in Luton?

 

[Deleted Member I]

Ignore Bill (Fanum) he doesn't know what he is talking about ..

This is what you need:

Like this ...

Arai Tour-x - Plain colours
BWM Rallye 2 Pro Suit
BMW Rallye Boots
BMW Rallye gloves


Or like this ..

Again ... Arai Tour-x - LWD colours (this must be the best .. they used it TWICE)
Belstaff limited edition LWD suit
Alpinestar boots
Alpinestar gloves


These guys are the epitome of hardcore .. they went round the world unsupported TWICE and the kit stayed in one piece throughout. They used it in hot , cold , dry and wet conditions and it never failed them. AND THEY STILL LOOK GREAT AT THE END OF THE DAY!!

More can be said of our Bill

Aerostich .. which famous person ever wore that!

 

[Stujw70]

Stu, where abouts is the Hein Gericke Shop in Luton?

Just down the road from PC World if you know where that is

326 Dunstable Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 8JS

Make sure you ask for Charley, she's a damb site better to deal with than the fella's that work at the store

 

[WAREGS]

sounds good

 

[Steptoe]

For winter - heated under jacket with thermostate and muffs ( no need for winter gloves).
And a shitebag ( gaucho) for icy freezing conditions ( still with muffs and summer gloves, just turn up the heated grips another notch) .

So you can use the same riding gear for summer and winter. Just turn the heating on for winter.

 

[steveb]

I have to say that the one piece Aerostich Roadmaster was the best bit of kit I ever bought...

Would wholly recommend it...

Steve

 

[theEnglishman]

Halvarssons Safety here - Jacket and Trousers. http://www.jofama.se/motorcycle_wear/products.php?lang=2&cid=5
- cool in the summer and very warm in the winter. You won't need mega gloves for the winter so long as you have heated grips.

Altberg boots - British made and as good as it gets. http://www.altberg.co.uk/Web/motorcycle1.jsp

Look in RiDE magazine for what they think is the 'Recommended' stuff - it takes a bit of the hassle out of wondering if the latest £££ bit of kit you got is actually any good.

 

[davycov]

scott usa goretex jacket

I recently got a new scott stavenger gore tex jacket off e-bay for just over £100, seems like good quality and I've remained dry to date.

 

[Bazza]

Hi Mate.
You will most probably be baffled with the amount of gear recommended on here, some buy the cheaper end, some buy the expensive end. But its a mine field the amount out there.
Me personally am a fussy git, and Went the BMW way... i got the streetgaurd2 jacket and pants, and now coming upto the 3rd year in october, Im very impressed . used ALL year every week day and most weekends, and in cumbria (pisses down a lot). And has never let in. cool in summer and with the zip in liner ... not too bad in winter. And still looks brand new. Also with the goretex xcr laminated on the 'outside' of the jacket, the fabric doesnt soak up the rain and take ages to dry out.

Helmets, ive had a bmw series 5.... was nice and plush....but have bought a schuberth s1 pro. ....rolls royce of helmets. build quality in my opinion is second to non.... makes a arai feel like a bucket. and the quietest helmet out there!!!!

Heated jackets are nice for long spins out in winter, i have the exo2 which is in its 2nd year and is very very nice. Nothing like cruising in the rain and cold nice and cosy warm and dry with some music playing through your autocom.........


if you decide on bm kit. should be able to get a discount when you pick up your bike!!

Thats my opinion anyhow...... good luck and take care on that monster of a bike your getting..... HIDs would be a good start.