by photomike666 » Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:25 pm
I don't claim to be an expert of any kind, but I've crashed in expensive and cheap leathers and this is my opinion....
Lid, get the best you can within reason. I got a KBC one 5 years ago and regretted almost at once. I now have a Shoei and love it. AGV are a good cheaper alternative if they fit your head.
My personal preference is leather. I beleive it has better abrasion resistance than any textiles, and no matter how hot it gets, ashphalt doesn't get any less abrasive. I purchased my touring style Rhino two piece suit in 1996, and it's still great despite surviving two crashes (cost $1200, weighs a ton and is warm enough for an English winter - tested). 3 years ago I purchased a cheap two piece suit of ebay, unbranded for $350. It was lightweight, great in summer and aside from a zip breaking was very reliable. The suit held up great until I crashed at broadford raceway. I walked away fine, suit not so good. It did it's job, $350 well spent, but my more expensive suit has survives two of the same in much better condition. I have now just ordered a two piece Rhino race suit, which cost $650 and is great - but I've only ridden in it once. Look for double stitching, double leather layer in high risk impact areas, CE armour and built in back protector. Make sure the sleeves have a zit/pop studs/strap that keeps them tight against you wrist. Not much cop it it slides up your arm and exposes your skin to the road.
Boots are another must, but you don't need to go pricey. I got a pair of Alpine Stars for around $300 and did 65,000km in them. Have crashed in them once, with a nice slide and only lost a toe slider plus a few minor scuffs. A year ago I purchased a pair of Setup boots for $200, really lightweight and comfortable. Was wearing them when I crashed at the track, probably won't wear them again - wore a hole on the right upper. Look for a good sturdy boot with little flex, it'll hold your foot in the right shape should you come unstuck. Remember they need to be comfortable on a bike more than walking around. Zip and Velcro or zip and ski boot buckles are probably the best. Velcro stops sticking when it gets old and can be annoying.
Gloves need to be crash resistant, period. There are a lot of cheap $50 gloves with pretty sewn bits and thin foam pads or thick wooly filling. These are very warm in winter, but I doubt would protect your hands very well in a crash. Look for double stitching, double layer of leather on the palms and fingers. As with jacket sleeves, look for good wrist straps. If you can do the glove up and pull it off it's not right. If it's too thick and you cannot feel the bars and leavers it will affect your riding.
I use a one piece rain suit that pulls over my leathers, smaller two piece suits are available for much less than buying a second set of leathers/textile protective gear. If it's cold add another layer of clothing under the leathers, if it's hot, wear less underneath. You can even get thin cotton gloves that fit under your leather gloves to help keep you warm on colder days.
In the end, you have to fit within a budget, but get the best you can afford. See what your expected KM per year will be and what your expected riding style will be and buy accordingly. No point buying a race suit with knee sliders etc and cruising, but no point getting touring leathers if you plan to be getting your knee down.
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07 ZX10R since new, tracky TBA, KX450F, 87 CR250 restoration, GT MTB - I've got serious thrill issues, dude
