What gear are you motorcycle guys wearing?

[McLovin]

I've gotten back into m/c, it looks like I'll be doing it for a while.

I've been riding since I was 16. I've never been a shorts and tee shirt type rider, but also not a full leather race suit guy, either. Usually in between - decent textile armored jacket, gloves, jeans, etc.

Maybe it's my advancing age, but I'm feeling a little more vulnerable on the street. I'd like to up the protection level, particularly with the pants.

My riding is all light city riding/commuting. Little to no highway. I rarely get over 60 mph, but I'm around a lot of cars.

I'm thinking that leather gives the best protection (would make me feel the safest), but in some ways it seems a little over the top for my light daily commuting (my commute is usually 5 miles or less).

Something that could be worn over suit pants would be great, but does that highly compromise protection?

[Noah930]

Aerostich. Their Roadcrafter suit looks a bit geeky, and it's not cheap at all. But it's easy to get into/out of, fits over street clothes, it's protective, it's near waterproof, and it's comfortable. I don't have the Roadcrafter suit, but I bought a pair of Darien pants about 10 years ago and they're still my primary motorcycling overpant.

I always have a leather jacket up top. Pick a decent quality brand, so you have confidence the seams aren't going to pop when you go sliding down the road. For hot days I have a perforated leather jacket. Still the protection of leather, but once underway it feels very breezy. I prefer that to the mesh jackets of questionable abrasion resistance. I think textile jackets are OK, but not so much the mesh ones.

[trader220]

Like you I have been riding since my teens. I was off a bike for about 6 years and then summer of 2011 I picked up a Ducati ST4 for some fun, some touring and mostly commuting. I have a couple of textile jackets with full armor and back plate. One of them is mesh textile so it breaths well in the summer. I also have two pairs of textile pants with full CE rated armor, again one has a lot of mesh so they breathe well.

I keep work cloths hanging at work and extra shoes at work too. Lots of days I'll fold up my work stuff and take em with me.

I have a couple of Joe Rocket products and some Revit stuff, both are excellent. My neighbor works for Revzilla which is one of the best of not the best on line outlet for riding gear. Makes it pretty simple to order since he can bring it home and back if it does not fit. They do ez free returns too its just quicker since he lives near by.

Like an idiot I used to ride in jeans and T’s. Back when PA abolished the helmet law I actually rode for a while with no lid. Now I won’t get on my bike without all the gear. ATGATT.

Too many cell phone users and worse too many texting.

Ride Safe!

[nostatic]

Rev'it. Dennis is a great guy who will take care of you

Motorcycle Gear and accessories | BEACH MOTO

[Teutonics]

After several tries, I finally found a pair of mesh armored over pants that I really like. I pull them over my khakis for my commute to work. Standard fare mesh or leather jacket depending on the temps.

[varmint]

Arai helmet
Knox spine protector
Sidi boots
Icon forearm guards
I go through gloves pretty fast. The kangaroo leather was an expensive disappointment. Currently have a Honda branded pair with a sort of visor wiper built into the left thumb.
Good scarf to protect the neck from bugs
Heine gericke jacket
Ear plugs

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by varmint

I go through gloves pretty fast. The kangaroo leather was an expensive disappointment. Currently have a Honda branded pair with a sort of visor wiper built into the left thumb.

I've been using a pair of Held gloves for the past few years. They've been comfortable and durable. No stitching coming undone. No significant/unusual wear on the leathers. Kangaroo palms.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by varmint

Arai helmet
Knox spine protector
Sidi boots
Icon forearm guards
I go through gloves pretty fast. The kangaroo leather was an expensive disappointment. Currently have a Honda branded pair with a sort of visor wiper built into the left thumb.
Good scarf to protect the neck from bugs
Heine gericke jacket
Ear plugs

You're going to get a ticket for riding with no pants!

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I'm thinking that leather gives the best protection (would make me feel the safest), but in some ways it seems a little over the top for my light daily commuting (my commute is usually 5 miles or less).
Something that could be worn over suit pants would be great, but does that highly compromise protection?

I have a short commute myself, normally wear either a Vanson or Hein Gericke leather most of the year. Have a couple of different textile jackets for when it gets hot or for a day of gravel roads.
A few years ago I finally sprung for a good set of rain gear, should have done it long ago.
I think the Gerbings heated jacket was the best christmas present I ever received.
The boss (me) lets me wear jeans at work so that's what I usually ride in, unless it's cold or rainy.
And of course half a dozen different gloves (only one helmet at a time though).
Jim

[Rick Lee]

Sidi boots (air something or other)
Shoei Quest helmet
First Gear mesh jacket in summer
Olympia Air Glide mesh pants in summer
First Gear Tex Mesh gloves
Tourmaster pants in winter
Olympia AST 3/4 length jacket in winter

Last fall in UT at 9k ft.


Last week in Carlsbad, CA

[froggert]

it's been a while since i've ridden to work, but i would wear an arai helmet, aerostich roadcrafter (in hi-viz yellow!), forcefield t-pro back protector, sidi boots and alpinestars gp pro gloves. basically the same gear i would wear on the track except substituting the 'stich in place of 1-piece leathers.

the high visibility gear works really well at getting you noticed. light colored helmets help, too.

[exc911ence]

Joe Rocket leather pants and jacket when it's cool, Joe Rocket textile jacket and ICON kevlar reinforced jeans when it's hot.

Alternate through a selection of helmets depending on what gear I'm wearing... Scorpion, Shoei, Bell and an HJC. Some have better airflow for warmer days, others are quieter, and of course they have to coordinate with the colour of my jacket!

Have two pairs of Alpinestars boots. tall MX5s and low-cut Range.

ICON shorty gloves or Joe Rocket insulated gloves again, weather dependant.

ATTGATT! All The Gear, All The Time.

[jwasbury]

Aerostich Roadcrafter 1 piece in Hi-Viz yellow for street. Also have a Ku****ani one piece leather suit for track. Always an Arai helmet.

geeze, the name of the leather suit was censored...its Kush i tani. Very high quality stuff from Hamamatsu Japan.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Aerostich. Their Roadcrafter suit looks a bit geeky, and it's not cheap at all. But it's easy to get into/out of, fits over street clothes, it's protective, it's near waterproof, and it's comfortable. I don't have the Roadcrafter suit, but I bought a pair of Darien pants about 10 years ago and they're still my primary motorcycling overpant.

I always have a leather jacket up top. Pick a decent quality brand, so you have confidence the seams aren't going to pop when you go sliding down the road. For hot days I have a perforated leather jacket. Still the protection of leather, but once underway it feels very breezy. I prefer that to the mesh jackets of questionable abrasion resistance. I think textile jackets are OK, but not so much the mesh ones.

this..AEROSTITCH..you're older and wiser..and hopefully better paid..so get this suit.

they have been around forever..i could never afford one when i rode regularly. heck i couldnt afford a car..which is why i rode regularly. i'll get one with my next bike.

[vash]

hahhahah..

profanity filter..caught ku****ani!!...ahhahah

that company also has been around forever. they used to raise their own cattle so they could control the quality of the leather.

i would go, Vanson, if i wanted leather.

[creaturecat]

Aerostich has fantastic customer service, as well.
Darien Jacket, Darien pants, here.
For riding the dual sport - a super tenere.

[Steve Carlton]

I agree the Roadcrafter is the gold standard in this situation. They say you can slide down the highway at 100mph and it won't go through. Mine was barely scratched when I went down at 40mph. In/out in about 10 seconds with your street clothes underneath. I've had mine 12 years now, and it's in great shape, a little faded, and I had to have some zippers and velcro replaced. The Roadcrafter is not meant to be warm. It's only hot in there when you're sitting still. The Darien has a cold weather version.

Jeans wear through in 10 feet on pavement...

When you call them up, it's like talking to a character from Fargo. They will send you a suit and you sit on your bike and figure out how much longer or shorter the sleeves and pant legs should be and they make a custom suit.

You should have motorcycle-specific boots that won't come off in a crash. I like Frey Daytona boots and Sidis as well. Helimot makes great stuff. I think I'm going to get some gloves from them soon. Lots of flaky stuff out there, and I think you get what you pay for. Get a new helmet. It's no myth that they lose their mojo over 5 years or so. I just got a Schuberth S1 and love it.

[creaturecat]

big, big budget? Rukka is the one.

[Brando]

I wear an Icon Timax jacket (textile) Dianese leather glives with knuckle guards, alpinestars denim riding pants with CE armor inserts. For wet weather I have alpinestars waterproof textile pants and a liner for my jacket and alpinestars insulated gloves with a generic balaclava. Great for almost any season.

I just need some open mesh with armor gear for summertime.

[Bowling]

No mesh here.
Teknic suits for the track
Vanson leather for street
Held global oves
Sidi boots
AGV helmets
Knox and Spidi armor