flymymbz
Dee G
Is this the evaporative vest? http://www.ridecool.com/catalog_EvapVests.htm#sport
And newenough didnt have my size
That's the one! It won't hurt to get one a size or so bigger, but don't get one smaller.
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Riding gear suggestions for newbies
- Thread starter twins4life
- Start date
That's the one! It won't hurt to get one a size or so bigger, but don't get one smaller.
twins4life
New member
Final report:
His:
First Gear mesh jacket (for short trips) and Air Pants, evaporative vest, Oliympia mesh summer gloves (gel) and winter leather gloves. And a Olympia vomit green mesh jacket (for longer / winter rides)
Hers:
Olympia vomit green mesh jacket, mesh summer pants, gloves.
Killed a $1000
Thanks for all the sugestions!
His:
First Gear mesh jacket (for short trips) and Air Pants, evaporative vest, Oliympia mesh summer gloves (gel) and winter leather gloves. And a Olympia vomit green mesh jacket (for longer / winter rides)
Hers:
Olympia vomit green mesh jacket, mesh summer pants, gloves.
Killed a $1000
Thanks for all the sugestions!
Last edited:
ultracyclist
New member
riding gear
I have First Gear Armoured mesh pants and jacket.
They work fine. I went down wearing this gear, and it took much punishment because of the multiple padded layers.
This "bamboo" gear is new to me. I am going to check it out.
I have First Gear Armoured mesh pants and jacket.
They work fine. I went down wearing this gear, and it took much punishment because of the multiple padded layers.
This "bamboo" gear is new to me. I am going to check it out.
The soaking vests can be tricky. You have to have adequate water before you start out to soak them ( A sink or tub), plus they take a good twenty minutes to a half hour to become full. The down side? Head out across a dry dessart in high heat and they will eventually dry out leaving you with a thick piece of fabric doing nothing but blocking the air between you and your mesh jacket. They can work, but there is a limitation. Great for a few hour day ride from home, but a long run in super hot temps and they dry out beyond their good use.
One alternative and a whole lot cheaper are the neck collars and wrist bands from Polar Products. http://www.polar-products.com/index.php
These will last 24 hours after a morning soak and they don't absorb perspiration so they're not prone to mildew. You can remove them on the fly and place them in your pocket or tank bag when the temperature outside drops.
These cool the blood at the skin surface to help reduce your core temperature.
One of my favorite items for long days in high heat.
One alternative and a whole lot cheaper are the neck collars and wrist bands from Polar Products. http://www.polar-products.com/index.php
These will last 24 hours after a morning soak and they don't absorb perspiration so they're not prone to mildew. You can remove them on the fly and place them in your pocket or tank bag when the temperature outside drops.
These cool the blood at the skin surface to help reduce your core temperature.
One of my favorite items for long days in high heat.
Another vote for the Motoport gear. I bought several pieces of gear before I discovered their site. The site itself is not state of the art ( in fact is is poor) but the gear is. First look at the save your hide link, top right of the site & read about different materials used in mesh gear. Most of the gear out there is dangerous.
derost
beemerFROG
Olympia AST!
When you are looking at gear, be sure to compare single vs. double stitch; denier (sp?) amount on the "rubbing-down-the-road" areas; water-proof exterior vs. water-proof liner. Just be thinking about what level of constuction you want between fabric panels when (not if) you take a spill. Don't compromise fashion for something that will tear apart when you need it, it's not worth it. Just ask anyone who wears the HiViz Olympia stuff...no fashion there!
By the by...anyone know if they plan on a THIRD colour choice?
When you are looking at gear, be sure to compare single vs. double stitch; denier (sp?) amount on the "rubbing-down-the-road" areas; water-proof exterior vs. water-proof liner. Just be thinking about what level of constuction you want between fabric panels when (not if) you take a spill. Don't compromise fashion for something that will tear apart when you need it, it's not worth it. Just ask anyone who wears the HiViz Olympia stuff...no fashion there!
By the by...anyone know if they plan on a THIRD colour choice?
bmwdean
BMW MOA co-founder
Be sure to buy and wear a full-face helmet. 35% of crashes occur in the chin bar area. No chin bar? No chin:
http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/swisher.htm
And get a WHITE helmet:
http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/white-helmets.htm
Down south, white also reflects reflects heat better than any other color.
http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/swisher.htm
And get a WHITE helmet:
http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/white-helmets.htm
Down south, white also reflects reflects heat better than any other color.
twins4life
New member
Cool! Thats good info! Makes me glad we both bought the Olympia electric-vomit green jackets. And I had already decided on a full face Arai WHITE helmet too...
derost
beemerFROG
During a seminar at the National someone asked about the colour of the helmet and the heat it creates...some guy who "sounded" very smart and used "scientific" terms (so it must be true!) said that for every 35-40 degree cgange on the outside of a helemt there is only a 1 degree change on the inside. So, colour does'nt matter for helemts and heat. Like I said, it's just what I heard.
twins4life
New member
Interesting. I have black and white (not full face) helmets, I set them in the sun one afternoon and the black helmet was WAY hotter inside then the white one.
sachiwilson
New member
I have a multicolored, mostly black, Arai helmet and I notice no difference in heat from that and my previous yellow Arai.
I concur that it is a good idea to look for gear that shows up, but I couldn't find a new yellow Arai! Or a red one in my size either. So I got the patterned one.
I concur that it is a good idea to look for gear that shows up, but I couldn't find a new yellow Arai! Or a red one in my size either. So I got the patterned one.
beeryboats
New member
WOW! Has this been a great post to read for a newby like me. I'm still waiting for my RT to arrive, but I'm shopping for gear and a helmet like crazy. My helmet went with the Harley I sold. I always thought that Aerostitch was the best. But it sounds like everyone loves the less expensive Olympia gear. I'm still leaning toward the Nolan N-102 Ncom helmet. I get so hot here in Indy at lights and in traffic that the modular helmet looks like a life saver.
sachiwilson
New member
Beery, *leather* is the best protection, period. (In hot weather, look for perforated leather.) No textile can match it for protection, no matter how much CE armor is installed, because when you slide the fabric will melt away. Leather will not.
I have used a Stich and it's great, but I only used it in the wet and cool northwest. I don't have any experience with it in heat. I haven't used any other fabric gear so I can't compare it, but I'll just say that I wear leather EVERYwhere, including in temps well over 110??. I'm fine, as long as I keep drinking water.
I have used a Stich and it's great, but I only used it in the wet and cool northwest. I don't have any experience with it in heat. I haven't used any other fabric gear so I can't compare it, but I'll just say that I wear leather EVERYwhere, including in temps well over 110??. I'm fine, as long as I keep drinking water.
5
535IS
Guest
I look at the helmet color issue this way.
When it's cold, it is rarely your head that's the problem. Your hands, your legs, maybe your neck, arms, or torso, but your head never seems to be too cold. However, when it's hot, it is your head that's the most critical area. If you get it too hot, you start riding weird and making judgment errors or sweating into your eyes, which is downright dangerous. So from a heat standpoint, white is better.
From a visibility standpoint, there's absolutely no doubt that white is better than most other colors. The exception is that neon yellows, oranges, and greens are more visible in foggy, smoky, or misty conditions. Frankly, I almost never ride in fog, so white is good enough for most weather.
Finally, white matches my bike!
If anyone's interested, there are a bunch of Bell M2000 'Sprint' helmets getting cleared out for about $100 these days. One review said they're loud - and they were right (Who would believe a helmet is quieter open than closed!?). Earplugs are almost mandatory for any significant distance or speed. Still, better than my old HJC 3/4 shell 'cruiser' helmet. I went with the Wicked graphic scheme - in white, of course.
When it's cold, it is rarely your head that's the problem. Your hands, your legs, maybe your neck, arms, or torso, but your head never seems to be too cold. However, when it's hot, it is your head that's the most critical area. If you get it too hot, you start riding weird and making judgment errors or sweating into your eyes, which is downright dangerous. So from a heat standpoint, white is better.
From a visibility standpoint, there's absolutely no doubt that white is better than most other colors. The exception is that neon yellows, oranges, and greens are more visible in foggy, smoky, or misty conditions. Frankly, I almost never ride in fog, so white is good enough for most weather.
Finally, white matches my bike!
If anyone's interested, there are a bunch of Bell M2000 'Sprint' helmets getting cleared out for about $100 these days. One review said they're loud - and they were right (Who would believe a helmet is quieter open than closed!?). Earplugs are almost mandatory for any significant distance or speed. Still, better than my old HJC 3/4 shell 'cruiser' helmet. I went with the Wicked graphic scheme - in white, of course.
twins4life
New member
Proficient Motorcycling pg 35-36 says "competition weight" leather slides 80-100', cotton jeans go about 5', and fabric riding suits w/ armour patches are almost as good as competition weight leather. I looked at leather and actually preferred it over fabric, but I didnt like the "dry clean only" instructions
60MPH = 88 feet covered every second. So even with competition leather, there is no guarantee of keeping your skin.
My fabric riding suit can be washed in the sink ( a necessary thing in hot weather ), how do you clean leather? And how do you know what "competition weight" leather is?
