Getting geared up cheaply....

[KAR]

Everyone always complains about how expensive gear is when first starting off. Well here's a great read and how to get fully geared from head to toe under 500$ with all brand new equipment.

http://www.bikebandit.com/community/blog/the-joys-of-learning-to-ride-getting-geared-up?WT.mc_id=2204021

There is also the way of looking for used gear from those that only ride for a short time and then end up selling there stuff. You can also wait for sites to have sales to get even better gear on the cheaper side. I waited and got my leather jacket and pants for under 500$

Click to read more...

 

[KAR]

And from what I have seen over the last two years, bikebandit.com tends to have the cheapest prices on gear.

 

[XxApollynxX]

I <3 bike bandit The way I look at it, is that gear and my skin/life is the only thing possibably stopping from me from death. I bought my first real nice leather jacket at the end of last season I love it, no only with the liner does it keep me warm I know its the best protection I can get.

+1 on bike bandit having THE BEST prices.

 

[KAR]

I look at it like this, it's much cheaper to replace gear then it would be for the hospital bill for road rash on any part of the body. Plus healing time is much much quicker so you can be back up and riding in no time, sometimes just a few minutes after the crash.

 

[Prevent]

fuck bike bandit 100x over.

go with sportbiketrackgear.com pay a tad more, but you get much much better service, not those scum bags who lie to your face.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

well... this just got interesting

 

[XxApollynxX]

Prevent what actual issues have you had? I've been using bike bandit for a while, both ordering online, and calling in when I didn't feel like looking at exploded diagrams to get forks seals part numbers etc. They have never given me wrong information, and have given me honest opinions on alot of their products they offer. Your one of the only people i've seen who don't like them do tell if you don't mind.

Schnitz and Tiger Racing both get my purchases as well.

 

[Prevent]

I bought this visor

http://www.bikebandit.com/icon-standard-full-face-motorcycle-helmet-faceshield

Their site says it fits my helmet, but it does not.


I needed this visor

http://www.bikebandit.com/icon-proshield-full-face-motorcycle-helmet-faceshield

but says "Does not fit icon alliance"

So i bought the Standard shield because it says it fits my helmet while the proshield does not.


I wanted to return the Standard visor for the Proshield and the service rep gave me a huge hassle about how i ordered the wrong one, etc, etc. I told him well your site says it fits my helmet. He told me "no, the icon alliance rubatone helmet is not an alliance helmet" im thinking wtf is this crock of shit? Finally i got him to see that their site is wrong.

In the end i got to return it. All the hassle over a $40 item, ill take my business elsewhere. I'll support a business that doesn't try telling me the finish of a helmet is why a visor didn't fit or that an Icon Alliance Rubatone helmet isn't an Icon Alliance helmet.. *sigh*

 

[KAR]

Well that sucks to hear but I have yet to have any problems with them,yet.

So what are all the sites you use when searching for gear or other bike stuff? You already said the sportbiketrackgear, is there any others?

This way it gives all of us diversity in looking and if places are having sales on stuff.

 

[Prevent]

I only have sportbiketrackgear.com to contribute. I've been pleased with them. Tad more, but they're located in MI so most items arrive to us fast. Also i love their video reviews.

 

[KAR]

Those video reviews are very nice to have, and off the top of my head their pricing isn't bad at all. You say how close they are so even ground shipping is probably like three or four days at most which is also a nice plus. I just might have to go order some new boots/riding shoes and new gloves very soon as they have a sale going on with trying to get rid of the last of their '11 stuff.

 

[Hubbard 0]

I don't care for bikebandit either.

I've ordered from them twice now and both times it takes well over a week to ship my order. In this day and age, with a company that big, it's completely unacceptable.

 

[nick122590]

ive been looking for gear (helmet gloves boots 2 piece suit) since im getting a bike soon and will be racing it. but im 5'5-5'6 160 dont know how shit will fit. anyone know of places you can actually go try shit on? i hate ordering stuff online anyways

 

[Hubbard 0]

Any dealer will have some gear in the store. I boight my helmet, gloves, and jacket at honda northwest in crystal lake. There is the dainese store in schaumburg but that is premium italian gear.

 

[Hubbard 0]

Sportbiketrackgear.com is an awesome site and they will never do you wrong. If you call and talk to them they will tell you your size and they jave a good chance of being tje cheapest prices youll find


Theyre in michigan too, so shipping is decently quick.

 

[Prevent]

I just measured everything first...

So i used the size chart and for the helmet. I measured my head, for the jacket i went by my waist, arm length and chest size as well as gloves.


Everything fits perfect!

M Helmet
M Jacket
S Gloves

 

[Hubbard 0]

Helmwt size is a tricky thing. Its not just s, m l. Some brands are shaped oval or round heads too. So there is no substitute for trying them on. As many brands as possible.

 

[Prevent]

S M L are relative to a unit of measurement, so if you measure correctly and read the manufactures guidelines it shouldn't be as blindly as you are suggesting Hubbard 0, But yes trying on everything is much better than not.

 

[nick122590]

S M L are relative to a unit of measurement, so if you measure correctly and read the manufactures guidelines it shouldn't be as blindly as you are suggesting Hubbard 0, But yes trying on everything is much better than not.

thats the thing the way i am im in between sizes. like 32-34 jeans. med-large shirts. its been a while since ive put a helmet on so who knows lol. even boots/shoes because i have really wide feet. i rather go someone where i can atleast get an idea on how it will fit. especially because im not going to go cheap on gear.

 

[Prevent]

If you watch sportbiketrackgear videos he'll mention something about if you fit between sizes.. For my helmet i was between on the outskirt of M and he mentioned if you're between two sizes get the smaller because the padding will wear in.

Just go into a place and start trying shit on.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

I need some gear... two helmets and two leather or synthetic riding jackets for the lady and I. Any suggestions on brand/style/ anything?

She is only like 5'3" and 110lbs :naughty: so she may actually need a kids jacket.

LMK this riding season is almost here and I want to hit the road with more than just my already-been-in-a-crash helmet (not by me and not a bad one)

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Bump. I'm tired of riding with no gear. Any suggestions on what to buy/stay away from?

 

[KAR]

I love my arai helmet but it's not a budget friendly helmet. Since owning this helmet I won't go to anything else though with its comfort, fit, and weight. They make different shapes for different snapped heads do they are a must try on to find which is the correct fit.

Rest of the gear I will be sticking to alpinestar after recently buying one of their jackets last year. They to like arai aren't budget friendly but both brands are well worth the money in my eyes.


The norm you'll tend to see is hjc helmets a joe rocket gear. That's your average brands that will get the job done but aren't the best high quality stuff.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

I got two Z1R helmets from the website you posted. They had the size/color combo's I wanted and were on clearence for $86 for mine and $89 for the girlfriends. Mine is DOT and SNELL approved which I am happy about, I wish the other one was Snell approved also, but she wont be on the bike nearly as often as I am.

I need a good summer riding jacket or two tho, that's mostly what I could use advice on. I will look into the Joe Rocket stuff now. thanks.

 

[KAR]

If you are looking for pure summer, like above 80 degree weather go with mesh jackets. I have a mesh Joe rocket jacket for this when it gets that hot out as the all leather jacket gets way to hot in anthing above 80. Joe rocket is a good entry level gear to get into wearing protective gear with price for protection.