What would you have done differently buying gear in the beginning?
We all probably did it in the beginning. We made impulsive purchases on our first riding jackets, riding boots, helmets, etc when we first got our bikes because we didn't have a whole lot of money left after buying the bike itself and didn't know what to look for in good gear. It ended up not mattering in the end because we eventually started replacing this stuff with quality gear later on down the line, but still...
Why not impart the lessons you learned from your first time buying experiences onto newer buyers to keep them from making the same mistake?
Here's what I'd do differently if I was a first time gear buyer again.
1. Supporting your local shop is not a bad idea, but understand that you are at the mercy of VERY limited selection and usually absurdly high prices. Most places I've walked into only keep 3 or 4 brands on hand when it comes to jackets--usually Fieldsheer, Alpinestars, Joe Rocket, and Cortech/Tourmaster. If you want anything by any other brand, you'll probably have to have it special ordered which means not being able to see it/try it on before you buy. And there are PLENTY of other brands out there that can give you way more for your money. This is ESPECIALLY true of helmets because it seems like the only affordable helmets local shops keep on hand are HJC. Walk into any place and it's always the same. You have HJC, and you have the premium brands (Shoei, Arai, etc) and not much else. There are plenty of affordable helmet brands out there that gives you WAAAAAAY more quality for your money than an HJC. Unless you have a body type that demands a specific fit and you absolutely NEED to try stuff on before you buy it to ensure a perfect fit, don't be afraid to order something off a website, site unseen. You'll save money in the long run and the selection is unparalleled by anything you'll find at a local shop. And if you do buy from your local dealer, don't look it up when you get home. You'll cry when you see how much you overpaid by. I paid nearly $200 for my first riding jacket from a local dealer only to find out that it sells for $130 online and I could have gotten it in a wider selection of colors than I was aware of.
2. Textile jackets are great. Don't be pushed into buying leather because it offers more protection. Yes, it does, but textile jackets have a lot of advantages over leather as well that may outweigh the added safety of leather for your given situation, especially if you are value conscious and plan on riding in varying weather conditions. Buying a textile jacket will save you money over leather while getting you a jacket that can carry you through 40 degree weather all the way up to 90 degree weather while being waterproof. No lie.
3. When it comes to riding boots, you may be tempted to buy ones that are low-cut and are styled like street shoes (ICON, this means you). Seems like a good idea in theory, sure, but just be careful you're not sacrificing ANKLE PROTECTION, which a lot of boots of this style do. Ankle protection is a MUST especially for the new rider as new riders are prone to dropping their bikes in the event of a panic stop/emergency stop. The way boots with strong ankle protection support you can actually prevent this. Go on, ask me how I know...
4. There are certain brands that are known for making EXTREMELY high quality products at astonishingly low price points. These brands are your best friend as a new rider shopping for gear on a budget. These brands include: Teknic, Speed & Strength, Fieldsheer, Cortech/Tourmaster, Scorpion, Power Trip, and even ICON sells a few jackets in the under $200 price bracket that are just amazing for the price point. Unfortunately most of these brands aren't typically sold by local shops so you'll have to order online.
5. Joe Rocket and HJC--beware these brands. Almost every new rider starts out with a Joe Rocket jacket and an HJC helmet because they're usually the cheapest items readily available at the local shop. They're known for producing substandard products even at this price point that don't hold up over time. Joe Rocket in particular is known for quality control issues except in their higher end models (which is why the founders abandoned the company a couple years ago to start out fresh with Speed & Strength--they wanted to put JR's bad reputation behind them). HJC helmets are known for changing size as they break in, going up a full size or even more. I had it happen to me. My CL-15 fit like perfect when brand new, but after about 6 months of ownership it fit me like it was two sizes too large.
6. Take every product review you've heard from other riders (including me and the stuff I have written here) with a grain of salt. There are plenty of people who have good buying experiences even with some of the notoriously bad brands and you may be lucky enough to be one of them. And there may also be that one guy who happened to get the one bad jacket/helmet in the batch of 1000. Don't pay much mind to it when you hear a negative or glowing review from one person. But when a bunch of people start making the same complaint/giving the same glowing reviews, THEN it starts to become something you should listen to.
7. Gloves you need to be especially picky about the sizing of. Two brands never fit the same and they need to fit your hands PERFECTLY. Try before you buy and don't be afraid to plunk down the extra $10-$20 on a decent pair of gloves that your dealer charges over buying online. Gloves are the one area where I ignore my "buy online because the dealer will rip you off" policy.
8. When buying riding pants (unless they're track-style pants that are snug and have full GP armor), whether or not it has armor in it is NOT A CONCERN as you WILL be removing the armor that comes with it and wearing proper leg guards such as Knox or Icon underneath. The riding armor that comes built into street riding pants is usually useless as it moves around inside the pant leg, which can cause more problems than it helps.
Add more to this list =)
So far I've been fairly happy
So far I've been fairly happy with the gear I have purchased.
I got most of my stuff from New Enough as the prices were good and the selection excellent.
My Tourmaster Transition 2 jacket and Caliber pants fit well and seem to be high quality with alot of useful features. I was looking for specific features like a water proof Hi-Vis jacket good to 90F and overpants in long lengths so the local shop was not likely to be much use.
I got two pairs of gloves. The entry level race gloves are good quality and seem to provide decent protection and I got them at a big discount. I also got my Alpinestar waterproof gloves at a discount but I am much less impressed with them. They are only slightly warmer than the unlined leather gloves and seem to offer much less protection. I will replace them with better cold and wet weather gloves at some point.
The boots I bought were cheap (~$100) but seem decent. I will upgrade here at some point but it seems good boots are very expensive and these are not bad.
I did get the cheap HJC helmet from a local store. So far it fits well and seems to work well also. Fogging was a problem initially but I got a pinlock shield and breath mask for it and it is no longer a problem. We will see if long term the fit changes.
My only recommendation is buy the best you can afford. If you go cheap you are more likely to want to replace it with better soon.
Craig
done differently? hmmm...
Ladies, when trying on jackets, make sure you crouch over into your riding position and look in the mirror. Don't just stand up straight and admire the short jacket you pulled off the hanger like I did. Sure, it's really cute, (**cough, SAFE, I meant to say SAFE**), but just make sure you're not going to be showing the world things you might not want exposed.
I am now the owner of 2 jackets, one is longer in the back to provide a little modesty. And the other is cropped at waist length and requires an undershirt be carefully tucked into pants to avoid a "wardrobe malfunction."
LOL!!!! Good advice
LOL!!!! Good advice definitely!
I didn't even think of that!
I didn't even think of that! That's good advice. Very, very good.
When I first started riding
When I first started riding this was the gear I bought:
HJC CL-15 helmet - paid $130 for it, even though online retailers were selling them for under $100. After roughly 6 months of owning it and breaking it in, the liner padding broke down to the point where the helmet that was snug on me now bounced around on my head.
Joe Rocket Atomic 3.0 Textile jacket - great ventilation, great fit, poor stitching, poor zippers. Paid $185 for it even though online retailers were selling them for $130. I about cried when I found out I overpaid by that much for it.
River Road leather gloves - aimed at the cruiser rider. was a mistake to buy. didn't suit my needs in the end, sacrificed too much protection for style.
Tourmaster Solution WP boots - overall good, and great for the money, but they seem to run narrow so those of you who have wider feet like myself will need to go up one full size if not more to be able to accomodate the width of your foot. Also, no toe protection.
Over time I eventually replaced all of it (but the boots-I still wear them when the weather calls for a possibility of rain as they are waterproof)
I now own:
HELMETS --
Shark RSR2
Shark RSi
Scorpion EXO-400 (my favorite to wear despite being the cheapest because it fits my head shape the best)
JACKETS --
Scorpion All-In leather jacket (traditional black leather jacket, good for cold/cool weather riding)
Scorpion Stinger leather jacket (sport-styled full perf leather jacket, good for hot weather)
Teknic Freestyle waterproof textile jacket (cool looks, quality construction, but design features don't work as well in practice as they do on paper--definitely getting replaced soon)
GLOVES --
Alpinestars Apex Drystar gloves (foul weather full gauntlet gloves-- decent but not as protective as i would like. confirmed waterproof. not as good in cold weather as i would have first thought but definitely works)
Speed & Strength Moment of Truth SP Short gloves (hot weather short gloves that are a combination of mesh and leather with knuckle protection--fits my hand perfectly, love them)
BOOTS -
Tourmaster Solution WP boots (waterproof, full length, full leather--no ventilation so your feet roast in the heat, no adjustability so better hope they fit as-is, and no toe protection. good overall boots for the money but you'll find better if you're willing to spend more.)
ICON Field Armor boots--GREAT!!!!! PERFECT RIDING BOOTS especially for HOT WEATHER!!!! only thing was the break-in process was EXTREMELY painful. 2 days of hell while wearing these boots but once they broke in, PERFECT FIT, SUPER COMFORTABLE. And INSANELY PROTECTIVE.
PANTS -
Tourmaster HT II Mesh Overpants (great for what they are--mesh overpants with reinforced ballistic nylon in impact zones, soft foam armor in hips and knees, adjustable waist that has a good 6" of adjustment or so, and a removable waterproof and windproof liner. GREAT for what they are.)
MISCELLANEOUS -
ICON Field Armor Leg Guards (not a fan. no adjustability for size although they say otherwise, and gets in the way of wearing full length boots with them. can't wear my tourmasters with them.)
Knox Cross Knee Leg Guards (AWESOME!! Bought these to replace my ICON Field Armor Leg Guards and much happier with them. higher quality, more comfortable, comfy enough to wear all day)
Can't say I would have done
Can't say I would have done anything differently. I bought most of my stuff at the local Honda store and was very, very happy with the service provided. Not knowing much of anything at that time I was glad to have knowledgeable people to speak with. I did end up getting my jacket and gloves online as the store did not have my size in stock and was unable to order up replacements in a timely fashion.
Sizing of all gear is important but I would say helmet sizing is the most critical and probably the hardest one to judge. How many people know if they have oval or round heads before getting into this? Therefore I would recommend buying your first helmet from a local store where you get to try it on and hopefully have a knowledgeable sales rep to talk with.
I disagree with the "dealer will rip you off" mentality. There is simply no way a local store can compete on price with a big box store out in the boonies that ships volume across the country. A local store will have higher taxes, lower volume and is expected to have knowledgeable staff. A lot of them also support your local MSF classes (at least round here they do). Yes, it will cost a lot more from your pocket but that does not mean the dealer is making a killing. Sometimes it is worth paying the price to get personal service close to your home, and when you are starting out, that might be the best time to cough up.
So would you say paying
So would you say paying nearly $200 for a basic textile jacket that costs $130 online is not unreasonable?
Depends. The local stores
Depends. The local stores overhead is going to be the same whether they are selling $130 jackets or $400 jackets but a $70 markup might seem livable with one but outrageous on the other. It also depends on taxes (was that $200 after or before tax?).
For example: my pants cost $400 on Motorcycle Superstore with zero tax. At my local store they were $420 but after tax it was closer to $460. I ended up paying $60 more than if I bought online but the store only got an extra $20, more than fair considering they had staff helping me out.
I'm not saying buy local over online all the time. It's a personal choice and I do both depending on what I am buying. My experience has been the local shops are run by enthusiasts and you get fantastic service. I'm sure there are plenty of rip off merchants out there but the same applies to online stores. I would hate to see the local shops disappear though. After 60 years in business that Honda store shut down and now my options are less. That store supported my MSF class and gave me a 20% discount on gear for taking the class. They also talked me out of replacing my helmet later when there was no need. I would gladly pay extra to support a place like that.
Agreed
I've purchased a ton of gear online, both because a lot of the gear I WANT isn't available locally (like you said WeaponZero), but also because I've been suckered into falling for too many Sportbike Track Gear clearance sales to count.
BUT, I've also purchased a lot of gear locally and wholly support Eon's argument in favor of buying locally. I'm close to the guys at the local Suzuki dealership, having purchased two bikes, two full exhaust systems, a ton of parts, and a bunch of gear from their establishment. They're great guys, and based on a few products I bought where I knew what the cost to the dealer was, I know the deals they give me are perfectly fair given the economy and their struggling business. Still, their "deal" prices can be higher than the normal prices on STG. Yet I go in there not to buy something I've seen a picture of, but rather to try things on, talk to the guys behind the counter, spend hours with them looking through catalogs for the best value in a 3rd party pair of front brake rotors, etc. Yes, they have worse selection. Yes, they have higher prices, but the pricing is usually the result of operating at much lower volume (which means their distributors sell to them at higher cost).
Here's the catch: doing it the Amazon way (to use the extreme example of online mass-sale) is always cheaper for everybody involved. They don't need sales clerks or specialists to answer your questions. They don't need to worry about ordering too many different products in case they don't all sell. They deal in such high volume in such a variety of products, that they can be incredibly cost efficient in distribution and storage, and they can set their prices such that they lose money on some things in order to draw customers in to buy the profitable things. Did you know that a huge portion of the products Amazon sells are at a loss? Copies of the last Harry Potter book were pre-sold at a HUGE loss just to attract new customers and further brand loyalty with existing customers. Big online stores don't play by the same rules that small mom and pop stores do, and it's a big mistake to think that, because you got a jacket for $130 online, that $200 was an unreasonable price at your dealer. It could be, but I don't know that it is. They have to eat, after all.
But just because it's financially cheaper, don't think that you aren't sacrificing something. Amazon only works when you know exactly what you want. The problem with the Amazon approach is that it messes you up when you actually need the person-to-person interaction, the ability to see before you buy, and help finding out what product will be right for you. There are plenty of occasions when I don't need that, but to ever have the option when I do, I feel I have to do my part to keep deserving local businesses alive.People wonder where customer service went, but they don't need to wonder. Customer service is gone because people voted with their wallets in favor of cheap products over good service. Companies listened.
Amen!
I work in sales. I have customers come in and use my expertise every week who then think they are outsmarting me by purchasing from a warehouse online.
I still shop online for convenience myself, and competition is the key to capitalism, but there are two more dark implications involved in NOT supporting your local businesses,that you didn't touch on.
1. You are hurting your local economy by not keeping dollars circulating in your area.
2. You are hurting your local economy by not having the taxes collected go to your own community.
You may feel like any time you pay a higher price for something you are being "ripped off" and perhaps sometimes you are, but if you go in and use a brick and mortar store as an extension of the online store you are supporting you are in fact ripping off the B&M for the rent, utilities, overhead, training, and information they provide you with as well.
I agree...
... your local dealer generally isn't in business to "rip you off." They value your continued business. I often find gear at the local dealer that is within the same price range as I can find it online. If there is a difference it is usually made up in shipping costs from the online vendor. Generally speaking I find prices within $10-$15 so. For that small a difference I will support the local dealer, plus there is the added advantage of being able to try it on at the dealer, which can be a big advantage. A recent example was some Sidi boots for my wife. I checked a few places online before looking at the local shop. Price at the local shop was going to be $11 over the average online price (+shipping). She went to the shop to try them on, didn't at all like how they fit and purchased something different anyway. Now of course when I do find the occasional huge price difference the local shop can't match, or if it is an item my local deal simply doesn't carry, I don't hesitate to make an online purchase. There is no doubt you can find some big bargains online that the local shops can't always match, particularly on closeout items.
I also agree with your comments on local dealers supporting the MSF classes. They do around here as well, and a handful of them have an arrangement with the training companies to offer gear at discount prices to MSF graduates. My wife and I went to a local Honda dealer (because it was the closest one), but they sell their stock of jackets and helmets at a 50% discount if you show the MSF card you get when you pass the BRC.
Which brings up one last point, there is a lot of markup in a lot of gear. It can never hurt to talk to your local dealer. Let them know what prices you found online and see if they can come down a little in price to be more inline. They may not be able to come down all the way to the online price, but often they have enough wiggle room to make you comfortable with the local purchase.
If you ride like there's no tomorrow, there won't be. ~Author Unknown
I live in PA where the MSF
I live in PA where the MSF class is supported by the state and is free, so local dealers don't have anything to do with it. Everyone takes it regardless as a result.
As far as markup is concerned, the only place I've found that isn't a total ripoff is Cycle Gear. They do come close to matching online prices, but all the other places I've been to charge up to 50% more over online prices. I even had one guy at a dealer flat out tell me I'd be better off buying online than buying from them when I asked him to look up how much it would be to order something they didn't have in stock. The extra cost was like $50 more on an item that, online, didn't even break $100 for the price. Dealerships around here (and I've been to quite a few) are a complete and total ripoff when it comes to accessories and apparel. About the only exception I've seen was on gloves where they ONLY charge $10-$20 more than what online retailers sell them for. And as far as "qualified service personnel" goes, I have never in my experience of dealing with dealerships met with ANYONE who is as helpful and as courteous and knowledgable as the guys on the phone at sportbiketrackgear.com. They have done more to help me over the phone with service and questions than any place I have been to in person.
Also I really like the fact that sportbiketrackgear is very picky about what brands they carry and why they refuse to sell brands such as Joe Rocket. I asked Brian Van in an e-mail once why they don't sell Joe Rocket and he sent me a long reply telling me the story of Joe Rocket's "Fall From Grace" years ago when they started outsourcing production to sweatshops overseas and how quality sank as a result, how the original founders abandoned the company to start out fresh with the Speed & Strength line to put that whole mess behind him, and how Speed & Strength is far superior to the current incarnation of JR in terms of quality. I found it great that he knew that much about it and was willing to take the time to tell me the full story about what happened in detail.
If your local businesses really are that bad
...then they should lose your business. A lot of local businesses, however, aren't, so that's not a sweeping rule that applies everywhere.
In addition to MSF classes, most of my local dealers also support local riding clubs, riding schools, and club racers.
Upgrading is the natural progression
Here in the SF Bay Area we have pretty good brand selections and pricing from local stores. For riding gear, generally the convenience of local stores outweighs the savings from online retailers for me.
In the beginning I didn’t know one brand from another so I shopped by price point. However, after wearing my gear for a while I ended up wanting to, and did, upgrade for better protection and better style. Just like upgrading to newer/better/bigger bikes, gear upgrade is a natural progression for a rider. You’d figure out what you need and want after doing it for a while.
My Shoei RF-1000 helmet still feels snug and comfortable after 16 months of constant wearing. It’s a very nice helmet for the price.
gear choices
A motorcycle jacket is specially designed for 75 mph wind and most have back and elbow armor. A regular jacket will move around a lot in the wind, and is less safe.
Bicycle shorts are designed for sitting on a narrow seat hours at a time- regular underwear has seams that are much more uncomfortable.
A helmet should feel a little tight, so it does not move around and have extra wind noise. A loose helmet may come off during a crash.
Black and dark brown jackets, and dark colored helmets, make it more likely for a car driver to make a turn without seeing you, although they are better at hiding bug smears.
A few more tips
1) Don't break the bank on your first day out. Like Gary said, there is a natural tendency to buy more gear once you've figured out what you like, what you don't like, and what works / doesn't work for your particular body and riding style. Don't skimp either; you definitely don't want to sacrifice your safety. My advice is to sacrifice style in your first set of riding gear. Good looking gear can be expensive, so have some riding experience in your safe-and-affordable-but-maybe-not-so-sexy gear before you shell out for the pretty stuff. Going for textile instead of leather is a great way to save money.
2) Do NOT buy BOOTS, GLOVES, or a HELMET without trying it on first. If any of these don't fit perfectly, you can have a disastrous time riding. Gloves that are too tight can't be worn. Gloves that are too loose can make it dangerously hard to use the controls. Same goes for boots. A helmet that doesn't fit you perfectly won't do you much good in a crash as it will move around and potentially leave important areas unprotected.
Once you have experience with sizing for a brand, it becomes somewhat safer to buy other similar products online or by catalog. For instance, if a size large Alpinestars GP Pro glove fits you perfectly, most of their other A-Stars large gloves will fit you as well.
3) Most dealers carry only a small subset of gear brands (like Weapon said). However, if you look far enough in your local area (e.g., within a 30 mi radius instead of a 10 mi radius), you're likely to find enough dealers that almost every brand you'd want (barring fancy import brands) will be represented. You'd be amazed how much base fit differs between brands. If you can, try them all (even if you can't afford some of them) until you find what really fits. If the winner is out of your price range, at least you have a benchmark against which to measure everything else.
And for some advice not-quite-first-set-of-gear-related:
4) When buying supplemental gear, branch out. It's really easy to slip into brand loyalty, especially if you really like the first bits you buy. If you're buying an extra jacket or an extra pair of gloves, see if you can find a different brand that meets your needs. Each exploration helps you find what really works for you. Some brands do one piece of gear (e.g., a boot) really well, but make sub-par examples of another type of gear (e.g., pants).
For instance, I was a big fan of Shift when I first started riding, and accumulated three Shift jackets and two pairs of gloves before I realized that I hated my Shift gloves. They looked cool, but once they were horribly uncomfortable and kept getting looser and looser the more I wore them (*NOTE* break-in is expected, but it's supposed to stop after a certain point; these gloves kept on stretching). The jackets I got are great and I still have them, but the gloves have since been tossed in favor of much better-fitting options from Alpinestars, Held, and Dainese. Shop around, and don't be afraid to try other brands.
1st year down
This is my second season riding. I was just pondering this question in my mind.
I bought HJC helmet, SS gloves & Jacket (Fit great!), Tourmaster overpants (cheap) and a pair of steel toe boots (because I'm size 4E and motorcycle boots aren't made for my feet unless I go up 2 full sizes!). All gear came from local dealers (except the boots, but I knew my size). Each piece had it's own lesson.
1) HJC CL-15 Helmet has been great, but you get what you pay for. Since I don't ride a lot, I haven't noticed the helmet getting any looser, but those wind vents in the top reduce air flow, not increase it in my experience. On a hot day in California I close them to get circulation around my face. Can anyone confirm this experience? Also, a tinted visor costs a little extra and is a MUST HAVE.
2) Gloves and Jacket must fit well and I tried everyone in the store. I bought Speed and Strength on fit alone and toss pocketbook caution to the wind. That same jacket is now on clearance for $300+ less than what I paid on some websites. But having not tried the jacket on, I would not have bought from a website not knowing my size. Its a fair price for knowing it fits and not waiting whole season for a great deal. What was I gonna do, wear a T-shirt and shorts during my newbie phase? My other observation is that I have lost weight, roughly 1" off my chest and waist. The Jacket still fits well, but I have now dropped a size and if I were to shop again I'd rather go to the store and test fit it before buying to see which size I'd rather have wrapped around my body. I am also more open to the idea of textile now that I have learned more. Even if leather can be used after a crash, would you want to ride around with a damaged jacket and wondering if the seams are still good for one more? I figure it's all one use and replace under ideal circumstances.
3) I didn't think I needed pants till I meet a one legged motorcyclist. I rather like my legs. Not sure what to get, as I did not have the money for matching leather pants for my wonderful jacket, i picked up a pair of inexpensive textile tourmaster pants. They fit fine, but lack any attachment for the jacket. I added a belt for confidence. They are waterproof, but don't have a removable liner and don't breath on hot days. My leather jacket is cool and refreshing compared to my pants on a hot day. They will be replaced, but my first trip out I melted the inside of the leg on the exhaust pipe. The benefit of my first pair being inexpensive is that I did not cry!
4) For boots, i've spent years wearing oversized shoes and hating them. I finally got sized as 4E wide and now can't bring myself to go back to buying multiple sizes up. However, this leaves me with a limited choice of hiking and industial work shoes. I choose steel toe electrician boots, but while the soul and toe are sturdy and offer a 6" top, ankle protection is modestly minimal with only leather between my joint and.... I don't know what I'm gonna do yet, but I can tell you this. As a teenager I was in a dirt accident and my tennis shoes wear torn off my feet, so boots are a must have.
I think as far as doing things differently go, as I learned my lessons with each piece I buy, my only regret is that I still haven't got myself a bike yet. I had visions of SV650's or Ninja 650r's when i started. But my wife's S40 has been my loyal steed. I wonder if I look silly in a SS sport jacket riding her crusier? I'll never know, since all I see is the open road!
As far as the vents on the
As far as the vents on the helmet goes it sounds like it was doing its job. The idea is not to circulate the air around to your face or throughout the helmet so much as it is designed to remove the hot air out of the helmet. Intake vents in the front exhaust vent(s) in the back. To get air on your face.... slightly lift the visor.
****Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but, rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy Shit....What a ride!!!"****
Also on Helmet Vents
Depending on the model you bought, the vents may be designed for a certain riding position.
I have an HJC CL-15 (which I like...basic, but fits me well), and I've noticed that while riding in an upright position (like on a standard or a cruiser), there's little difference in airflow with the vents open or closed. Around town, I do as Munch suggests and crack the visor...makes a world of difference.
But if riding in a more areodynamic position (tucked in, head forward), I can definitely feel the air flowing into the top vents.
Makes sense, as the CL-15 is designed as a sport helmet, for a sportbike riding position.
Venting position
This was one of the reasons I chose a Scorpion helmet for my new el cheapo helmet. According to reviews on Sportbiketrackgear.com, most full face helmets are designed with a leaned forward, sport riding position in mind. So if you sit upright with the vents open you often get a whistling noise that goes away if you lean over more, and you don't get much airflow. But with Scorpion EXO 400 and 700 models, that's the opposite. You get the annoying noise and dereased airflow while leaned over because the vents are more positioned for upright/standard riding positions, which I thought was a good idea since I have an SV650.
That being said, I've owned 4 helmets so far and I've discovered that the leading cause (based on my personal experiences) for unwanted helmet noise is when the visor doesn't seat properly while closed. The Shark RSi and HJC I had were especially bad with this. The Scorpion EXO 400 and Shark RSR2, not so much.
My next helmet will either be a Shoei RF-1100 or Icon Airframe.
I loved the visor on my
I loved the visor on my EXO400. I loved it even more when I bought another helmet and appreciated just how good the fog free feature is. I never did get the hang of the vents though. Too many little switches with no clear indication what is on and what is off and I never could feel any difference when playing with them when riding. One minus point against the visor is the first open position leaves a large gap. If you do need to crack it open you are going to get a lot of air (or rain) coming in.
Position!
I had not thought of that. As for cracking it open, I don't ride in rain much and the lip can be opened with a finger space or less when just cracked open. All good info, thanks everyone.
for melted pants
This is a common problem. Buy an ironing board cover, and sew a piece of this material over the melted spot.
For melted plastic on exhaust pipes, use some oven cleaner and a Scotchbrite scrubber pad when the exhaust pipes are hot- I also like Mothers aluminum polish as a gentle cleaner and polisher for chrome or aluminum.
For more ankle protection, pharmacies sell ankle braces, and sports stores sell ankle and shin armor for playing soccer. I have soccer ankle and shin guards, and skateboarding knee armor under low budget nylon motorcycle pants. They are cool in the summer, but leak a lot when it rains- I have a rain suit to put over them.
Sewing question
What type of thread should I use for repairs to my textile gear? Do they make ballistic nylon thread or do I use something else? I was pondering adding velcro cuffs to the pant leg instead so I can close them when it gets cold at night.
Don't know about balistic nylon...
...but I used to repair my running shoes with dental floss.
Brass snaps
I got a small snap kit at the hardware store and popped a pair into the cuffs of my overpants. The work great and help about sewing.
+1
Pick up a "snap" kit at a REAL HARDWARE store. You might find one at a big box, but you'll definately find one at an ACE or the like...
Allen Dye
MSF Rider Coach
Track Day Instructor
Ironbutt Rally Finisher '03-'05
OSH
Yep, got mine at Orchard Hardware.
Unfortunately, you may find that simple brass snaps are the entry-drug of self serve fasteners. Before you know it, you'll learn how to pop in grommets and then you'll be spending sleepless nights thinking about all the cool things you can do with strips of canvas and a few snaps.
Gear
I am a cruiser rider. And love my open face EXO-100 Helmet, Removable ear covers for when it's cold, snap down hidden visor. It's like a lego helmet. Fits great. Start with it late spring till early fall. LOVE IT! Bought it at the dealer. Figured size matters, wasn't going to do the whole try it on, get my size then order it online thing.
Spring and Fall went for an EL Cheapo china made HCI full face helmet. Fogs up and is hot in the summer, but nice when it's colder out. Bought it at a crappy motorcycle clearance place that constantly changes it's name and goes out of business
I bought a great leather jacket, no brand name at the dealer, good leather, lots of ventilation zippers down both sides of the front of the jacket and down the back.
Chaps I bought online, asked lots of sizing questions and still had to get them altered. Kinda cheap leather, but if you can't feel it and see it first... well that's what you get.
Rain Suit - bought Frogg Toggs Leap Frogg outfit. Man nice and light, breathable and easy to stuff into a tiny spot in the saddlebags. BUT DAMN the melt like butter on the pipes. They make a heat patch, but really watch these things near your pipes.
I've added a heat patch to all my critical close to the pipe places and recommend them still. Well made good sizing, fits right over the leathers and boots, and good to go in minutes. They now sell boots Frogg Leggs that are heat resistant... should solve most of the melting issues.
In general my recommendation is, BIKE SHOWS, go try it on, everybody all the dealers from all over are there with all kinds of brands. Try it on see if they fit. Online prices, in person to see and feel and check the quality. That's where I bought my gloves, my son's jacket, my son's helmet.
Don't be talking about my Joe Rocket!
I first purchased a Joe Rocket jacket with my first bike. My criteria was the reasonable price, cool look and basic lack of information regarding safety.
Well it has been four years and that first jacket is still with me and in perfect condition. I have since purchased a second JR jacket and I also have a pair of JR gloves. The quality has been excellent and the price is hard to beat. I am a satisfied customer and I will continue buying the brand.
Have I been lucky or has the brand improved from several years ago?
Hard to say. All I can say
Hard to say. All I can say is that my first riding jacket, which I bought new in 2007, was a Joe Rocket textile jacket and it certainly was a victim of the poor quality control I've heard about JR since then. The stitching was poorly done and the zippers were falling apart a few months after I bought it.