[WeaponZero]

Basically its the same thing as the scorpion hat trick. A basic mesh jacket tat provides you with removable liners that you use depending on the weather. Personally I am not a fan of these types of jackets as the outer shell is still a basic mesh jacket which is the least protective type of jacket out there.

[WeaponZero]

Sounds to me like you want an urban assault weapon. Standards/streetfighters and supermotos are your bread and butter. Yes, many of them (dual sports/supermotos) have high seat heights by default but the suspension compresses quite a bit with you on them.

KLX250SF I think would be perfect for you.

[WeaponZero]

Most beginner-oriented bikes are standards that offer a blend of sporty performance and handling with semi-cruiser ergonomics. Still suck for passengers though.

[WeaponZero]

The Holeshot is Scorpion’s absolute bottom-of-the-line textile jacket. It is very basic and offers next to no features other than the basics, which are a ballistic nylon protective textile shell, zippered venting, armor, and that’s about it.

The Olympia Airglide is a mesh jacket which serves a completely different purpose. It’s for riding in extremely hot weather where conventional perf leather or textile jackets don’t offer enough venting. Think 90+ degree days and ridiculous humidity. It does sacrifice some protection over textile to achieve this venting but still has you covered with a good measure of protection.

Finally, the Firstgear Kenya is a typical waterproof jacket. It sacrifices some venting over something like the Scorpion Holeshot to give you the ability to stay dry in the event you’re caught in a downpour.

Basically, what we have here are three completely different jackets that serve three completely different purposes and shouldn’t even be compared.

[WeaponZero]

Thing about sportbikes is that you can’t ride them sporty with a passenger on the back. You can’t corner fast, you can’t accelerate quickly, you can’t do any of that stuff with a passenger on the back. You have to ride it as if it were a cruiser. In other words, to a sportbike rider, there is no such thing as sharing your passion with a passenger.

Yes, Eon, you’re right. Things do change when you get good enough to where full-fledged sport tourers such as the BMW RT series, Honda ST1300, Kawasaki Concours, and other similar bikes become a viable option.

But until then, OP, stick to what YOU want and tell your wife that if she wants to have anything to do with your bike at all that she needs to learn to ride it and get one of her own. Because you are not in a position to realistically and safely carry a passenger until you’ve reached the level to where those bikes DO become a possibility to someone of your proficiency.

In other words, forget about the wife until you can get a bike that is capable of combining the best of both worlds.

[WeaponZero]

Actually Eon I know exactly what he meant. And that’s my whole point.

The bottom line here is that it’s going to be a good long while before he’s in any position to be able to carry passengers safely, and even then he’ll probably be spending more than 90% of his time in the saddle solo. To make compromises in the bike he wants for that rare event when he will be carrying a passenger off in the distant future is just ludicrous in my eyes.

If she understood anything about motorcycling at all then she would learn to ride and get her own rather than make him buy a completely different type of bike than the one he actually wants just for her OCCASIONAL ride.

[WeaponZero]

That’s what I want to do. I want to focus on the negatives of each garment, and say whether or not I consider them dealbreakers and why.

[WeaponZero]

Regardless of what bike you get, it’ll be a long time before you’re able to safely take passengers. Get the bike for you, not for the wife. Make her get her own or suck it up on the rare occasion she wants to get a bike.

If motorcycling is your passion, do not compromise it for someone else.

[WeaponZero]

I can’t comment on whether or not it would be an issue as I’m not expert on the matter. However, if you do want a sporty bike and fuel injection is an absolute MUST for you then you do have options. You won’t necessarily find them in the 250-500cc bracket but there are “entry level” sport bikes in the 600-650cc category that are somewhat beginner-friendly. SV650s for instance became fuel injected in 2003 and have been ever since. Yamaha makes the FZ6R, Kawasaki makes the Ninja 650R/ER-6n (basically same bike just with or without fairing). They have a steeper learning curve than the typical Ninja 250R/500R/GS500F but are by no means off-limits to beginners. I started out on an SV650.

[WeaponZero]

You’re the second person on these boards to confuse my SV650 for a Ducati. I’m guessing I should take it as a compiiment? lol.

[WeaponZero]

Honestly, I’m not sure how I can help you out here. I didn’t really have that problem even as a new rider. The *fear* for me didn’t begin to kick in until around 90mph.

[WeaponZero]

I would not call either the DN-01 or Aprilia Mana 850 suitable for beginners. Stick with learning a manual for beginners. Worked for all of us.

For gear advice, feel free to contact me. I could write essays on it (in fact I have, for a class assignment LOL).

[WeaponZero]

http://www.newenough.com/street/closeouts/textile_jackets_and_pants/first_gear/ht_ii_textile_motorcycle_overpants.html i hope they have your size in stock. but yeah, there are tons out there.

[WeaponZero]

Damn you Munch. Now I’ve got the old “You’ve got mail!” sound clip reverberating through my head.

[WeaponZero]

Scorpion has a nice selection of highly praised and affordable women’s gear.

[Author]

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