[WeaponZero]

I spent 2 days practicing with my father in an empty parking lot from dawn to dusk before taking the BRC. If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t have been able to pass it without repeating it.

[WeaponZero]

I like the ICON boots. I own them myself and they’re great. They’re probably the single best street riding boots you’ll find in the price range due to raw protection. Ventilation is great too.

AXO’s gear is good but not great. Certainly respectable but there is better out there.

One-piece suits are a bad idea for street riders. Two piece is MUCH more practical due to all the reasons mentioned above by eternal. Personally all I own is a pair of kevlar mesh long johns I wear under my jeans along with Knox Cross Knee knee guards. Going to get something more when I lose enough weight to justify spending money on higher end gear. Most likely a two-piece suit.

For gloves I personally would recommend Teknic Lightnings if you’re on a budget. Probably the best gloves you can get for under $100.

The helmet is a good choice. Scorpion makes solid gear.

[WeaponZero]

The seat height on first generation SV650s was low. something like 28″. It wasn’t until second generation models they got tall.

[WeaponZero]

I live in PA where the course is free.

[WeaponZero]

Ninja 250R should be fine for you I think. I think the 2007 and older models had a lower seat height as well.

Being able to keep both feet on the ground isn’t as much of an issue as you might think because when you’re at a stoplight, you’ve got your left foot on the ground only. Right is on the brake.

[WeaponZero]

In the city you’re going to want a supermoto bike or a standard, not a sportbike. Though the GS500 is a standard just with sportbike plastics. Supermoto bikes will definitely be more fun tho.

[WeaponZero]

So what you’re saying is that hardcore stunters and people looking for a bike to do hill climbs on should stay away from the admittedly beginner-oriented Ninja 650R. Got it…

[WeaponZero]

1. Leather is more protective but when it comes to climate control it has its downsides. Basically with leather you need a different jacket for every type of weather condition you plan on riding in. You need one perforated one for hot weather, one solid one for cooler/cold weather, and even with vents they suck in hot weather if you can’t keep moving at a brisk pace.

2. Cordura is the industry standard but not necessarily because it’s the BEST, more that it offers a good compromise of cost, weatherproofing, and protection. Textile jackets’ strengths over leather is that they’re more comfortable (though this is a matter of personal opinion), can be made to be fully waterproof (leather is not waterproof), and one single jacket can be made to cover every single riding condition imaginable.

I own 4 jackets for varying weather conditions:

My main jacket is a Scorpion EXOwear Stinger leather jacket, which is a perforated sport-style jacket that is made to fit your body like a second skin. As I said it is perforated so it is made for riding in warm/hot weather, but because of the way perforated leather works it is impractical to use when commuting in the city because it depends on the airflow you can only get from moving at speed to keep you cool. Otherwise you’re sitting there in 90 degree weather in a heavy leather jacket and dying of heat.

My “commuter” jacket is a Speed & Strength Moment of Truth mesh jacket that I wear for commuting to and from work in warm/hot weather. Because of the nature of the way mesh jackets work, you don’t need to be moving at speed to keep cool in hot weather, so you’re fine when you’re stuck in traffic. They do generally sacrifice protection over conventional textile jackets but as long as you’re sure to get one that still has ballistic nylon textile panels in the high impact zones this shouldn’t be an issue. It did come with a waterproof liner but I never use it as it is not breathable so it is extremely uncomfortable to wear.

For days when the forecast is calling for rain I wear my soon-to-be-replaced Teknic Freestyle textile jacket. Honestly the thing sucks. I hate the way it fits and I hate the fact that the sleeve adjusters don’t keep adjustment. The only reason I even wear it at all is because it’s still a waterproof armored jacket. It’ll soon be replaced.

For cooler/colder days I wear a Scorpion EXOwear All-In leather jacket which is a solid black leather jacket that has zippered vents you can open and close (which do very little because they are small and not enough of them). This is the jacket I wear most often in the early spring/late fall because with the liner in it keeps me comfortably warm even into the 30s. I also use it as a casual wear jacket because, well, it just looks cool and you can get away with it since it’s just a plain black leather jacket.

If you’re on a budget and you can’t afford to buy multiple jackets then your best bet would probably be to buy a well-ventilated textile jacket that has a removable thermal liner of some sort, such as the Icon Contra or the Scorpion Burnout. And even if you do have money to burn on multiple jackets, if your regular riding route includes a lot of city traffic then a jacket such as this will still be a staple in your collection. It’s not a bad place to start.

[WeaponZero]

The forcefield 2 is more of a spine guard than anything else. It doesn’t protect the whole back. Not enough coverage area IMO.

[WeaponZero]

They’d be fine for the class. But for actual riding I’d invest in a pair of these http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=1759 or something along those lines. protection cant be matched for the price. Also they’re 20% off the listed price. I own a pair myself. LOOOOOVE THEM!

[WeaponZero]

I do mostly city riding/urban commuting with a few highway jaunts to twisty roads on the weekends. In the city I really like how the increased tire pressure makes the bike feel “lighter” when doing things like lane changes and swerving.

[WeaponZero]

Your information about the forcefield 2 being the gold standard is outdated. The Knox Contour is the top dog back protector right now.

[WeaponZero]

From what I read, ONLY back protectors can be level 2.

[WeaponZero]

All Scorpion brand apparel uses Sas-Tec armor. The optional armor in all Draggin’ jeans is also Sas-Tec. Haven’t heard anything about that jacket but I know that I personally would still prefer GP-style protectors just for peace of mind. But Sas-Tec style armor is still great stuff that does the job.

[WeaponZero]

no my bike is an SV650. the poor man’s monster

[Author]

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