Shoei or Arai, they are th best. Spend as much as your head costs!

 

The DOT or Snell rating assures thatall helmets protect about the same. It boils down first to what fits the best and second to what you like. Try a lot on before you decide.

My favorite? Shoei RF1000 Wife's favorite? Nolan N100E flip up.

 

Check out the Scorpion line of helmets. Comfy as hell, a good price, with features like higher priced models. I just got a flat black fullface with mirror antifog shield. Luv it!

 

I also have the full-face Icon "MainFrame" and it's been a great helmet. It's vented, fits nicely and has held up well to 18 months of DAILY use year around. I wear my full faced helmet about 75-80% of the time and 100% of the time in cold weather or rain. When commuting to work I definitely wear my ff helmet cuz it's on the So Cal freeways and I like the odds stacked in my favor.Doing a face-plant in any openfaced helmet or half helmet would be a disaster beyond words.

The Icon MainFramefull faced helmetis well vented.Most of the time you also ride with your face shield clicked open one or twoor three notches depending on how much airflow you want. I've had no trouble with wearing afullfaced helmetall year around and definitely feel safer for sure when mixing it up in rush-hour traffic.

Yes, armored jackets are great. Leather or textile, take your pick depending on what you want to spend. TourMaster and Cortechmake great jackets, obviously Harley has lots of them too but a bit more expensive as you might guess.

Also don't forget there are companies that make riding jeans that are leather or kevlar lined in strategic places (for abrasion resistance if you go down) that I think are a good idea. I currently am wearing a pair of Cortech riding jeans that are leather lined in the knees and seat and also have CE approved knee armor in them (you dont really even notice the knee panelsand they're a great comfort to know its there). These were around $75 and they're the best I've tried so far - not too hot in warm weather either. I have a pair of winter riding jeans that are lined with wind-proof material and also a lining of flannel in addition to abrasion resistant knee panels. These jeans (by Icon)make it comfortable to ride down into the low 30's without needing long-johns.

You'll probably end up with two or three riding jackets, one leatherfor moderate weather, one mesh jacket with armor for really hot days (wow they BREATHEnicely!) and a cold weather jacket for when the leather just doesn't cut it! When it comes to looking bitchin' nothing beats leather, but they're rarely the warmest jacket when it really starts getting colder likeinto the low 40's or 30's or beyond. Textile jackets with armor will keep you toasty down into the 30's easily and even lower if you wear layers.

Gloves? Same thing, probablytwo or threedifferent pairs depending on temps.

 

You really neeed to try on different helments. It is amazing how different helments can feel. I ended up with Nolan. The nolan is a flip up design with excellent ventilation. ( and no you don't have to quit breathing to prevent fog up.) Also, get a Helmet that is a little snug when new, they will break-in. I really like the flip up Helmets. They are easier to put on and you have the option of flipping up the shield or the entire front. My newest one even has a tinted screen that you can drop down in the sun. I have owned 3 Nolans in the last 20 years and have found them to be great helmets.....CJ

 

I love my Simpson helmet.

 

I think the half helmet dot is safer because you can see and hear everything that is around you much better.

 

For a 1/2 helmet, ACC carbon fiber DOT helmet. Full face Shoei, Arai, Simpson are all good helmets, a carbon fiber full face modular is a wonderful thing, just not cheap.

But I prefer to spend the $$$ on the helmet and not end up a donor.

 

I've got a good quality 1/2 from HJC, and a full Shoei. I use the 1/2 most of the time unless it's coldorpossible rain. Get a quality 1/2 if you go that route. They a larger and give good protection. Go to Honda, Harley, whatever to try different one on. BIG difference in comfort and quality from brand to brand AND from brand line to line. HJC has three lines, always get the top line.

 

I went with an Arai. When I tried Shoei, it didn't fit my head comfortably. It was expensive too, but it's well ventilated with 7 vents.