I think these three pretty much say it all. As Mike says, it doesn't make a darn what anyone else thinks of how you look. That you're concerned about proper riding attire is a very good thing. RCB gave you very good list of what's needed and I agree with it. The only thing I'd add is there are some very good riding outfits that aren't leather. I've been wearing an Aerostich Darian outfit for going on ten years (http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suits/darien) and have been very happy with it. I've had leather jackets before that I was very happy with them too but I found the Darien to be more flexible both in how it fit and how it performs at temperature extremes. Leather is pretty much the standard for abrasion protection but suits made from man-made materials like the Darien and others are also very good.

As Todd said, "dress for the slide and not the ride!" I put off buying proper riding attire for a long time, mainly because of the cost. Then I had a minor fall that cost me a fair mount of skin. I wasn't seriously hurt but I was sure uncomfortable for the next week. When I was sliding down that asphalt I would have paid three times what I thought was too expensive before to have had the protection. These days, I don't ride "anywhere" without having my Darien jacket and pants on.

Good luck with your decision!
Ride Safe,
Steve R.

 

Pretty soon you will be hearing from the preachers on the forum telling you about all the bad things that happen if you are not wearing a full face helmet. I say wear what you feel good wearing while riding.

You want to be comfortable and that means somewhat warm when it is cold and not over heated when it is hot, dry as possible when it is raining, etc. Personally, I prefer to wear boots and eye protection when riding. Other than that it depends on the weather and the law. On many occasions I have been well served by a leather jacket and at other times by rain gear. You can learn a lot by observing, and talking with, other riders. Preferably in person rather than just on the internet.

Good luck and ride safe.

 

I'm not a preacher but I did ride past a church once. And yes, wearing a FF helmet can prevent some very bad things from happening that could occur wearing an open-face helmet.

The OP stated he was a new rider about to get his first bike so give him some credit for gathering info. I just hope he can figure what is accurate info and what is BS.

 

All the above and a vest in the summer keeps your shirt from fluttering, no bid deal but if you're doing 500 mi. days I find it helps keep fatigue down unless it's to hot to wear

 

And that includes those you'll see riding down the road in nothing but a t-shirt, shorts, and thongs! After all, it's what makes them "feel" good. Right!

I agree with you here for the most part. My full face helmet "is" my eye protection as well as head, teeth and jaw protection. I was wearing full face helmet in the fall I mentioned in my previous post and the abrasion on the chin bar after that incident convinced me that I'll never wear anything else. I don't even want to know what my face would have looked like with anything less. One of the reasons I mentioned the Darien is because of how good it's been for me at the temperature extremes and it's a reasonably good rain suite to boot. It'll start loosing out in multiple hours of hard rain but I can ride through the average summer shower and stay comfortably dry. The best part is I don't have to spend any time pulling over to swap out riding cloths just because a shower pops up. Also, I've never seen a rain suite that was worth a flip sliding down the road. So you take off the leather and put on the rain suite. That'll do you a lot of good with the bike slides out on a wet road!

I don't think anyone here is preaching, any more than you are and while talking to folks face to face is a good thing, there's no guaranty that the OP will get any better info from them than they will on a forum like this one. I think the OP has gotten some good responses so far!

Ditto!

 

Damn. I didn't mean to upset you guys. I think it's great that everyone wears all the gear they feel right about wearing. If that's all the gear all the time, good for you. But I don't judge the riders like me and others that don't usually wear a helmet or armor. I do wear both of those things some time.

The fact is that most motorcyclists do not get injured riding with or without a helmet, with or without armor, with or without leather, and on and on. The fact is simply that most of us ride all of our adult lives without death or injury from a motorcycle accident.

If you feel better when you are fully protected then that's what you should do. Some of us just live and ride our own way. Not saying we are right. Just saying.

 

I'm not upset and I don't think anyone else is. The OP asked a very good question and was getting different "opinions" and answers to that question. I think, overall, they were good answers and then you pop up and start speculating about when the "preaching" was going to start and "implied" that only answers you get in person are worth a flip with the inverse of that being that the answers they were getting from us, weren't! I don't think anyone was "judging" those who prefer not to wear a helmet or whatever. I think maybe you're feeling self conscious about the fact that nobody was recommending that. Then again, it's not what the OP asked about!

You're right, many riders, whether they wear safety equipment or not, never have a problem. Good for them. Then again, many of them do and it's also a "fact" that those that do have a problem are much better off with the safety equipment than without. So the question becomes, how lucky are you feeling, and how long do you expect that luck to last?

As has been said, to each their own!

Ride Safe,
Steve R.

 

Thanks for all the advice everyone, much appreciated!! I agree with a good pair of boots and a good leather jacket. The one thing i cant make up my mind on is the helmet...I put a sportster on the ground back in 1991 (i think it was 91) and i was wearing a full helmet with face shield and since I was doing somersaults down the middle of the road I was grateful for it!
That same day as I was moving along a decent speed I was hit in the head by a friggin bird...so needles to say I am sold on the helmet, but I think I might like the 1/2 helmet, but having never worn one I guess I cant say for sure. Anyway, thanks all!
By the way, I am not active duty military, I have been out for a while, I just have a hell of a lot of pride in my old unit...The 101st Airborne Division!!!

 

Ahh, well good for you and congrats on the new ride. Pardon me grinding on some more, but I really believe in the MSF Beginners Rider Course, and the Experienced Rider Course after you have a few miles under your belt. Okay, I'm off my soap box. Just wanna give a big plus 1 on the AEROSTICH recommendation, also check out TIAZ Motorsports - Aerostich quality at 1/3 the cost, I wear the Lombard 1 piece myself. Synthetics have come a long way thanks to Aerostich. I wear leather too sometimes, it's nice to be able to change it up a bit now and then. You took a bird to the face?? Dang dude, that would be all the convincing I would need to wear a fullface. I wear both a half and a full face(not at the same time ) mostly depending on the temperatures. Again congrats, welcome to the forum, and ride safe bro!

 

You'll get as many different opinions as there are members on this site. Personally I feel gear is very important as far as protection goes. There is no seat belt on a bike, it is the gear you are wearing that will usually make the difference whether you survive and or the extent of your injuries. A full face helmet will save your life if you face plant like I have. A good jacket and pants will save your skin from skin grafts. Armor can prevent tumbling injuries. Also gear can make a big difference in how enjoyable your ride is if it is cold, hot or raining. See webbikeworld.com for gear reviews.

A full face helmet will provide much better impact protection plus it is more comfortable and quieter in anything but 80F+ stop and go driving. 40% of head impacts are to the face and chin. Check out webbikeworld for some unbiased helmet reviews and buying info.

Pants often get overlooked but are neccessary to provide abrasion and impact protection as well as protection from the cold. Jeans wear through afer sliding a foot or two on pavement. Personally I think the best all round and comfortable pants are vented and insulated textile motorcycle overpants with knee and hip armor. Chaps are not protective, just a biker fashion statement.
http://www.revzilla.com/product/olym...ide-over-pants (great pants, have these, good sale price)


With a jacket it is important it is vented and has an insulated liner otherwise it will limit the conditions it is usable in. Leather jackets without armor in the shoulders, elbows and back are for street wear not motorcycle wear. Good textile gear is as abrasion resistant as leather but is more versatile wrt weather protection and lighter to wear. If you live in the south or a hot climate look for a mesh jacket with leather reinforcement or perforated leather. Also consider a cooling vest to wear under a jacket if you ride past 90F+. A vented 3/4 length textile jacket is really handy to have in the 20F to 80F temp range and they are also waterproof. Mesh gear is most comfortable past 80F but cheaply made mesh gear is not that protective. Most leather jackets have a range of 70F to 40F unless they are vented and have a insulated liner with sleeves.
http://www.newenough.com/protective_...le_jacket.html
http://www.newenough.com/protective_...le_jacket.html
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...on-Jacket.aspx (good 3 season hot weather jacket)
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/t...le_jacket.html (good sale price)

Boots protect your feet and ankles especially if the bike falls over your foot. Any boot that slips on can slip off in a crash. Should have securing straps.

Gloves are important cause it is usually the first thing to hit the road in a crash.

Check out www.newenough.com, www.revzilla.com, www.motorcyclesuperstore.com, www.motorcyclediscount.com, www.ironpony.com