View Full Version : neck protection?
Just wondered what kind of neck protection is available? I've seen those racing jackets with the bump in the neck area (not sure what the proper name for them is) but seeing as I don't go particularly fast and I'm not on a super bike, I'd feel really silly wearing one.
As my job (and lifestyle) dictates I need to be in top physical form, I like to take all precautions possible to prevent crashing and/or injury. It's all well and good having knees, hips, elbows etc armour (and obviously a helmet), ones neck is pretty exposed...
I've seen some jackets that inflate if you come off... any good? :D
Hi Agy,
If you mean the humps on the back of race suits like this https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTyvCSNC_oCxuZAHWuLqVE9Yvb51BZdf m9mjuKakA1kpVZhsbQnGw
Then the only benefit is aerodynamics, not protection so I wouldn't fuss. If you're looking at something else, pop up a picture or a link and we'll have a little look :)
Jambo
ah yes those are the ones. I thought maybe they help you roll a bit more safely protecting the neck if you come off
another thing I want to ask; in my bering jacket the back protector is just a bit of flat foam. looks a bit flimsy. is it not meant to be a bit more firm? doesn't look like much of a protection. nothing like the elbow and shoulder stuff which is pretty sturdy.
i can see i can get a knox one for about 20 quid.
Elliott
07-08-12, 11:37 AM
It's because most rider will either wear separate protection ( I use forcefeild front and rear ) or an aftermarket insert ( I have the RST one in my town leather jacket )
Hope this helps.
yorkie_chris
07-08-12, 11:39 AM
Back armour, built in is OK if you get a decent one. However FAR superiour is a proper back protector
e.g http://www.raceleathers.co.uk/buy/Halvarssons-Halvarssons-Track-Back-Protector/hal657000.htm
Or the forcefield one which is very similarly made but slightly different shape.
There are various certs for force transmission and there have been some good articles etc.
Shawthing
07-08-12, 11:44 AM
http://www.twowheel.co.uk/hit-air-nw-neck-air-bag-cushion.html
http://www.twowheel.co.uk/images/thumbnails/39/250/hit-air-nw-neck-cushion-1.jpg (http://www.twowheel.co.uk/images/detailed/39/hit-air-nw-neck-cushion-1.jpg)
Luckypants
07-08-12, 11:45 AM
I saw some German riders wearing full neck braces while on holiday in the Alps. The looked similar to this http://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/?Currency=GBP&Locale=en_GB&ObjectPath=/Shops/10207048/Products/EVS-RC-Evolution-Neck-Protector/SubProducts/EVS-RC-Evolution-Neck-Protector-0005&ViewAction=ViewProductViaPortal&gclid=CIvfkOK31bECFU6JfAod3VQATA
Dunno if they are good, bad or indifferent but these are the sort of things available.
I'd advise a good back protector before a neck brace, do a search about them, loads of information on here about various makes.
EDIT : Forcefield to a women's specific back protector, with the waist and chest straps placed more ergonomically for ladies.
another thing I want to ask; in my bering jacket the back protector is just a bit of flat foam. looks a bit flimsy. is it not meant to be a bit more firm? doesn't look like much of a protection. nothing like the elbow and shoulder stuff which is pretty sturdy.
i can see i can get a knox one for about 20 quid.
Just a quick comment about the sturdiness of protection material. I was told by Hideout leathers (who do know what they're talking about) that they put flexible armour into knee, elbow, hips etc areas, rather than the solid plastic stuff. The armour isn't there to stop the impact of body on tarmac causing breaking - practically nothing will do that other than lack of force - but to minimise the abrasive effects of rubbing the sticking out bits onto the road.
I'm assuming the more solid back protectors are there to hold the spine firm and to prevent twisting type of damage as much as anything else.
Moto GP riders don't have neck braces .
If it had benefit they would .
Roberrrrt
07-08-12, 01:15 PM
Moto GP riders don't have neck braces .
If it had benefit they would .
No but dirt riders do...
Moto gp tend to slide into nice grassed areas / gravel traps / tyre walls etc, road riding has many more hazards. I'm not convinced that neck protectors would be good for road btw, I'm of the belief that if something's too much of a hassle then it will end up being left behind.
I removed the back insert from my leathers, now wear a full Knox back protector - feels much better, more secure.
yorkie_chris
07-08-12, 01:55 PM
Just a quick comment about the sturdiness of protection material. I was told by Hideout leathers (who do know what they're talking about) that they put flexible armour into knee, elbow, hips etc areas, rather than the solid plastic stuff. The armour isn't there to stop the impact of body on tarmac causing breaking - practically nothing will do that other than lack of force - but to minimise the abrasive effects of rubbing the sticking out bits onto the road.
I'm assuming the more solid back protectors are there to hold the spine firm and to prevent twisting type of damage as much as anything else.
Then they disagree with the CE standards that armor is tested to.
Leather is to protect from abrasion, armour for impact.
Hard armour (good against abrasion...) does not absorb force but transmit it... their choice of soft armour goes against their explanation.
Testing finds back protectors to be not much use against twisting/wrenching back injuries, but good for impact.
Spank86
07-08-12, 02:11 PM
Hard armour is also good at preventing piercing damage and in combination with soft armour it will help to spread impact forces.
yorkie_chris
07-08-12, 02:14 PM
Hard armour is also good at preventing piercing damage
Very rare though...
Id rather have movement to turn my head and see the dangers than compromise it with a restrictive support.
A lid is a good compromise .but any less and I might be the smidsy
Then they disagree with the CE standards that armor is tested to.
Leather is to protect from abrasion, armour for impact.
Hard armour (good against abrasion...) does not absorb force but transmit it... their choice of soft armour goes against their explanation.
Testing finds back protectors to be not much use against twisting/wrenching back injuries, but good for impact.
Yes you may have a point there. I may be remembering their explanation incompletely and not explaining it very well. They did say something about the rigid yet still soft and a little pliable armour was to spread the force of the impact.
I didn't know that about back protectors.
Spank86
07-08-12, 02:34 PM
Very rare though...
WEll, yeah, hopefully you dont land on anything sharp but getting a bit of wood through the leg bloody hurts and the knee and elbow are complex enough bits of kit that you don't need it there.
I just thought it was worth mentioning if someone was thinking about disregarding the hard component of armour altogether, it does have some use and most importantly can make the soft bits work better.
Can you always trust theses test. Lids have 2 test standards and some well renowned ones do bad on SHARP or what ever its called .
Hideout (as mentioned by Messie) use forcefield armor in their leathers. This is softer than the hard plastic that used to be so common, because that way it absorbs more force. If something's too hard it transmits more of that force to the thing behind it (you). Obviously there's a balancing act there, too hard can be uncomfortable, and transmit too much force, too soft and in a big smack you run out of material to compress and transmit too much force. Fortunately people like Forcefield are fairly good at hitting the Goldilocks zone most of the time.
In many jackets people will use CE shoulder & elbow armor, and a piece of foam as a back protector. From the explanation Agy's given of hers this may be the case. With textile kit a separate back protector can be very helpful as the protection is held exactly right, even if the jacket's loose. When I had my leathers made I had Hideout sew in an internal coccyx & back protector from the forcefield internal stuff, it's just as good and because the leathers fit me properly it's no more likely to move out of the place it's got to be.
Jambo
Thanks for the techie stuff Jambo. I knew there was some science in there somewhere!
In many jackets people will use CE shoulder & elbow armor, and a piece of foam as a back protector. From the explanation Agy's given of hers this may be the case. With textile kit a separate back protector can be very helpful as the protection is held exactly right, even if the jacket's loose. When I had my leathers made I had Hideout sew in an internal coccyx & back protector from the forcefield internal stuff, it's just as good and because the leathers fit me properly it's no more likely to move out of the place it's got to be.
Jambo
Yes that's right. It's a foam protector. Doesn't seem all that great. I might be wrong as I don't know much about this stuff but it doesn't inspire confidence in me. My RST leather jacket seems to have a much better one which I think is ribbed too.
I was thinking of getting this one for my textile jacket to replace the foam one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360446375127?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1180
That neck brace seems useful but it does also seem like a lot of kerfuffle... one has to place a limit on where just say sod it and accept the risk. Can't be so dressed up I can't move and control the bike LOL I think it would be very distracting. How much chance does one have of impact to the neck?
Yes that's right. It's a foam protector. Doesn't seem all that great. I might be wrong as I don't know much about this stuff but it doesn't inspire confidence in me. My RST leather jacket seems to have a much better one which I think is ribbed too.
I was thinking of getting this one for my textile jacket to replace the foam one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360446375127?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1180
That'll be much better than what you have in there if it's just a piece of deeply untechnical foam.
Don't discount YC's point about having a separate back protector, they tend to be longer, and stay in the correct place, plus whatever jacket you're wearing it stays with you :)
Jambo
ah you mean one that doesn't go in the pocket?
ah you mean one that doesn't go in the pocket?
Yep, something a little like this (http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com/product/pro-l2k-back-protector/2382) though there are plenty of products from people like Forcefield, Knox etc that would fit the bill depending on budget and comfort.
It's not the wrong thing to have one in the pocket at the back at all, and if you're going to keep doing it, spending a bit on a better one is a good move, but for best protection, with loose jackets, having a separate protector can be a good move.
Jambo
Spank86
07-08-12, 04:41 PM
Can you always trust theses test. Lids have 2 test standards and some well renowned ones do bad on SHARP or what ever its called .
you can trust the tests to show you how the helmet performs in the tests.
They are only an indicator of how it'll perform in real life.
As soon as you develop a test and make it known some helmet manufacturers will start to game it, reinforcing their helmets in the spots that are tested.
But they're still better than no test at all.
Agreed. N cap has done allot for car occupants .
I did see air bag jackets mentioned in one mag.
missyburd
07-08-12, 07:20 PM
I'd advise a good back protector before a neck brace, do a search about them, loads of information on here about various makes.
EDIT : Forcefield to a women's specific back protector, with the waist and chest straps placed more ergonomically for ladies.
+1. YC and I have Halvarssons back protectors. Mine sits firmly in place and has the added bonus of keeping my upper body nice and warm. I got shot of the injacket foam things, didn't feel like they'd do a right lot of good at all like you say. Probably the most expensive bit of kit I own but aside from the helmet, probably the most protective.
http://www.brandedbiker.co.uk/Halvarssons-Motorcycle-Clothing/Halvarssons-Track-Back-Protector-1873
As far as neck protection goes, I have a fleecy windproof neck tube that's used the most, it's quite thick and that's about it. Like NTEC says, I'd rather not restrict my neck movement with something more rigid.
Dave-the-rave
07-08-12, 07:24 PM
http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4826843805254516&id=b659741ac86ff7506aee908ab8d13882
My suit keeps inflating before I crash. :lol:
I think that if necks were routinely damaged in motorcycle accidents there'd be more (some?!) protection banded about for bikers necks. I can't say I've ever heard of a neck injury in any bike accident. I've always considered that the helmet is so thick and sits so low that it would be enough. However, apparently the chin guard on full face helmets is responsible for a lot of the collar bone breaks that bikers tend to suffer. Some shorter lids like the XR1000 might negate this problem.
I rate the Halvarssons/Forcefield type of back protector purely because of the sheer number of magazine articles and tests I've read. It also feels very secure in use, if a little sweaty.
Something to remember about any armour; back, knee, shoulder etc. is that some of the polystyrene type material (such as the back insert you've listed) should only be used once, whereas the Forcefield, rubbery type can be used over and over. Whilst replacing armour after a crash shouldn't be a problem, you'd have to take into account any damage (crushing/folding) that might occur during normal usage or storage.
Here's a fish: :fish:
rictus01
07-08-12, 08:28 PM
Yes that's right. It's a foam protector. Doesn't seem all that great. I might be wrong as I don't know much about this stuff but it doesn't inspire confidence in me. My RST leather jacket seems to have a much better one which I think is ribbed too.
I was thinking of getting this one for my textile jacket to replace the foam one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360446375127?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1180
I have the same thing in four of my jackets, as they came with the dense foam insert as standard.
Cheers Mark.
I ordered the one from ebay now.
Monkey that's what I was thinking actually. If it was a problem, there would be more widespread protection.
Someone made an interesting point actually: sometimes in an accident you're far safer being ejected form the vehicle (as you would on a bike) than being squashed in a metal coffin i.e. a car. Interesting point of view
... so long as you don't hit anything once you're rolling I guess.
Monkey that's what I was thinking actually. If it was a problem, there would be more widespread protection.
Someone made an interesting point actually: sometimes in an accident you're far safer being ejected form the vehicle (as you would on a bike) than being squashed in a metal coffin i.e. a car. Interesting point of view
... so long as you don't hit anything once you're rolling I guess.
Your far and away safer in it.
Only in a minutee number of accidents would being outside a protective cell be any small advantage.
yorkie_chris
08-08-12, 07:59 PM
The statistics agree with that.
Just to get back to the types of armour for a minute, soft armour is really good at protecting from the sort of really painful (and likely!) soft tissue damage that you'll get just from falling on the floor (like from 10ft up, after a short stay in the highside hotel). Hard armour would transfer this impact not absorb it.
OTOH a very severe but highly unlikely sharp impact would be helped by hard armour, but I'm not sure what you're likely to hit. A broken bit of bike? A kerb you'd arguably be better with soft armour too? A ragged bit of car?
Just my opinion, but from a work point of view you're just as on the sick with a minor elbow, knee, coccyx fracture or other damage as you are from a (statistically not very likely) neck injury. So for my money I'd have decent gloves, back protector and EN-1621-1 elbow, shoulder and knee pads possibly hip pads too.
might get some slip on knee pads for the days when i risk it in jeans :)
hmmm i have for for roller skating maybe just wear those LOL
If you do get some please let me know what they're like.
Moto GP riders don't have neck braces .
If it had benefit they would .
Moto GP riders arent likely to hit a tree, kerb, brick wall, car or tractor tho are they?!
A decent back protector is a must, I upgraded mine fairly quickly.
As for neck protection I've never seen nor looked for any just a decent fitting lid and nothing that will restrict movement.
If you do get some please let me know what they're like.
quite a few knox ones on ebay. about a tenner for a set
Spank86
08-08-12, 09:16 PM
@yorkie_chris, I'm thinking if you hit a kerb or anything else with an edge then soft armour with a hard outer skin will cushion the impact most effectively because the hard outer layer will spread it accross a wider area and the inner soft will deform to cushion the impact.
yorkie_chris
08-08-12, 10:18 PM
might get some slip on knee pads for the days when i risk it in jeans :)
hmmm i have for for roller skating maybe just wear those LOL
There was a guy who liked riding in jeans, but wanted to be safe, so had armor pads underneath, and some draggin' style kevlar... and kneesliders over the top.
I was thinking what the hell is point when some nice vented leathers are so comfy!
There is definitely a point where jeans are not the easy, comfy answer.
@yorkie_chris, I'm thinking if you hit a kerb or anything else with an edge then soft armour with a hard outer skin will cushion the impact most effectively because the hard outer layer will spread it accross a wider area and the inner soft will deform to cushion the impact.
Alternatively you've then lost 30% of your absorbtion thickness in the far more likely case of a straight impact, which generally means 30% more peak force.
It is a compromise like anything.
Ride in normal jeans . Me never .
Well ok quite allot when I was younger. but if you do bin it its going to leave a nasty mark..
23 years on you can still see my scar.
Not so good for young ladies who want to wear something short Agy .
Spank86
09-08-12, 06:53 AM
Alternatively you've then lost 30% of your absorbtion thickness in the far more likely case of a straight impact, which generally means 30% more peak force.
It is a compromise like anything.
you could be right but on a curved joint like a knee I still think it possible that a hard outer would spread the force across a larger area.
Of course the thickness and strength of the hard component is subject to compromise, I wouldn't imagine it would ever need to be very thick.
chris, we can't all afford £100 plus on a pair of leather trousers. i've got textile pants but even with the lining out it can be a murder. when i'm that ridiculously hot i start losing concentration so i reckon i'm safer to ride in jeans
by the way, i was told by someone that after all the proper bike gear, denim is the next best thing
yorkie_chris
09-08-12, 02:59 PM
I can't either!
£40 will get you a decent secondhand set, probably complete with CE armour.
And for what it's worth I find my textiles far sweatier than leathers.
And having fallen off in denim, I can reliably tell you that it's not anywhere close to the best thing.
1) it's abrasive in itself so you get some grazing (this happens with kevlar lined draggin' jeans too)
2) it's paper thin (even good quality jeans) so bits of gravel stick straight through them
3) it has no natural spring to it like multiple layers of leather do so you get the full effect of hitting tarmac hard, even bruised knee joints will knock you down for a while.
I am not trying to be deliberately abrasive here (pun not intended...) but with everything you have said about needing to do everything to avoid serious injury, do not try and justify jeans as protective kit to yourself, about their only redeeming feature is they don't melt into what's left of your skin like tracky bottoms do!
£40 I wonder where... been trying to get some for ages. got a couple of pairs on ebay neither of which fitted so lost money there anyway
not seen any "summer" leather either. today i'm wearing my textile jacket cos the leather one is just unbearable. wore it yesterday and it was horrid. not to mention it needs a dry clean after each ride in warm weather :D
Luckypants
09-08-12, 04:11 PM
A decent wicking base layer worn under your leathers works wonders at keeping you feeling fresh. Just been riding in leathers in 30+ sunny heat with a wicking base layer of either EDZ undersuit or Aldi motorcycle tights and top, it was fine, even around town.
Decent second hand leathers can be got on this very site :)
steve.w
09-08-12, 04:15 PM
£40 I wonder where... been trying to get some for ages. got a couple of pairs on ebay neither of which fitted so lost money there anyway
not seen any "summer" leather either. today i'm wearing my textile jacket cos the leather one is just unbearable. wore it yesterday and it was horrid. not to mention it needs a dry clean after each ride in warm weather :D
Ride faster stay cool :smt064 personally I find leathers with good base layers a much better option than textiles.
ATB Steve
London riding is it's own thing. I'm no slouch through town and even when the school holidays are on I average, wait for it.... 18mph on my commute.
For this reason a lot of bikers in London tend to wear less gear (it's all very well to say go faster, but I have, depending on my route 77 sets of traffic lights in the 14.4 miles to work). This does NOT include give ways...
That said I agree that denim is not a great choice, seen a couple of mates who came off at very low speed in jeans, they did not do a good job... 2nd best thing to dedicated bike gear? I'll go with that, in the same way as a calculator is the 2nd best thing to a computer.
A number of the soho massive use hood/draggin jeans when they're just in town, and something better as soon as they'll be leaving the smoke. I also have a cheap-ish mesh jacket with decent armor in it. Don't use it out of town, but in town it helps prevent me from wearing less :)
Jambo
Dave-the-rave
09-08-12, 06:53 PM
£40 I wonder where... been trying to get some for ages. got a couple of pairs on ebay neither of which fitted so lost money there anyway
not seen any "summer" leather either. today i'm wearing my textile jacket cos the leather one is just unbearable. wore it yesterday and it was horrid. not to mention it needs a dry clean after each ride in warm weather :D
Have a look at this vendor. Apparently she has bought up a job lot of gear to sell on. Some of it is used in good nick, but a lot is new. She seems to provide good descriptions regarding condition and fittings and has 100% positive feedback.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/E-BS-BIKE-SPARES/LADIES-MOTORBIKE-CLOTHING-/_i.html?rt=nc&_fsub=2878667011&_sid=752688331&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14&_sop=2&_sc=1
As for what to wear well...wear what you like, your an adult. I ride in jeans, Army boots and an open face helmet. I know the risks and I make my choices. If you feel vulnerable on a bike it's because...you ARE vulnerable on a bike. Nout wrong with being aware of that. Make your peace with your vulnerability, choose to ride or not and wear whatever you're comfortable with.
What the options like moto cross gear now.
Have you tried kevler reinforced jeans?
Ruth at work (gpx600) swears by them ?
Spank86
09-08-12, 07:29 PM
I just tried it and to be honest I can't get the jeans to feel that secure wrapped round my neck.
I think maybe I'm supposed to get a girl to put their legs in them first?
Danger thread de rail.
http://www.missionmx.co.uk/Fox-Racing-Titan-Race-Shorts-Black-Info.html
London riding is it's own thing. I'm no slouch through town and even when the school holidays are on I average, wait for it.... 18mph on my commute.
For this reason a lot of bikers in London tend to wear less gear (it's all very well to say go faster, but I have, depending on my route 77 sets of traffic lights in the 14.4 miles to work). This does NOT include give ways...
That said I agree that denim is not a great choice, seen a couple of mates who came off at very low speed in jeans, they did not do a good job... 2nd best thing to dedicated bike gear? I'll go with that, in the same way as a calculator is the 2nd best thing to a computer.
A number of the soho massive use hood/draggin jeans when they're just in town, and something better as soon as they'll be leaving the smoke. I also have a cheap-ish mesh jacket with decent armor in it. Don't use it out of town, but in town it helps prevent me from wearing less :)
Jambo
Yep this is the thing Jambo, London can be a nightmare - yesterday I went out for literally an hour and was sweating like a wh&*e in a church. Stuck in slow traffic half that time if not more. You can't always overtake. Sometimes there's no room. I'm sure someone will come up any second now and say there's always room for filtering but I'm not that experienced and I refuse to take risks I'm not practiced enough for yet.
Those dragging jeans cost a fortune. I've only been biking a few months, in this time I bought a 125 bike, sold that (lost money in part ex), bought the current bike, two jackets, trousers, boots (three pairs since first two didn't fit properly), various other bits and bobs, insurance etc... trouble in buying online is you never know if it will fit. i bought a lovely pair of leather trousers, one size bigger than i would normally wear - couldn't get them passed my knees. also it's harder to find stuff for women. even on ebay it costs a fortune. Hein Gericke sale is absolute pants! Went two days ago: 10-20% closing down sale my ar$%.
Have a look at this vendor. Apparently she has bought up a job lot of gear to sell on. Some of it is used in good nick, but a lot is new. She seems to provide good descriptions regarding condition and fittings and has 100% positive feedback.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/E-BS-BIKE-SPARES/LADIES-MOTORBIKE-CLOTHING-/_i.html?rt=nc&_fsub=2878667011&_sid=752688331&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14&_sop=2&_sc=1
As for what to wear well...wear what you like, your an adult. I ride in jeans, Army boots and an open face helmet. I know the risks and I make my choices. If you feel vulnerable on a bike it's because...you ARE vulnerable on a bike. Nout wrong with being aware of that. Make your peace with your vulnerability, choose to ride or not and wear whatever you're comfortable with.
Looks interesting. Thanks I'll have a good look!
They have a fair few bits. the trouble is, if it doesn't fit (again) even if i post it back, i will have lost money on postage to me and me returning the item as they won't refund that. i've had that problem many times before. need to try stuff in a shop and try to find it online cheaper. oh this is really frustrating me :/
I don't think anyone would flame you for wearing denim in what is a 30mph blanket speed limit.
Just when you escape the city limit and speed goes up so does your level of protection required.
oh yeah totally! I wouldn't dream of going out of london in denim. once you get out, you pick up speed and get a nice breeze anyway :D
Agy,
It's dead easy for everyone here to say "Protection is the most important thing" and justify an Arai RX7, full Hideout leathers, forcefield armor, Daytona boots, Held gloves, and a full Rukka textile suit for if it rains. We just spent upwards of £3000.
When I started riding, I wore jeans, a cheap lid, a hand-me-down leather jacket, DMs & hand-me-down gloves. You build your kit up as you can, just identify what you would buy next and buy it when you can afford it. When you've just started riding make sure anything you buy will be useful for as many situations as possible. No point buying something that's only useful for 2 months of the year when you're just getting yourself sorted.
Jambo
missyburd
10-08-12, 05:11 PM
Those dragging jeans cost a fortune. I've only been biking a few months, in this time I bought a 125 bike, sold that (lost money in part ex), bought the current bike, two jackets, trousers, boots (three pairs since first two didn't fit properly), various other bits and bobs, insurance etc... trouble in buying online is you never know if it will fit. i bought a lovely pair of leather trousers, one size bigger than i would normally wear - couldn't get them passed my knees. also it's harder to find stuff for women. even on ebay it costs a fortune. Hein Gericke sale is absolute pants! Went two days ago: 10-20% closing down sale my ar$%.
I have always wanted a pair of draggins but not been able to justify the money on them. The most money I've ever spent on kit was £100 on new Goretex textiles from Hein Gericke. They're worth every penny, fit me well and I've worn them through all the seasons.
Agy,
It's dead easy for everyone here to say "Protection is the most important thing" and justify an Arai RX7, full Hideout leathers, forcefield armor, Daytona boots, Held gloves, and a full Rukka textile suit for if it rains. We just spent upwards of £3000.
When I started riding, I wore jeans, a cheap lid, a hand-me-down leather jacket, DMs & hand-me-down gloves. You build your kit up as you can, just identify what you would buy next and buy it when you can afford it. When you've just started riding make sure anything you buy will be useful for as many situations as possible. No point buying something that's only useful for 2 months of the year when you're just getting yourself sorted.
+1. When I started riding pillion with YC I borrowed kit off a lass who was 3 sizes bigger than me, had to scrabble whatever I could at the time.
I managed to find a new lid (normally £150) for £50 which was a stroke of luck (having an XS head certainly has its perks!) and I've not had to spend more than that on a lid since.
Pair of Belstaff leather bottoms were £20 off ebay (only knew they'd fit by the measurements given on the listing)...
Buffalo Textile/leather jacket, actually got off here for £20...
Boots were another £20 odd purchase off Ebay.
Gloves, tenner.
I then proceeded to wear this kit for the next 3 years (admittedly not every day but most days plus trips away) before I got my own bike. Then I wanted to make sure I had better kit (mine was wearing out well by then) so spent a bit more but still on bargains haha. My Goretex Oxtar boots are amazing, £39 they were.
I know I've been immensely lucky in my findings but I'm pretty sure all bargains are there to be had, it's just knowing when and where to look. I really do feel your frustration Agy, it's hell trying to find half-decent and usable kit on a budget, let alone being female. But it is possible, I have hardly any money really but I manage and you don't need the best of the best to be able to ride your bike and be safe. Just enough to make you satisfied and confident to ride.
I'm doing ok so far with getting bargains. Pretty much everything I have bar my lid came off ebay. Trousers are a lot harder than anything cos females just come in way too many shapes. waist measurement means nothing to me because i'm muscular so things that fit or are even too big for my waist, don't fit my legs
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