Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

Hi all,

I keep finding myself back on this site, been considering bike on and off for a while now.

Ive decided to price it all up and first up is kit. Now the following is all provisional on quality of fit, but i have no experience of kit or any of the brands. How does this kit fare for the money? Or more importantly will it give me adequate protection, i would really like to know if its crappy gear. I cant afford a fortune (but want to spend enough so i don't regret skimping!), like anything im sure there must be a point where you stop paying for quality and start paying for brand name so would like to find somewhere in the middle!

Helmet £180
https://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/view...rendy%20Helmet

Jeans £90
https://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/view...0FTL401%20Jean

Jacket £70
https://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/view...0Edge%20Jacket

Boots £120
https://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/view...20Boot%20Black

Gloves £50
https://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/view...os%202%20Glove

Back Protector £80?
Forcefield seems to get good reviews not sure how much £80?

Was hoping to get jeans and jacket that zip together not sure if these will though.
Also would it be worth geting any extra armour for hips or chest?

Thanks in advance if anyone can help would be much appreciated as im a bit clueless with it all and there seems to be so much different kit out there.

Gareth

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

why not buy the akito textile jeans aswell then they'll definitely zip together just a thought.

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

only reason is im told i would be better off with leather trousers? i would prefer a textile jacket though.

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

not waterproof though bud and it's winter now if you do get leather trousers you'll have to wear some waterproof trousers on top not a problem just something to bear in mind.

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

cheers, will have a look for some waterproofs as well then if i stick with the leathers

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

the stuff youve picked looks alright though bud i like the furygan gloves might be a bit cold for em though.

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

Go to a big bike shop, try loads of stuff on to get an idea of size, then get on ebay and the rest of the net. I could have save £30 on my helmet if I'd done that.

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

has anyone used any of this gear or any further opinions on it?

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

Boots, a quick suggestion, get the SMX4 WP, as they are only about £20 more but are brilliantly waterproof. They are near enough the exact same design as the ones you've linked.

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

tbh i would suggest you go and try some of it on first. A lot of the stuff had diferent cuts so even fromt eh same manufacturer one style may not fit properly. This is vital when it comes to the helmet. Also if your armour in the jacket is flapping around then it could prove to be not as effective in a crash.

You can get a forcefield back protector for 60 quid if it fits and you dont mind green.

As for the kit. especially leathers i would say that a lot of bike stuff you are paying for a name. ive had 2 pairs of laethers now and 3 pairs of gloves (in a couple of months) tat have had loose threads and generally manufactured poorly. Check what your buying carefully and if its new at least u can take it back in a few weeks if problems develop. Maybe im just picky......

if you get leathers get them tight as they do give about 20% you will feel uncomfy for the first week but after that they will fit :)

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

I have an AGV Stealth (St George) which is the same lid as the S4. Highly recommend it - alround very good lid. If I had to fault it in any way it'd be that the chin sometimes catches the shoulder pads of my leathers when lifesaving. Oh and don't use a V sponge on the visor, can give it a nice wet and dry finish... (got mine replaced by J&S no problem though).

Do go and try lots of gear on... it's the best way to be sure. I found Furygan to be one of the best fitting brands...

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

Dont buy Frank Thomas

Aparently their returns pile at the warehouse is visable from Space.....

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

Well my experience with Frank Thomas is very good - I use their zip together textiles, two pair of gloves and boots.

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

I had an Akito Edge jacket and it was about as waterproof as a paper unbrella. It also comes up VERY small. I went up a size and it was still snug

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

I had textiles from AGVSport (Not AGV),
http://www.agvsport.co.uk/page39.html
it was a cheap set, at the time cost me £110 for the jacket and pants (costs more now), I binned my Blade and hit the deck at 60mph and they saw me right, I went and bought another set (unfortunatley for me I'm stoopid and bought the wrong size (or maybe it's cos I got fat that they don't fit properly)

Also they kept me warm and dry, done trips from Bristol to Wigan with Viper without leaks and even after they had done a few thousand miles I did a week and half in them on a little tour around our fair isle with Saxo and still as warm and waterproof as ever. All I ever did wash wash them with Knikwax textile and waterproofing wash once.

Class guys, they have dealers but I don't live near one of them so have dealt with them on the phone and they have sent me stuff out to Bristol in the post and in good time too.

Met them at the bike show last year too. Very nice people.

Back protectors to me are a GREAT idea I bought one for over £100, one of the Knoxx ones and have found that it limits my visibility by preventing my head turning.
Obs and life saver became very hard to do. I had to turn my whole body to see behind me which meant that the bike would move to the left or right as you leaned around to see. I have tried a smaller size but found the same.

Re: Can anyone help a newbie with opinions on my kit list?
 

Well tbh most of my stuff is FT. and I would agree it does not seem to be the same quality as some of the dainese stuff. Although it is less than half the price so you go figure.

However I have returned some of my stuff already. I had one pair of gloves that were faulty out of the packet and have had my lether trousers replaced. The material is good but the stitching is poorly finished. However they will hapliy replace or allow you to get them repaired and they will refund you the costs. Carnt say fairer than that tbh.