| Author | Message | ||
     Ftmyersbueller |
I just picked up an arai corsair. Best helmet and fit (for me) period. I'd like to pick a new jacket and gloves to compliment the lid, but I honestly dont know much about apparel. I'm looking to buy ONCE, and be happy for a few years. What are the "good" brands, and what should I stay away from? I live here in SW Florida, BTW, so its a sauna down here. Full leather wouldnt work so good. On a side note, I bought an EXO1000, mat black a month ago, and hate it. Its too big/heavy/loud/hot/etc. I fell into the hype. It wont happen again, I hope. I had reeboks in the 80's with the "pump". They stopped making them for a reason. They didnt work well. They wernt comfortable, and they added too much mass/ complications. In my opinion, AND ITS JUST MY OPINION, the "pump" in the helmet doesnt work well either. If anyones down here around Ft Myers, I'd be happy to "donate" it so long as you picked up the tab at whatever bar we would meet up at. I dont care for the hassle of trying to sell it, and its better to give it away than throw it away. Lemme know. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
This is a great question. I didnt reply a few days ago because I wanted to see what others had to say. Since nobody else has replied I will post up. I was hoping to find a thread like this when buying my gear. I could not. It may have a lot to do with the different enviroments we drive in and personal preferences. The gear required for Minnesota is most likely different from Florida. I chose leather because of the vast temperature swings here. I need to be prepared for 30 degrees and 70 degrees often in the same day. I would think humidity and rain would be a bigger concern in Florida. As far as brand name I think you will have a hard time finding nicer stuff than Icon but thats just not in my current budget. I will list what I have bought and am very happy with. A Z1R "Duke" helmet with a dark tint shield which I love. A Schampa dickie which I wear a lot more often than I thought I would. A pair of Arctiva comp rr snowmobile race gloves. They are not bulky at all and look like a motorcycle glove but are warmer. My leather jacket is made by Xelement and was the biggest bargain by far. The jacket was under $100 delivered to my door and is amazing quality. If your looking for a leather jacket check out the Xelement line at leatherup.com Mike (Message edited by rpm4x4 on May 14, 2008) | ||
| 1st47 |
I bought a REV'IT Airforce jacket last year.The fit is snug ( which I like). It's designed to flow a lot of air. The arms seem well protected w/CE in elbows & shoulders. Lots of high tech fabrics throughout. It has a waterproof liner that is waterproof and it snaps in place instead of zippers.Riding here in New Hampshire in the summer is hot (mid 90's)& I never felt unconfortably warm.Depending on your size Moto-Liberty has them on clearance or A&S cycles is where I got mine. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
If you are serious about buying the best once then you only have one option. Get an Aerostich. You won't regret it. Being in Florida I figured a little rain protection would be good thing. The suit has some of the most ingenious ventilation designs As for humidity. I have ridden in my in 104 degree temperature while riding though an irrigation (farming) area, I do not know the humidity, but I doubt it was much below 90%. It was warm, but totally doable. Top temperature I have ever ridden while wearing the suit is 126. I have it documented from last year. That was warm. As for gloves, the best products are the higher end Held products. Make sure it has kangaroo hide in it. It will be lighter and cooler. | ||
| V2win |
Aerostich is a great product. I wear one, but if I had the money I would have a Rukka AirVision jacket and pants but at double the cost of my two piece Aerostich, I cant justify it. | ||
| Gotj |
www.motoport.com makes Kevlar suits and jackets that are reputed to be another place to shop for riding apparel if money is no object. They have Kevlar mesh and do a lot of custom fitting. I haven't been able to afford any yet so don't have any first-hand experience. | ||
| Sweatmark |
If it was me in Florida, then mesh would be the only choice. And with Arai quality on your head, might as well complete your gear requirements in style. I'm only a middle-class Shoei guy, but Motoport built me an Air Mesh Kevlar jacket and GP-2 stretch Kevlar pants last year. The gear is lightweight, and the mesh jacket flows air pretty well. Jacket and pants can be zipped together with a 3/4 circumference waist zipper. I also bought the firm's waterproof jacket liner. The liner works as advertised, and does provide extra warmth when required. For trackdays, picked up a 2nd hand GP-2 jacket to match the race weight stretch Kevlar pants. There are a few nits that could be improved on the Motoport stuff, but it's pretty good, and the use of true Kevlar-based fabrics inspires confidence. Not the easiest company to deal with, though. My nasty weather gear is Aerostich Darien, bought used from one of the BMW bulletin boards. Old school Gore-Tex, utilitarian, somehow both crude and sophisticated at the same time. I rode half of an IronButt 1000 miler in a big Springtime storm and stayed dry. With electric fleece liner underneath the Gore-Tex, the gear handles cold temps well. I've worn the Aerostich in 100+ degF weather too and survived... zip open the vents and soak your street clothes underneath, the old tricks works OK. | ||
| Sweatmark |
Read this re: mesh moto gear- http://www.motoport.com/saveyourhide.pdf? BTW - neither the Motoport nor Aerostich stuff is going to win you any style points. Oh, and gloves? A million choices and just as many opinions. I've got spendy Held gloves with kangaroo palm, Kevlar, and Nomex that could be characterized as Arai-ish. But what I wear most of the time are simple goatskin gloves made by local company at $20/pair. | ||
| Jayvee |
I have an Aerostich 2-piece, and a Motoport Kevlar Mesh jacket (and just ordered pants.) For Florida, I highly suggest you forget about Aerostich, just not suitable at all. Lots of mesh out there, but only one brand that is guaranteed not to melt into your skin from sliding on pavement, that's Motoport. Highly recommend the Air Mesh Kevlar. It was 100˚ here yesterday and will be again today. This jacket flows air like wearing a t-shirt, but feels better than a t-shirt at highway speed, because it breaks up the wind blast on your skin. It is as cool as you're going to get wearing anything at all. You could soak a t-shirt under it and have evaporative cooling going on. No other mesh is safe to wear bare skin under it, it's the only one. Doesn't really cost that much, considering the cost of your skin. Same idea as Bell helmet used to say, if you have a $10 head wear a $10 helmet. (I don't.) You only pay once, it's not 'single-crash-only' like other mesh. I wouldn't even consider anything else (now that I have one.) There have even been a couple on ebay in the last month. One last thing, mine is black, don't get black! For helmet, you got to go with what fits, that's all to it. What I do for high heat is wear a motocross helmet without the visor. They have good vents, and just WAY cooler than my Arai Signet, but still have something in front of my face, just in case. (I get too nervous commuting on the highway with open-face or half-helmet.) (Message edited by jayvee on May 19, 2008) | ||
| Ftmyersbueller |
I appreciate the suggestions, guys. I've narrowed my search between motoport and (surprisingly enough) the revit airflow jacket. I've heard a lot of good things about both. I'm going to ride up to tampa to some "nice" cycle stores, and try 'em on. Just like a helmet, the one that fits the best is the one I'll lay the modey down for. Thanks for the help, guys |
