What to wear..?

[Trouble]

Hi All,

New to the forum so hello!

Just got my first monster, having ridden a 125 vespa for a couple of years, and then no bike for about 5 years before that. My scooter clobber isn't suitable now so need to get some new gear.

Pulled some leathers out of the basement I used to wear years ago, still in fantastic nick but I am a bit more 'well fed' than I used to be, so they are going on ebay (unless anyone wants em?) just looking for some advice as to what to get? Leathers, textile, both? I found this for the daily ride to work:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPADA-LUNAR-WATERPROOF-MOTORCYCLE-JACKET-RED-L_W0QQitemZ320446277807QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motor cycle_Clothing?hash=item4a9c1628af

Always found it difficult to find leathers, being a short arsed 5ft8. I know I am a 44" chest so can get a jacket ok, but have found trousers a bit long generally, and bunch up around the knee. I guess the only way to get some that fit right is to go and try some, but any thoughts or advice appreciated.

Ta very much

Phil :dunce:

[rollo22]

A good place to start is the london bike show next month.
George White will be there and usually have lots of stuff.

[Thirdway]

Well, on Dr somethingorothers injury list the main area for protection is the feet. So get good protective boots as a must (Got to say I like Daytonas).

Next up are the legs so I would get leather jeans (I found that getting them hand made to my size was quite inexpensive and the fit is terrific, I can recommend A.M Leathers in Barnard Castle-You get thick double leather and triple stitching).

Then it's the hands, so get a good pair of leather gloves (I would get something with a waterproof membrane) and make sure the wrist restraint stops them just pulling straight off-have a look on the Ride magazine recommended list on their website, or buy the mag.

Apparently the torso hardly ever suffers much in the way of severe damage, I wear a fabric jacket because it's waterproof, it is also worth having a back protector(forcefield are good) and a bit of armour in the shoulders and elbows. Make sure the sleeves are wide enough to go over your gloves otherwise when it rains, the gloves fill up with water.

I also have a cheap pair of lightweight Sidi waterproof overtrousers that I can stick on if it rains.

Helmet is watever u like as long as it fits properly and is British Standard and all that malarky. Worth thinking about a mist proof insert although they have downsides.

[gary tompkins]

I've bought a lot of my gear from J&S bike shops. They usually have a good range to try on, and if you buy several items at the same tim you may get a discount. Bike shows are another option but I tend to find size/style choice is more limited, and the show discounts offered are not much better than retail shops. I got a 2 piece IXS leather suit from J&S for about £350 a few years ago, but often just wear the jeans with a Furygan textile jacket - another J&S puchase.

http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/dsShop.aspx?shopid=8

Textile stuff is very practical but won't offer as much protection as quality leathers, especially if badly fitted and un-armoured. Try to get a textile jacket with a removable quilted liner for cold/warm weather. If you go for leathers don't forget to buy a good 1 piece oversuit for wet rides.

One area that's worth spending extra cash on is gloves IMO. A quality pair of warm, waterproof gloves is a must have in my book. I have 2 pairs of alpinestars gortex lined ones for most of my riding + a pair of short unlined gloves for summer use.

[Trouble]

Cheers J&S look great, and a shop in Greenwich, bonus.

[He11cat]

Id say leather.
Tried textiles for a bit and just don't feel the same and mine which was sposed to be a waterproof jacket was as good as a sponge!

I prefer leather stuff and it lasts longer and more protective.
I have started Nikwaxing my stuff its brilliant.
I do wear draggin jeans and camo trousers a lot which may be a good summer option I don't find the kevlar too hot.

Interesting about the boots... of all the years I have ridden and I have had a few falls my feet have never been hurt and until last year I only ever wore DM's on a bike.(shock horror)

However I have a pair of ladies belstaff boots now which are ok but am saving for a pair of daytona's.
I will go down to a show and see if I can try them on so I know what size I need.

Good luck!!
I have to say I am very fond of my draggins as they are so comfy.

[craigie]

My thoughts from sliding along the road a a couple of months ago;
Boots stopped my ankle from being badly damaged, foot jammed in swingarm. Alpinestars supertech, not proud I got them second hand on ebay but would think about getting new now.
Gloves mean I still have knuckles, Berik ones with metal knuckle protection about £100 and still usable.
Jacket saved my shoulder, leather wore through right quick and what saved me was sliding along on the hard plastic outer of the armour. Dainese £300 about 8 years ago, just needs a patch.
Jeans, being denim unsurprisingly did very little to save my knee, got a hole surrounded by dead skin so 10 weeks on and still not right. Also having nurses put the wrong dressings on for three weeks that prevented my skin growing didn't really help...

Get stuff that fits well because if it is too big the armour will move and not do what it is designed to so try on in a shop before buying on the bay would be my advice
.
If I had been wearing protective jeans I would have been fine instead of needing an ambulance, a couple of days off work, multiple, and almost pointless, trips to hospital to have dressings changed and generally having a bit of a sore knee.
Still wearing jeans on the bike though, stupid maybe but each to their own.

[Thirdway]

This is worth a read with respect to clothing.

http://info.wirral.nhs.uk/document_uploads/evidence-reviews/Revieweveffectofprotectclothingmotcycls_1e577.pdf

I couldn't find the article written by this specialist doctor, but this pretty much indicates the same.

Essentially, in a high speed impact nothing will save you. Most impacts like that are chest /abdomen impacts which will kill on impact. The lower speed crashes are the ones you can walk/limp/crawl/stretchered away from. Feet/legs/hands get the brunt of this, although it is clear that you should have some sort of plastic armour on shoulders and elbows.

It's interesting to note that broken bones cannot be stopped because you are wearing armour/leathers, but it will stop abrasion/slow soft tissue damage and crush damage to feet/knuckles etc.

Wearing cheap/none CE gear is just as bad as wearing standard clothes. You might look the part but when the seams burst/gloves fall off or thin leather just wears through then you going to wish that you spent more time researching where your hard earned gets spent. All that glitters is not gold and all that good stuff.

Most racers wear custom leathers and will usually walk away from a spill. Companies like A.M leathers/Crowtree etc build these suits to order. They are made with fantastically thick leather and are like a suit of armour.

HG gets some good reviews in Ride Magazine. That's where I usually take my advice. Rather spend a few extra quid upfront than find out when the skin is being dragged off on the tarmac.

One of the articles discoverd that the glass fitters Kevlar protective gloves sold at safety places actually provided far more protection than some of the £100+ gloves.


this is a great article to read. It's based on Dr Rod Woods work

http://www.ixion.org.uk/faq/kevlar.html and http://www.ixion.org.uk/

[Trouble]

Thanks everyone. I can see spending a bit more for the right kit rather than go for the cheapest is the right thing to do if I want to keep the skin on my knees/knuckles. I am going to ride over to J&S in Greenwich tomorrow and try some bits on, then sell my Grandmother to pay for it all!

[ricky]

firstly welcome to the club mate and secondly...... HOW THE HELL IS 5FT 8 SHORT????
are u mad??? im 5ft3 buddy and IM short!!!!!:yoparty::yoparty::woot:

[Trouble]

5ft3? Christ! I mean great! So where do you get your leathers from? *grin*

[Thirdway]

I'm 5' 8" which can be a disadvantage at some gigs and that's about all.

[jerry]

I cant stand leather its so uncomfortable and hot and ugly so i have armoured Hood kevlar jeans and an armoured hein gericke textile jacket in UK ...In thailand its same hood jeans and ducati canvas jacket

[He11cat]

5ft 8 is ok for a bloke .
5ft 3 your taller then me!!!.. 5ft 1 ...lol

Doesn,t bother me as a girl I had 2 bf's who were 6ft 4 -6ft 6.. and one who was 5ft 4 who was really paranoid about it and lied to me about his height lol... I just said your not 5ft 7 sorry I can look you in the eye without craning my neck!!! he said im 5ft 4.. (like I care!!)
My Dads 5ft 4 and my Mums 5ft 2.

Funny thing is with bikes and cloths and that if your short its your inside leg that counts.
You can have two people who are 5ft 2 and one has 26 inside and the other will have 30 !!!
Thats the main issue to be honest.

Unlucky for me I have a 26 inside leg .. which is a nightmare for bikes and cloths and I am too big now to be able to get into kids cloths like I used to when I was skinny lol

[Paivi]

I start by wearing matching underwear.

[He11cat]

lol...

hmmm I fail there... I just looked down to see I have a red stripey sock and a green stripey sock on the other foot.
Thats quiet normal for me.

[Trouble]

I start by wearing matching underwear.

Leather..?

[Paivi]

Leather..?
Nah, textile. :mand: