What do you guys think of this riding gear?

[zenbutcher]

So, I'm getting ready to drop $400 or so on my first riding gear. It's important to me to wear protective gear, even in the dog days of summer. With that in mind, I've settled on a few mesh items. Feel free to offer your opinions!

I'd especially like to hear from the shorter, heavier riders, like myself. I'm a short 5'6" guy with a bit of a gut. I'm worried about proper fit.

Here's what I've kind of narrowed my list down to:

Jackets:
1) http://www.newenough.com/street/clos...le_jacket.html - Price is definitely a plus here. At $69 for a fieldsheer jacket, that's tough to pass up.

2)http://www.newenough.com/street/prot...le_jacket.html - Another fieldsheer product. this one looks a little more substantial and stylish to me. I am under the impression that fieldsheer is one of the best brands out there. Do you agree?

3)http://www.newenough.com/street/prot...le_jacket.html - I like the high-vis yellow of this product.

Pants (again, comfort and fit in 90 degree weather is of utmost importance):

1) http://www.newenough.com/street/prot...overpants.html - The sizing of this product is nice (38 waist/30.5 inseam).

2) http://www.newenough.com/street/prot...cle_pants.html Again, fit looks good (39 waist/30.5 inseam).

My buddy who is a long-time rider says I really need some good riding boots, but I feel fine in tennis shoes. Maybe he's right, though? I have a nice pair of leather riding gloves and two helmets (one half, one full). As far as accessories, the bike came with a windshield and engine guard. I added a tank bag and plan to add a luggage rack and saddle bags very soon so I can do a few camping trips this Spring.

[zenbutcher]

I've just about decided on #2 for jacket and #2 for pants, btw.

[dhgeyer]

I can't be much help as far as choices between what you linked to. All I can say is that I have a mesh jacket of some kind, and am very glad I do when it gets hot. Any one of the ones you show would probably be fine in the long run.

I've never tried mesh pants. Let us know how those work out.

Personally, I would never ride in sneakers. Leather hiking boots at a minimum if it's really hot, otherwise calf high motorcycle specific boots. You want to protect your ankle bones

[alanmcorcoran]

I don't know much about the gear you've tagged, but I second the comment on the sneakers. They don't offer any ankle protection from hot pipes and will get soggy in weather. I recommend Alpinestars Ridge waterproof (I think that's what they are called.)

I wear Tourmaster Caliber pants for extended trips, but I've fallen back to jeans for most local rides. I have an icon Motorhead jacket.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by zenbutcher

My buddy says I really need some good riding boots, but I feel fine in tennis shoes.

IMHO it's a personal choice. Some folks have already said that they wear motorcycle boots every time. As a veteran rider, I wear motorcycle boots in the bad weather, & leather trainers the rest of the time. That's what I feel comfortable in. Some folks say "all the gear, all the time", whereas I wear my heavy retro leather jacket in bad weather, & jeans and a T shirt the rest of the time. As the saying goes, "you pays yer money & you takes yer choice". By all means take advice, but ultimately wear what YOU want.

Having said that - When the 4x4 sideswiped me last year, & the bike went down, I was glad it was cold & I was wearing my jacket.

Sound like conflicting advice? It sure is, so I think that the real answer is to wear what feels right for YOU! :chop:

[JWR]

I feel gloves and some type of boots a must.

Having said that, I have seen the highway up close and personal.

ATGATT for me.

[Fish Baseball]

Personally would never ride in sneakers, is things don't go to plan, you want to give yourself the best level of protection that you can be comfortable in...if its any help, I ride in workboots, jeans & chaps, a mesh jacket and leather gloves. Stick with the full face helmet, cause I can attest to hitting stuff with your head (birds, gravel, stuff thrown up by cars in front) isn't fun, but at least the full lid stops it from making a mess of your face.

On that note I've only been riding now for 4 months, and have clocked up 10,000 kms in that time, so still a noob when it comes down to it. So whatever you feel comfortable in I guess. But the little bit of extra gear isn't even noticed once you get moving.

[Water Warrior 2]

#1 for the jacket
#2 for the pants.
Now go to the close out section and look for some boots. You do need to protect the feet, they have so many smaller breakable bones. Don't be afraid to spend money on your gear. You can't buy back your health once it is gone due to a mishap. ATGATT.

[burkbuilds]

It's your feet, so wear what you want, but realize that the tennis shoes do not offer much protection at all.
When I started riding again I was wearing my leather safety shoes with the steel toes, but my wife told me that I looked stupid and needed to go buy some boots, she said, if you are going to ride you need to look the part, so I did. The Harley Davidson boots I bought are about the most comfortable footwear I own, they are even better than tennis shoes. After riding and walking all day my feet feel better than they do if I wear tennis shoes, having said that, the zippers on these things are crap and I've had nothing but trouble out of the zippers. I actually went to Harbor freight and bought a hand held leather sewing kit, found some brass zippers and sewed them in myself, real pain in the neck to do but they work! I also now own a pair of Milwaukee "Trooper" style boots which are very nice and have great zippers, but aren't nearly as comfortable as the Harley's!

[alanmcorcoran]

FWIW the zippers on the Alpinestars have been fine (20 months plus.) (Bear in mind we ride 12 months out of the year out here.) My wife has Harley boots - but no zippers.