[lanbrown]

The purpose of this thread is so others can share their tips for buying motorcycle gear.

The price of gear varies widely; some of it is worth the money and others are not. The most important aspect is that is must fit and be comfortable. If you don’t like to wear it then you either won’t or it can act as a distraction as you are riding. Gear sitting in the closet does you no good in terms of protection. So, when you are shopping for riding gear, you should try it on and not just try to order something through the mail unless you know that it will fit. Most manufacturers’ keep consistent sizing between their own brands/styles, so once you find something that fits, you can usually buy replacement or upgraded gear without much to worry about the correct fit. In some cases you are going to need gear for different seasons.

You must also maintain your gear; you protect it and it can protect you.
The brands I prefer are Arai for helmets, Held for gloves, Frey-Daytona for boots, Vanson for leather and Aerostich for textile gear.

Other considerations should go beyond just the obvious. For example, socks. Sure any socks will do, but if it is cold, you want a sock that will keep your feet warm; the boot is exposed to the outside air and the wind chill does play a part here. In the summer, you feet are going to sweat and you don’t want to get blisters. If you are riding someplace and have a lot of walking to do, a boot that has a lot of protection may not be ideal, they may make it hard to walk around in and actually cause additional discomfort as well. If you buy gear for moderate to high temps, you can use this in the cooler temps if you can add additional layers below it. If the jacket is highly ventilated, then this doesn't work as well. If you expect to stay very cool in 100+ degree weather, then the best bet is to drive and crank the A/C up.

Everyone like different brands of gear, so keep that in mind when you ask about a particular brand as you will hear good and bad things about them. If you want a lot of protection, then you need to see what the racers wear. I'm not talking about the pro’s here, but club racers. Many of them have a job Monday through Friday and they cannot afford to get seriously injured. The pro's have endorsements and what it looks like they wear is not what they are actually wearing or the gear is custom made for them to much higher standards than what you buy off the shelf. Some companies produce the same product for the pro’s as they do for everyone else.

So wear your gear and keep the rubber side down.

[Red Rider]

Tip #1 - Try before you buy. Ordering gear online doesn't always allow you to try gear on for proper fitment. Poorly fitting gear may not offer sufficient protection. Support your local shop whenever possible.

[skhy85]

When buying one piece leathers, or leather jackets, keep color in mind. Not just for eye appeal but also for level of protection. Different colors affect the characteristics of the leather when dyed. Red, black, and silver are the colors that hold up the best, while blue and green are the colors that will weaken the leather.

[SoCalSteve]

what about orange? i assumed it was in the blue green catagory...