redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
|
posted July 30, 2002 03:54 PM
Help protect Jason370!
jason370, I hope you don't mind, but after seeing your post on ZX12 Girl's thread, I felt it needed to have a thread of it's own as well. Good protection doesn't make one invincible, but there are so many here that can testify to the difference it can make.
I have repeated your question here in the hopes that our brothers and sisters here can offer you some advice. I sure as hell don't want to be reading about the injuries of another member going down without any form of protection. Again, I hope you don't mind, but this is something very near and dear to me.
This is jason370's post...
i am definitely lacking in the protction department and everytime i read a story like this i tell myself that i am going to buy some good leathers or kevlar or something. helmet, gloves and jacket i have, but i know i need pants , boots, and actually maybe better gloves and another jacket too.
any recommendations for some quality stuff? money no object on this one.
jason
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
   
|
swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
|
posted July 30, 2002 03:58 PM
Joe Rocket makes a complete, accessible line of products. By accessible I mean that they are at your local dealer so that you can try on a jacket before buying it.
|
TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
|
posted July 30, 2002 04:08 PM
I'm guilty of not wearing full leather all the time, riding back and forth to work I usually wear Dockers and a leather jacket(always the jacket). It sounds like Jason wears his jacket, helmet, and gloves. Actually I am (someday) going to have a pair of pants made out of leather that unzip like an Aerostitch, to wear back and forth to work. Intrestingly enough, did you know that when it exceeds 102 degrees it is more comfortable to wear leather all zipped up than any jacket that lets air come right on through? It protects you from the blast furnace effect of the wind.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
|
zx12rpilot
Expert Class
Posts: 120
|
posted July 30, 2002 04:27 PM
Just got Kaw ballistic pants and jacket. Very hot when not moving but feels much safer. My 2 cents...
|
redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
|
posted July 30, 2002 04:42 PM
 Edited By: redelk on 30 Jul 2002 18:23
Bell used to have an ad that read, A $10 helmet for a $10 head. The quality and cost of helmets has change quite a bit since then, but the point is still true today. Money (and the value of your head) being no object, there are still a wide variety to choose from. Of course, Arai, Suomy and Shoei are the first ones to come to mind and rated as the best in Road Racing World's unscientific "Real World Crash Testing". There are others like AGV, HJC, Nolan, Bell and so on, but for offering standard setting protection, readily available and overing models that are reasonably priced Arai and Shoei would be the first two I'd look into.
Try on as many brands and makes as you can. Helmet fit is critical if it is to provide you any protection. Not only can a poor fitting helmet be uncomfortable, it could also be extremely dangerous. If it's too tight, you could have "sore spots" on your forehead or cheeks as well as even getting a headache over a period of time. Too loose would be even worse. During an accident it could twist or come up (or down) creating the potential for external injuries and/or permanent internal injuries. I could even be the cause of death (i.e. broken neck).
Arai has two different head shapes (round and oval) and their various models are designed for one or the other. Arai also offers different size inner foam pieces to custom tailor the fit even more. I'm guessing that Shoei and others offer something similar. There is no such thing as "overkill" in getting a helmet to fit properly.
Boots and gloves are also a "must have", in my book. There are so many good brands out there, I'll leave it to the others here to debate over which is best.
Though I'm a "nothing else but one piece leathers" kinda guy, I will concede that they are hardly practical for anything but the weekend rider. Two piece set ups can just about be as good and the ones that have a "wrap around" zipper are good enough to meet any race sanctioning body's specifications.
Brands such as Bates, Vanson and Dainese are considered as the ultimate and you'll pay accordingly. Still, you can't really go wrong with brands like Joe Rocket, Suomy, Sidi, Teknics, as well as many other brands. I personally wear AGV, lust after Dainese and will likely be getting something from Joe Rocket or Teknics (if I lose some weight) when I replace my current set.
If one insists on wearing just a jacket (and doesn't care how much flesh is ripped off their legs), getting some of Fast Company's "Draggin' Jeans" might be worth thinking about. They are made from stone washed denim with kevlar hidden the seat and knee areas. At $80 a pair, they are not cheap, but still a lot cheaper the skin grafts on your butt! Ask Dave or Bart how long regular blue jeans last in a slide. What? Two, maybe three NANO seconds?
The thing to keep in mind, the majority of those that went down, no matter what they were wearing, were not riding at their "8/10ths". From Wilson and Angi's friends to ddpete's brother, the majority of them were "just cruising along". Again, even full leathers, the best of helmets, boots and gloves will not make you impervious to cagers, trees and telephone poles. They can make a big difference when it comes the results of sliding down that favorite stretch of road... without your bike.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
|
Y2KZX12R
Needs a job
CompetitionCNC.com
Posts: 3762
|
posted July 30, 2002 05:00 PM
Ted, thats true, and its somthing a lot of people dont realize. Wind "chill" works both ways. Basically wind increases the rate of heat transfer and it doesnt matter if the object is hotter or cooler than the circulating air.
At least its dry air there in Navada. Hear in Connecticut its usually real nasty when its 90+ degrees. The humidity is so thick it looks like fog at times.
|
TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
|
posted July 30, 2002 06:17 PM
Y2K, When I was in China I witnessed the most opressive heat and humidity I have ever felt, one of the guys that was there also was an ex-marine that served 3 terms in Viet-nam, stationed all over the East and he said he had never felt anything like it. So bad the flies could not take to the air, they just buzzed on the ground and roasted. Unbelievaable.
Northern Nevada is not bad at all. Very dry, and I am 1/2 hour away from the mountains and cool weather.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
|
jason370
Zone Head
Posts: 589
|
posted July 30, 2002 06:22 PM
hey ted, thanks for the seperate thread. i think this will be a good post most and a great reminder to all. i like the headertoo, very funny.
jason
____________
'02 ZX12 black/gold
|
Zhooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
|
posted July 30, 2002 06:33 PM
Edited By: Zhooligan on 30 Jul 2002 19:39
Good leather will last for a lifetime or until you either grow out of it or heaven forbid it is cut off of you. Watch out on the Kevlar stuff. The heat generated from a slide is enormous. A common issue with kevlar is severe burns.
Buck up and buy your best friend. Leather jacket, pants and gloves.
I would be a liar if I said I don't tempt fate and ride in levis quite a bit of the time. But as I get older I find myself looking for my leather pants. Draggin jeans sound like a good idea, except the likely hood of you landig on one of the protected areas and staying there is nearly impossible. Also the kevlar will get close to 500 degrees in the slide!
Having gone down in full 1.8 mm leathers at extremely high speed I can tell you as the heat built up I rolled from one side to the other and back. I was lucky about the time the leathers wore through I came to a stop. I still had some friction abrasions but frankly I got up and walked away. Swft can attest to 1.8 mm leather as well!
I can also tell you that they seem to take pleasure in the ER scrubbing the gravel out of road rash!
Joe Rocket has great marketing and in this case for the money their top line stuff is in my opinion the best. There is more suptle leather like a Daienses (sp?)but the soft suptle leather is that way becasue it is thinner! Don't buy something because it feels great when you put it on. Good leather needs to be broken in. A bad leather coat can litterally wind whip you to death!!
Foof luck my friend.
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
|
swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
|
posted July 30, 2002 06:38 PM
That's true about the leather. After two good long slides after low siding the bike, I can tell you that thick leather is my best friend.  First one at Spokane was prolly the longest, long enough that the leather I was sliding on got hot enough that I rolled off it onto another portion to keep from getting roasted.
|
Zhooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
|
posted July 30, 2002 06:46 PM
Yes I rember that day. Swft came back into the pits and everybody came to our pit because they thought we were barbecueing pork or something!!!
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
|
TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
|
posted July 30, 2002 07:01 PM
I used to race these things for a living and I have shredded, ground down, burned, had them cut off (on one of many horizontal ambulance rides) and anything else that can happen to leather. Good thing I has a sponsership from ABC. They just kept me in leather. To me it is the most comfortable material ever, it breathes, it comforms, it is just the shit.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
|
TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
|
posted July 30, 2002 07:02 PM
quote:
hey ted, thanks for the seperate thread. i think this will be a good post most and a great reminder to all. i like the headertoo, very funny.
jason
Red or Ted?? Red started this thread.
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
|
beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
|
posted July 30, 2002 07:05 PM
My two cents...go for a Vanson Leather Jacket, Cobra series. Exspensive but worth it, and it's something you will keep for the rest of your life. I also have some Joe Rocket jackets that I wear from time to time.
I like TourMaster and Alpine Star for gloves.
I dont have any nice pants or boots, for jeans is all I usually wear.
I tried on oooh sooo many helmets until I found the one that fit the best, ended up getting a nice Shoei and another nice HJC (dont ask why I wanted 2 helmets). Spend the extra on the silver mirrored visors, and you'll be glad when the sun is out and not blinding you.
Hope that helps.
|
frEEK
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
|
posted July 30, 2002 07:12 PM
wonderin if anyone has any experience with the motoport GP kevlar suits in particular? i have been tryin to get my hands on one of these fer quite a while cause it seems they'r the best non-leather suit u can get. even approved by ama & FIM. anyone ever bought one or know of someone who did? i'v only ever seen 2 commetns on them. one mentioned it being hard to get in & out of, and the other mentioend that the 2 piece had a bit of nylon between the pieces that doesnt offer much protection if u happen to slide on that spot.
incidentally, is there anyone else on this board who prefers not to use leather?
|
beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
|
posted July 30, 2002 07:15 PM
Edited By: beansbaxter on 30 Jul 2002 20:16
I do not prefer leather unless I'm on a road trip, meaning 30 miles and up.
Around town or under 30 minute trips, I usually just throw on my Joe Rocket, which is textile (I think that's what they call the material in those).
|
jason370
Zone Head
Posts: 589
|
posted July 30, 2002 08:15 PM
oops i meant red, thanks red.
as far as helmets go , i have a shoei xsp II and it is by far the best helmet that i've ever had. i'm real happy with it. the kevlar reenforced jeans are a possibility, and i think a one piece is sorta out of the question for day to day riding. although i'll need one cause i might be taking a cali. superbike class at pikes peak in september. definitely need boots.
____________
'02 ZX12 black/gold
|
swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
|
posted July 30, 2002 08:47 PM
For short rides, I have one of the flo-thru jackets. Can't be beat for staying cool!
|
ZXtra
Expert Class
Posts: 490
|
posted July 31, 2002 01:41 AM
I always wear my Arai helmet, Joe Rocket leather jacket, First Gear flightline leather pants, Sidi Vertabrae boots, and Spyke leather gloves with the hard carbon fiber knuckle protection.
This year has been especially hot. My only concession to heat is I will sometimes not wear the leather pants, just blue jeans. I'm thinking of getting a vented leather jacket.
Wear your protection folks! -ZXtra
____________
The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick!
|
blkrnbow
Expert Class
Posts: 115
|
posted July 31, 2002 06:31 AM
Moving along with this thread, a few people are saying for short rides they wear this or if Im just going down to the store I wear this etc etc. How many can stop at a red light and have someone pull up next to them wanting to go, and be able to contain themselves? If you can your better off than most of us. I know I can't help it, so I leave the house in minimum jeans, jacket, helmet, gloves. Just remember if your not wearing the protection try to stay out of situations where ya need it. Those 999 safe wheelies wont matter for crap when ya hit ground on 1000.
Brian
|
EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
|
posted July 31, 2002 07:13 AM
I always wear full leathers for any twisty rides. Going down to the bike shop, or to the store, if it's really hot- I may just wear levi's.
Been thinking this is not good either, anyone relate their experience with "Dragging Jeans?"
Thanks!
____________
Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
|
TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
|
posted July 31, 2002 07:22 AM
quote:
I always wear full leathers for any twisty rides. Going down to the bike shop, or to the store, if it's really hot- I may just wear levi's.
Been thinking this is not good either, anyone relate their experience with "Dragging Jeans?"
Thanks!
Yeah, I use jeans alot in the summer, and Draggin jeans sound like a good idea. Good Pockets? Comfy?
____________
Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
|
blkrnbow
Expert Class
Posts: 115
|
posted July 31, 2002 07:23 AM
I have hit ground at about 50 wearing just jeans, it hurt, and was pretty scrapped up but no hospital visit. Did kill 1/2 a liter of bourbon though while washing it out. Amazingly the upper area covered by jacket (leather) took no damage. Hands fine (gloves) just leg area.
Brian
|
redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
|
posted July 31, 2002 09:29 AM
http://www.dragginjeans.com/mens-jeans.html
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
|
Bikelover
Novice Class
Posts: 64
|
posted July 31, 2002 05:38 PM
I wear Draggin jeans when I'm just goofing around. They are real comfortable and look great. They don't have any padding, just kevlar in the seat and knees. That just gives you some protection from road rash, but no impact protection. I also have a Draggin shirt. Its all kevlar. again, no padding but good for a low speed getoff. Its knit so its real cool.
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC