New motorbike clothing/gear

Felix said:
Still can't decide between an Arai chaser or Shoei XR1100 though!
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Spooky – I have both of them!

I’ve had the Chaser longest, it’s my second after my first got fully crash tested back in 2008 :D So I can only give a bit of feedback on the XR1100, as I’ve only done a hundred miles or so in it:

Chaser – noisy for starters, even with everything correctly fitted and adjusted, you hear a fair bit of wind noise, so plugs are a must for long-ish rides > 50mph!
It’s very comfy inside, it feels like slipping your head into something velvety soft, but even the Chaser’s low-spec insides (against the other Arai range) is good at wicking away sweat during the hotter days (roll on those!!!).
The vents do the trick during the hotter times and the chin vent helps clear fogging during winter, the visor/eyebrow vents are so-so I found; they don’t really let that much air through in the summer months, but are supposed to be handy if you wear glasses and those fog up during winter (not tried that yet).

Shoei – the insides feel firmer than those on the Chaser, and that’s not just down to being newer, but I liked this as it helps stop my glasses slipping forward slightly, but this firmness does mean my earphones fall out when it goes on, but that’s not a huge issue.
As with the Chaser the visor change is fast, but with the XR1100, it self adjusts to fit flush. With the Chaser you have to take the side pods off and loosen the four screws holding the two retaining brackets; then push down on the visor and do them up.
The visor has a locking mechanism on it that also acts like the tab on the Chaser, so that it cracks the visor open a fraction to clear up fogging, the lock may be of use if you’re worried about the visor being ripped up/open during a crash I guess.
A chin curtain can be fitted! This was the reason for deciding to pick up the XR1100 as an addition to my Chaser :)

Both helmets are extremely well made, the paint finish on both seems equal, to me the XR seems a tad lighter, and I’m hoping it’s shape may offer better side-wind stability when giving it beans on an empty road – the Chaser has been caught a couple of times and its pretty forceful.

I guess it will boil down to costs, as the Chaser is anywhere from £250 - £320 and the XR is £380; most places were also completely sold out of XRs when I ordered mine.
 
Thanks for the feedback. Like you I found the Shoei a little tighter, especially round the cheeks. Apart from that they were both comfortable. I can get 10% off the Shoei as the dealership I am buying the bike from gives this to new customers, unfortunately they don't do Arai. HG do both but missed out on their 10% off sale this weekend. I would rather get something I was 100% happy with rather than getting it because I can get money off.
 
Take a look at the AGV Stealth Dragon.

I swore by my Arai RX7RR4 Doohan rep till last year where I decided to change it for something a wee bit newer. The AGV filled the gap nicely. Great quality lid, quiet and a pretty close fit to the Arai. Shoei lids dont fit my bonce, far too tight and pinch my forehead something awful. I've had many skid lids over my @20 years as a biker including a few Shoei's. You either have a Shoei shaped head or an Arai shaped head. AGV's fit Arai shaped heads quite closely.

Some pics of both of mine :-

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Meh I want another AGV helmet :p

Cant really comment on the XR1000, I have one but its brand new and sat on my shelf for 5 months :( but it does fit lovely, it feels better on cheeks than my Arai Viper GT, but I cant compare eithers riding comfort yet.

I have had a few of the AGV S-4's which are the same inside as the stealth and they are also quite comfy, but I found they wear quickly with a lot of use, but a good cleaning brings the foam back to life.
 
I found the AGVs were either too big or too small. I tried them again on Saturday and I could pop a medium on and off far too easily. Where as I could hardly get a small onto my head!
 
I used to have an AGV helmet, but it was too bloody tight. Used to give me a headache after a good ride out.
I now have a Shoei XR1000 and it's brilliant. It's quiet enough and fits my big swede lovely.
 
Yes.

They are supposed to feel tightish but comfy at first, ideally most decent places you go will tell you to wear the lid for 15-20 mins in store then see if its putting pressure where it shudnt be, or if you get a headache quick :p
 
Righto best of luck with the bike it's not the nicest weather at the moment!

A number of things;
Always buy comfortable well fitting kit, it's probably more dangerous to be wearing "ultra high quality" uncomfortable kit than comfortable well fitting "high quality" kit. (it's better not to have the accident in the first place).

Be honest with your requirements, if you are likely to be using mostly for commuting there is little point getting race rep kit with all the bells and whistles when entry level stuff (of decent quality) will suffice, equally if you're going to be riding in Scotland get warm gear even if it's bulkier and doesn't look as nice.

Back protector, get a decent brank (Forcefield are well respected). If you can get a full length one that covers to the base of your spine and find it comfortable then do so.

Try it on, preferably whilst sat on a bike. A lot of shops will allow you to do this. The position you stand in and the position you will be on the bike are very different and you might find stuff that feels good walking about very uncomfortable when sat on a bike and vice versa.

Whilst some people weat FT and Dianese, these are 2 brands I will not wear. I know people with it, and have some stuff in the past.

FT; - I owned a pair of winter gloves, the stitching came apart after a year (yes I know a year, but they had hardly been used maybe 10 hours in total)

My brother owned a 2 piece suit, the jacket is coming apart after a 10-15mph highside.

Dianese, not owned personally, but;
i) You're paying a premium to wear the same make as Rossi et al (his leathers are tailor made, yours won't be)
ii) A place I take my leathers to for alteration has told me that the stitching used by dianese is not the best, as well as friends who have not appriciated the leathers splitting along the seams in an off.

There are quite a few brands about around the same price mark which IMO are far better, Wolf are one (which I currently use) and Scott Leather are another (which I am planning to get next week). Though I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to textiles, though Rukka is supposedly the nuts a little out of your price range for now I think.

With Gloves, I wear Racer kit, both summer and winter gloves. They are in my experience decent gloves at a reasonable price.

With regards to kit there's a good guide on Pistonheads (in Biker Banter).

Long story short;
Do a bit of research on the brand, expensive doesn't mean good.
Get kit that fits well
Have fun :)
 
Right, what a job this was!

Every thing apart from back protector bought or ordered. Took me a while the biggest final decision was the helmet. Decided on the Shoei in the end, the Arai was comfortable but I felt that within a few month of wearing it that it would have bedded in and been a bit loose. Shoei was snug all over so hopefully there will be a bit of give in the padding.

CBT is next weekend, can't wait!
 
Final shopping list was

Gloves - Spada enforcer
Boots - Forma Safari
Helmet - Shoei XR1100
Trousers - Hein Gericke Cruise 2
Jacket - Hein Gericke Devon 3
Back protector will be a Forcefield sub4.
 
Felix said:
Final shopping list was

Gloves - Spada enforcer
Boots - Forma Safari
Helmet - Shoei XR1100
Trousers - Hein Gericke Cruise 2
Jacket - Hein Gericke Devon 3
Back protector will be a Forcefield sub4.
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Just remember - fit is what makes a helmet. i don't care if it was a £500 helmet etc. i'd take a £50 helmet that fits right as the one that doesn't fit right will kill you when you need it to save you.

Was going to suggest Hein Gericke for waterproof wear too so good choice. Not too hot on the armour front but are comfortable and with a back protector a good choice. I'd have suggested Knox instead of forcefield as the reason i'm still walking is because of a knox stowaway race but heard good things about the forcefield.

Boots i'd recommend are Sidi as i'm unfamiliar with anything else. I sound like a walking disaster here but i'd have lost my leg if it wasn't for the Sidi Vertebrae 2's I had on so if they are similar then good choice.
 
Helmet definately fits, I went for the Shoei as it felt a little snugger and I'm expecting it to give a little. As far as it felt there were no pressure points, I suppose time will tell. I felt the Arai was comfortable but maybe after a few months of wear that it would be too loose.
 
Well finally got my Forcefield Sub4 today but...

I am a little concerned it is on the small side. Could anyone give me an idea just how high in relation to your shoulders and low it should sit in relation to your waist/tail bone?

I'm 5ft11 and went for the medium and according to forcefields website the medium is correct. Unfortunately I couldn't find a local store that had it in stock and bought online.
 
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