Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Mar 2011
- Posts
- 6,479
- Location
- Kent
What's better when starting out? Buying reasonably expensive gear, so a decent helmet, jacket, trousers, boots, gloves, or buying cheap(er) stuff then upgrading/buying more kit later?
I'll be doing my CBT in the next couple of months with a view to picking up a cheap YBR/CG/Varadero (if I can find a cheap one!) to use in all weathers for the commute to work (could be a 5 mile commute, could be a 30 mile commute) and have naturally started to look at some gear. My head says to buy properly, and buy once for textile gear/helmet and boots/gloves, so I've been looking at the following stuff (had a try on of the jacket/helmet in my local J&S which was previously a HG store and better for it, huge range of helmets/gear now).
Shoei Qwest
RST Paragon 4 jacket (brand new out, literally - says coming soon on the RST website!)
Matching trousers
Goretex IXS Antaris gloves
Sidi Goretex boots (from the aucton site, a new pair is waaay over budget!)
The jacket was very very nice, full waterproof double zip on the front, weighed a frickin' ton (was working up a sweat just putting it on!!) throat coat, level 1 back armor etc.
The Shoei Qwest I tried was also very nice, light, L size fitted pretty nice for a 2 min try on.
Thing is, all the above will come to about £800, I'll hopefully be able to get a bit knocked off, and the boots will be bought from the auction site. But even if I was to pay £100-£150 less on a helmet, then a jacket for £80 less and trousers for £70 less that's only saving £250-£300 and if I'm out in all weather, getting rained on and arriving at work with a wet crotch and wet patches all over, I'd probably end up buying the more expensive kit a few months later anyway!
For instance, I tried on an aplinestar drystar jacket as well as the RST and it felt nowhere near as well built, less armor, single zip with press studs on a waterproof flap vs the full waterproof outer zip etc, and it was only £20 less.
So yeah, bearing in mind I'll be pootling about on a 125 after my CBT in all weathers doing anywhere up to 300 commuting miles a week for the next 6-12 months, is it worth skimping now and having to pay out extra later?
I'll have a proper look around at helmets once I've done the CBT, I did try on an AGV and it was a bit loose around the forehead areas, but fitted well elsewhere, the Shoei fitted bloody lovely. Plus it's sharp 5* rated, which is a nice thing to have, as well as the Shoei name and (supposed quietness), but I know there's a lot more choice out there in the £150 price range vs the £250+ range that the Shoei is in.
I'll be doing my CBT in the next couple of months with a view to picking up a cheap YBR/CG/Varadero (if I can find a cheap one!) to use in all weathers for the commute to work (could be a 5 mile commute, could be a 30 mile commute) and have naturally started to look at some gear. My head says to buy properly, and buy once for textile gear/helmet and boots/gloves, so I've been looking at the following stuff (had a try on of the jacket/helmet in my local J&S which was previously a HG store and better for it, huge range of helmets/gear now).
Shoei Qwest
RST Paragon 4 jacket (brand new out, literally - says coming soon on the RST website!)
Matching trousers
Goretex IXS Antaris gloves
Sidi Goretex boots (from the aucton site, a new pair is waaay over budget!)
The jacket was very very nice, full waterproof double zip on the front, weighed a frickin' ton (was working up a sweat just putting it on!!) throat coat, level 1 back armor etc.
The Shoei Qwest I tried was also very nice, light, L size fitted pretty nice for a 2 min try on.
Thing is, all the above will come to about £800, I'll hopefully be able to get a bit knocked off, and the boots will be bought from the auction site. But even if I was to pay £100-£150 less on a helmet, then a jacket for £80 less and trousers for £70 less that's only saving £250-£300 and if I'm out in all weather, getting rained on and arriving at work with a wet crotch and wet patches all over, I'd probably end up buying the more expensive kit a few months later anyway!
For instance, I tried on an aplinestar drystar jacket as well as the RST and it felt nowhere near as well built, less armor, single zip with press studs on a waterproof flap vs the full waterproof outer zip etc, and it was only £20 less.
So yeah, bearing in mind I'll be pootling about on a 125 after my CBT in all weathers doing anywhere up to 300 commuting miles a week for the next 6-12 months, is it worth skimping now and having to pay out extra later?
I'll have a proper look around at helmets once I've done the CBT, I did try on an AGV and it was a bit loose around the forehead areas, but fitted well elsewhere, the Shoei fitted bloody lovely. Plus it's sharp 5* rated, which is a nice thing to have, as well as the Shoei name and (supposed quietness), but I know there's a lot more choice out there in the £150 price range vs the £250+ range that the Shoei is in.
