• A few people have been scammed on the site, Only use paypal to pay for items for sale by other members. If they will not use paypal, its likely a scam NEVER SEND E-TRANSFERS OF ANY KIND.

Upgrade gear

Keep an eye on ebay too.
Aerostich is size specific and custom ordered. If you get lucky on the right size in a gaudy color you could get a good deal!!

Call or email them and they will gladly let you know what size you should order from their lineup with no commitment to buy.
 
Bell used to have an ad back in the day “if you’ve got a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet”. Same principal applies to riding gear.. it amazes me how folks will spend $$$$$$$ on a motorcycle and then not be willing to spend $$ on equipment to protect themselves. I see the Cruiser dudes with their chaps, vests fingerless gloves, and do rags and just shake my head. (Does anybody think you could actually crash and not hit your head, butt, fingers or arms?). Buy the BEST gear you can find, period. Quality gear will outlast the cheap junk, will be more comfortable to wear and will better protect you from the elements AND in a crash. Me, I’m in an Aerostich Darien jacket and pants, BMW riding boots (insulated winter boots when it’s cold), armoured elk skin gloves (light or heavy depending on temps), and a Shoei lid. Winter I add layers underneath, summer I open the vents. I rode 400 miles a few days ago, 170 in heavy rain, temps in the low 40’s. I was warm and dry. Yes, I’ve got a pretty serious investment in gear, however it’s a fraction of what I spend on bikes. My ‘Stich is about 12 years old, one pair on boots are even older, gloves are at least 10 . In the last 10 years I’ve went well over 110k miles. My riding buddy went through Three sets of “acme” gear in that time before he broke down and bought Aerostich stuff last year. Remember, you may pay for a Mercedes and wind up with a Yugo, but you will NEVER pay for a Yugo and get a Mercedes. Buy once, cry once
 
Well, to be honest Bells slogan was just advertising hype to sell their expensive at the time helmets. Remember they also sold open face helmets which we would almost universally call dangerous today. A DOT approved helmet is a DOT approved helmet and a Snell Approved helmet is a Snell approved helmet no matter who makes them or their price tag. The amount of money you pay for something doesn't directly correspond with the protection you get. This has been proven in many tests where less expensive helmets out perform more expensive helmets.

By all means buy reputable gear from reputable manufacturers, but don't sweat whether it's the most expensive or not. Buy decent gear within your budget. It's most important that you actually WEAR the gear after you've bought it.

My pet peeve is motorcyclists who tout buying the most protective gear you can and then buy all black gear. Black helmet, black jacket, black boots, black gloves which makes them nearly invisible. Coming from 25 years in the Highway Traffic Safety Industry it is a proven fact that High Viz will make you more visible to others (hence the name) and has saved many street workers lives. Now worn by not only street workers, but by Police and Firefighters as well when they are in traffic situations. For a reason. More of them are seen and fewer are run over when wearing Hi Viz gear. That makes us also more visible to left turners, lane changers, and people pulling out of side streets and driveways.

Avoiding an accident should be just as important as how your gear performs once you hit the ground.
 
Bell used to have an ad back in the day “if you’ve got a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet”. Same principal applies to riding gear.. it amazes me how folks will spend $$$$$$$ on a motorcycle and then not be willing to spend $$ on equipment to protect themselves. I see the Cruiser dudes with their chaps, vests fingerless gloves, and do rags and just shake my head. (Does anybody think you could actually crash and not hit your head, butt, fingers or arms?). Buy the BEST gear you can find, period. Quality gear will outlast the cheap junk, will be more comfortable to wear and will better protect you from the elements AND in a crash. Me, I’m in an Aerostich Darien jacket and pants, BMW riding boots (insulated winter boots when it’s cold), armoured elk skin gloves (light or heavy depending on temps), and a Shoei lid. Winter I add layers underneath, summer I open the vents. I rode 400 miles a few days ago, 170 in heavy rain, temps in the low 40’s. I was warm and dry. Yes, I’ve got a pretty serious investment in gear, however it’s a fraction of what I spend on bikes. My ‘Stich is about 12 years old, one pair on boots are even older, gloves are at least 10 . In the last 10 years I’ve went well over 110k miles. My riding buddy went through Three sets of “acme” gear in that time before he broke down and bought Aerostich stuff last year. Remember, you may pay for a Mercedes and wind up with a Yugo, but you will NEVER pay for a Yugo and get a Mercedes. Buy once, cry once
I agree that high quality gear generally offers better protection and product longevity. What bugs me is that people sometimes make direct connections between cost and quality. I don’t believe that is always true. I have seen, in some cases, high priced junk, and also excellent low cost products. To directly equate cost with quality can sometimes be a mistake.

I remember the Bell “$10 head“ advertisement. I knew then and I know now what they were trying to say, but today it seems quite silly. Let’s say I bought the Bell helmet that cost $160 back then. Did that mean I had a $160 head?
 
Well, to be honest Bells slogan was just advertising hype to sell their expensive at the time helmets. Remember they also sold open face helmets which we would almost universally call dangerous today. A DOT approved helmet is a DOT approved helmet and a Snell Approved helmet is a Snell approved helmet no matter who makes them or their price tag. The amount of money you pay for something doesn't directly correspond with the protection you get. This has been proven in many tests where less expensive helmets out perform more expensive helmets.

By all means buy reputable gear from reputable manufacturers, but don't sweat whether it's the most expensive or not. Buy decent gear within your budget. It's most important that you actually WEAR the gear after you've bought it.

My pet peeve is motorcyclists who tout buying the most protective gear you can and then buy all black gear. Black helmet, black jacket, black boots, black gloves which makes them nearly invisible. Coming from 25 years in the Highway Traffic Safety Industry it is a proven fact that High Viz will make you more visible to others (hence the name) and has saved many street workers lives. Now worn by not only street workers, but by Police and Firefighters as well when they are in traffic situations. For a reason. More of them are seen and fewer are run over when wearing Hi Viz gear. That makes us also more visible to left turners, lane changers, and people pulling out of side streets and driveways.

Avoiding an accident should be just as important as how your gear performs once you hit the ground.
Well said, Ferret.

I have a similar (negative) opinion about black colored gear. However, it sells because that’s what people want to buy.

Avoiding the crash using riding skill, riding technique, and riding habits, keeping the machine at it’s best, and making yourself visible is paramount. Protective gear comes into play when all those efforts failed.
 
Well, to be honest Bells slogan was just advertising hype to sell their expensive at the time helmets. Remember they also sold open face helmets which we would almost universally call dangerous today. A DOT approved helmet is a DOT approved helmet and a Snell Approved helmet is a Snell approved helmet no matter who makes them or their price tag. The amount of money you pay for something doesn't directly correspond with the protection you get. This has been proven in many tests where less expensive helmets out perform more expensive helmets.

By all means buy reputable gear from reputable manufacturers, but don't sweat whether it's the most expensive or not. Buy decent gear within your budget. It's most important that you actually WEAR the gear after you've bought it.

My pet peeve is motorcyclists who tout buying the most protective gear you can and then buy all black gear. Black helmet, black jacket, black boots, black gloves which makes them nearly invisible. Coming from 25 years in the Highway Traffic Safety Industry it is a proven fact that High Viz will make you more visible to others (hence the name) and has saved many street workers lives. Now worn by not only street workers, but by Police and Firefighters as well when they are in traffic situations. For a reason. More of them are seen and fewer are run over when wearing Hi Viz gear. That makes us also more visible to left turners, lane changers, and people pulling out of side streets and driveways.

Avoiding an accident should be just as important as how your gear performs once you hit the ground.
Fully agree, I’ve ran Hi-Viz for years. I truly believe that half the battle is being seen. The primary difference that I’ve seen between a cheap lid and a pricey one (assuming both have the same certification) is in comfort and in ventilation. And, regardless of price, it has to fit YOU, doesn’t matter how good a lid is if it causes pressure point pain when you wear it. Gear does not need to be “the most expensive” but it also shouldn’t be “cheap” (as in poor quality materials, poor quality workmanship, etc.). To me gear needs to be well made, of quality materials, and fit well. It should provide decent comfort and weather protection for whatever conditions you encounter during your ride. Brand makes no difference IF it meets the above criteria
 
I agree that high quality gear generally offers better protection and product longevity. What bugs me is that people sometimes make direct connections between cost and quality. I don’t believe that is always true. I have seen, in some cases, high priced junk, and also excellent low cost products. To directly equate cost with quality can sometimes be a mistake.

I remember the Bell “$10 head“ advertisement. I knew then and I know now what they were trying to say, but today it seems quite silly. Let’s say I bought the Bell helmet that cost $160 back then. Did that mean I had a $160 head?
Remember though that there were a lot of junk lids on the market in those days (remember pudding bowls?). Even today companies sell “DOT” stickers that can be stuck on those awful plastic nazi helmets some folks insist on wearing where helmets are required. My point was simply that protective gear should “protect” from the conditions you encounter during your ride. I think far too much stuff on the market today is simply inadequate to actually do that (poly titanium mesh??). I’ve seen folks have low speed crashes and incur very painful skin damage that decent gear would have prevented. Let’s face it, nobody’s ride in shorts and a t shirt if they knew they were going to crash that day. YMMV
 
Remember though that there were a lot of junk lids on the market in those days (remember pudding bowls?). Even today companies sell “DOT” stickers. . . I think far too much stuff on the market today is simply inadequate . . .
Yup, totally agree.

There are videos posted where low speed falls and low quality moto jackets simply tear apart. There are too many helmets that are junk, too many that are "fake" or "counterfeit" and not protective. I'll admit that top quality gear is expensive but too many people ignore safety and there are companies out there that will gladly sell gullible people inferior products.
 
Ture! If you don't feel protected you must avoid riding until wear riding gear/suist that has good quality protection shields. Would like to suggest you buy a complete riding suit if you are an adventurous/dirt rider. If not and only used to enjoy the in-city weekend tours as like me then you should try this pant "https://www.vikingcycle.com/collect...-cycle-saxon-motorcycle-textile-pants-for-men". I have more than two riding suits and other riding gears as well for different tours but for in-city rides, I usually use the Saxon Pant. It's well protected and pretty satisfied with it.
I dunno about this gear.

Knee pads are not the same as CE rated knee armor. And your link clearly shows pants that show "pads" rather than actual CE rated protective armor.

Honestly it might be really comfortable but I personally avoid gear like this because I simply don't trust it to actually be protective gear.

I want to see European CE ratings, not just on the pads, but on the whole product. A pair of Levis or Carhartts with a foam knee pad is not equal to a pair of actual abrasion resistant moto pants with knee and hip armor.
 
Agree with the Ferret 100% Hi-viz is the way to go. Do they still say "I did not see Him". We all get the image that some riders want to look good and not have the look of a crash test dummy but I got over that when I purchased my NC in 2012. For ridding gear I went for a Olympian 3 season,X-moto Hi-viz, their Ranger pants, HJC dual sport helmut hi-viz, and some Timberland heavy duty waterproof boots. Installed a single LED multi beam on top of the headlight and used 4 red/white reflector stickers on the Honda touring screen, yes it looks like a crash test vehicle, and they don't call me Eurocop anymore. The old motocop black leather I've had for years(30) and loved was given to my big brother. Dont care what I look like to others or how they compare my ride to a scooter. Its more important that I am seen and when I do have a unplanned landing my old parts have a better chance. Just a passing thought the bikers used to say "your not cool if your chrome don't shine" maybe they were talking about being seen? I know for some riders it will always be about image.
 
………….

My pet peeve is motorcyclists who tout buying the most protective gear you can and then buy all black gear. Black helmet, black jacket, black boots, black gloves which makes them nearly invisible. Coming from 25 years in the Highway Traffic Safety Industry it is a proven fact that High Viz will make you more visible to others (hence the name) and has saved many street workers lives. Now worn by not only street workers, but by Police and Firefighters as well when they are in traffic situations. For a reason. More of them are seen and fewer are run over when wearing Hi Viz gear. That makes us also more visible to left turners, lane changers, and people pulling out of side streets and driveways.

Avoiding an accident should be just as important as how your gear performs once you hit the ground.
Even mother Honda fails to promote the safety aspect of rider visibility via “loud“ clothing. What color gear do you see the motorcyclists wearing in Honda’s own NT1100 video? Hint (in case you don’t want to waste your time on a video), it’s definitely not hi-viz.

 
Even mother Honda fails to promote the safety aspect of rider visibility via “loud“ clothing. What color gear do you see the motorcyclists wearing in Honda’s own NT1100 video? Hint (in case you don’t want to waste your time on a video), it’s definitely not hi-viz.

Yep, advertising influences people and Honda should do a better job. I think they do make a white NT 1100 (and silver) but we all know that white ones probably wont be imported and that most that are sold will be black. Sometimes motorcyclists are their own worst enemy.
 
My issue with Hi viz is that even when I see other riders with full high viz gear I usually don’t spot them until you’re almost right on top of them. White helmets though I spot from a good distance away. Just not sure how helpful a full high viz vest is. Reflective gear though really helps from what I have seen
 
I remember ready a study 10-15 years ago that stated that a white helmet alone reduced your odds of being in a serious accident by 20%. Next time your out for a ride or drive and see bikes check out the difference in the way they show up. The guy with black gear, black lid will darn near disappear, esp at dusk/dawn or during an overcast day. Hi Viz “Pops” and it just show up better. There is a reason highway crews wear the hi viz vests (so says the old, retired Safety Engineer
 
My issue with Hi viz is that even when I see other riders with full high viz gear I usually don’t spot them until you’re almost right on top of them. White helmets though I spot from a good distance away. Just not sure how helpful a full high viz vest is. Reflective gear though really helps from what I have seen
I have also noted when observing other riders on the road, that white helmets gain attention easily. That makes me feel good, as I usually ride with a white helmet and hi-viz jacket. Modern new helmet “color” choices are usually “low-viz“ or “no-viz“, but generally, solid white is fortunately still an option, and my choice, on most current helmet models.
 
The latest report I saw said motorcyclists wearing Hi Viz have 37% less chance of being in an accident.
Is that because drivers see us better or because those of us who wear hi viz are less likely to speed, pull wheelies and engage in general Tom foolery? The world may never know.
 
Id like to think that everytime a car doesn't turn left in front of me or pulls out in front of me, its because they spotted me due to my hi viz jacket or vest and white helmet.
 
Id like to think that everytime a car doesn't turn left in front of me or pulls out in front of me, its because they spotted me due to my hi viz jacket or vest and white helmet.
Instead of hi-viz, in the more popular motorcycle style you would have looked so much cooler wearing black, and as a bonus, perhaps, you’d already be dressed in black for your funeral.
 
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