Motorbike gear…Amazon

[Ali]

Kind folks at last job gave me £120 Amazon vouchers as a leaving gift.

I need bike trousers, I normally wear just jeans (I know, I’m an idiot).

Is there anything on Amazon worth looking at…I’m clueless with brands etc., just want to save my skin.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Consider going to a couple of local motorcycle shops to try on options, sizes, and check prices to get a better idea of what might be suitable for you. I bought a pair a armoured jeans that actually felt comfortable by doing this first.

 

[Kram]

Too cold and wet most of the year for jeans. Are you commuting or dry/warm weather only?

Spada Nero are what I have, along with their Enforcer gloves, they make decent stuff, took a lot of abuse on my commutes.
Leather prices are a bit silly, I dont remember paying half of what the list price is now.

Avoid textile rubbish. They all soak up, take ages to dry and stink.

 

[Ali]

Are the ones with slip in / removable armour universally useless? I do have a pair of textile trousers like this but it doesn’t fit well

Yeah, I’m after something waterproof, ish.

 

[Ali]

Or something I can wear over jeans?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Avoid textile rubbish. They all soak up, take ages to dry and stink.

Never so in my 50 years of motorcycling experience. There are so many benefits to a decent Gore-tex or similar suit, not least the fact that no sentient beings have to die to provide it.

They are waterproof, even when neglected and so water just runs off them, drying very quickly and they are not covered in green mould if not ventilated. They don't fade in colour and they don't make you look like a Hell's Angel. Abrasion resistance is up at the top end of the scale should it come to that.

 

[James1979]

Never so in my 50 years of motorcycling experience. There are so many benefits to a decent Gore-tex or similar suit, not least the fact that no sentient beings have to die to provide it.

They are waterproof, even when neglected and so water just runs off them, drying very quickly and they are not covered in green mould if not ventilated. They don't fade in colour and they don't make you look like a Hell's Angel. Abrasion resistance is up at the top end of the scale should it come to that.

There’s a reason police motorcyclists use textiles. They spend a 10 hour shift on the bike in all weathers so it’s fully tested

I’ve got Halverson but you can buy it slightly cheaper as Lindstrand. Mrs79 swears by Rukka. Basically anything scandi will be multiple times better than leather.

Think you should be able to get lindstrand for £120? Any free armour is crap. I don’t use leg armour, don’t like it, but in the jacket I’ve got the Hippocratic (sp?) stuff.

 

[RichardM]

Must admit I wear my IXS textile suit more than my leathers now, has stopped me getting wet on the inside in some big downpours.

 

[Pete.]

I wear budget textiles with class 2 soft armor for work. I work on site so there's no point buying expensive gear as there's often no good place to store/hang it. They are shower proof and I top it up with the waterproofing spray. Won't hold off a downpour but good enough for my hour's commute in light to medium rain.

 

[Morrisman]

Kind folks at last job gave me £120 Amazon vouchers as a leaving gift.

I need bike trousers, I normally wear just jeans (I know, I’m an idiot).

Is there anything on Amazon worth looking at…I’m clueless with brands etc., just want to save my skin.

I wear Knox biker jeans, reinforced with Kevlar. I think they're about £150 a pair in my regular bike shop, but they do seem to be on Amazon. I've not tested them in action, and hopefully never will, but they have a good reputation.

I need a new pair soon, as mine have, er 'shrunk' over the last year or so.

 

[Kram]

Never so in my 50 years of motorcycling experience. There are so many benefits to a decent Gore-tex or similar suit, not least the fact that no sentient beings have to die to provide it.

They are waterproof, even when neglected and so water just runs off them, drying very quickly and they are not covered in green mould if not ventilated. They don't fade in colour and they don't make you look like a Hell's Angel. Abrasion resistance is up at the top end of the scale should it come to that.

Im going to be eating beef whether you buy leathers or not, there are plenty of cow skins to go around.

Most textiles do not have the goretex layer bonded to the outer cloth. Newer ones yes, also ££££ 3x his budget, and the vast majority will get a soaking wet outer layer. Leathers are generally waterproof with just a minor leakage in biblical storms.
I look like a hells angel do I

I will say Lindstrands are excellent and I have 3 of their leather jackets.

 

[premmington]

Rukka...

I am on my second Rukka suit. Yes they are expensive - but I have worn them out commuting.

But if you wanna stay dry - they are the answer.

 

[Morrisman]

Avoid textile rubbish. They all soak up, take ages to dry and stink.

I have an ARMA textile jacket, triple layer. Even with the relevant sprays and suchforth the outer layer gets drenched in a decent rain shower, and then gets incredibly heavy and cold, even though I'm dry inside. I carry a £20 waterproof over jacket for just such occasions.

Same for my Dry Tek textile trousers, okay in light rain, but....

I got caught in a 2 hour deluge in France first time I wore them over there, and everything was soaked through. It took a whole day and night hanging in a hotel room to get them dry.

Gortex is apparently the way to go, but pretty spendy, so I just carry cheap Rikka over trousers and jacket.

 

[premmington]

There’s a reason police motorcyclists use textiles. They spend a 10 hour shift on the bike in all weathers so it’s fully tested

I’ve got Halverson but you can buy it slightly cheaper as Lindstrand. Mrs79 swears by Rukka. Basically anything scandi will be multiple times better than leather.

Think you should be able to get lindstrand for £120? Any free armour is crap. I don’t use leg armour, don’t like it, but in the jacket I’ve got the Hippocratic (sp?) stuff.

I too take out leg armour and back armour. Only leave arms and shoulder stuff in.

I do thou like leather bike gloves - I have thick winter one with GoreTex liners - and thin leather summer ones.

Everytime I have been off - it has been my hands that have come worse off. Never even scratched a crash helmet. Always my hands...

I never ride a motorbike without gloves on - even a quick test drive round the block at workshop - if I put a helmet on - I put gloves on!

I have a pair of motorbike boots (touring type things) - but I never wear them - as I am only commuting - I normally got work boots on anyway.

 

[Ali]

Thanks - lots of good ideas, will have a look what Amazon offer later. Not averse to topping it up a little if it goes over budget.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Are the ones with slip in / removable armour universally useless? I do have a pair of textile trousers like this but it doesn’t fit well

View attachment 344515

Yeah, I’m after something waterproof, ish.

Or something I can wear over jeans?

Being retired, and a fair weather rider, I purchased armoured jeans, and chose to get a set of waterproof shells just in case I got caught out in some rain. They take up very little room to pack.

 

[James1979]

I too take out leg armour and back armour. Only leave arms and shoulder stuff in.

I do thou like leather bike gloves - I have thick winter one with GoreTex liners - and thin leather summer ones.

Everytime I have been off - it has been my hands that have come worse off. Never even scratched a crash helmet. Always my hands...

I never ride a motorbike without gloves on - even a quick test drive round the block at workshop - if I put a helmet on - I put gloves on!

I have a pair of motorbike boots (touring type things) - but I never wear them - as I am only commuting - I normally got work boots on anyway.

On the subject of back armour, you need it fitted professionally and for it to sit right.

Friend of mrs79 came off on track (she used to race) and was unscathed apart from a spinal injury where the back armour was too thick and sitting wrong so when he landed on it, it damaged his spinal cord. He’s fine now but was in a wheelchair for over a year.

 

[Arc Tourist]

I too take out leg armour and back armour. Only leave arms and shoulder stuff in.

I do thou like leather bike gloves - I have thick winter one with GoreTex liners - and thin leather summer ones.

Everytime I have been off - it has been my hands that have come worse off. Never even scratched a crash helmet. Always my hands...

I never ride a motorbike without gloves on - even a quick test drive round the block at workshop - if I put a helmet on - I put gloves on!

I have a pair of motorbike boots (touring type things) - but I never wear them - as I am only commuting - I normally got work boots on anyway.

Being an old git, and not as indestructible as I thought I once was, I opted to get the full package when it came to riding body armour. My recent non related accident confirmed it was a wise decision. For gloves I got a pair of the "Knox Handroid" model, which have skid pads on the palms that are designed to help prevent breaking your wrists upon impact. Well worth the price when you consider that putting your hands out in front of you is a reflex protection action.

 

[Morrisman]

....which have skid pads on the palms that are designed to help prevent breaking your wrists upon impact. Well worth the price when you consider that putting your hands out in front of you is a reflex protection action.

Reminds me of the time I was at the Bol d'or 24 hour race, at Circuit Paul Ricard. Sunday afternoon, race was over, all officials and racers have packed up, and the spectators were allowed to ride the track.

Some swarthy Italian dude ripping round on a Katana, wearing nothing but shorts and trainers.

He lost the front end on the curve, top end of the Mistral straight, hit the ground on hand and knees....... but soon whipped his hands up and then rolled..... Last I saw he was sat on the track, looking at his hands, shoulders, knees, elbows...... peeled like a potato.

I've worn gloves whenever I ride since then, every time.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Yeah, I've worn gloves ever since the time I got launched over the handle bars of my first dirt bike.