Safety Gear - What do you recommend?

[MadXX]

Being new and all I am looking to start purchasing some gear over the next few months and would like to ask the community what they would recommend.  Budget is not a major concern for this stuff but I don't want to spend for the sake of spending.  I am looking for something that will not disintegrate during a get off and hopefully not need to be replaced after every fall.  I figure my skin, bones, and internal organs are worth a lot to me and I want to do my best to keep them intact.

I have a couple of specific questions but would take recommendations of other products as well.  Nothing is set in stone for me yet:

Leathers: I was looking at getting them custom cut by z-custom or Vanson (whichever I liked best in January)  Off the rack suits don't seem fit me well due to my long torso and shorter legs.

Back protector: Bohn vs. Knox.  Been discussed a lot but does one protect better than the other?  I know Knox uses 1-crash only armor while Bohn can be abused more than once.  I do like the kidney and shoulder blade protection on these models though.

Boots: I was looking at the SIDI vertebra but I am not sold on their durability, especially the ones with the metal ankle support.  I was also looking at the Alpinestars or others.  I have no idea for this category.

Gloves:  I am looking for something that will protect my wrists well and hold up to a crash.  I was looking Held but don't know how kangaroo compares to cowhide.  Anyone have experience with these?  I would also not like to be wearing boxing gloves (no feel)

Helmet: I have been sticking with Shoei since they fit my melon the best.  I was going to give Arai a try but havent found a shop that stocks enough or is willing to take the time to help me find the right one.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

[EM JAY]

  MadXX you are for sure on the right track being new, you must have someone giving you good advice so far.   Personally, Leathers-Spidi, but from what I have heard Vanson would be your best call.  Back Protector-Bohn, Boots-I have been wearing Prexport but am also looking to better my protection, Gloves-Joe Rocket, Helmet-Arai, find somone willing to help you with them, try on as many styles as you can.   Just what I have worn this year, my first also, have had only 2 get offs, one in the gravel, and one low side.  Didn't break anything, scratch anything or even have a headache.  

        My  .02  only......

[Dawn]

Paul has tested these products with good success...

Leathers - Vanson's

Back Protector - Fieldsheer

Gloves - Technique (Violator Pro's) excellent!

Boots - Alpinestars (he's buying another pair)

Helmet - HJC

Good Luck in your search.

Dawn   :)

[KBOlsen]

Leathers - VANSON, VANSON, VANSON! (Oh, by the way, you might want to try Vanson leathers).  Next-best would be Vanson.  Syed is almost as good, for less $.

Helmet - Arai/Shoei/Suomy are all excellent... buy the one that best fits the shape of your head.  Should be nice and snug.

Boots - I bought Teknic Violator II's but Sidi and Oxtar are both very good.

Gloves - Teknic Violator Pro's... Kangaroo is very durable and will give you better "feel".  Has lots of Kevlar and padding in the "impact" areas.

Back Protector - Bohn Pro-Racer (it's breathable... plus, you can throw it in your ice chest in between rounds).

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Vanson & Suomey.  Suomy is the lightest by far, and I've personally crash tested one severely... :o

[unforgivenracing]

 ;DDont fall off the bike  ;D

As for what to bye, get whatever makes you feel safe.  Dont base everything on price[ whats your health worth to you] Spend what ever it takes to get what fits the best on you.  Shop around.  Stay away from catalogs until you know what your sizes are.  Different manufacturers make a difference in fit, so try on a few different brands on stuff for compair.  National motorcycle expo is a good place to start.  
Must haves include; Helmet, boots, gloves, leathers, spin protector.

[spyderchick]

Leathers: I was looking at getting them custom cut by z-custom or Vanson (whichever I liked best in January)  Off the rack suits don't seem fit me well due to my long torso and shorter legs.

Definitely get the Vanson's...BUT... do not wait until January. Get your order in ASAP as they can get backed up. Also, have a qualified seamstress do the measurements. If you are in the metro Milwaukee area or are willing to drive here I'll do the honors gratis.

Good luck getting started...welcome to the madness  ;D ;D ;D

[Nate R]

Alexa, MadXX IS in the area, so he's in luck!  :D  MadXX, I'd also say get teh Vansons if you can. I wish I could afford em.  :-/

[PJ]

Leathers: Vanson. Best I've used. American made and they hold up very well. Vanson repairs them if/when needed, offers trackside support at FUSA and AMA races, and they pay contingency at CCS ROC.

Back protector: I use the standard integrated Vanson back protector. It's nice not to have to worry about the extra hassle of a seperate one.

Boots: Alpinestars. Very good crash protection. I've been through three pair with muliple crashes.

Gloves: I've had good luck with AGV gloves.

Helmet: I've used (and crashed) Shoei, AGV and KBC. If you have a Shoei head, stick with Shoei.

One other item that I would recommend is Bohn armored shorts. They have hip, thigh and tailbone pads that supplement the protection you get from leathers.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

     I have heard good things about the Vanson suits also, but I personally have an AGV suit. Over the winter I bought my leathers new, directly from AGV, for 1/2 price due to them being the previous seasons model. I did have to exchange them though to get the correct fit, but only cost me ground shipping. I look for leathers with quality materials, ventilation, triple and/or quadrupel stitched seams, and good workmanship.

     I also purchased my boots from AGV and am very happy with them as well as my leathers. They fit well, have the quick lace system plus velcro, and screw on toe sliders.

     Gloves are Carbon Fiber knuckle armoured Tecknik's, with kevlar all over the back side of the glove and multiple layers of leather on palm in critical areas. Good feel and not too bulky.

     Helmet is an Aria RX7-RR4, very light weight and high tech. Has decent ventilation and fit great after break-in period. I crash tested my RX7-RR3 in turn 14 at Road America after high-siding in that turn during an NASB event. I used my head to start plowing rows in the gravel trap immediately following the impact with the track, though the helmet got all scratched up, it held up well.

     Weight of the helmet is a consideration when racing due to your neck having to support the extra wind rush, but the helmet still needs to be able to protect you.

[r6_philly]

well since I have crashed hard a lot lately :-[
I have converted all around me to the following products:

gloves: Icon TiMax - the thing is made of friggin titanium. I think when I go down, the road get scraped, not my gloves. Have done very well. It was a bit stiff when you get it, after a couple day of use, it gets better. One down side: with titanium studs on the palm, it scratch up your tank pretty easily.

Boots: Alpinestar Supertech. Like a ski boot, inside bootie and outside shell. Great ankle support, I can stand on the edge of one foot and the ankle won't budge. Also great all around protection, even if the outside shell wear through, you still have the inside bootie. A little tough to get on if you have huge calfs. other wise great. The titanium heel guard gets worn quickly from walking.

Helmet is more important to what fit better. If a good helmet does not fit well, your head will move inside of it, and it kinda make the protectiveness of the helmet a moot point.

Leathers: I am wearing 02 Wintex stock. It is great, but I can't really attest to that because as hard and fast as I have crashed, I have skin wounds. I don't know if anything would have helped. But I did not receive any skin wounds where the leather was not worn through.

[dwilson]

I bought a cheap bike just so I could afford good safety gear ::)

I use a HJC CL-14 helmet (fits perfectly), HJC suit with articulated back protector & plastic/dense foam armor on the important spots & an aero hump on the back.  Alpinestar kevlar gloves, Sidi Vertebra boots & a Simpson neck collar.  I've gone twice, once a hit-induced low side at 90mph resulting in a slide long enough to think about what I was doing  8)  The leathers blew a couple seams and wore 1 small hole, the boots got so hot I had burns on my foot, the plastic sliders melted and flowed a little & the screws blued...  Only 1 hole in them too, I patched the hole and they still work great.  I worry about neck injuries and therefore reccomend a neck collar, besides their real cheap ($30).