No gear and no idea
Discussion
Finally pulled the trigger to get my license after years of thinking about it.
I've recently moved to Palma and hired a 125cc to get around and realised how much fun could be had with some more power.
In terms of buying helmets etc is there anything to look for? Any brands worth avoiding or going for? As due to corona you now have to provide your own kit etc for the test
Any other tips or advice with bikes or anything worth passing on id appreciate
I've recently moved to Palma and hired a 125cc to get around and realised how much fun could be had with some more power.
In terms of buying helmets etc is there anything to look for? Any brands worth avoiding or going for? As due to corona you now have to provide your own kit etc for the test
Any other tips or advice with bikes or anything worth passing on id appreciate
I’ve pretty much always bought my gear second hand (obviously apart from helmets!). When I fancy a change up, I can usually flog it in for what I’ve paid. There are always some good deals to be had.
Always dress for the slide, not for the ride. Even if it’s 30 degrees in summer, I wear my full leathers if I’m going out for a long blast. If I’m nipping round town, air jacket, Knox armour and Kevlar jeans. It’s all well and good wearing shorts and t shirts, but it just takes that one time, and the consequences don’t bare thinking about.
Look for sharps rating in helmets, the price doesn’t reflect the rating, I used to have a 5 star HJC which cost me £100, I now have a £500 4 star shoei!
Also, once you get on a bike, you won’t get off. My mates don’t understand it and I don’t think they ever will, unless the experience what a motorbike offers, but good luck mate!
Always dress for the slide, not for the ride. Even if it’s 30 degrees in summer, I wear my full leathers if I’m going out for a long blast. If I’m nipping round town, air jacket, Knox armour and Kevlar jeans. It’s all well and good wearing shorts and t shirts, but it just takes that one time, and the consequences don’t bare thinking about.
Look for sharps rating in helmets, the price doesn’t reflect the rating, I used to have a 5 star HJC which cost me £100, I now have a £500 4 star shoei!
Also, once you get on a bike, you won’t get off. My mates don’t understand it and I don’t think they ever will, unless the experience what a motorbike offers, but good luck mate!
I agree with that last sentence.
For helmets, it’s true you need to try a load on and see what suits - both head shape and budget. My car helmet is an xl stilo and having had xl Bells in the past bought one mail order and it was no good at all. Ended up with a medium arai profile v.
I wear a Knox urbane pro, dyneema jeans and those dainese boots that go inside your leathers. Leathers only on track, it’s simply too warm here to wear em on the road.
For helmets, it’s true you need to try a load on and see what suits - both head shape and budget. My car helmet is an xl stilo and having had xl Bells in the past bought one mail order and it was no good at all. Ended up with a medium arai profile v.
I wear a Knox urbane pro, dyneema jeans and those dainese boots that go inside your leathers. Leathers only on track, it’s simply too warm here to wear em on the road.
Mike-tf3n0 said:
Try on loads of helmets until you find the one that fits everywhere and presses nowhere. That little bit of pressure you ignored in the shop can become a blinding headache by the end of a long day!!
Agree with this 100%, I set my heart on an Arai RX7-V. When trying it on it just didn’t feel quite right in any size, there was always some pressure somewhere that I just wasn’t comfortable with. I ended up buying a Shoei X-Spirit III, mega comfortable and it just fits me right.Cheers for the advice will head out to shops and try as many on as possible this week. I have quite a pea sized head as well so imagine ill rattle about in most.
in terms of leathers ill look into it, it must be because of the weather here but barely any wear leathers here in palma despite the locals relaxed approach to sticking in one lane
in terms of leathers ill look into it, it must be because of the weather here but barely any wear leathers here in palma despite the locals relaxed approach to sticking in one lane
The helmet should be close fitting, but not too tight. The padding will compress a bit with use.
Different brand are different shapes, so try several to see what works for you.
They all have to pass the same safety standards, so as long as they are sold in Europe from a legitimate dealer you should be fine on that front. The more expensive ones have nicer features; hypoallergenic linings, better anti-mist, or are quieter, for example. I personally like Schuberth, as they fit me well and are quiet, but they are quite expensive.
Different brand are different shapes, so try several to see what works for you.
They all have to pass the same safety standards, so as long as they are sold in Europe from a legitimate dealer you should be fine on that front. The more expensive ones have nicer features; hypoallergenic linings, better anti-mist, or are quieter, for example. I personally like Schuberth, as they fit me well and are quiet, but they are quite expensive.
jakeharvey63 said:
...
Always dress for the slide, not for the ride...
Amen to this. I biked in the Caribbean for a couple of years. People laughed at me for wearing a helmet, a leather jacket, Kevlar seamed summer gloves, jeans, and ankle boots. I boiled at traffic lights, but was otherwise OK. Most people biked in t-shirts, shorts, and flip flops, with either no helmet, or a sort of German WW2 style helmet without a chin strap (AKA no helmet). The cool dude local bike cop wore armoured textiles and a helmet (also a ballistic vest sometimes, as he did narcotics work too, and was usually armed). The roads were dire, and everyone drove or biked drunk 24 7. There were a lot of bike crashes. My cleaning lady had long skin grafts on her leg. Not good!Always dress for the slide, not for the ride...
PS: My Chinese fakey Ninja 250 was stolen and wrecked not long before I left the island. Oh well!
Reservoir Sheds said:
Any other tips or advice with bikes or anything worth passing on id appreciate
- As well as helmet safety ratings, SHARP has a nifty guide about how to choose a helmet that fits well: Get the right fit
- Bennetts insurance has a handy guide to the safety ratings for clothing: Bennetts Social: motorcycle clothing
- MotoCAP gives excellent tips on how to choose the right gloves: MotoCAP - choosing gloves. And MotoCAP could be a useful source of clothing advice, especially if you're in Palma, because it tests for comfort in hot conditions as well as safety. It's worth having a gander through their test results for bike clobber.
Salted_Peanut said:
- As well as helmet safety ratings, SHARP has a nifty guide about how to choose a helmet that fits well: Get the right fit
- Bennetts insurance has a handy guide to the safety ratings for clothing: Bennetts Social: motorcycle clothing
- MotoCAP gives excellent tips on how to choose the right gloves: MotoCAP - choosing gloves. And MotoCAP could be a useful source of clothing advice, especially if you're in Palma, because it tests for comfort in hot conditions as well as safety. It's worth having a gander through their test results for bike clobber.
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