02-09-2009, 03:22 PM
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#61 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 710
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Sound familiar?  And while you and I may not want a Volvo or care about airbags, there are many people who do want and care about those things. Consider a man with a family of small children. He wants to be sure he gets home every night. He wants to be sure his Volvo can take the hit if his wife is taking his kids to school in the morning. I'm sure you're aware of the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure". Safety gear is not much different, and it's rather narrowminded, IMO, to make assumptions about the reasons other people choose to wear gear. I'm sure that some people do buy the gear as accessory. I will not, however, make the assumptions as to which people they might be. I think everyone deserves the benifit of the doubt unless/until they prove otherwise. Give your fellow riders a bit more credit in the future, please. 8)
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2008 American Lifan LF200 GY-5 (930 km) - Sold 2007 Kawasaki EX250 - Sold 2006 Kawasaki EX650R - My new ride! 2005 Kawasaki EX250 - A new project |
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02-14-2009, 10:44 PM
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#62 |
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Southern Saskatchewan
Posts: 491
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Just a couple of thoughts on the subject at hand...
Attitude as Gear I've dropped my horse before, and I'm probably going to drop it again someday. Usually when I get to cocky in my abilities and/or my gear. I think the safest thing a rider can take with him is the correct attitude while riding. Aggression, Malice, and Over-Confidence are not safe attitudes to ride in. With that stated, I find I ride better Properly kitted out. Look sharp, feel sharp, BE sharp, right? John Law/The Man I've noticed, I get stopped a whole heck of a lot less when I am all kitted out, than when I am free-airing it. More specifically, I notice my half-helmet is a cop magnet. I attract a whole heck of a lot less "Law Enforcement Attention" when I am wearing my modular helmet. That being said, all my gear is black or blue. I don't know what kind of attention more colourful gear attracts from the local constabulary. Anyone care to post regarding? Insurance I think we can safely assume, given the facts Posted previously, by Sir Jim, Commander KnotHead, et all, that proper gear leads to less traumatic injuries in the event of a fall. What angers me, is when some dweebus in flip flops and a wife-beater drops his horse, and burgerizes his carcas, My insurance rates go up! I mean really, I try to be as socialist as I can be, but shouldn't there be some sort of insurance discount for those of us with reasonably decent gear? Experience as it relates to gear My first jacket was a piece of crap. Terribly fitted, floppy, nasty cold crap. Loose floppy collar that beat the schidt out of my face at highway speed, cuffs that slid halfways up my arms in the wind, and a body fit that made me look like the hunchback of NotreDame with it balooning out behind me. I went through 3 more jackets before I got my custom-built Langlitz, that fits like a motorcycle jacket should. If I would have known then what I do know now, I could have saved a whole crap load of money of schidtty jackets, that now rot away quietly in my closet. This is part of the reason I am very hesitant to buy pant/chaps for riding. If it doesn't fit, doesn't feel good, or makes me look like a retarded gorilla, with a big ass, it's going to sit there in the closet, rotting away, with the crappy fitting leathers. The saddest part of it is, all the jackets felt just lovely in the store. Looked decent, etc. It wasn't until I got out on the highway that I realized just how bad a bad jacket can be. Getting bannock-slapped by your own jacket at highway speed is not safe, no matter whether it had CE armour of not... What might help the newbs... As I mentioned, there's a whole pile of crap sitting in my closet, a Shoei helmet that feels like crap on my head, a couple of armoured gloves that feel like my old boxing gloves on the throttle, and a shiny new pair of Vega Boots that didn't fit me whatsoforikilatingever. (steel toed Docs all the way 4ever!) What a great use of closet space. They're worth Nothing. Somewhere, somehow, I'd like to see a cosmic gift exchange set up to donate unused kit to new riders, so hopefully they don't have to ride in a 15 year old Belstaff, and a Denim jacket, like I did when I was starting out. Although it could be very difficult to set up the logistics to prevent the exchange from abuse and freeloaders. Personalities vs. Visibility A GOB (Good Ole Boy) friend of mine always rode in a Day-Glo orange helmet, Blaze orange jacket, and purple armoured pants. He looked like a total twinkus, especially considering we was at least 70 years old when I met him. He explained it to me this way, "Ain't no one ever said, I didn't see you!" Well, he had a point, but at 6'7" it's my life's work not to get noticed. Studies have shown that brightly coloured gear does make you more noticed on the road. Bright gear doesn't automatically mean poser. Personally, I can't stand it though. (One of the jackets in the closet is a Joe Rocket.) Comfortable gear doesn't necessarily mean fit. To sum Up The same GOB who wore the Shoei sprayed orange once said something rather profound, Specifically,"Can you afford having no hands?" when I complained that I couldn't afford decent gloves. Especially being an auto mechanic, no hands=no job. I think we could expand that to, "If you can't afford the gear, you can't afford the ride" That being said, it's a building process, finding what works for you, and what risk you are willing to take. I really would like to hear about Bright gear and the law though, if anyone has any experience with it? --Vince
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"Sometimes it is better to say nothing, and let people think you're an idiot, than to open your mouth and prove it." |
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02-15-2009, 03:25 AM
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#63 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 4,880
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These "Draggin Jeans" look interesting, odd way to test safety mind you
I found similair ones called undercover jeans which are cheaper, but I think the same thing... Kevlar lined jeans.
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"Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!" |
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02-27-2009, 04:15 AM
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#64 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 4,880
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Anyone use mesh jackets? Opinions?
I was looking at these ones, mesh http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=290298542053 leather / mesh http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=290298059128 leather http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=290298763797 I haven't owned a jacket with armor in it before, just typical leather jackets.... I bet the ce armor would be an added bonus in the event the jacket was needed... I've bought a few things from those guys in the past and they seemed ok to deal with...
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"Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!" |
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02-27-2009, 09:01 PM
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#65 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 710
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I use a mesh Shift brand jacket in the summer. I consider it required for survival in the summer heat here...along w/ my mesh pants.
I like the mesh material. It's almost like not even wearing a jacket, since the air flows right through. The biggest thing about the armor is making sure they cover the areas expected. Many people complain about knee armor, for example, not sitting directly on top of their knees...and maybe moving out of position during a tumble. As long as the jacket/pants fit well, it should certainly offer more protection (and comfort) than jeans or a heavy jacket. One nice feature to look for is adjustable armor positioning. The mesh/leather jacket you linked looks nice. Before shipping it's less than I paid for my Shift mesh, and we know leather holds up to abrasion better than any other material (that I've seen) tested. That should offer a nice balance between air-flow and protection. The leather one reminds me of my Shift "Streetfighter" jacket, which is a leather/textile mix. http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...et---2008.aspx The mesh jacket you linked might be fine as well. It's hard to know without looking at the seems and such to get an idea of how well it's made and how long it might hold up. If it will last a few years, it's a great price. If it's falling apart after 2 months... One thing I try to do is locate any potential item locally. I can try it on, look it over, ect....then I try to find the same size/brand/model online cheaper. Part of the reason I often go with the Shift brand is that I've been told (not sure it's true) it's a 'value' brand from Alpinestars, so it's basically the same company making both brands. And since Aplinestars has one of the best reputations for gear, I think it strikes a good balance between value and protection. Hope that helps.
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2008 American Lifan LF200 GY-5 (930 km) - Sold 2007 Kawasaki EX250 - Sold 2006 Kawasaki EX650R - My new ride! 2005 Kawasaki EX250 - A new project |
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02-27-2009, 09:30 PM
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#66 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 4,880
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Thanks for the info
Yeah so far I've only got leather riding jackets, but none of them have any sort of armor, and when it gets hot out, I don't like wearing them... I think that EXL brand is likely only available on ebay, but it does say 2 year warranty... I guess maybe I'll test it out, see how it looks in real... Unless of course someone finds a screaming deal on a better jacket  I was looking at newenough but didn't spot any real deals. Actually, this looks like a decent deal too, http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...ne-Jacket.aspx
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"Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!" |
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02-28-2009, 02:00 PM
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#67 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 4,880
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If someone is looking for one like I posted, someone has a used one available, not my size though, 2xl, like new... I asked him what he thought of the jacket, and told him straight up it was the wrong size and I wouldn't be buying it, so there was no salesmanship in the answer...
Quote:
It isn't the same as any I posted though, but it is the same brand... Maybe it's this one http://motodirect.com/product/17_53-...501-Black.html
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"Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!" |
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03-01-2009, 03:34 AM
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#68 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Posts: 710
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I thought I'd post a link to another site where you might find a good deal on a jacket -
http://www.leatherup.com/c/Mens-Moto...ets/2/102.html I noticed one of the brands (Xelement) was really similar the brand in the ebay links, EXL. I couldn't help but wonder if they are the same company or related. I did a search and found....nada. No official site for EXL or Xelement. 8O I did find an "under construction" page for Xelement, but I find it odd that neither company would have a site. If you do make a purchase please consider posting a review and pictures...lots and lots of pictures. Just for the record, I found nothing to support the idea that Shift and Aplinestars are related or partnered in any way. The only link I found between the two is a lady who designed clothing for Aplinestars and now works for Shift.
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2008 American Lifan LF200 GY-5 (930 km) - Sold 2007 Kawasaki EX250 - Sold 2006 Kawasaki EX650R - My new ride! 2005 Kawasaki EX250 - A new project |
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03-04-2009, 01:27 PM
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#69 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 4,880
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Thanks for the links
I'm still deciding which way I'm going to go, but I've got a while yet, as the snow just left, but I have a feeling it may be back before the end of March... So I don't need a "summer" jacket quite yet... But I like to hear everyone's opinions....I like the idea of the jackets with the CE armor built in, I have a couple leather jackets, but no armor or any sort of padding.... Takes care of the road rash part but not the impact... The EXL mesh jacket has ce armor on the back, shoulders, and elbow, where the shift only has it on the shoulders and elbows... Though I am thinking the Shift jacket is still probably better, I may go with the EXL to check it out... If I didn't go for off brands I wouldn't be riding a Lifan I actually think I may get both of these jackets, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=290298542053 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=290298059128 After that I'm going to try and decide on some pants, I haven't seen mesh pants with ce armor, though I've seen denim ones 8O I may look for textile pants with armor... I have some decent leather gloves with extra padding on the knuckles, not great gloves mind you, but they should work.
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"Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!" |
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03-04-2009, 01:40 PM
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#70 |
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada
Posts: 1,744
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I use a mesh jacket. Mine is the one on the bottom.
 I love it. Waterproof (proven!), nice ventilation, and the armor and pockets are a plus. I went down on a trail last fall, might have messed up my shoulder/elbow if not for the armor.
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Frostbite "The beatings will continue until moral improves" |
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03-08-2009, 08:55 PM
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#71 | |
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: In the land of the busted up ricebowl
Posts: 815
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Hey Jim, stay away from the EXL stuff!
A year or so ago I bought a waterproof jacket and a set of saddlebags from their website... The bags fell apart after using them 3 times,wearing the jacket is just like wearing a garbage bag, seriously! It fits poorly, the cuffs have velcro adjustments, but the material is too thick and bunches up. The outside of the jacket isn't water proof, instead it has a zip out liner that is made of nylon coated with some rubbery stuff that does not breath at all, it gets damp and clammy really quick. Did I mention that the sleeves fill with water when it rains? And the "armor" is nothing more than a really soft foam. When it comes to jackets, you can catch brand names on sale, usually for about $20 more than the no name jackets. I bought a new Tourmaster Pivot 2 for $89, there is no comparison. The Tourmaster fits really well, is actually waterproof, fits well and is holding up great. The armor in the Pivot 2 is also hardshell in the shoulders and elbows with a stiff foam in the back. Quote:
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03-09-2009, 02:06 AM
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#72 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 4,880
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Thanks for the feedback...
I have had better luck with them in the past, I've got a helmet, bags, and rain gear from them... The helmet is a half helmet, so really how good can it be, but it does seem just as good as my other half helmets, only it fit better... The bags (tail, and saddle bags), seemed pretty good for me, except I overloaded the tail bag with tools and the sharp end of the needle nose pliers poked a hole in it... The rain gear was better then your experience, my only complaint with it was the velcro on the neck line scratched my neck... I've got a while yet before I'll be picking up any more gear so I will keep an eye out and consider all options Thanks again for your experiences with EXL though. I do like the looks of the shift jackets too.
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"Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!" |
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03-10-2009, 04:56 AM
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#73 | ||
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 4,880
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Quote:
Quote:
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"Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!" |
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03-10-2009, 06:10 AM
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#74 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 4,880
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Quote:
================== About EXL gear, it appears Jafrum may be made by the same people... http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Gea...ts/MJ2299Grey# http://motodirect.com/product/17_18-...-BlackRed.html
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