Summer Gear?

scooterstud · Post by **scooterstud** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:28 am

Hi All,

I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks, but I got my SI Buddy 125 last week, so I have to stop lurking and introduce myself in order to ask some serious questions.

I guess I am wondering what kind of gear one needs to ride with in summer? I don't have a lot of money, but I'd like to be smart. What I would love is a jacket that does not look like a armored jacket that I can wear year round and in the rain, and that is not pricy. I know such a jacket probably does not exist, but I still want to get away with the least amount of sets of gear I can, perhaps one for summer and one for fall, winter, spring?

I'd like to make my daily 10-12 mile roudtrip commute to the restaurant where I work on buddy and here in Atlanta it is about to get very hot. However, when I have taken buddy out in the mornings and tonight, I have been surprised at how cold I actually became because of the wind chill. I guess what I am trying to avoid is a different jacket for each weather condition. Hot, cold, rain, windy. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

DJ

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:59 am

Congrats one the new Scoot! :big smiles:

As far as jackets for style have you seen these: www.corazzo.net not sure of what price range you're looking but put the word motorcycle on anything and the price seems to double (at least). A lot of jackets have removable liners for varying temps too. Hope you find what you're looking for soon

Ride safe and enjoy your new scooter! (make sure to post pics)

SaltyDog · Post by **SaltyDog** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:11 am

I would look at www.motorcyclecloseouts.com

I purchased a FirstGear mesh pullover jacket for about 40 bucks
after shipping. I needed a summer jacket. since my leather jacket
is just too hot for warm weather.

Here's a link:
http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/deta ... =TR50-2516

If you don't like the pullover style, there should be something else you will.

Or try:

www.newenough.com

for other goodies.

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:16 am

newenough.com definitely has GREAT prices also check out ridegear.com and kneedraggers.com

EBee · Post by **EBee** » Mon May 21, 2007 12:41 pm

I have a FirstGear mesh that I got from newenough.com, also a less-motorcycle-y jacket from classyrider.com that I got for summer. I'm still evaluating that one but so far so good...if you need something that you can walk into a meeting or restaurant with, it's a nice choice.

scooterstud · Post by **scooterstud** » Mon May 21, 2007 12:50 pm

Wow, you guys are the best. Thanks for all the suggestions! BTW, don't be afraid to be super specific with brand and model names, links to products and whatnot. I am looking for products that my fellow scooterist actually use and like.

BTW, I just discovered armor that is worn on the body, on the knees and elbows that allow you to use any kind of clothes you want. Does anyone use this as an alternative?

Thanks again, you guys rock!

DJ

scooterstud · Post by **scooterstud** » Mon May 21, 2007 12:56 pm

Corsair wrote:Congrats one the new Scoot! :big smiles:

As far as jackets for style have you seen these: www.corazzo.net not sure of what price range you're looking but put the word motorcycle on anything and the price seems to double (at least). A lot of jackets have removable liners for varying temps too. Hope you find what you're looking for soon

Ride safe and enjoy your new scooter! (make sure to post pics)

Yeah, I love the Shop Jacket!!! My only concern about their jackets is they seem very fall and spring to me. They have liners which I don't think are removable, or at least the shop jacket does. This is good as I've stated it really gets cold on my commute, but its about to get really hot here, so if the shop jacket can't get me though the summer then it will have to wait till the fall. For that price I would really like a jacket that looks like that and is all season. The shop jacket is still on my wish list though, and who knows, maybe it is all season? Anyone using the corazzo stuff?

louie · Post by **louie** » Mon May 21, 2007 1:32 pm

I've just put some gear together for myself and looked around quite a bit. I have found it is important that the armor stay in place while you hit the ground, i found a cortech (sp) brand that has fitted sleeves and waist as many brands do now.
For any temp below 85 or 90 i've got a leather jacket. Do some reading of your own, but it appears that leather is still tougher in a slide than any or most man made fabric, there are always leather jackets on sale that look fine off a bike. Leather thickness counts so look at that. I'm a girl so i don't know any specific jackets on sale, but powertrip has womans' leather on sale at a fine price $100 for what was my first choice if half the woman in town weren't already wearing them.

Maybe a mesh to start with, they all have liners (?) for chilly morning and night and bareble in the hotlanta days. Look for a deal on leather in the meantime.

scooterstud · Post by **scooterstud** » Mon May 21, 2007 1:39 pm

SaltyDog wrote:I would look at www.motorcyclecloseouts.com

I purchased a FirstGear mesh pullover jacket for about 40 bucks
after shipping. I needed a summer jacket. since my leather jacket
is just too hot for warm weather.

Here's a link:
http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/deta ... =TR50-2516

If you don't like the pullover style, there should be something else you will.

Or try:

www.newenough.com

for other goodies.

I like the pullover, and it may be just what I need for the summer months. I like that it does not cost a lot, but hopefully it still gives you some decent protection from the road.

scooterstud · Post by **scooterstud** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:34 pm

louie wrote:I've just put some gear together for myself and looked around quite a bit. I have found it is important that the armor stay in place while you hit the ground, i found a cortech (sp) brand that has fitted sleeves and waist as many brands do now.
For any temp below 85 or 90 i've got a leather jacket. Do some reading of your own, but it appears that leather is still tougher in a slide than any or most man made fabric, there are always leather jackets on sale that look fine off a bike. Leather thickness counts so look at that. I'm a girl so i don't know any specific jackets on sale, but powertrip has womans' leather on sale at a fine price $100 for what was my first choice if half the woman in town weren't already wearing them.

Maybe a mesh to start with, they all have liners (?) for chilly morning and night and bareble in the hotlanta days. Look for a deal on leather in the meantime.

Yeah, leather would be great if you could wear it in really hot weather. Maybe some of the vented jackets can be? I don't really know as I have to say the "gear" aspect of riding a scooter was definitely an afterthought for me. The only gear I see consistently on scooterists here in ATL is a helmet. I learned the value of goggles last night when I took a bug to my right eye. I had my goggles with me, just started out w/out them.

I want to be smart, but at the same time I wonder if some of this gear is not overkill for a scooter and really designed for hitting the pavement after being flung from a racing bike at 90mph? Another part of me says what does it matter? If it will protect me in a spill, then its worth wearing. I have to say though, I had not really planned on redoing my wardrobe just to ride a scooter. I usually don't spend more than $20-$30 on clothes and I can't say that this protective gear is cheap, especially gear that doesn't actually look like gear. I have a hard enough time as it is finding clothes that fits me and in a style I like at the prices I want, now adding a protective element in there makes it all but impossible.

I wonder if in Asia, Italy, and other countries where scooters are more widespread if gear is in wide use? I remember the first time I became aware of scooters was as a kid visiting the relatives in Japan. They were everywhere in Tokyo. It seemed to be more just a way of getting around than a lifestyle that required special "gear," and I guess that is kind of the way I saw scootering until just before buying the bike, just another mode of transportation, perhaps with some increased personal risk involved should you end up in an accident. A motorcycle definitely seems like a mode of transportation associated with a certain lifestyle, certain clothes etc, but I never really knew this would be necessary for a scooter.

All the stories of road-rash and missing toes definitely make me want to wear gear (yes I've seen the posts here), but on the other hand, this may be the equivlant of letting a plane hijacking scare me out of a trip overseas. There are three other people who ride scooters to where I work and none of them wear anything but a helmet, not even foot gear. One of them lives with four other scooterist, none of which wear anything but a helmet. I donno, kinda thinking out loud here. So far my gear is ankle high boots, helmet, and shatter proof glasses. Maybe I should just add elbow and knee body armor and call it a day?

I guess the nice thing about gear, other than a helmet, is you decide the level of risk you are willing to take. I sure do wish it were easier to add gear to any lifestyle pricepoint. I am not saying it can't be done, just that so far it has been an somewhat unexpected downer to what I hope is my new main mode of trasportation.

Anyway, please don't flame me here, I am just thinking out loud. I know gear is invaluable in a spill, but you would have to admit that you would probably be even safer in your car wearing a helmet, or a padded suit. So the thing I have to decide is what level of risk am I willing to take. I am already a cautious driver. I always use a seatbelt, and knock on wood have never had the need for it. I know as careful as you are the unforseen can come out of know where and hand you a spoon full of road rash. But perhaps I have to weigh this against the fact that I don't really want to be a person who has to wear all sorts of special gear just to go out on my scoot...

For me buying a scooter was mostly a way of avoiding high gas prices, a new car payment, and helping not pollute so much on my daily commute. In other words, a lot of my choice of buying a scooter was economical and having to add expensive clothes just to ride kind of takes away some of the rationale. Sure sure, even with all the gear factored in its less than a car payment, but I don't want to even come close to that.

Anyway, regardless, thanks for all the suggestions. I hope I can find a level of protection that makes me feel comfortable while not cramping my stlye (like I had any to begin with lol) or burning a hole in my wallet.

Thanks!

-DJ

Tbone · Post by **Tbone** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:35 pm

WELCOME! Congrats on the Buddy!!! By the way, post photos when you can, especially if you've done any modifications to the bike!

It's hard to be specific DJ because the styles range from Street Racer, tough guy Harley Rebel without a clue and the psuedo "Mod" look. It really depends on your personal style.

I went with motorcyclecloseouts and a jacket that's a half street racer and half mod in it's look. It has ventilation areas that you can open and a removable linear. The armor is removable as well for if/when I choose to upgrade to better quality. It cost me about $75 total with shipping. I bought some gloves that feel more wintery and don't have removable linear but I got them mainly for my Motorcycle Safety Class in June. I'll bring my normal gloves that I use when I pedal bike into work to the MSF course and see if those are acceptable as well.

scooterstud · Post by **scooterstud** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:48 pm

Tbone wrote:WELCOME! Congrats on the Buddy!!! By the way, post photos when you can, especially if you've done any modifications to the bike!

It's hard to be specific DJ because the styles range from Street Racer, tough guy Harley Rebel without a clue and the psuedo "Mod" look. It really depends on your personal style.

I went with motorcyclecloseouts and a jacket that's a half street racer and half mod in it's look. It has ventilation areas that you can open and a removable linear. The armor is removable as well for if/when I choose to upgrade to better quality. It cost me about $75 total with shipping. I bought some gloves that feel more wintery and don't have removable linear but I got them mainly for my Motorcycle Safety Class in June. I'll bring my normal gloves that I use when I pedal bike into work to the MSF course and see if those are acceptable as well.

Thanks T-Bone. I definitely fit more into the "mod" poor musician category, which is pretty much what I am. I am rather thin and small, so I can't really do the "biker" thing, nor do I really care to. The Corazzo stuff is the best style wise I have seen, I am just concerned when temps here in Atlanta hit 90+ I won't be able to use the jacket anymore.

Anyone out there using a Corazzo jacket or hoodie? I especially like the men's hoodie and the shop jacket, but I could probably make one of the other ones work if they would work year round. But even if a Corazzo works out that still leaves my knees exposed. I suppose a pair of body worn knee armour would take care of that.

Tbone · Post by **Tbone** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:56 pm

I'm a married, home owning, choosing to work 2 jobs poor musician! That doesn't have his scooter...yet! (Hopefully by the end of June/July or sooner!)

Corazzo is coming out with a more mesh jacket. I too LOVE their Mod look and the fact that they are scooter riders as well. My problem with them is the $$$. I might later get a corrazo but for now as my wife put it the X-Men jacket is what I've got. We get 90+ out here without the humidity, I'll post back about the jacket without the linear when:
A. I get my bike
B. I ride during the extreme summer heat.

My wife thinks I'm going a bit overboard wanting the all season weather pants I found on motorcycle closeouts. SO, I'll wait until winter for those and PRAY I don't spill before that!

scooterstud · Post by **scooterstud** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:10 pm

Tbone wrote:I'm a married, home owning, choosing to work 2 jobs poor musician! That doesn't have his scooter...yet! (Hopefully by the end of June/July or sooner!)

Corazzo is coming out with a more mesh jacket. I too LOVE their Mod look and the fact that they are scooter riders as well. My problem with them is the $$$. I might later get a corrazo but for now as my wife put it the X-Men jacket is what I've got. We get 90+ out here without the humidity, I'll post back about the jacket without the linear when:
A. I get my bike
B. I ride during the extreme summer heat.

My wife thinks I'm going a bit overboard wanting the all season weather pants I found on motorcycle closeouts. SO, I'll wait until winter for those and PRAY I don't spill before that!

Yeah, I hear you about the $! It was hard enough getting buddy and all the locks chains and covers that he needed to keep him safe, but the helmet, goggles, jackets etc for me are just about killing me!

I think I could spring for the Corozzo if that one jacket would work year round. Or if they have a more affordable mesh jacket for summer, that would work too. It's definitely humid here so I have to keep those summer days in mind as I look for gear. I see motorcyclists all the time here riding around town in shorts and sneakers which I would not really do as I'm fine wearing boots and jeans year round and I would like at least the protection that denim provides!

My knees are pretty familiar with the pavement as I used to ride a bicycle a lot as a kid and have had many a high-speed spill, some probably at close to scooter speeds. Not looking forward to taking a spill, but would like to be prepared if I should.

Tazio · Post by **Tazio** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:39 pm

You will find that if you go down, protective gear is worth double or more the price. I found out the hard and painful way. I just added my recent experience to: topic1520.html

A very safe motorcycle riding friend told me many years ago that it's not a question of, if you are going down, only when. It will happen sooner or later. I was gambling that it would be later and lost!

scooterstud · Post by **scooterstud** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:57 pm

Tazio wrote:You will find that if you go down, protective gear is worth double or more the price. I found out the hard and painful way. I just added my recent experience to: topic1520.html

A very safe motorcycle riding friend told me many years ago that it's not a question of, if you are going down, only when. It will happen sooner or later. I was gambling that it would be later and lost!

Well this is good for me to read, and your riding situation is similar to my own, in town, slower speeds, etc so it relates directly to my situation. Sorry to hear about your spill, and I hope you feel better soon. Will you be able to make a full recovery?

I do wish I had bought a full face helmet, almost as soon as I got the open face home as the wind really does a number on your face. I'll have to live with it for now.

As for the protective gear, some people talk as if the mesh is not much better than a jean jacket, even with the armor. My head is just kind of spinning with all the options, and I don't have a lot of money to experiment with. Thanks for the feedback!

codemonkey · Post by **codemonkey** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:04 pm

One of the MFC instructors said that he used to wear a 3/4 helmet until he got hit in the face by a bee. Luckily he's not allergic but he said it hurt like crazy.

I'm allergic and there's tons of bees around. Even aside from all the other benifits of having a FF helmet, not getting a bee in my face it huge motivation all by itself.

Tbone · Post by **Tbone** » Mon May 21, 2007 7:36 pm

When I was lurking I searched and read through many posts about jackets here and on Modernvespa.com

Again as much as I love Corazzo, it was the price for the time being that negated them for me as an option.

Because Sacramento, CA get's 90+ degrees most of the summer months and can get cool (It's CA very few places actually get COLD here!) but is routinely rainy/windy I wanted to get the best I could. I wanted leather but didn't really want to spend more than $100 on the jacket (for now). So I wound up getting http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/deta ... WP471-5080

Waterproof, removable linear, reflective strip (NOT the big white strip like I thought but it still has one), ventilation...more details in the link. So far, I think it's a good find. We'll see after I get my bike and try wearing it in the 90+ degree dry heat.

Like you, limited funds and I needed a multi-seasonal jacket. Right now, I feel this is a good find.

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Mon May 21, 2007 7:58 pm

codemonkey wrote:One of the MFC instructors said that he used to wear a 3/4 helmet until he got hit in the face by a bee. Luckily he's not allergic but he said it hurt like crazy.

I'm allergic and there's tons of bees around. Even aside from all the other benifits of having a FF helmet, not getting a bee in my face it huge motivation all by itself.

Bee's, cigarette butts... dust, pollen. I went mountain biking the other day and was surprised at how miserable it was considering I had ridden my scooter just before. I could not keep the pollen out of my eyes, even with sunglasses. A FF on a mountain bike, though, might be a bit too much.

maryvu · Post by **maryvu** » Mon May 21, 2007 11:19 pm

Cheap nearly 'all season' jacket
http://newenough.com/closeouts/mesh_jac ... acket.html
TourMaster Breeze w/ Lining (total $80-ish)

The jacket is doing well, I commuted 20+ miles in rainy seattle this morning, and my body temp was comfortable (I had on LS Teeshirt, and fleece vest underneath). Gloves, another story (need some waterproof ones!). It was 79 degrees a few weeks ago, and the jacket without the liner was quite ventilated. I'd call this my mostly 'all-season' jacket. In winter rain and darkness, I'm hoping to get a textile, with more color. Perhaps that Corazzo Hoodie I've been drooling over.

I mod'd the jacket by adding 3M SOLAS reflective on the top stripe on the back and arms of the jacket. The reflective tape is also on my buddy, but I'll post that separately...

stay tuned for a pic of the extra reflective jacket. (my usb cord is at home)

good luck!
maryvu