We got an email the other day that said:
Could you do a post about what gear you should get for a starter like myself?
Thanks!
Tony
SURE Tony! I'm glad you asked. New riders are smart to budget some safety gear into their "big purchase". Many times, if you finance your scooter, you can add your gear into the total and just finance the whole shootin' match.
So what should you get? Maybe start out with a lower priced helmet and jacket since you're just getting started? I wouldn't. If you ever needed top notch protection, it's when you're just starting out. I personally recommend a full-face as a first helmet especially for new riders. If you don't have experience with impacting the concrete you could easily mess your face up and even if you DO come from a skater/freestyle bike background it's hard to beat the protection of a full face helmet to keep your face pretty in case of a t-bone. My first helmet was an Icon. I know this post will end up looking like an Icon advertisement, but they really are my favorite for comfort, quality, style and value. Mine was an Icon
Mainframe in Yellow... I believe that bright helmets save lives. OH! And another good thing about full face helmets is protection from the elements. Just drop the visor and you are pretty safe from dust, bees, birds, bugs, chilly air, rain, cigarette butts. It's not just the bees that sting...
All those things sting at 50 mph.
Today I'm using a
Momo Mini in "bright-ass orange". You can't miss it. Benefits? It looks cool, it is easier to be a social rider (people can read your lips) and you boost your protein intake (making reference to the bugs again). I can't say open face helmets are the
wisest choice, but if you really want to go with it, I'd stick with a 3/4 helmet and get a good pair of googles or even some cheap weedwacker eye protection to keep your eyes safe.
Here is a GREAT resource on helmet types.
Your local shop can help you choose a lid. Make sure it fits snug. You know, maybe you should watch this
Video on fitting a helmet. Also remember - NEVER let your helmet hit the ground. Even a small drop can cause fractures that can compromise the helmets ability to perform in an accident. If you set your helmet on a wall, 5ft off the ground and it falls? Go buy a new one.
NEXT UP? Your arms, chest, back, spine, shoulders... in other words, you need a jacket. Most good brands will make a multi-season jacket with zip-open vents for the summer and a zip-out liner that you can put in place to keep the cold out. I use an Icon
Super Duty jacket and I love it. Great styling and enough options to keep me comfortable through out Austin's hot summers and (relatively) cold winters. Most good jackets will have some sort of armor at the major impact points. My jacket is canvas, but has leather sleeves to help protect from road rash. Scooter riders may want to be cautious about coordinating your gear though; it's not like matching a tie to your shirt and jacket. Work too hard at matching and you'll end up looking like a Power
Ranger. It seems to work ok for crotch rocket riders, but it's just not right on scooters.
Now what? Gloves. Please get used to riding with gloves. You use your hands more than anything else on your body. You don't wanna be eating hot wings, or putting soap on your hands, or typing on a keyboard or massaging your hunny with Tabasco sauce (what?) with shredded hands and your fingernails all fudged up. You can probably guess who makes my
gloves. In cold areas, some riders will wear a second pair of gloves on top of their riding gloves to keep their hands from freezing solid. Not a problem here in Texas.
That's it.. that's the basics. If you're gonna be riding distances at 50+ mph you should definitely consider a pair of riding pants or armor to go under your pants and some boots to keep your ankles safe.
Whew. I may come back and edit this later (it's 3:13am and I have to wake up at 6am), but I wanted to get it out before you went shopping this weekend. Ride safe!
Cheers!
steve
Read the complete post at http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheScooterScoop/~3/278154378/words-from-readers-what-safety-gear.html