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Post by thxcuz on Sept 26, 2016 22:15:14 GMT -5
I took my first spill this evening. I was going down the alley and I was preoccupied with how slow I was going when I saw a car coming. I hit my brakes and slid. I'm ok, my scoot is surprisingly scratch free but my Chuck Taylors are ripped. The poor girl who was driving was maybe 20 or so. she stopped with a look of horror on her face then I waved her on and said, "go on ahead, I'm fine" her look changed to one of annoyance. Cant blame her, really. I'm going to be sore in the morning though. I was wearing a helmet, a reflective wind breaker meant for bicyclists and jeans and of course my now ruined pair of Converse. I was contemplating more safety gear, but I thought to myself "im on a 49cc scooter, how bad can it be." well I learned my lesson. Next time it could be worse. I'm looking for a jacket now. Any suggestions? I don't want to look like a biker and I don't like to wear logos on my clothes unless they pay me (I'm waiting for my check from Converse  ) |
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 27, 2016 7:37:07 GMT -5
Glad it didn't end up too bad.
I would suggest looking for a versatile jacket, unless you are in a climate that's always warm or only wish to ride when it's warm and can get away with a mesh jacket. Leather will give you the max protection, but textile are nice choices as well. Find something with a removable liner and zippered vents. I've got jackets like that and they serve me well for all but the hottest weather. Stuff with flaps that cover zippers or buttoned up areas, elastic in the liners at your wrists, and velcro at the waist are all good if you plan to ride in cold weather. Also, make sure whatever you buy is large enough that you can fit multiple layers under it if you plan to ride in very cold weather. Stuff labeled for adventure riding is often versatile, fairly plain, and have large pockets.
Pay attention to armor offered. If possible, get something with CE approved armor. Some jackets offer CE approved back pads that can be installed later (just a pouch).
I'm also like you and don't want logos everywhere to look like I'm a pro-racer on my scooter, and it's not too tough to find pretty plain jackets. Reflective piping is a good feature though, so you can be seen easier.
I've used MotorcycleCloseouts (used to be NewEnough) for both of my textile jackets. You can find some pretty good deals there at times. My first was a Joe Rocket Ballistic 4.0 that's normally about $400 and I got for $80. Those deals are rare, but my recent purchase was still a good deal.
For gloves, you may wanna try them on in person. I bought 3 pairs of gloves this year that didn't fit, after buying multiple pairs and never having issues. I've had better luck with jackets fitting true to size using measurements provided by manufacturers.
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Post by thxcuz on Sept 27, 2016 7:57:54 GMT -5
We get all kinds of weather in St. Louis and though I'm relatively new to scootering, I have been a fan of cold weather cycling. I've ridden 30 miles when it was in the 20s. I was layered well and I loved the look on cagers faces when they see some crazy guy on I bicycle in February.
Thanks for the advice. I looked last night and the only thing I liked was a little expensive.
If I wasn't a cheapskate I wouldn't ride chineese
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 27, 2016 8:07:19 GMT -5
I'm cheap too, but good gear can last a long time. My first jacket is about 10 years old and went through a crash at 40-50MPH midway. Plus, if you ever do crash decent gear is immediately worth every penny paid.
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Post by thxcuz on Sept 27, 2016 8:29:40 GMT -5
Point taken. A $135 jacket is better than a $1000 hospital bill
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 9:44:41 GMT -5
I'm cheap too, but good gear can last a long time. My first jacket is about 10 years old and went through a crash at 40-50MPH midway. Plus, if you ever do crash decent gear is immediately worth every penny paid. My leather jacket is 25 years old and still looks brand new. (I make sure to oil it now and again) Thankfully, it has no signs of road rash or any other bad marks and, hopefully, it will stay that way. I think I paid about $80 for it back then. A buddy of mine gave me a nice half helmet that he used to wear on his Harley but, I was looking into getting a full face helmet for the colder weather and I could not believe how expensive they have become since I bought my last 2 or 3 of them. (I always ended up letting the helmets go with the bikes I had sold) Is there a good supplier for decent helmets around online? Bill |
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 27, 2016 11:37:29 GMT -5
Closeout sites and even the big moto suppliers (Motorcycle Superstore, Bike Bandit, etc...) have good deals at times. If I find something I like, I'll google it and compare. If you don't mind being contacted regularly, you can sign up for mailing lists from those big moto sites to catch deals. The reputable sites should honor it if you unsubscribe once you get what you were after and not spam you.
I recommend trying on helmets in person if possible. I tend to stick with the same brand and size that I know fits if I order online and am not going to a store first. All of my HJCs have been true to previous experience and fit well.
You don't necessarily have to spend a fortune on a top of the line full face either. My most expensive helmet was about $250 and I think closer to $400 MSRP. Most of mine are about $100 though. The helmet that's higher up in the model line is lighter, has better vents, and a removable liner among other features that it listed. I notice the difference in the vents. The liner is good so you can wash it, but not a must. You can get little skull cap things that wick away moisture to make you and the helmet more comfortable real cheap if need be. I don't really notice the weight, unless I hold one in each hand. I like it, but it's not twice as good even though it costs twice as much. I'd just try to stick with brands that I trust. No Chinese stuff for me. I wanna know that they really did meet standards.
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Post by humanshield on Sept 27, 2016 15:26:46 GMT -5
Wait a minute there cuz....are you saying we're not "real" scooter guys until we've done a bone head and crashed?  |
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Sept 28, 2016 10:03:35 GMT -5
We get all kinds of weather in St. Louis and though I'm relatively new to scootering, I have been a fan of cold weather cycling. I've ridden 30 miles when it was in the 20s. I was layered well and I loved the look on cagers faces when they see some crazy guy on I bicycle in February. Thanks for the advice. I looked last night and the only thing I liked was a little expensive. If I wasn't a cheapskate I wouldn't ride chineese I know what you mean. I live fairly close to St Louis. Look at the forecast for St Louis and Chicago. Average them, and that's my weather. Amd I'm a longtime winter bicyclist. I get a kick out of the looks I get in the heart of winter. Not many people know this, but when you're on a bicycle 20 deg F is definitely a nice day. It's very easy to be perfectly comfortable. But concerning safety gear anyway....I don't have much to offer. I'm definitely a fan of reflective vests. I'll admit to being a bit lax if the weather is clear. But I use them religiously when visibility is even a bit compromised. I also keep on hand a set of knee and elbow pads. I don't actually use them all that often on the scooter. One reason is that I tend to ride at 20-25 mph and I figure that at that speed, if something goes wrong, I stand a pretty good chance of landing on my feet anyway. Even if I don't manage that I expect to be slowed down enough that even hitting the ground won't be all that bad. But I'd wear them more if I were to start running at higher speeds. And I do wear them more when the weather gets colder. Both motorized and unmotorized. If nothing else, they're a bit of weather protection. Plus I might be a bit more likely to hit the ground in bad weather. |
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Post by thxcuz on Sept 28, 2016 10:07:59 GMT -5
Where do you hail from, Bluegoat?
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Post by crawford on Sept 28, 2016 14:22:20 GMT -5
I want to know if you got get phone # then you are a scooter guy LOL
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Post by thxcuz on Sept 28, 2016 14:27:01 GMT -5
I want to know if you got get phone # then you are a scooter guy LOL I'm married so I didn't ask for her number. If I was single she wouldn't have given it to me anyway. |
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Post by crawford on Sept 28, 2016 20:20:45 GMT -5
LOL
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Sept 28, 2016 20:36:48 GMT -5
I want to know if you got get phone # then you are a scooter guy LOL I'm married so I didn't ask for her number. If I was single she wouldn't have given it to me anyway. I know what you mean there, too! Anyway....I'm in the vicinity of Peoria. Not originally. But I've been here very nearly thirty years now. |
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Post by acvw74 on Sept 28, 2016 20:46:08 GMT -5
I'm married so I didn't ask for her number. If I was single she wouldn't have given it to me anyway. I know what you mean there, too! Anyway....I'm in the vicinity of Peoria. Not originally. But I've been here very nearly thirty years now. Went to school in that area of IL...I miss Avanti's |
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