Riding gear. Should it be Cheap or affordable?
Here at BirotarUK HQ we’ve seen a rise in the number of "cheap gear" reviews, promising the best gear for the least amount of money. Just like you, we
love saving a few quid here and there but sometimes "cheap gear" can cost you
more in the long run.
But we believe that there is a difference between "cheap" and 'affordable". If you're just starting out on a bike, or if you are a seasoned rider it is hard to gauge what is good value and what is over priced. With high-street giants retailing garments for very little, we understand that it can be freighting to turn the price tag to reveal an item of gear worth hundreds or even thousands.
So, we’ve put together a list of affordable gear that we think will get you from A to B in comfort, all year round and last for a few years too (depending on the miles you cover). We haven’t tried and tested all the gear mentioned in this review but where we have, we will let you know.
But we believe that there is a difference between "cheap" and 'affordable". If you're just starting out on a bike, or if you are a seasoned rider it is hard to gauge what is good value and what is over priced. With high-street giants retailing garments for very little, we understand that it can be freighting to turn the price tag to reveal an item of gear worth hundreds or even thousands.
So, we’ve put together a list of affordable gear that we think will get you from A to B in comfort, all year round and last for a few years too (depending on the miles you cover). We haven’t tried and tested all the gear mentioned in this review but where we have, we will let you know.
Let’s start with the most important item, a helmet, the
minimum legal requirement of protective equipment you need to ride a
motorcycle. At this point we’ll say we are huge advocates of always riding in
full protective gear.
The most important thing about a helmet is the fit, a £600
ill-fitting helmet will be no better than a £200 properly fitting helmet. On
this basis we can only recommend what fits our heads and suggest you visit your
local bike shop to try on their helmets and get some expert advice, it could be
a life saver after all..
With all that a side we’re a big fan of the HJC R-PHA ST for many reasons. It's a
fully spec’d touring helmet that also holds a gold ACU sticker meaning it’s good for track/race use.
The HJC features:
- Good airflow vents to keep you cool in the warmer months
- Quick release visor mechanism
- Double D retention system
- Pinlock ready visor
- Internal sun visor
- Slots for bluetooth kit
 |
| HJC R-PHA ST - Image from Google |
We think it’s a great
all round helmet for commuting, touring and track days and it can be had from
£179 (at time of writing).
When it comes to jacket and trousers we’re torn on what to
recommend, but to keep things affordable we’ll go with what we’ve been wearing
for the past 10,000 miles.
The RST Pro Series Adventure 2 textile suit.
 |
| Birotar Jonjo, taken on a winter shoot with Wil Collins |
First off it’s not the most ‘attractive’ of 2 piece textiles but they are functional, very functional.
There’s a clue in the name, the adventure jacket has been designed with the adventure fit in mind, think more upright adventure / touring bikes, giving it a slightly looser fit. This doesn’t mean it’s not comfortable on a sports bike, we’ve used this suit on GSXRs, Ninjas and GS’ to name a few.
So what makes this a good jacket;
- 2 year warranty
- Full Connection zip
- Removable waterproof membrane
- Removable quilted thermal liner
- CE approved back, shoulder and elbow protection included
- Vents, lots of vents!
- Detachable wind collar
- Removable map pocket that doubles as a bum-bag
 |
| RST Adventure 2 Jacket - Image from Google |
- Removable waterproof membrane
- Removable quilted thermal liner
- Full connection zip
- CE approved knee armour and pockets for hip protectors
- Slightly flared to allow a good fit over adventure boots
Again, removable inners mean you can tailor to the weather
and ride in comfort, avoiding arriving to work or a meet all hot a sweaty! (Or
cold and damp).
The jacket can be had
for £179.99 (at time of writing)
 |
| RST Adventure 2 Trousers - Image from Google |
The trousers can be had for £149.99 (at time of writing)
Gloves are an important part of year round riding and it’s
hard to find a glove that’ll work in all seasons, we tend to have a set for
winter/rainy days and a summer set however there is an answer for both.
Held have a glove called the Air ‘n’ Dry, whilst we haven’t managed to try them yet we have heard good things from like-minded bikers.
The Air ‘n’ Dry features:
Held have a glove called the Air ‘n’ Dry, whilst we haven’t managed to try them yet we have heard good things from like-minded bikers.
The Air ‘n’ Dry features:
- Kangaroo leather palm
- Gore-Tex waterproof, windproof & breathable membrane
- Hard plastic knuckle protection
- Visor wipe on index finger
In a nut shell, the palm of the glove has summer like
features and the back of the glove is Gore-tex waterproofed to keep you warm
and dry yet cool in the summer months.
These gloves can be found for £148.49
(at time of writing)
 |
| Held Air N Dry - Image from Google |
The final piece of the puzzle is boots, long gone are the
days of something big and cumbersome needed to fulfil the all-round requirement
for the past two years we’ve been wearing the TCX X-Street waterproof casual
boot. They are seriously comfortable, waterproof and best of all look just like
a normal high top trainer.
They feature:
They feature:
- Full grain leather upper
- Waterproof lining
- Toe and heel reinforcement
- Lace up closure
 |
| TCX X-Street Boots - Photo by Birotar Jonjo |
We’re a big fan of these boots, tried and tested, we even
wear them as casual trainers with a pair of jeans (and to do the gardening,
DIY, shopping). They can be had for
£89.99 (at time of writing)
The total cost of all this gear is £747.46. It sounds like a lot of money, in fact you can buy a bike for £800 but we believe these items will last you a good few years making the equivalent annual spend less than £250.
Our point isn't that you should stop what your doing to go out and purchase these items. Instead consider the alternatives. Do your research, check out reviews and most importantly, go and try the gear on. Take your time.
You'll know as soon as you try an item of gear, that it fits. feels comfortable and has all of the features you want and need.
Everyone is different and has different requirements, but there is a risk associated with buying "cheap gear". The price may be good, but you will find that the item won't last as long as you want it to and it may not perform in when you need it most.
Our point isn't that you should stop what your doing to go out and purchase these items. Instead consider the alternatives. Do your research, check out reviews and most importantly, go and try the gear on. Take your time.
You'll know as soon as you try an item of gear, that it fits. feels comfortable and has all of the features you want and need.
Everyone is different and has different requirements, but there is a risk associated with buying "cheap gear". The price may be good, but you will find that the item won't last as long as you want it to and it may not perform in when you need it most.
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