| Get the best lid you can afford. Don't be swayed by brand image, get the one that fits best. It should be a snug fit, even on the tight side because it will give a little, but it shouldn't pinch anywhere or put pressure points on any part of your head. If you put your hands on the lid while you're wearing it, you shouldn't be able to twist it around or up and down. Make sure it has the gold ACU (?) stamp on it
If you're a fair weather only rider, get leathers. Get a one piece suit or a two piece that zips together all the way round the waist. I prefer two pieces because they let you take your jacket off when you're taking a break from riding, cos you'd be surprised at how quickly you start to cook when it's warm. You can of course take the top of a one piece down, but then you need to walk around clutching the top half around you and with the arms dangling down like a plucked turkey. Two pieces with an industrial strength zip also offer damn near as much protection as a one piece, so unless you spend all your time on track are better general purpose items IMHO. Make sure that the suit has all the requisite CE approved armour to knees, elbows, shoulders and back and get knee sliders (even if you're not going to use them).
Get a good pair of boots with toe sliders and good ankle support, can't really go wrong with Axo, Sidi, Alpinestars or most of the other reputable brands.
A one piece or two piece undersuit made with 'coolmax' material will help get you in and out of your leathers without getting too sticky.
That's about it for basics. That way, you'll be fine on the road and as you get more experience you won't outgrow your gear (although you might if you have a pie problem like me). If you ever want to do trackdays in the future, you'll be set up and won't have to buy new stuff.  |