Protective gear brands - What would you or wouldn't you buy?

[saf]

I've seen and heard mixed reports about certain gear. Some people swear by the expensive brands whereas sometimes they come asunder much to everyone's surprise to reveal cheap or poor manufacturing.

After many helmet tests it's a general consensus that whilst expensive helmets look nice, the only benefit of your extra coin are things like reduced noise, better venting and lining comfort. Cheap helmets meet all the same safety requirements and in some cases the cheapy ones offer better crash protection than the expensive ones...

There is no safety standards for jackets and pants. Perhaps the armour can be CE approved but the stitching, design and material all vary.

So the question I pose to you is regarding to experience with and therefore choice of gear. For example, my old Alpinestar TZ-1 2 piece leathers were brilliant. I bought them second hand (thanks Jai ;) ), pre crashed, and crashed in them myself twice before I replaced them. However the replacement series, TX-1's received widespread critisism due to Alpinestars using a softer grade of leather and adding a weak point at the join in the form of an elastic strap on the joiner zipper.

I got my Dainese 2 piece and have been happy with them.. happpier still that I haven't crash tested them yet... touch wood.

I typically always steer clear of RJAYS as their gear seems to exude the words 'cheap' and 'budget' at, in my mind's eye, the cost of safety. Is this my stigma? Does anyone else use RJAYS gear and have crash tested them? Would an RJAYS leather suit or winter jacket hold up for multiple crashes or does the stitching and/or material disintergrate?

[LAW]

I've got an RJAYS lid and I'll be replacing it with the GP-2 from RJAYS in the coming months as I'm very happy with it.

My JoeRocket leathers are fantastic, I've crashed in them and while I scuffed the leather around the right shoulder and removed the logo they're still as strong as ever. Top Quality stuff.

I've also got an RJAYS rain jacket and it feels solid. CE armour and good quality textile gives the imression of safety but I haven't crash tested it yet. None of the zips have given me trouble, all the clips are good and the stitching is still good, which is more than a lot of Dainese or AlpineStar gear can say :ayyy:

Personally if I was going to replace my Rockets I'd be looking at Berik or another set of rockets.

[Captain]

I have Falco boots and Dririder boots that I would never buy again.

[James]

I've got a 1 piece Rjays suit for the track. Quality seems fine to me

[Kris]

Ive got a Rjays GP-2 lid, never crashed but the different between the Shoei X-11 is just night and day..

You get what you pay for. I dont think Rjays gear is bad...girly has a Rjays jacket and loves it, again not crash tested.

[saf]

I've got a 1 piece Rjays suit for the track. Quality seems fine to me

Has it ever been binned? If so how did it fair?

[James]

Has it ever been binned? If so how did it fair?

Nope - can't comment on that but on the wall at MCAS Auburn they have a suit that was crashed by some racer and it faired very well. It was enough proof for me to buy one

If you are considering one I'd recommend you check it out and make up your own mind :ayyy:

[gazujc]

Do not own a leather suit and only ever owned two leather jackets.

1 x Old Walden Miller made in about 1990, still going strong and crashed twice
1 x customer made, stolen within a month, never crash tested.

Have had numerous hemelts from Kiwi, Bieffe, Arai, AGV, HJC, KBC through to the current cheap off road RXT.

Only crashedt he Kiwi and HJC in terms of head hitting the ground and both did their job. The HJC was a harder impact and did crack the shell, but then I was knocked out so the impact was large. No serious or ongoing head injuries.

Have a set of Draggin jeans, never crashed on tar surface but a few minor low speed incidents on dirt with teh fastest around 60 kmh. Did get slight bruising but never worn through or tore.

Have had a number of textile jackets but currently have a MotoOne that was bought cheap at the bike show around 6 years ago (about $150), and an Ixon Ranger bought last year for warmth (around $375).

Both have hit the dirt and stood up quite well although the MotoOne is and always was about as waterproof as a seive.




As for the R-Jays suits, I have seen a few go down the road at the track and never seen one split although some riders have suffered burns and gravel rash. But I have seen Dainese and TigerAngel leathers split slightly although they were not new suits (the R-Jays was quite new but none had been crashed previously).

I have also seen many different brands of leathers result in burns, gravel rash and at times wear through on the track, but you do expect this under some circumstances





Gaz

[MarkyGG]

Has it ever been binned? If so how did it fair?

hey saf
i binned a bike in my r-jays 2 piece with alpine star sm-x boots doing about 80k's boots & pants coupla scuff marks tore a hole in the elbow of the jacket & that was it i didn't even sustain a bruise. oh and a hjc helmut i paid 230 bucks for. from time to time still wear the same gear. boots i still use all the time can't bare to part with them. i guess price is not necessarily the objective but comfort i would say is most important factor. :ayyy:

[Dunno]

Ive got Rjays wet weather jacket & pants. No complaints here. They have never touched the road but I ride to & from work sometimes leaving the house at 420am. Ive worn them in pissing rain & got to work (40k away) relativley dry. Same with my spidi winter gloves.

Then there is my boots :crysmiley: A pair of Alpine Stars I bought about 8 years ago. These boots have been with me through every condition imaginable. Hot, cold, wet & dry. Last monday I got to work at 515am with a cold & wet left foot. The gear lever has worn a small hole through the top & im devastated. I dont really have the cash to replace my beloved stars. I will probably look into some wet weather rjays boots & try em out.

As I said, I still haven't crash tested any of my Rjays gear but its comfortable enough & keeps me warm & dry on those cold winter mornings.

[Boony]

I had a Rjays wet weather jacket for 5 years and found out it wasn't so water proof any more while riding back from Phillip Island last year up untill then always kept me dry and warm never crash tested i now have a Ixon jacket very warm and comfortable

[triumph]

ive got a set of Rjays wet weather gear. bloody useless if you ask me .

[Mr Bones]

I've got a set of Rjays wet weather boots there great.
I'll never buy a KBC helmet again though. So fuckin noisy.
I've got a Moto Dry all weather Jacket & Rivet all weather pants & find em both great.

[Dave75]

it sucks, even if you are only looking for an upgrade of your gear it costs big $$$....but you get what you pay for

Buy cheap buy twice

[saf]

I crashed in my DriRider Nordic 2 jacket a few years ago and as it wasn't super tight around my elbows the armour moved and I lost a small chunk of skin from my inner elbow. The jacket was still good but it started leaking from some of the stitching points. I'd still buy DriRider but would make sure the fit is tight wherever armour is located.

Not that it means much as now I always wear full leathers wherever I go.

[Nelso]

I had a Joe Rocket suit blow apart at the seams and I know of one other person that it happened to as well. Mine was when I hit the door of a car but theirs was a low side at turn 2 at the creak. My two pice suit was replaced so I still wear it but I don't have much confidence in Joe Rocket any more.

[Nuff]

I would definitely buy dainese again, I've throughly tested my 2 piece suit and it's quality stuff.

[clarkey]

I have crash tested my Shift leathers and there still kicking after 2+years , They are at the cheaper end but I would definately get another set

[spotcom]

I crashed in my DriRider Nordic 2 jacket a few years ago and as it wasn't super tight around my elbows the armour moved and I lost a small chunk of skin from my inner elbow. The jacket was still good but it started leaking from some of the stitching points. I'd still buy DriRider but would make sure the fit is tight wherever armour is located.

Not that it means much as now I always wear full leathers wherever I go.

You've got me worried now - that's the jacket I have. I only use it for cold weather, because it has a really warm removable liner, and it's not too bad in the wet as well.

I'm going to go and check that armour now! :confused1:

[muzz]

ive got rjays jacket and pants
havent binned in then yet but they are ok
i binned my gsxr years ago in nz with cheap nasty leather pants and cheaper nastier jacket an they came out fine ,just scuffs

[Kat00]

Hit the track real hard at 160ish with an AGV helmet and didn't feel a thing,not a bit. Hit the road and about 15kph with an HJC and had a head ache for two weeks.
Hard to compare impacts but I won't risk it again.

[Kat00]

I do have a AGVSport Jacket and its been down the road more times than Casey Stoner and still going strong, had some running repairs by Miss Ireana but for sure I'd buy another one of those

[saf]

I'm going to go and check that armour now! :confused1:

The material is fine, just make sure it's secure on your elbow.

[Mr Bones]

I face planted the road a few years back wearing a HJC, was going a little fast "as fast as my 250 would take me" I had no dramas of course the lid was stuffed but thats it's job yeah.

[DAVID]

Still going strong Mick with some running repairs showing your age now:Kat00::lmao::lmao::lmao: