What gear? Brand and Specific Pieces of Equipment?

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab So I am not really geared up for serious offroad riding. I use a street helmet and gloves. I wear a First Gear Kilimanjaro Jacket and HT Overpants. I do have knee protectors, padded riding shorts, and great set of SIDI dirt boots. I am not so sure the more street oriented stuff is good for something like the AZ DS Tour in May.

:tab So the question is, what items of gear do you prefer and what brand?

[WoodButcher]

Scott, I have two sets of gear. Pure off road and more street. The offroad is mx chest protector, alpinestar vector boots, mx jersey, pants, gloves, helmet and goggles. I also have some elbow and knee guards. The more street gear is a Joe Rocket 3/4 length jacket (can't remember model), street helmet, and gloves. The lower body part gear changes with the type of street riding. I have Joe Rocket alter ego pants and steel toe work boots for more street oriented. For more dual sport I go with mx freestyle pants, mx knee guards, and the Vector boots.

So, if I'm riding with Irondawg on dirt roads its the more serious protection. If I'm just exploring on my own or with Whoa, its the lighter gear. For Gotdurt's AZ ride I might be tempted to go with the alter ego pants with the Vector boots. and bring the knee guards in case I decide I'd be better off with them over the builtin pads of the pants. Also, the Joe Rocket jacket, mx helmet and goggles.

[4734]

Scott,
I also have only have either pure serious mx gear or street gear.

Your boots should be fine for DS riding, as well as your HT over parts and Kilimanjaro jacket for now. However when it begins warming up you may want to take the jacket off and run with a chest protector and light weight mx type of jersery, mx gloves, goggles, knee and elbow protection if desired.

Brands: my opinion (yea,I know)

Fox: makes good stuff but can be expensive, so look for sales on last years closeout stuff or ebay. Airframe chest protecter, one of the best made. I found mine new on ebay for almost 1/2 off. It's so good you forget you have it on, till you discover you left it at the truck and you just have to go back and get it.

Shift: I heard that this is made by Fox, I love my Shift pants, good padding, great quality showing very little wear after 1 year.

Thor: pretty good boots. I have had a pair of Thor Quadrant boots for a year and they are holding up very well for the money. ($130 +-) Or you could go with some Alpine Stars Tec 10's for about $450.

Answer: again good products, gloves showing very little wear with 6 months of heavy use.

Oakley: Best goggles I have ever owned, I had Scotts before but there is no comparisons.

Oneal: Pants were showing wear in the ...seat after just 2 months of riding. Helmet is fair with removeable liner. I will never buy pants from them again.

Camelback or something simular is a must in the summer on long trails.

You will need much cooler riding gear, speeds are much slower on trails and you will be moving around much more.
So, just like any other gear you pretty much get what you pay for, just get the best your budget allows and shop around.

Happy shopping,

[Tourmeister]

:tab Regarding chest protectors, what features do you look for? Anyone every use one of the 661 pressure suits? What I have been using is just my Joe Rocket mesh jacket. It has the double layer of armor in the elbows, shoulders, and back. Nothing in the front though.

:tab I have been frustrated when looking for DS gear. In particular, I want the offroad protection for impacts, the street protection for abrasion and the weather protection. I have not been impressed with the stuff I can find. The Moose Expedition pants I had melt at the slightest heat... But they were waterproof and comfy. Most rain gear won't go over the bulky offroad gear and almost none of the offroad gear is weather proof.

:tab Also, serious and effetive hip protection seems to be almost completely ignored by gear makers. I have some padded pants but the pads don't look like they would make much difference. My left hip is still a wee bit tender after my landing back in July even though nothing was broken.

:tab I do think I will be getting a dirt helmet and googles. Street helmets just don't cut it when it gets dusty!

[bronco78]

:tab Regarding chest protectors, what features do you look for? Anyone every use one of the 661 pressure suits? What I have been using is just my Joe Rocket mesh jacket. It has the double layer of armor in the elbows, shoulders, and back. Nothing in the front though.

:tab I have been frustrated when looking for DS gear. In particular, I want the offroad protection for impacts, the street protection for abrasion and the weather protection. I have not been impressed with the stuff I can find. The Moose Expedition pants I had melt at the slightest heat... But they were waterproof and comfy. Most rain gear won't go over the bulky offroad gear and almost none of the offroad gear is weather proof.

:tab Also, serious and effetive hip protection seems to be almost completely ignored by gear makers. I have some padded pants but the pads don't look like they would make much difference. My left hip is still a wee bit tender after my landing back in July even though nothing was broken.

:tab I do think I will be getting a dirt helmet and googles. Street helmets just don't cut it when it gets dusty!


compromise is the word here.

DS to me means single track trails,, that are connected my a road.. Meaning a plate is needed. As such,, full dirt gear is all I wear , even when in DS mode (almost never eny more)

If your really doing the DS deal,, lots of road miles, lost of dirt road.. your looking from slightly different gear,, With that said.

Helmets,, A dirt lid can be worn on road at normal DS speeds.. Though the visor will get old after a few hours at speed. The weight and less ventilation of a street helmet will get old in a hurry in the dirt. Most dirt helmets have snap in removable liners for ease of cleaning.. most street helmets do not.

the Alpinestar Vector boots offer ok off road protection,,, but allow you some mobility while off the bike.

Having had two foot crushing injuries while riding,, I will wear only the very best off road boot I can get... But,, you said DS,, so the Vector gets my vote.

Chest protectors aren’t. http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d100/notbronco78/ouch.jpg

That was WITH a name brand chest protector on.. The bar and hand guard slid up under my chest protector,, and umm, nicked me a bit.

With that said,, I always ride with one on :mrgreen: The pressure suit is ok,, If it fits your body style,, and IF it works for the heat in your area. It is hotter then wearing a CP over a jersey.

Right now I'm using a FOX design, but I’ve had Thor, NoFear, and a few others, Go try them on, no other way to know what will fit, allow full movement of arms and head/neck and not bind pinch anywhere.

[motohut]

I've got a few suggestions. They may seem odd but here goes. I have a lot of mx gear because thats were I started from. Mx and offroad. I then got in to ds an adventure riding. I took a good look at everythong on the market and bought new gear. Ok, the odd part: I've found that the icon field armor street boots works great. Well, why not a full mx boot. DS to me is single track and overgrown paths with some blacktop stretch's to get from path to path. I'm not jumping triples or try to drag the bars in a berm. So, the level of protection can be compromised slightly for comfort. My feet kill me after 70miles in mx boots. Also the icons don't make me stand out so much when I stop by for bite to eat. Have you ever had the whole eatery looking at you as you walk to your table.CLUNK-CREEK, CLUNK-CREEK.
The icons have alot of protection over the whole foot and the 3/4 ankle protection is welcomed. I for sure have alot more mobility in the icons than in my alpinestars.

Chest protection: I don't wear a chest protector on ds or adventure rides; however, I always wear one for any offroad or racing excersise. I highly reccomend the troy lee design protector. It is the best chest protector I've ever used. I don't even sell the tld line at my store and I always recommend this protector. Thats how much I believe in it. Its very slim in the way it wears and its shell seems to take more impacts w/out breaking. I've broken a thor,fox,moose,evs and an acerbis. Not the tld. You'll love it.

As far as a helmet, it's hard to beat the aria xd. The offroad protection look and feel with the ability to handle the street. It has the full face visor so if you do decide to scoot down the road, your eyes won't tear up. It also has less wind noise. And with a regular mx helmet your googles start to push against your face at 60 mph and up.

Hope that helps:rider:

[Bagwell]

I like wearing full on MX gear when I can. It usually consists of layering so I can be versitile for changing weather. I recently bought an enduro jacket from FOX and I like it. I will change the elbow pads in it for more protection though.

Oneal: I like my Oneal pants, but I believe in buying the top of the line gear from Oneal and just get it on sale. I pay attention to the fabrics on the pants. I like to get the good inner leg panels for holding onto the bike and for exhaust protection. I use an Oneal helmet too, and I am happy with it.

Gloves: I have noticed some street gloves that would work well for dual sporting. They are usually a lighter glove than typical street gloves but offer more protection such as knuckle and thicker finger and palm protection. I still like using dirt gloves for mostly dirt riding though.

Chest Protector: I usually look for good inner spacer/padding between you and the gear as well as good quality plastic and overall comfort. I think the ones with arm protection are good because they offer that extra protection. I like a good quality elastic strap that is not prone to stretching out and wearing out that way. Nothing worse than worn out elastic straps.

Goggles: I think all mfgrs make a good quality goggle if you get the upper end models. I am partial to SPY for now. I have a mid range goggle that I think was on sale for $25 to $30 and they seem to last well. Many upper end models consist of better foam against your face and better venting. There are some tricks to learn about keeping goggles from fogging up. I prefer Goggles for dirt riding over a helmet with a face shield.

All in all, I am kinda cheap when it comes to dirt gear. I find many deals on gear used or new closeout. There are some swap meets every year where I often pick up gear for $10 to $20. I like having quality gear, but if I can save some money on it by getting it used or closeout I do in a heartbeat. I sort of believe in new helmets and boots though if you can.

More later.

Vaughn

[gocatgo]

Scott,
You asked the question that was on my mind about clothing and equipment - thanks!
I got the Gaerne Explorer boots, considered DS boots, for Christmas and have been happy with them. More comfortable than I expected, both on and off the bike.
With the increase in popularity of dual-sporting the time is ripe for some visionary manufacturer to come out with a line of true DS clothing and equipment.

[STrider]

:tab Regarding chest protectors, what features do you look for?

I use(d) one similar to this (http://www.cyclegear.com/lpgm.cfm?L1=6&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=EVS_REVO2). http://www.ridegear.com/store/graphics/evsrev2.jpg There is no back panel or arm protection, but with a backpack & arm guards I feel well enough protected. and its $60 to $100 less than full on roost guards. It doesn't limit mobility or interfere with pack straps.

I also saved some money by using my lacross arm pads. My buddies made fun of me, but they offered better protection than some of the more "plasticky" dirt mfg. ones. check out laxworld if your interested.

Boots: A-star Tech 8's when your done with your Sidis.

MSR and Moose both have extensive lines of DS/ Adventure ride appropriate gear. I can make no statements regarding quality/ price, only that they exist.

[Hemibee]

Since you asked for some brand names I thought as a few others have done, I'll tell you my thoughts.

MSR - can't go wrong here. Good price and holds up. My current chest protector is a MSR along with my riding gear. (Gear = shirt, gloves & pants)

Thor - see MSR. Both my boys wear Thor chest protectors and I will probably swap to Thor with my next one. For riding gear they both wear Thor.

Moose - see MSR

Fox - don't waste your money. High price for same or lower quality of the three above.

Alpine Star - high dollar. Good boots

Gaerne - not as high priced as AS but good boots

Spy - best goggles I have owned or used.

HJC - good off-road helmet

KBC - see HJC

But that's just my opinion and you know what they say about that........:mrgreen:

[Doons]

Might check Newenough.com, they also carry MX gear and have some interesting Pakage deals on FOX, Thor and several others ?

[Tourmeister]

:tab Matt, I tried both the Alpinestar Tech 8 and 10 because I found them on sale at ridiculously low prices. However, they just did not fit my foot shape :shrug: the SIDI's I have are exceptional comfy. All the buckles and guards are replaceable. But they were a little pricey at $270. I expect they will last a long time.

:tab Gocatgo, Moose has some very nice DS gear. Check out their Expedition stuff. The only problem is that it is quite expensive and still does not have the armor protection I want. Basically, I want something like an Aerostich for the dirt. I want the hard armor in the suit. I want the weather resistance of the suit. I hate having to stop and don rain gear. From what I have seen though, the vast majority of the DS gear is just dirt gear with a new name stuck on it. Like most dirt gear, it is very loose fitting. I want something where the armor does not move around. I realize they make it loose to go over armor, but then your sliding abrasion protection is not so good.

[Hemibee]

Scott,

Have you looked at the sixsixone gear? One of the riders I ride with wears one of these and had been known to wear a chest protector over it. I think the one he wears is the third one.

[Tourmeister]

Why would he wear a chest protector over those? :scratch:

[gocatgo]

Scott, thanks for the info on Moose. I went to Cycle Gear today, didn't see any Expedition Moose stuff. I ended up getting a pair of Fox pants (very comfortable) and jersey. They were pricey but so was everything else! It's a good thing they give a MSF discount or I'd be outta luck.
I also bit the bullet and ordered an Arai XD helmet. Ouch! :eek:

[Tourmeister]

You can order the moose stuff online. I've never seen it in a Cycle Gear, or any other dealer now that I think about it.

[bronco78]

You can order the moose stuff online. I've never seen it in a Cycle Gear, or any other dealer now that I think about it. I do not believe they do the retail outlet deal. Just catalog and internet sales. Well, I have seen a few for sale displays at various races...but that’s about it. :ponder: good question though... I'll ask the guys that work at the shop.

EDIT:

http://mooseracing.com/

I take that back,, looks like they do , sell retail. follow the link, and use the "where t buy" link upper right hand side of the first page.

[Tourmeister]

:tab I have a pair of the Expedition pants. They are weather proof and comfy, but they offer ZERO protection. They also melt realll easy on hot surfaces as they are basically nylon. I would not buy another pair.

:tab The Monarch jacket and pants look nice and warm for cold/wet riding, but again, no mention whatsoever about armor or abrasion protection. This seems pretty common for most dirt related gear. I guess they just assume you will be wearing armor underneath.

:tab The other thing that bothers me is the distinct lack of hip protection in ANY of the dirt gear!? The only thing I have seen is the 661 padded cycling shorts. These have a foam pad on each hip that is about 1/2" thick. Does not look like it would do much but I guess it is better than nothing. I would be nice to have some kind of hard armor to protect the hip. My left hip is still a bit tender at times from my highside landing and it has been six months!

[bronco78]

:

:tab The other thing that bothers me is the distinct lack of hip protection in ANY of the dirt gear!? The only thing I have seen is the 661 padded cycling shorts. These have a foam pad on each hip that is about 1/2" thick. Does not look like it would do much but I guess it is better than nothing. I would be nice to have some kind of hard armor to protect the hip. My left hip is still a bit tender at times from my highside landing and it has been six months!

Most all MX pants have a hip pad in them attached with a strip of velcro... But cheesey is the word that comes to mind. It really is not an area that takes a hit when you go down in the dirt.. Thus.... not much in the way of armor.

As you noted, 661,, and another company whos name I can not come up with right now.... makes a padded shorts deal,, designed to be worn under riding pants.

[Hemibee]

Why would he wear a chest protector over those? :scratch:

His wife, and her time in the emergency room during her residency. He does as the Doctor orders, some times.

[Sleepy Weasel]

As you noted, 661,, and another company whos name I can not come up with right now.... makes a padded shorts deal,, designed to be worn under riding pants.

These?
http://www.newenoughmx.com/evs_ult_short_page.htm



I've got their "Ballistic Jersey". Jack squat as far as protection for the paved sections of a dualsport ride, but the hard parts look like they might deflect rocks kicked up by the guy ahead of you in the dirty stuff.
http://www.newenoughmx.com/evs_bj22_page.htm

[Rodger De]

If you want a super nice helmet try the Arai XD , I bite the bullet & bought one, I now know why they are high $$$, it is a awesome skid lid light weight, nice paint job , comfort & great to have a visor with a flip up shield.. you get what u pay for. I think my head is worth it...:mrgreen: I figure it'll be on my head all the time when I;m ridin so gotta have a nice lid.If your head's worth a $100.00 by a cheap helmet. At least you have a helmet better than none at all.. just my opinion:rider: ...Ride on....:rider: .

[Squeaky]

What about expanding the search for hip protection to other sports?

Skateboarding/Rollerblading:
http://crash-pads.com/images/products/skate/2300.gif

Roller Hockey:
http://av.warehousesports.com/iw/ProductImages/NQRG.JPG

Ice Hockey:
http://img.shopping.com/images1/di/49/48/4a/6d/51/4657544765697973304e746e3453304341-100x100.jpg

[Tourmeister]

Hmmm...

So I am still on the hunt.

I want abrasion protection for the pants (for street riding). I want hip protection built into the pants (preferably) that is both the foam AND a hard layer for penetration protection; ie, landing on sharp rocks... For the lower part of the pants, I want them to be large enough to fit over boots and knee armor. I don't want to have to layer up with padded shorts and other stuff under the pants because that starts getting hot in a hurry.

[ta2240]

Scott, I did not see where you have purchased the boots yet but I said it in another post already and it is worth saying again. Look at the Sidi Discovery boots. I would not wear them in a Hare Scramble but I do wear them riding dual sports They are nice.

As far as Moose products all dealers/shops that are Parts Unlimited carry Moose Products.

[thumper]

A buddy of mine has a pair of mx's that are sold as ATV boots. Main differences...waterproof and better grip soles.

[Tourmeister]

I have the SIDI Force TA boots. Very comfy.

Mostly, I need pants.

[thumper]

I like my MSR Strike Pants. Over the boot and real comfortable w/ huge zippered side pockets. There okay up to about 80F.

[Tourmeister]

But the MSR pants have no abrasion protection for the street. I am trying to find something that will give decent street protection in addition to working well with the dirt protective gear.

[Tourmeister]

:tab Well... because of the overwhelming generosity of many TWT members after Beth and I had our wreck back in October, I actually have the money right now to get good gear for a change. So, with that in mind, I think this is what I plan to do:

http://twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13132

:tab I have called Cycleport and talked with them about custom sizing (to fit over the dirt boots) and for all the added armor I want in the hips, tailbone, etc,... The mesh kevlar is very light weight but also very strong. It will provide the abrasion/puncture protection I want. It will breathe very well and there are many folks at AdvRider that swear by it, even in slow hot riding. The gear is fully washable even without removing the armor. I think this will provide the street protection I want as well as the dirt protection. The jacket even has armor in the chest area. The armor is removable so I can use dirt knee/shin guards under the pants if I want while still getting the thigh/hip protection. It is a little pricey up front, but if it lasts like everyone says it does, then it is much cheaper in the long run. Also, if after a crash they decide they cannot repair your pants/jacket, they will replace it for no charge! Try finding that with any other gear!

[gotdurt]

Hey, since you have $$, you might check this out:
http://www.araiamericas.com/helmet_details.asp?model=XD

It's on my wishlist for "someday".

[jsb223]

I've been thinking about the Thor Impact Rig SE...

Might be a bit warm in the summer...:eek2:

But the Thor and a vented jersey should be
all I'd need above the waist...

Gloves and helmet of course...

[gotdurt]

Or this for a more resonable price:
http://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/products/product_detail.aspx?cat_id=177&prod_id=2458&showFeatures=1

[Tourmeister]

Irondawg has the Arai helmet. Not sure what his long term opinion of it is though.

I won't buy a helmet unless I can try it on first. Any idea where you can find those Simpsons?

[gocatgo]

I have the Arai XD and have been very happy with it.

[Tourmeister]

How is it at highway speeds (70-80mph) with that big duck bill sticking out up front?

[gocatgo]

It will catch the wind, especially if you turn or lift your head. Not enough to drag you off the bike but enough to be annoying. I have learned to keep my head down a bit at high speeds. It's not bad for riding the DR650, but I wouldn't wear it riding the FZ6 - it would cramp my style.... ;-)

[xrcajun]

Scott I haven't read through this entire thread so some one else may have mentioned this already. I now wear this entire line of protection and its been great. http://www.skeletools.com/

A couple of years ago I was looking for precisely what you seem to be looking for in the weather/outwear stuff and I don't think it exists. I think you're going to have to get the outerwear you like and then extra weather protection.

Hmmm...

So I am still on the hunt.

I want abrasion protection for the pants (for street riding). I want hip protection built into the pants (preferably) that is both the foam AND a hard layer for penetration protection; ie, landing on sharp rocks... For the lower part of the pants, I want them to be large enough to fit over boots and knee armor. I don't want to have to layer up with padded shorts and other stuff under the pants because that starts getting hot in a hurry.

[Cagiva 549]

I rode dirt from the early 70's till mid 90's when I kinda dropped out for a while . I had some quality riding gear thru the years started out with fullboar boots , had great armour , you just couldn't walk in them . Pants were strong with pads where they needed to be and very effective . The current dirt gear in my opinion looks like a billboard , They are some decent boots on the market but of all I have seen only 2 brands advertise waterproof in there sales pitch , If they cant keep your feet dry they wont cut it for me . I guess if you rode inside a building they would be ok . I ride outside to see , I dont ride around in circles .
The pants all look like a geek show with big chunks of rubber sticking all over them , no thanks .
I still have a couple of vented cotton jerseys from the 80's , I still wear them on hot day's in the summer , very comfortable .
And for a helmet I have to stick with road gear since my only dirt bike at the time has been known to exceed 125 at times . So far the only disadvantage has been those early morning or late afternoon rides when you ride into the sun , Guess I will just have to deal with it
The only major improvement in dirt gear I have seen is in body armour , I have become very good friends with EVS . The comfort and confidence I feel while wearing upper body armour makes my bike go faster at times . Next time Cycle Gear has a sale I will add a set of knee and shin guards .
In my opinion there is no best dirt gear or best street gear but when you mix them up you get good results . SEYA

[McLeod]

I have been pondering the same questions.
I am thinking of going with the Motoport Air Mesh with some mods, Camel back pouch built in to the jacket and arm straps to keep the arms from flapping around when riding at high speeds. The pants and jacket offer most of what i am looking for when DSing. I figure I can put a roost protector under the jacket in the winter and just wear the roost protector in the summer. I don't want to buy two complete sets of gear. Sadly to say my XR spends 90% of its life on the street.

[sandman76513]

I wear EVS as well, their chest protector is much more comfortable than my MSR. Haven't seen Oxtar boots mentioned yet, I've had a pair now for 3+ years and they have withstood so serious of road use. But they are not too comfortable to walk around in (don't think there is a MX boots that is). A vendor recently brought in a pair of the new Alpinestar Tech 3, nice looking boot, nice features, and nice price...unfortunately he didn't have my size so I did not get a chance to try them on. I suspect that an ATV boot might be more comfortable in the regard, the few I have seen have fewer buckles and a vibram type sole. I also have worn Fox, MSR and FLY pants, jerseys snf gloves, all have done well. The FLY has been the most comfortable, but really like the MSR Revolver pants for the cargo pocket on the thigh. HJC ACX2 helmet and Scott OTG goggles, no complaints with either of them.

Rick

[Tourmeister]

:tab Well, I bit the bullet and went for the Motoport/Cycleport Air mesh suit. I asked them to make some mods to it so it would also work with the dirt boots and knee armor. I also had them add the optional hip thigh armor. The jacket has chest armor built into it so I am not real worried about being able to use a chest protector with the jacket. I stay far back from the guy in front of me :-P I should get it in a a few weeks. Given the tear and abrasion resistance of the kevlar combined with the excellent armor coverage, I think this gear will work nicely for both the street and DS riding.

[dbdolan]

:tab Well, I bit the bullet and went for the Motoport/Cycleport Air mesh suit. I asked them to make some mods to it so it would also work with the dirt boots and knee armor. I also had them add the optional hip thigh armor. The jacket has chest armor built into it so I am not real worried about being able to use a chest protector with the jacket. I stay far back from the guy in front of me :-P I should get it in a a few weeks. Given the tear and abrasion resistance of the kevlar combined with the excellent armor coverage, I think this gear will work nicely for both the street and DS riding.
Cool....chest armor, that will help for the tree limb jousting matches:rofl:. Do you have some pic's?

[dbdolan]

Irondawg has the Arai helmet. Not sure what his long term opinion of it is though.

I won't buy a helmet unless I can try it on first. Any idea where you can find those Simpsons?
I am also thinking about getting the arai xd, but I too would like to try one on, If you get one can i try it on?:trust:

[irondawg]

The XD is very good at any speed. I liked it a lot but there's quality problems for an expensive helmet. The liner was coming apart, the plastic stays around the base were falling off and the plastic vents break very easily. Not something you want when in the dirt or in tight trails. I broke one blazing a trail around a fallen tree in Clayton last year.

Other downside is the eye port is small so if you plan on wearing goggles vs using the shield, you'll have to find a small pair. The Scott Voltage work but pinched my nose. I ended up buying a full dirt bike helmet and use a large framed goggle.

And yes...you get wet if it rains.

[Tourmeister]

Which helmet did you wind up going with John?

[irondawg]

Which helmet did you wind up going with John?

Fox V3. There was a special on RockyMountainATV. Reg $375...got it for $165. It's super light and has a really nice removable lining.

[Bagwell]

Scott,
Are you getting them in the hot pink/purple/yellow of the late 80s? You know, ya gotta be seen out there. :)

Vaughn

[gotdurt]

How is it at highway speeds (70-80mph) with that big duck bill sticking out up front?
Most likely not much better that any other off-road helmet (they all suck at speeds above 60), but you can always remove the visor on these when you know you'll be slabing it for a significantamount of time at speed, and you'll still have a shield (I HATE goggles). In fact, even without the visor off-road, it will still be better than a street lid just for the peripheral vision (the big one for me), just be sure to have a tinted shield. Still, I'm probably going to don the street helmet in AZ, because I HAAATE goggles. Did I mention that I hate goggles?

[irondawg]

Casey, tell us how you really feel about goggles?

The V3 is fine from 65 to 75...any faster you better have a strong neck. The XD, having a smaller visor was fine at any speed.

I like goggles. My eyes don't hurt after riding in dust all day. Even if I'm not in the dust, my eye's don't get bloodshot from the wind and crap that you get with a shield. Goggles are good! I carry two pair so I can swap out quickly plus a couple of lenses(is that a word?). Did I mention I like goggles?

:lol2:

[gotdurt]

Casey, tell us how you really feel about goggles?

I hate them.

The V3 is fine from 65 to 75...any faster you better have a strong neck. The XD, having a smaller visor was fine at any speed.

Doesn't it have a space between the visor and the helmet at the back of the visor? If so, this would help wind flow a lot.

I like goggles. My eyes don't hurt after riding in dust all day. Even if I'm not in the dust, my eye's don't get bloodshot from the wind and crap that you get with a shield. Goggles are good! I carry two pair so I can swap out quickly plus a couple of lenses(is that a word?). Did I mention I like goggles?


You would :-P . I have this thing about stuff being in my face. I don't even like to wear glasses... plus, I'm a heavy sweater. No matter how well they are vented, goggles always have a strong tendancy toward fogging on me. Plus, when sweat is beading or running on my face, I have to be able to wipe it, immediately. I also pick my nose. My fingers need easy access to my face at all times! But then, I guess goggles don't hender that :-P

[irondawg]

Doesn't it have a space between the visor and the helmet at the back of the visor? If so, this would help wind flow a lot.

Yes. The V3 has opening on the sides. There's a visor adjustment in the middle. The XD is open completely across the top that's why it's good at high speeds.

I also pick my nose. My fingers need easy access to my face at all times! But then, I guess goggles don't hender that :-P

What makes goggles great is that you get some really unique dust boogies at the end of the day for mining!!

[Tourmeister]

John, what brand goggles to you use?

[Hood Ornament]

A neat little item for goggles is the Quick Strap. It attaches teh goggles to your helmet. Makes life so much easier.

http://www.motoworldracing.com/media/Roko/roko-06-gogl-QS.jpg

[Bagwell]

I like Spy next step up from the cheaper ones at Cycle Gear. I dont remember the model. :)

[irondawg]

John, what brand goggles to you use?

I've got a couple pair. The ones I like the best...and most expensive...are Scott's 89xi Desert with blue tint lens...great for dusty conditions and spare light sensitive lens. For backup, a pair of Smith Warp with clear lens.

[irondawg]

A neat little item for goggles is the Quick Strap. It attaches teh goggles to your helmet. Makes life so much easier.

Those are cool. When the straps are shot on my goggles, I'll replace them with these.

[gotdurt]

I won't buy a helmet unless I can try it on first. Any idea where you can find those Simpsons?

You can contact them at texassales@teamsimpson.com , or the phone# below. I emailed them for a clarification on what you get for what price (the website is confusing), their reply:

This helmet comes with out the shield for $139.99. To add a shield will be an additional $100.00, which is the cost of the shield and in[stall?]. Our company has to install the shield, because we have a machine that rivets the holes for the shield. Then after, additional shields will cost extra.

Please contact our customer service for further assistance.

Thank you,
Simpson Race Products
800-654-7223

[D.Kinsey]

Tourmeister, great choice on the Motoport. I have the Air Mesh Kevlar pants and jacket and could not be any happier on the LT or ADV. I also use this off-road http://www.rockgardn.com/items/body-armor/flak-jacket-flak-jacket-detail.htm, not to hot, but best of all doesn't move around or actually even know its thier...till you fall!

[Tourmeister]

Awesome website D.Kinsey! Looks like some good stuff!

[stingray]

I recently bought the Simpson GS3-MX helmet and while I like it I do have one complaint about it. The visor does not seal on the bottom edge and you basically get a pretty good airflow through it which tends to irritate my eyes. Other than that it's a great helmet for the price.

[Tourmeister]

Hmmm... that right there is enough to keep me from buying it. I don't like having my eyes dried out and irritated.

[XR650Rocketman]

For me it's a Shoei helmet with Pro Grip-no fog-auto tint goggles.

[Tourmeister]

Which Shoei Steve?