Where do you buy your motorcycle gear?

[Balog]

My lovely wife is smitten with riding and looking to start using it as a commuter as well as a weekend rider. This seems to warrant an upgrade in gear, especially here in the PNW where rain is such a factor. I've heard good things about Motorcycle Gear which used to be New Enough. Any other places to look, with an emphasis on good return policy?

[coppertales]

J&P Cycle has alot of gear in their catalog.  I don't remember where I got mine.  It was a small leather company in FL.  I doubt if they are still in business.  It has been 25 years since I bought it.....chris3

[Nick1911]

I'm interested in this as well - I need to get some rain/cold weather gear.

[MillCreek]

I have had some good luck with RevZilla and Motorcycle Superstore, over the years.  Olympia gear has kept me warm and dry in our Seattle weather.  You can often see me tooling around in my high-viz neon green Olympia jacket and one-piece suit. 

[bedlamite]

Besides what's already been mentioned, I've bought from http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/ with no problems, but I have to recommend both http://www.kobeusa.com/ and http://www.spartanleathers.com/

[Balog]

Besides what's already been mentioned, I've bought from http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/ with no problems, but I have to recommend both http://www.kobeusa.com/ and http://www.spartanleathers.com/

Leather is probably not going to work, water resistance is a top concern for extended riding seasons in WA. That spint protector from Kobe is very interesting though. Anyone have any experience or anecdotal evidence on it? http://www.kobeusa.com/products/100-vented-back-protectors.aspx

[bedlamite]

A friend of mine has had one for about 1 1/2 years. She wears it under an Aerostitch Roadcrafter 1 piece suit. No problems so far, but it hasn't been crash tested.

I only wear leather, but when it rains, I've got 2 sets of FroggToggs, they have held up much better than I expected. I've had them since before they came out with the RoadToad suit, including riding 5 hours through Hurricane Ike a few years ago to the Indy Moto GP races. That trip fried the rear wheel bearings on my bike.

[Balog]

Also, thinking of getting some retro reflective tape to slap on my helmet/jacket to increase visibility. I think this is retro reflective, anyone disagree? http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/REFLEXITE-Reflective-Tape-2HGY1?Pid=search

[MillCreek]

http://www.identi-tape.com/hi-intensity4.htm

I like this stuff, in fluorescent yellow. 

[Balog]

Also, looking at getting a trickle charger. This one seems like a neat little deal, you mount it in the cavity with the bike then just plug it in when you stop. Thoughts?

[Lee]

This is a local store for me...but does a big online business. 
http://www.ironpony.com/?gclid=COjI0Mep0qoCFYZeTAodby_60w

[MillCreek]

Also, looking at getting a trickle charger. This one seems like a neat little deal, you mount it in the cavity with the bike then just plug it in when you stop. Thoughts?

I have never had a motorcycle with enough room in the battery compartment to mount that.  I bought the same sort of Schumacher charger, in a larger form factor, for $ 20 at Wal-Mart.  I have the charger pigtails permanently installed on both the dual sport and maxi-scooter, and just plug the charger into each bike as needed.

[Balog]

So I could get this mount it instead, then just plug that straight into the charger? Is this a standard type of connector that might also be found on heated gear?

[bedlamite]

I use these. It's not limited to one vehicle, comes with a plug you can attach to the battery and leave on board, but doesn't take up as much space on the bike. I added a fuse and use the same plug to run power to my tank bag for my GPS, cell phone charger, etc.

[MillCreek]

So I could get this mount it instead, then just plug that straight into the charger? Is this a standard type of connector that might also be found on heated gear?

Yes, I bought a couple of these pigtails and have them permanently attached to the batteries. It plugs right into the trickle charger.  I don't know about how it interfaces with heated gear since I have never owned any.

[Balog]

Good call bedlamite, thanks. :)

MillCreek: you ride year round (or mostly anyway)? My wife tends to get cold easily so I'm assuming fall/winter commuting will need at least a heated vest.

[Monkeyleg]

I never bought any riding gear online, as I always wanted to try it on.

Warning: slight thread veer.

I added a fuse and use the same plug to run power to my tank bag for my GPS, cell phone charger, etc.

That reminds me of a cartoon in a motorcycle magazine from the early 1990's. It showed a biker standing next to his bike, talking on a cell phone. It was supposed to be funny, and was at that time.

[Fitz]

I'm going to advocate new enough here, now motorcyclegear.com

Their prices are great, their return policy is great. AND, if you post a review with a picture for whatever you buy, they send you a 25 dollar gift cert via email.

Keep an eye on the "Last chance bargains" section. I got a 400 dollar jacket for 130 bucks through there a while back

[MillCreek]

Good call bedlamite, thanks. :)

MillCreek: you ride year round (or mostly anyway)? My wife tends to get cold easily so I'm assuming fall/winter commuting will need at least a heated vest.

I do ride year around except when there is icing conditions or it is pouring rain.  My Olympia Phantom suit with the liner keeps me pretty warm in the cold.  If not, I like to wear fleece underneath and that will definitely keep me toasty.  

PS: I forgot to mention the secret for me staying relatively dry in our fall/winter weather.  I wash my textile gear (jacket, pants and suits) twice a year: in September and in March.  At the September washing, I use Nikwax wash-in waterproofing treatment that I buy at REI.  This helps restore and maintain the water-repellancy of the fabric. 

[Balog]

Excellent tip, thanks. :) You know any local places that'll mount and balance a tire they didn't sell MillCreek (or other Washingtonians)? Got a new rear headed my way and need it put on.

[tokugawa]

Tire mounting- "Seattle Cycle Service" 
  Or Seattle Cycle Center", but I think they may be more expensive-IIRC both places are on Aurora ave.

 my wife loves her firstgear "Kilimanjaro" jacket-
 Seattle cycle center used to have a good selection of gear, have not been there for quite a while.

 We use the battery tenders, sort of pricy but not as much as a new battery- the thing to watch out for is not to fry your battery with too much charge- for years I used a 1 amp trickle charger with a timer- one hour a day of 1 amp charge.
 
 Gerbings heated clothing  http://gerbing.com/   is in Tumwater,  they have a new micro wire that is supposedly really comfortable- Heated clothing is something that is really nice! And it is a real advantage to be able to go to the factory for and exact fit, as it works best when snug.

[RoadKingLarry]

Dennis Kirk

Aerostitch has a bunch of good stuff on their website. They area bit pricey but if you want what is probably hte best they are the place to go.

[Nick1911]

These guys seem to have good prices:  http://www.topgearleather.com/

I ordered something from them, but it's still in the mail