The Mountain
Active Member
When I got my bike back from storage this past weekend, I picked up some new riding gear too. Here's my initial impression:
Helmet: Shoei RF1200 - I got a Medium, as that's the size the Shoei size chart says I should have. Fit is good, no pressure points. The helmet has a fair amount of low-frequency "boom" from wind noise, though highs are mercifully well-muffled. I was riding without the chin curtain, so that may make a difference. The helmet feels a bit short on the back of my neck, but it also seemed a bit low on my forehead, so I may just have to experiment with putting it on more carefully. Visibility is fine, no distortion in the visor and nothing obstructing my vision. Definitely need to get a tinted visor for daytime riding though; have to save my pennies because replacement shields are freaking expensive.
Jacket: Firstgear Kathmandu - Fit is good (bought an XL). Lots of adjustment straps, so it's easy to get the jacket "just right". Insulated liner works well, at least in the upper 40s. Nice selection of pockets on the jacket, and easy to get into, though it would be nice if the front outside pockets were deeper. The little hydration backpack is a nice touch, but there's no loop inside it to hang the bladder from, so it just sags down into the bottom of the pack, and no dedicated port for the drinking tube to pass through. I can't say how good the waterproofing is, or the rain hood; we'll have to see.
Gloves: Moose Racing ADV1 - I got the size XL per their chart. It's a little snug and uncomfortable, but since the gloves are textile they should stretch some with wear. The fleece liner is warm, but since it's not attached anywhere inside the glove, it becomes tangled easily, and is equally easy to pull out of the glove while taking the glove off. The fingers are a little long compared to the palm (at least for my hand) so operating some of the controls is a little difficult (almost a centimeter of loose material at the end of some fingers). I'm hoping that wear and stretch will improve the fit.
Helmet: Shoei RF1200 - I got a Medium, as that's the size the Shoei size chart says I should have. Fit is good, no pressure points. The helmet has a fair amount of low-frequency "boom" from wind noise, though highs are mercifully well-muffled. I was riding without the chin curtain, so that may make a difference. The helmet feels a bit short on the back of my neck, but it also seemed a bit low on my forehead, so I may just have to experiment with putting it on more carefully. Visibility is fine, no distortion in the visor and nothing obstructing my vision. Definitely need to get a tinted visor for daytime riding though; have to save my pennies because replacement shields are freaking expensive.
Jacket: Firstgear Kathmandu - Fit is good (bought an XL). Lots of adjustment straps, so it's easy to get the jacket "just right". Insulated liner works well, at least in the upper 40s. Nice selection of pockets on the jacket, and easy to get into, though it would be nice if the front outside pockets were deeper. The little hydration backpack is a nice touch, but there's no loop inside it to hang the bladder from, so it just sags down into the bottom of the pack, and no dedicated port for the drinking tube to pass through. I can't say how good the waterproofing is, or the rain hood; we'll have to see.
Gloves: Moose Racing ADV1 - I got the size XL per their chart. It's a little snug and uncomfortable, but since the gloves are textile they should stretch some with wear. The fleece liner is warm, but since it's not attached anywhere inside the glove, it becomes tangled easily, and is equally easy to pull out of the glove while taking the glove off. The fingers are a little long compared to the palm (at least for my hand) so operating some of the controls is a little difficult (almost a centimeter of loose material at the end of some fingers). I'm hoping that wear and stretch will improve the fit.