Everything said above is absolutely correct. Buy the best riding gear you can afford. I've ridden with Icon leather jackets and Aria or Shoei helmets. Two years ago I slid out in a corner (sand) and then high sided my ZX-12R at near 100mph. I was wearing all my gear; helmet, boots, jacket, gloves. I broke my wrist, but otherwise walked away. I still wear the same jacket, even on my Harley.

Make sure to buy a jacket that has cooling vents in it. If your too hot in the summer, then you won't wear it.

Plan on wearing something other than leather in the winter. Leather makes you feel much colder in the winter. Look at some of the touring jackets. They have removable liners to keep you warm while blocking the cold winter air.

Good Luck!

MSF saves lives. Track time is also something to consider.

Your comment on leather is self-explanatory. Leather is very porous, sucks when it's cold.

:tiphat: on the bikes compliment. I am down to one, sold the MV awhile back (miss that beast!)

And by "fit", we mean it should be snug! Not tight, but snug. A loose helmet is not much better than no helmet at all.

That helmet needs to be replaced.

My black mesh jacket has reflective piping. My white helmet (highly recommended for hot weather) has a reflective adhesive strip I added to the back. My boots have reflective strips on them.

The helmet has already went through inspection and passed with flying colors. :tup:

Any time you wreck make sure you get your helmet inspected :tup:

started the msf course today.

driving a kawasaki eliminator!!! (yeah, i'm that badass...)
the bike is super small.

learned a lot so far, second class is tomorrow.
cant believe i didn't get into this earlier.

You still have the GF? :D

I'm working on it. :icon17:

I thought it costs up to several hundred dollars to properly test a crashed helmet? Just isn't worth it imo.

MSF was a freakin blast, my MSF was consisted of 1/2 day worth of class and 1 1/2 days worth of riding. Have fun but don't take the bikes too lightly, one of the guy in my class was hauled off in an ambulance.

Luckily Shoei was at the track and they test our helmets for free if we wreck during the weekend. As long as the foam in the helmet is not cracked and/or compressed the helmet is fine. This is assuming the helmet is fine on the outside.

Yeah, mine is a little longer but it's okay.

I was in class last Weds, and will be in class again this Weds - and taking the written exam

I was on the course Sat and Sun, and will be on the course again next Sat and Sun - sunday will be the riding test.

Take care to recognize that the first 6 months to a year that bike is going to be way more than you can honestly handle. I'd recommend less motor. Be safe, a motorcycle will kill you quickly whereas a car will do much to protect you when things get out of hand.

Good job on the MSF course - that's a good impartial way to learn.

I'd not buy black - that'll be way too hot, despite how good it looks. I buy silver, grey and white gear.

Here are some photos from my motorcycle trip to Red National Park from San Francisco.

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