riding gloves

[1st bike]

and i like all of these suggestions, but man all of these are expensive. i have a hard time spending 60 bucks on gloves....i also need some good boots, this is starting to add up...and bags, i need bags. i thought the bike was the expensive part.

[bikerphil]

I use $7 goatskin work gloves, and suffer until I get to the next traffic light when I can place my hands on the cylinder head. They don't melt. They actually aren't too bad, better than some other gloves that I've used. It rarely gets below 40F here tho.

[CatatonicBug]

and i like all of these suggestions, but man all of these are expensive. i have a hard time spending 60 bucks on gloves....i also need some good boots, this is starting to add up...and bags, i need bags. i thought the bike was the expensive part.

You thought WRONG! The bike is the easy part. It's all the extra stuff that gets pricey. Thankfully, you can still ride without most of it, and save up for it over time. I paid $500 for my bike, but I've put about that much into it again in add-ons and parts. Shop around, and do your homework. There are lots of good deals out there. I got a set of soft bags on ebay for $22, shipped, then sold them to another XSive after I got my Vetter bags.

With gear, except for helmets IMHO, you get what you pay for. However, there are some expensive items that really don't live up to their pricing. That's why doing your homework is important.

[1st bike]

yup, i was looking at some soft bags on ebay, found 'em for 40 but i hate buying stuff like that, you never know what you are going to end up with. i am a big fan of doing the research like you said, and actually seeing the product...then if i can find it cheaper, it's on! helmets i would agree with you, i don't have a great helmet (just a dome lid for now, i know i should upgrade, and have been really thinking about a full), but everything else is kinda whatever fits the need and the budget.

[cywelchjr]

Yep, the bike is the cheap part. All the rest adds up over time. Part, accesories, gear and such. Next thing you know SWMBO is on your back about what your spending on your new mistress.

[jwhughes3]

leather roping gloves

or plain old work gloves - either one is fairly inexpensive and the ropers fit the palm good for gripping the throttle, etc.

And I feel naked riding without gloves more so than without a helmet. Weird, huh?

My head is hard but my hands aren't I guess.

John in San Antonio

[79XS11F]

I have 3 pairs. 2 light pairs for summer use. 1 pair for me and 1 pair for passenger use when needed. They do not have gantlets and are made of light leather. The other cold use gloves are heavier leather and have gantlets. Both pairs fit just less the snug and do not bunch up at the bend points. Both pairs are on the cheap side and already need to be replaced. This spring I will put out the cash for GOOD gloves. Full gantlets type first. Because good gloves are so costly make sure they fit right. Too tight or too small and they will make your hands sore and numb pretty quick, to big or too loose and they will move around a lot and bunch up at the bend points and be uncomfortable. If I were to only have one pair i would go with gloved with gantlets. Gantlets can be warm in hot weather but they keep out bugs, water and wind plus offer some added protection to the wrists in a mishap.
Rob

[MindWebs]

gloves...?

yes. gloves are good.

but heated hand grips are $60-80 and them you can wear whatever gloves you want.

i do have a set like MrFreeze and I KNOW they are good at 28 degrees with heated grips but i wouldn't try it without heated grips.

Glaves that keep your skin off they pavement in the event of a spill are worth they're weight to wart off hospital bills.

that's my 2 cents worth anyway.

Webs

[RS Thornton]

Most of my gear is Joe Rocket, usually bought at newenough.com when it is in the closeout or bargain basement section.

One of the best out there is Tour Master Winter Elite, but they are a bit pricy so I will keep lurking until I find them on discount.

Scott

[Crazcnuk]

I use a pair of Thinsulate ski gloves, that I've had for about 20 years. Friends of mine swear by the long-cuff insulated welding gloves they get from work (after they get thrown out).

I don't usually wear gloves until the temps drop below 10C.

Biggest thing for hand comfort is a fairing!

[CatatonicBug]

I ALWAYS wear gloves, no matter what the temps are. I have mesh ones for summer. I also have a fairing, but when the temps are below 35ºF, my fingers still get rather cold under my gauntlet gloves. I'm still wondering whether some kind of glove liners would be worth the price. They want $30 for a set at Cycle Gear. I think that's about what I paid for my summer gloves!