Time for new gear

**Azr6** · 02-09-2011, 12:29 PM

Well it is time for an upgrade. My gear is all old so I need something new and something that fits

I am pretty set on getting the Suomy Spec-1R helmet and I think I will get a jacket next winter since this one is over. Anyone have this helmet?

My main thing now is some gloves. I really like the knox gloves but there is no way to try them on locally and they don't sell through any major distributors. (I get discounts through the major guys).

Have a pair of a/s sp-2 but don't want to get anymore like those. Dainese stuff is eh.

Anyone got any recommendations? Looking for something with a kangaroo palm and protection on the outside, gauntlet of course. Also, want the finger stitching on the outside so you can't feel it inside your glove. (hate that)

Boots will have to wait till I can score some nice Sidis. Till then the smx plus will do.

**renegade** · 02-09-2011, 02:19 PM

love my Bautista. crash tested and held up great. to me they feel pretty similar to an Arai rx7

Have you looked into Held gloves? Lots of got good things about them.

**segiterrus** · 02-09-2011, 05:51 PM

I crashed with my A* GP tech gloves at the track and they held up 100% with a little scrape so I defiebtely recommend them. Once broken in they are comfy.

As for helmet I just upgraded from Shoei X11 to Shark RS2, its uber comfy inside and light weight cf helmet.

**AtlantaR6** · 02-09-2011, 06:11 PM

I've got Held gloves, they are pricey but awesome. Very soft kangaroo leather but durable, crash tested!

**Azr6** · 02-09-2011, 09:54 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.

Renegade, you ever wear an Arai? I have a quantum II right now and want to know if I will fit the same size. Heard they are similiar to the Arai's but I also heard that they have a bit of a funky head shape to them.

Haven't looked into Held gloves. Not sure if that is a brand I can get through our distributors...that is why knox is a no go. =( I will look into them though.

I have no idea how the higher end A/S gloves are like that one Seg. If they are anything like the sp2 then I don't want to mess with them.

I guess I gotta investigate these held gloves so more.

**lowavehawk** · 02-11-2011, 07:09 AM

Heroic makes some pretty good gloves too. I think i'll be giving the held phantoms a try next though.

**DangerDog** · 02-21-2011, 06:38 PM

I was on a Shoei and switched to a Spec-1R for about 6 months till I crashed last year. Here's my +/- list on the Suomy Spec-1R vs. the X-11:

+Light weight
+Awesome graphics
+Great venting
+Nice padding
+Great fit (I felt it was similar to the X-11 in terms of head shape. I did need one size thinner cheek pads. A medium in a Suomy runs a tad smaller than the fit of a Shoei. It did give me a bit of a headache when I first got it but it broke in and fit GREAT after that.

-My teeth hit the chin bar when I would tuck in. (That could be BAD in a wreck, but it did force me to breathe because I could hear myself breathing through the vents withg my lips up against the chin bar, so it worked out for me.

)
-Noisier than the Shoei, (not a big deal though with ear plugs, but might be a bit of a drag for daily riding if you dont wear ear plugs.)
-Shield changes were a bit of a PITA at first till you get used to it. Having to have a special tool to change em out sucks. But you have an Arai so you know what brutal shield changes are about.

(Shoei's are WAYYYY easier!)

Sometime in the future I'll be on the new X-12 I think, but I havent ridden with it yet. Dustin has one now though.

Gloves - DONT GET SPIDI PENTAS!!!

(You can search around here & a back issue of RRW to find out just how great they DIDN'T do for me and how great their customer service WASN'T.)
I'm on A* GP Pro's for now, till the new hotness is on deck. I've heard the Helds are supposed to be pretty slammin, but didnt have time to research em, try em on, or buy em before I needed them. There was an issue with the stitching coming apart for a while on A* gloves, but I've had these for about 14 months now riding 2-3 track days a month and they've done great so far.

Sidi's are AWESOME. My chick bought me a set of the Vortice's, and although you have to sarifice a chicken to get them on, they're super comfy and fit sooooo good with all of the adjustments. That and all the parts on them, shit even a part of the sole, are replaceable. You'll totally dig em over A* boots I think. I had an older pair of SMX-whatevers back in the day and when I got my Sidi's I realized that the A* didnt fit my foot right, too wide, and felt kinda blind on the shifter.

**Azr6** · 02-21-2011, 08:56 PM

All good info Danny. I actually just got the spec 1r this morning. I can feel ya on the headache thing on the back of the head. I originally got a small but it just hurt me too much so I got a medium. It is better but still have a bit of a squeeze on the back of my head. It should be good once it breaks in like yours did.

Already played with the shield and it is definitely weak. I never thought someone could make a worse design then Arai but I was wrong. You can use a screw driver but there are just too many small pieces that can break easily when I use my trogdor arm.

The noise won't bother me since my Arai was already noisy and I wear ear plugs.

I actually just got the astar gp pros. Still breaking them in but I think they will be nice. I really wanted to get the knox gloves but there is no way to try them on and they don't sell through any of the big vendors so that was a no go. I saw that entire ordeal you had and definitely stayed away from them. If it is one thing astar does right it is their customer service.

I just saw the new smx + boots that astar is coming out with. They look nice but I will definitely get sidis when I upgrade boots. I got to research them and you can absolutely swap everything like you were saying.