Cheap Gear for the Girlfriend?

[Ingah]

I know it's abit of a long-shot, but i was just hoping for some pointers on where to look/go to help me find some cheap yet aesthetically pleasing gear for the girlfriend to ride pillion. I'm looking to get the whole shebang for her. She likes black gear if it helps.

We plan to use the bike for long and short distance journies, all year round, so adaptable gear is needed.

As it stands right now, she has some boots that are abit too tight to do up properly, a second-hand helmet that only got 1* in the SHARP tests, a pair of leather gloves that she says are a little tight, and no jacket (she borrows mine!).

Obviously this can't continue so it's now time to get her some gear that she'll feel comfortable in; The problem is of course finding affordable gear for her, as an occasional pillion.

In priority order:

(1st) Jacket - Helmet - Boots - Gloves - Trousers (Last).

Budget:

New/Second-hand jacket for £50 or under.

NEW helmet for £30/£40.

Boots - £20/£30.

Gloves - £20.

Trousers - Can be skipped at the present time unless anyone has any cheap ideas.

I'm really hoping the total won't exceed £100 though.

I'm based in Bridgend area, South Wales.

The local bike shop is called Bike Gear, and unfortunately the cheapest female-friendly gear in there, despite the sales, is ~£70 for a jacket etc.

There's a Hein Gericke over in Cardiff - but i went in there myself a few months back to get some textile trousers i needed and had to (grudgingly) spend £150 for the cheapest pair that fitted me correctly! I can't really afford that kind of money again.

Obviously the second-hand market represents a good possibility - but what sort of medium is best for a good selection of gear that i don't have to travel great distances for.

[rennie]

you could look on e bay

i wouldn't buy 2nd hand helmet though!

aldi and lidl sell cheap motorbike clothing, they don't always have it in stock but it's worth going to check every so often.

you could stick a post in the for sale/ wanted section.

[Korben]

Can I recommend you spend a bit more mate, and buy her trousers.....

If you have an off and she slides down the road she is gonna have permanent scaring without proper trousers... I am sure that's something neither you nor her want....

And spend a bit more on a helmet.... I would recommend a minimum of £100 on one.

Look at Akito Clothing for Boot's, Gloves, Jackets and Trousers. They are fairly cheap and seem pretty good quality. I know TimR wears Akito and he seems to have no problems with them.

I know I am recommending you spend more than you want, but it will be worth it in an accident, and probably better on your Wallet in the long run.

[Guest nastro azzurro]

Am i being niave here????

I expected to find Kettles and Pans in here for sale on the cheap.......

[bbobeckyj]

Sorry, I have no idea how you're gonna spend so little, but I have two suggestions.

1) Hein Gericke do interest free finance/loans on kit, and they currently have a lot of last year's stuff going cheap (very cheap on some). I did this and the girlfreind got better kit than me.

And I don't know if your's is like mine, but she would be p*ss*d as hell if she though that I was going to get her substandard kit, which wouldn't be as safe as my own. Add to that, don't pillions come off worse in accidents?

2) Legs recieve to most injuries when bikers crash. Although I don't want to presume too much, you don't say if she currently has anything to wear for her legs, and I see too many people wearing jeans.

My only off so far was on a corner going about 40mph, inch thick mud and manure left by tractors suprised me and off I went, I slid maybe 3 to 5 meters. I was in Richa textiles and the only part of the road not covered in mud & slurry were the two car tyre tracks.

The trousers wore through to the lining.

If textile is pound for pound more resistant than leather, I never want to see the results of jeans. I also know and see people who always wear leather trousers but often have textile jackets.

[Korben]

I never want to see the results of jeans. I also know and see people who always wear leather trousers but often have textile jackets.

 

It takes 0.4 seconds to wear through thick jeans.....

Not good really.

[yorbandit]

BMF RALLYS MATE or bike shows not sure when there is one in your area but you might be lucky

[cruz]

M&P/Busters have some good deals on clothing, not too far from you either.

[GARYJL]

Look on Ebay but remember theses a fine line between a bargain and something

thats cheap and something thats not up to much. Just look for good names

that you can check on the net or at a local shop and remember at the minute

its a buyers market for everything so the shops may do you a good deal.

[Guest]

M&P/Busters have some good deals on clothing, not too far from you either.

i prefer busters myself ( type it into google and it comes up )

M&P are similar

Busters atm have a rail that has some ladies trousers on it and other bits & bobs for 29.99 each item ( tech7 & buffalo trousers)

also a box of gloves at i think £5 a pair ......

[Guest philgale]

have a look at J&S

lid

pants

jacket

gloves

boots

ok maybe a little more than a ton but you get everything you need......just shop around and hunt ebay for the likes of gloves boots jacket and pants......but get the lid from a shop

[Susieque]

As one of the fairer sex that has had to shop for gear, I've found it can be more difficult to get cheaper clothes for ladies - think this could be cos they focus on looks!!

As has been said, try EBay - I picked up a black leather jacket in really good nick for £15 incl postage!!

Word of advice tho - go into shops and try things on, make a note of make and model then look on EBay. Sizing can be rather strange in comparison to ordinary clothes!!

[Guest]

What size is she? Tall, short or what?

[cruz]

M&P/Busters have some good deals on clothing, not too far from you either.

i prefer busters myself ( type it into google and it comes up )

M&P are similar

Busters atm have a rail that has some ladies trousers on it and other bits & bobs for 29.99 each item ( tech7 & buffalo trousers)

also a box of gloves at i think £5 a pair ......

Tim, Don't know if you are aware M&P/Busters are the same firm I found this out when blagging raffle prizes Busters gave me a cheap disc lock, when I went to M&P they told me they had already given me something at Busters.

[bbobeckyj]

Tim, Don't know if you are aware M&P/Busters are the same firm I found this out when blagging raffle prizes Busters gave me a cheap disc lock, when I went to M&P they told me they had already given me something at Busters.

 

I made the mistake of selecting the send me emails when I bought something from M&P, I got emails from about 4 differently named companies every other day, and not all could be removed from the 'remove me from the mailing list' link

[cruz]

Tim, Don't know if you are aware M&P/Busters are the same firm I found this out when blagging raffle prizes Busters gave me a cheap disc lock, when I went to M&P they told me they had already given me something at Busters.

 

I made the mistake of selecting the send me emails when I bought something from M&P, I got emails from about 4 differently named companies every other day, and not all could be removed from the 'remove me from the mailing list' link

Yup thefastone and offroadstore all the same outfit. Dead handy for getting mucoff bogofs, as they never do them at the same time so you should almost always be able to get it half price.

[Guest]

M&P/Busters have some good deals on clothing, not too far from you either.

i prefer busters myself ( type it into google and it comes up )

M&P are similar

Busters atm have a rail that has some ladies trousers on it and other bits & bobs for 29.99 each item ( tech7 & buffalo trousers)

also a box of gloves at i think £5 a pair ......

Tim, Don't know if you are aware M&P/Busters are the same firm I found this out when blagging raffle prizes Busters gave me a cheap disc lock, when I went to M&P they told me they had already given me something at Busters.

am aware but find busters are a tad better on customer service and since me having a blazing row with M&P staff at the nec show stand i will avoid at any chance