[JayMurray]

Well the other half has finally come around to getting on the back of the bike , when I finally I mean she doesn't want to get on the back , she wants a bike . but she'll go pillion to start off with . Question is , can you recommend any shops for gear , what gear is out there for the ladies ? Anything in particular to look out for ?


Thanking you


Jay

[Lilliput]

JayMurray, on 18 June 2011 - 07:57 AM, said:

Well the other half has finally come around to getting on the back of the bike , when I finally I mean she doesn't want to get on the back , she wants a bike . but she'll go pillion to start off with . Question is , can you recommend any shops for gear , what gear is out there for the ladies ? Anything in particular to look out for ?


Thanking you


Jay

alot depends on her size and height, like any clothes.

I am described as "petite" i find the Lewis leathers are perfect for me, they don't make me look like the michelan man, and they are lady fit (in other words the curves are on the right places, you don't get this if u by guys bike gear)

I also have Richa textiles that are an excellent fit too

Gloves i go for lady fit too, Megabikes in wexford st is where i have gotten my last few pairs (textile ones and leather ones)

Boots i have lady star daytona's, they give me that wee bit more height that i need (they have a wee built in wedge in the inside)

thermals i use the aldi ones, same with the socks

rain suit is the small one from Lydl

Helmet is HJC (have had nitro, carberg, AGV) have to say my HJC is defo my favorite

Best thing she can do is try on different gear and see what brand and style suits her, my advice would be to not spend a fortune on the first lot of gear, chances are she will find other gear she prefers once she is out and about on bike more and the first lot will become her spare gear

[skipper]

I spent over one thousand euro on gear for my wife that was used twice
is she sure ?

[JayMurray]

skipper, on 18 June 2011 - 09:52 AM, said:

I spent over one thousand euro on gear for my wife that was used twice
is she sure ?

That's what I'm afraid of , or coming home and the keys and my bike are gone , could go either way

Quote

Best thing she can do is try on different gear and see what brand and style suits her, my advice would be to not spend a fortune on the first lot of gear, chances are she will find other gear she prefers once she is out and about on bike more and the first lot will become her spare gear

Yeah , want to get her kitted out cheap enough and see how it goes then let her upgrade from there . So mega bikes will get a visit , does Ronan in RPM have women's gear , cotters ? Where did you get the richa stuff ?

[Pagan]

I have dainese leather pants, a richa jacket and a buffalo jacket, sartso jeans and richa gloves. It all depends on what fits the best. I tried for along time to get a pair of leather pants that fit me properly and in the end the dainese were given to me by a friend and they fit like a glove. As lilliput said the best thing to do is shop around until you find something suitable and at the right price.
I was up in Hein Gericke in Belfast a couple of weeks ago and I was like a kid in a candy store, everything was in my size, its the 1st time that has ever happened to me, normally everything is too big for me. I just wish I had money that day. but I know where Ill be going when I do get a few bob. It mite be worth your while having a look there, or the one in Newry even, tis a bit closer.

[Vixen]

i got all my gear in cotters, they did a really good deal for me and the girl that worked there was so helpful.

got duchinni textiles and sidi boots



and a pink helmet, my daughter wearing it!



think i got it all for in and around 500 but they were having a sale

[gillypops]

jay just something worth considering. i bought myself a load of new gear just before i bought my bike with the intention of using it for riding. i wore it a few times when i was pillion and it was grand but when i came to try riding in it i couldnt, it was all too constricting.
riding and pillion seating positions can be totally different which i hadnt accounted for when i bought it.
couple of weeks ago i went to cotters for new stuff and while i was trying it on i went and sat on a bike outside to make sure it was comfy and roomy enough, might have looked or seemed a bit daft but i didnt want to end up with another set of gear laying in the wardrobe gathering dust.

gloves i found are very tricky, ive gone through 4 sets before finding anything i could ride in. womens gloves tend to be smaller obviously, and ive found that they fit great until you try to reach for the clutch/brake lever which tend to be a "man sized" distance away.

again get her to try some while sat on a bike

[Lilliput]

JayMurray, on 18 June 2011 - 10:45 AM, said:

That's what I'm afraid of , or coming home and the keys and my bike are gone , could go either way




Yeah , want to get her kitted out cheap enough and see how it goes then let her upgrade from there . So mega bikes will get a visit , does Ronan in RPM have women's gear , cotters ? Where did you get the richa stuff ?

richa trousers were at bike show in RDS yrs ago, jacket was at a rally in feakle yrs ago too but both were a perfect fit and they zip together. I would say if she can get gear that zips together to go for it, when i wear my matching makes i always zip them and sometimes it drives me mad that i can't zip my other jackets to my favorite leathers, busters and M&P do some really nice lady fitting jackets too,i picked up a really nice one there a few yrs ago and have to say its what i would wear the most.

Something to consider too, alot of guys will think "yeh just get her the gear but forget to think, will she be comfortable wearing it if we are out on bikes and have to walk in somewhere for a coffee" hence how important it is that the gear fits well, is comfortable and looks well too

[KeepinHerLit]

Was in cotters yesterday and they have a good range of gear for women, worth a look in there.

gillypops, on 18 June 2011 - 11:21 AM, said:

gloves i found are very tricky, ive gone through 4 sets before finding anything i could ride in. womens gloves tend to be smaller obviously, and ive found that they fit great until you try to reach for the clutch/brake lever which tend to be a "man sized" distance away.

Adjustable levers I adjusted mine so its not as far of a reach!

[gillypops]

KeepinHerLit, on 18 June 2011 - 11:41 AM, said:

Was in cotters yesterday and they have a good range of gear for women, worth a look in there.



Adjustable levers I adjusted mine so its not as far of a reach!

was nearly gonna go down that route but in the end i found a pair of gloves that were ok.
its the amount of stretch between the base of the thumb and first finger that tends to cause the problem with womens gloves.

[KeepinHerLit]

gillypops, on 18 June 2011 - 11:48 AM, said:

was nearly gonna go down that route but in the end i found a pair of gloves that were ok.
its the amount of stretch between the base of the thumb and first finger that tends to cause the problem with womens gloves.

Get ya! I have never found a pair of womens gloves that fit, unless they cost over 150 quid! Just go for mens gloves now, better protection anyway!

[Ronan T120]

Myself and the queen bee recently took a trip to Hein Gericke in Newry. Great selection of ladies leather and textile gear.

[gillypops]

KeepinHerLit, on 18 June 2011 - 11:59 AM, said:

Get ya! I have never found a pair of womens gloves that fit, unless they cost over 150 quid! Just go for mens gloves now, better protection anyway!

i tried mens gloves and ended up looking like a goal keeper


jay ive a spare pair of oxtar boots here size 5/6 that the missus can borrow if she wants while she tests out the pillion seat and decides if riding is for her or not

[JayMurray]

Thanks all , plenty of info there .

[BobbyBoobie]

Spent two weekends looking for some nice gear for my girlfiend.
Ended up going to Harley Dublin by chance and picked up a set of Frank Thomas lady rider gear.

Best fitting of the lot apparently. Got the helmet in Bikeworld. Ask for discount in both!

....more info>>>

160 jacket, 130 dungaree pants and a little more off at the till

[Linda]

I normally go to Cottors it's the only place that sells stuff for my height and he has a good range.

Got a jacket from Hein Gericke a couple of years ago and can't say I'm that impressed. The ladies trousers were all too flimsy for my liking.

France is brilliant for ladies biking gear but a bit far away.

[Liam]

Go Ally Go

[Darkcloud]

Questions:
Do ladies in general find 'lady' gear too unflattering with little thought put into it? Is it difficulty to get the right 'fit' and more importantly 'look'.
Is there a market (not just in Ireland) for good quality, affordable, versatile, 'lady like' bike gear that's specifically targetted at ladies?? ?

[Kelpie]

I started a thread ages ago on bike gear for ladies and its inferior quality.

See here

View with caution, there's some very graphic images on that thread.

I currently have Richa ladies leathers which are every bit as good as the gents version. I bought the bottoms in a sale for around €100 and the jacket on ebay for €60 as they were old stock.

I went to get new gloves the other day and was appalled that the pretty ladies version were little more than ornamental!

Beware of the prettiest, best fitting stuff! It seems some manufacturers still regard lady riders as having much tougher skin than our male counterparts.

[Artist]

It is a bit hit and miss with womens gear, I did get a pair of textile trousers in Hein Gericke three years ago and still find them great ( in the sale ) Gloves are a pain as I think they are designed for non-driving and my thumb gets squashed even when stretching for the indicator, I buy the medium size now and just put up with them being a little too long on the fingers.
Its trial and error.