If you only read one article about gear: Difference between revisions
| Line 190: | Line 190: | ||
Here's my rundown on prices for gear. Note that these prices are out of my head, based on recent experiences, not from anyone's catalog or website. Please think of them as "ballpark" figures. | Here's my rundown on prices for gear. Note that these prices are out of my head, based on recent experiences, not from anyone's catalog or website. Please think of them as "ballpark" figures. | ||
<table border=0 cellpadding=3> | |||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
<th> Minimum price</th> | <th> Minimum price</th> | ||
<td> | <td> The <i>absolute minimum</i> you should ever pay for gear -- any less and chances are you're getting unsafe gear. </td> | ||
gear -- any less | |||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
<th> Normal price</th> | <th> Normal price</th> | ||
<td> | <td>These prices are "about normal" for good, high-quality safety gear that's not extravagant or overpriced. </td> | ||
high-quality safety gear that's not extravagant or overpriced. </td> | |||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
| Line 207: | Line 205: | ||
<th> High price</th> | <th> High price</th> | ||
<td> | <td> This is for normal production items; you can always pay thousands of dollars for custom manufacture, gold inlay, custom graphics, etc. | ||
of dollars for custom manufacture, gold inlay, custom graphics, etc. | |||
</td> | </td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
| Line 215: | Line 212: | ||
<p><table border=1 cellpadding=3> | <p><table border=1 cellpadding=3> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
<th | <th > Item </th> | ||
<th | <th > Minimum price </th> | ||
<th | <th > "Normal" price </th> | ||
<th | <th > High price </th> | ||
<th | <th > Notes </th> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
| Line 256: | Line 253: | ||
<td> $40-120 </td> | <td> $40-120 </td> | ||
<td> $300 </td> | <td> $300 </td> | ||
<td> Winter or waterproof gloves tend to cost more than summer-weight | <td> Winter or waterproof gloves tend to cost more than summer-weight gloves </td> | ||
gloves </td> | |||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
| Line 284: | Line 280: | ||
<td> $800 </td> | <td> $800 </td> | ||
<td> | <td> </td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> <th colspan=5 | <tr> <th colspan=5 >Totals</th> </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| Line 297: | Line 291: | ||
<td> $915-1070 </td> | <td> $915-1070 </td> | ||
<td> $3300 </td> | <td> $3300 </td> | ||
<td rowspan=2> Note that most people mix and match from the "cheap" and | <td rowspan=2> Note that most people mix and match from the "cheap" and "regular" columns, as well as mixing leather and textile, so the totals shown here are unrealistically high. </td> | ||
"regular" columns, as well as mixing leather and textile, so the | |||
totals shown here are unrealistically high. </td> | |||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
| Line 316: | Line 308: | ||
You don't have to spend $1000 to get a good set of gear, but if you plan on spending that much, you'll be happy when you get set up for less. One trick you can use to save money is to locate the model and brand of gear you want, but in last year's model. This gear is exactly as protective, but retailers need to clear it out for "next year's model." This stuff tends to go on sale around the fall and winter, although it's worth checking any time of year. | You don't have to spend $1000 to get a good set of gear, but if you plan on spending that much, you'll be happy when you get set up for less. One trick you can use to save money is to locate the model and brand of gear you want, but in last year's model. This gear is exactly as protective, but retailers need to clear it out for "next year's model." This stuff tends to go on sale around the fall and winter, although it's worth checking any time of year. | ||
====The | ====The Finances of Crashing==== | ||
For this discussion, let's set up a scenario in which we have two different riders: Casual Carl and Safety Steve (thanks to David Hough for the naming convention. Go read his book, [[Ninja 250 Rider's bookshelf|Proficient Motorcycling]], if you haven't yet). | For this discussion, let's set up a scenario in which we have two different riders: Casual Carl and Safety Steve (thanks to David Hough for the naming convention. Go read his book, [[Ninja 250 Rider's bookshelf|Proficient Motorcycling]], if you haven't yet). | ||
| Line 340: | Line 332: | ||
Let's see the tally of who spent what: | Let's see the tally of who spent what: | ||
<table border=1 cellpadding=3> | |||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
<th | <th > Item </th> | ||
<th | <th > Casual Carl </th> | ||
<th | <th > Safety Steve </th> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
| Line 374: | Line 366: | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
<td> Total </td> | <td> '''Total''' </td> | ||
<td> $30,620 </td> | <td> '''$30,620''' </td> | ||
<td> $1,470 </td> | <td> '''<tr> <td></td> </tr>$1,470''' </td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||