Bilt/Cycle Gear apparel

[taxonomy]

I just picked up a KLX250s and am pretty excited about it. I'm doing a few basic mods, e.g. springs, pipe and rejet. So, it was more money than I was expecting to spend. I already own really nice street apparel including a roadcrafter, two Shoei helmets, a darien jacket etc.

So, I am thinking to conserve some $$$$ I'd look into the really affordable house brand for Cycle Gear. Is this stuff OK or is it a total waste of my time.

Thanks

Adam

[Rossco]

I think this thread might help you decide.
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...cyclegear.html

[Pittenger5]

Crap. Utter crap.

[breakdirt916]

I haven't crash tested any of it, but I have a helmet, shin/knee guards, and elbow pads from bilt, but if you can, I'd trust pitts and avoid it since he works there

you can build a basic dirty gear set pretty cheap with the exception of boots and helmet...even then, I bought new boots for $90

jerseys and pants are cheap; I posted on craigslist and got a bunch of like-new apparel for free. Jerseys don't do shit for protection. They're pretty much just polyester shirts that look good and are loose enough that they don't do constrain you while riding. MX pants will have more durable material to offer some abrasion protection, and offer more space inside for knee/shin guards, and are flexible/tuck into the boots, but they really do lack in padding for absorbing impact.

fox gloves are $20, knee/shin and elbow guards (fox branded) are usually about $30/piece, chest/roost protectors (which don't do shit except protect against roost) are like $35 bucks (check kitt's ad in the fs section), and used basic neck braces can be had for about $20

if you want to do better, spend ~$150 and get a pressure fitted armor suit...it'll fit your body well (and keep the armor in place for crashes), will include a usable chest/back protector, shoulder guards, and elbow guards.

if you want to do it even better, buy a good set of knee guards that slide onto your leg for about $50-$60

and if you want to top it off, get a full neck brace and padded bicycle shorts to protect your hips, and MX socks for your boots

where are you going to ride this thing?

[k_cotter]

Better to cheap out on the bike then the gear. Just my .02

[Pittenger5]

You dont even have to cheap out on helmet and stuff, some of the Foxes and ONeils and stuff are good helmets for like 120 bucks.
Shit like kneepads and stuff like that are fine to get Bilt, but I would never in a million years buy a bilt helmet, pants, jacket or gloves.

[BMMCBR]

I've crash tested the boots. They're fine for the street/red group track day.

[gregp]

I have a pair of Bilt boots. They cost $59 or $69. They have been great for casual street bike riding, and wearing around the office. They have held up well, and are waterproof. I have not found another pair of boots that does as good a job, for the same cost. I would definitely buy another pair if they fell apart tomorrow.

[breakdirt916]

whoa whoa whoa...we're talkin' dirt

[gregp]

Understood. The bike is a KLX250S. The Bilt boots I have would be fine for riding that bike. I wear them while riding my DR650, and my KDX200. I have tried other "House" brands of off road gear - Chaparral/Ocelot, RMATV/A.R.C., and they all seem to function just fine.

[backinthesaddle]

I have had the touring style boots for a couple years and use them year round. Happily I cant speak to their crash worthiness but they have held up well for over 10,000 miles and one sole replacement. I did take a gamble on their track boots for well under $100 but think I might return them.

[Pittenger5]

Some people have gotten pretty lucky with the price and how they hold up. But just hang out in the store for a few days, and see how much Bilt crap gets returned due to defects or parts breaking. I wouldnt trust any of their stuff to hold up at all in a crash just seeing how it holds up to normal use.