>>253246I said "Good gear", not "expensive gear".
Also, it's protective gear. If you're looking for a fashion show, maybe motorcycles aren't for you.
I buy my helmets for about $150 in the spring and fall on clearance.
Jacket I bought about 5 years ago. It could stand to be replaced, but it's seen tens of thousands of miles.
Paid $80 for my $200 MX boots new-in-box on craigslist.
$500 tekvest I got for about $200 on a pro deal.
Ebay's a great place to look for jerseys, pants, etc. $40-50 jerseys you can find for $20-ish shipped.
When I'm sliding on the ground in a cloud of dust, I'm usually thinking more along the lines of "Fuck i'm really glad I've got this shit on", not "You know, I wish I cheaped out and bought the $20 knee guards instead of the $150 knee braces...".
Pic related. That wipeout cost me ~3mins and about 4 places that race.