This hobby can be expensive if you buy over the top gear from the start. If you are looking to get into some slow speed riding, trail riding, low speed side-roads, then the gear below should suffice. Don’t get me wrong, if you end up on a litre bike and racing at the track, please buy a much nicer helmet and fully leathers and proper boots, but this is an entry level setup, top to bottom.
Helmet: ILM has been sufficient for our needs, and comfortable for our longer trips. Alternatively, you can try the cheaper 1Storm equipment, but it is not as long term comfortable as the ILM and does not flip up in the front (great for a stop light on a summer ride).
Headsets: We wear headsets as we’re often in the woods and need to communicate with each other. There are plenty of options, but spending 400$ on a headset when your bike only cost a little more seems crazy. We have been able to make do with the EJEAS equipment just fine. The V4pro has allow 4 of us to all talk together while all being bluetoothe’d to our own phones. It indeed does work from quite a distance away.
Jackets: Jackets are really a personal preference. I’d suggest armor if riding offroad, and armor if riding at high speed on road. The HWK has been great for me, my friends, and my wife. Remove the liner for the summer and you’re good to go, along with having some basic armor for small spills and falls.
Pants: Don’t go out in jeans, shorts, or anything else that serves as no real protection. Even lower speed falls can be painful and scrap the skin from your body. We typically wear HWK pants with some level of armor even when just going for a quick 1 hour ride. You can wear gym shorts under and you end up with decent ventilation too compared to wearing jeans or other pants. Remember.. no one cares how cool you look on your bike if you’re gonna end up with all your skin scraped off when you fall.
Boots: The number one injury in dual sport riding is the ankle.. don’t ride with something without ankle support. Your tennis shoes will also be the first thing to fly off if you go down on pavement. You don’t have to go get ‘dirtbike’ boots.. just get something like below with ankle support at a minimum. There are also dual sport boots that are closer to dirtbike boots but allow some flexibility.
