There are two types of riders, those that already fell, and those that will fall. Take it as it is, you will be on the ground eventually so plan accordingly.

Remember those days that you were on a bicicle and you would fall off and get scraped and it would hurt like a bitch? Now imagine SLIDING down the pavement at highway speeds, with the only thing stopping you is the skin against the ground as traction. Yes OUCH! Try draging your palm against sand paper, its not fun, and its nowhere near the forces invloved if you fall off a bike, not counting the fact that you can get stuck under the bike and have 400 pounds on you pushing against the ground as your sliding. And not counting you hitting other objects, cars, sidewalks trees etc.

Point is, think logically, YOU WANT GEAR, and the more the better. Hospital bills and skin grafting isnt cheap, so by buying gear you save money.

Forget the guys that ride around in T shirt and shorts, they WILL regret that decision. It was proven time after time.

Now lets start with the helmet.

There are once again two ways you can go, cheap way and expensive way. For expensive way there are 3 Brands, Shoei, Arai, and Soumy. For cheap way there are Icon, HJC, Scorpion and others. If they are DOT and Snell approved theoretically they have the same protection in a crash, but what would you rather crash in, a mercedes or a Daewoo, if they both get same crash test ratings? Or do you have a 100$ head or a 500$ head?
The major differences between the low and and High end helmets, that you can actually tell, are Graphic and designs, quality, service, weight, comfort, features, ease of use, and satisfaction. Cheap helmet will annoy you after a while, and if when you upgrade you will wonder how could you stand that helmet for so long, its a world of difference.
On a side note, helmet needs replacing every 5 years of use. It is no longer safe to use it after that.
Also if a helmet falls of the approximate height of a motorcycle gas tank, even without anything in it, it will most likely be no longer safe to use, most helmets are one time deal.

Fitting: DO NOT BUY HELMET WITHOUT TRYING IT ON FIRST. Go to your local store and try everything on possible. If it moves around on your head its too big, if it you barely get in it, and it moves around and it moves your skin with it, its just right. Helmet padding breaks in after a while, making it a little looser.
Fitting is the #1 deciding factor in a helmet purchase, if a 500$ helmet dosnt fit your type of head well, its not for you. If a 50$ helmet fits better then the 500$, its most likely safer for you. On that note, different manufacturers make different shaped helmets for different shaped heads, the only way you can find out which one fits yours is by trying them on.

Jackets.
This time there are 3 types of jackets, Mesh, textile, and leather.
Lets start with Mesh. Best vented, great for hot summer days, cheapest, most manuevarable. Cons? Barely better then a T shirt, offers almost no protection, has a nasty little habbit of MELTING ONTO THE SKIN, and bruises and openings in a slide.
Textile, is the next best thing to leather. The inbetween man, not too cool, not to hot, not too expensive, not too cheap, not greatest protection, but still quite a decent amount depending on the jacket.
Leather is for centuries the #1 way to protect yourself, and just the top of the line for jackets.

Fitting, if you put the jacket on, zip it up, and can lift your hands well above your head and the jacket moves up on you. It's too big, remember this isnt a Tshirt or a winter jacket, it HAS to be fitting on the body.

Boots.
Sure those sneakers are convinient to wear, just do not fall in them or your legs wont be pretty.
If you get stuck under a bike in a slide and its on your legs, your sneakers will wear right through and then its your leg and bones like ankles... they are important! Buy boots with ankle protection so you dont get stuck in a wheelcheair or walk around with crunches for the rest of your life.

Gloves.
See those hands that you do EVERYTHING with? Yeah they are important, especially if they help you make a living, lets keep them protected, buy a good set of gloves, simple as that. Make sure to try them on first.

Pants.
Jeans was a gear to wear forever, but once you wall you will never wear shorts again, jeans are only good for about 10 feet of sliding.. then its your own skin. For those of you that want the look of jeans in protective pants look into Icon gear and Draggin jeans.

That is all for now, pictures and more coming soon.

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