BILT Motorcycle Gear - Anyone know anything about this brand?

[JohnnyD]

Cycle Gear is having a sale on this brand of motorcycle gear.

Prices seem good, but I live too far from a store to check it out. Anyone seen or tried this brand? I'm always looking for more jackets and pants. Track suits are only $300.

Or are this trash and should be avoided? Don't know if this is a new brand and just like Fieldsheer when they started, I was able to get some leathers at good prices.

 

[Bossanova]

The guys at my local store told me that Frank Thomas brand is going away and this is the brand that is replacing it. Kind of like a store brand. Too soon to tell is its any good or not. They claimed they ditched the Frank Thomas label because of too many quality control problems.

 

[JohnnyD]

Thanks for the reply. [up]

I heard the same about the Frank Thomas brand too. Seams rip out and other quality control issues.

 

[DustyXB]

I was told by the manager here that BiLT just bought out FT. I never heard anything about the quality control. Oh well. I just got a pair of the track boots. Comfy, fit nicly (not too snug not too lose), I can move in them. I haven't had a chance to ride in them yet but hopefully by the end of this week.

 

[stang65pony]

i tried on the helmets and they are comfy!

 

[Baal]

They claimed they ditched the Frank Thomas label because of too many quality control problems.

Yeah, this was after they always touted the exclusive high quality of FT gear.

As to the Bilt helmets, I think your money would be better spent with one of the better known brands. Scorpion and Z1R got good performance ratings at a great price. Deals can be had in many places for HJC. If you step up to the spendy brands (Arai, Shoei, Suomy, Shark), you'll have to shop to save, but IMO the price difference is money well spent.

My 0.02.

 

[Jerry C]

I'm planning on some track days this year and the Bilt suit looked like a good choice for the money.

 

[upthemaiden]

I stopped out at cyclegear the other day to pick up a pair of those $30 bilt gloves. They looked like a pretty good deal for a full length glove with knuckle protection. I checked them out, they seemed like they would do what they needed to, but I also found a really nice pair of dianese hellracer gloves for $50 so I just grabbed those instead. With one of each glove on at the same time I could definitely tell the inside of the dianese was more comfortable, the stitching was a lot better, and they just looked a little safer if I was to crash in them. Regardless I'd still ride in the bilt gloves if that's what I had.

I looked at some of the helmets but that's still one area I don't feel comfortable getting cheap with. I don't necessarily need an arai, but I want a company I'm at least familiar with. I'm perfectly happy with a $200 HJC, but I think something like a Scorpion is as far down the list as I would go since I've heard good reviews of their EXO helmets. It's cool there are a lot of other options popping up, but I'm gonna let a few other people crash test them first

We did get my wife a sevenzeroseven helmet for $20 while we were there, that was just too good of a deal to pass up. Plus she rides mopeds and not motorcycles so she only gets up to about 35mph or so and doesn't really need the fanciest helmet.

 

[JohnnyD]

Jerry: How do you like the fit of the suit so far? Looks good [up]

I tend to purchase Dainese for my gear, but for the price this stuff looks like its good. While on the Cycle Gear site, noticed that they were having a clearance on Joe Rocket Nova 2.0 jacket for $70. Couldn't pass it up. Now I need some overpants.

 

[JohnnyD]

...nice pair of dianese hellracer gloves for $50

That's a great price! Read some reviews about the little finger causing some pain due to the stitching. Have you noticed any problems with yours?

 

[RHYNOXB9R]

I also went to cycle gear to check out the gear,seems like a good price,and way to soon to have any real feedback.Main question is what are you asking the gear to do? When I checked out the gear,cycle gear is offering to lines,the Bilt, which as stated by the salesmen,is their entry level gear and the Sedici line,which the salesmen said is to be compairable to Alpinestars,Joe Rocket and such.No way,the leather is very thin,as say compaired to an Icon jacket,I rock the Motorhead,and the seams do not look very well done.My main thought,after tring on a track suit and jacket is the thinness of the leather,I would want more thickness protecting me should I go down.Just my two cents,go in the store,try them on,feel them,realy go over them,I will rely on my Joe Rocket leather suit,Icon and Alpinestar jackets,Extremlow said it in another post,I'd pay more for the gear than even more in the ER.And thanks to my buddy at Cycle gear for leting my play dress-up for about an hour and a half.
If money is the main issue,look on craigslist for a well made name brand suit that someone has grown out of and is in good condition,their are quite a few on their,money better spent I would think.

[up]

 

[americanthunder]

i got the frank thomas xti II gloves they are bomb i noticed the huge add space in this months cycle gear and was wondering to what the deal-io is

 

[upthemaiden]

That's a great price! Read some reviews about the little finger causing some pain due to the stitching. Have you noticed any problems with yours?

Haven't gotten to try them yet. Just picked them up on Thursday and it's been 30 degrees ever since.

 

[Jerry C]

JohnnyD, the suit fits and feels good. I'm 5'8" and 200 lbs so finding any off the shelf gear that fits is good!I plan to wear it this year for some track days. When the speeds get faster and I'm closer to a race licence then I may look to up-grade.

 

[snareman96]

@ Jerry C You can pass as the motorcycle version of "THE STIG"!!! haha!!!

 

[Jerry C]

The stig revealed!

 

[andymnelson]

Does anyone know about sizing on the Bilt boots? The reviews say "true to size"- I wear a 10.5 usually, they only sell whole sizes. Should I get a 10 or 11?

 

[upthemaiden]

Andy, I stopped out last weekend and picked up a pair of those Bilt rain boots that are on sale, and am currently loving them. http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L...ILT_Storm_Waterproof_Leather_Motorcycle_Boots

I have a nice pair of Sidi vertebra boots for real riding, but for around town, anything that involves walking or wearing boots that don't look like I'm on a trip to the moon, they're a great deal. Haven't tried them in the rain yet, I'm not in any rush, but they're super comfortable, and I'm very excited to have a pair of boots that I can wear with half length socks, because the Sidi's are full length only, they feel too weird with the leather/licora/whatever it is against your leg.

As far as size, another forum I'm on was asking about the bilt stuff too, and about sizing. Instead of writing it all again I'm just gonna copy and paste what I wrote there. Not sure what boots you're looking for. If I needed racing boots I wouldn't hesitate to pick up a pair of those. My Sidis have that covered though, I just wanted something a bit more standard/comfortable for normal use.

"As far as fit, and I assume this will translate to the trackstar boots too.... I didn't see any in a size 9, which is my normal size so I was a little worried. I tried on an 8, which looked small, and was tight going on, but as soon as I got the main part of my foot past the tight ankle they fit perfectly. Room for my toes to move, probably an extra pair of socks if I need it, but not too much play. The whole boot is thicker. It took a minute to adjust with my shifter because of the thick sole and taller toe but I was fine after a few minutes. That's a shape thing though, nothing to do with the brand or build quality. I ended up getting the size 8(eur 42), and for comparison these are the sizes I have in other common shoes sitting around that fit about the same:

puma tennis shoes... us10-eur43
adidas tennis shoes... us9.5-eur43.5
timberland dress-casual shoes... 8w
sidi vertebra boots... 43, 9-9.5

so basically the boots look like the run large. I wish shoe companies would come out with a standard size chart so if you knew you wore a 9, you could just buy a 9 instead of every single pair of shoes you own being a different size."

 

[andymnelson]

Thanks. That's interesting info, since all of the reviews say "true to size"!

 

[upthemaiden]

I hate show sizing. I wish they would just come up with a standard shoe size and manufactures could form their shoes around it. You can change width or whatever, but just pick a length and stick with it. I think it's ridiculous that I wear an 8 in one brand and a 10 in another. What's the point of having sizes if they're not gonna count?? ..."ooh I'm 28 years old, but I don't count weekends, my brother is 32 but he counts sundays twice..." I mean what's the point in using numbers if everyone isn't gonna use the same ones?!