FIRSTGEAR products

[Guest]

I bought an expandable Onyx magnetic tank bag in May of '07. It survived many trips since then up until my last trip in Sept '10 when it blew out first the opening zipper, lost some teeth, then the bottom zipper that attaches the seperate map case/magnets to the bag jammed up and broke.
I realized it had a Lifetime Warranty (today), e-mailed them, they're sending me a paid UPS label and a work order to send it all back to them so they can replace it for me. I bought it from MotorcycleSuperstore.com for $80 then.

I just want to say, FirstGear is first rate, I'd recommend them, they're real good.

[Jason the terminator]

I've been looking for a good tank bag. That's great info to know while shopping around. Thanks Dan.

[850 Combat]

I bought a First Gear Killamajjaro III jacket in '05. It is a fantastic piece of gear. So versatile. So waterproof.

I just bought a used one, more mint than the one I bought new. I like First Gear. Glad to hear about the warranty, I hope I don't need it.

[DanTheMan]

You're very welcome!

[DanTheMan]

Update on my tank bag. I received the replacement bag today (they didn't repair the old one). What they sent me was NOS. I could tell, it came from Chicago, not Ft. Worth, it wasn't stuffed full of paper for shipping (they forgot that), the carry bag that always comes with it was covered in dust like it had been on a shelf for a long time, and neither of the plastic map windows were scratched up (as mine were).
But, all the zippers work, it's not worn, now I should be able to get another 3 years out of this one, taking it through nasty weather and flogging it mercilessly before it's ruined and they have to replace another one.....

[GSequoia]

Hey, don't trust this guy, he comes from some pretty crazy stock!


Okay, now for the serious.

I've got FirstGear clothes. A Kathmandu jacket and pant (not the current generation, last one), a MeshTech Jacket, and some pants. I really like this gear. It is well made and has held up, the Kathmandu set have low mileage on them and the others have about 10k commute miles and have stayed together well. I've probably ran them through the washer half a dozen times or so (this is over the clothes gear).

I like having gear from teh same vendor as I can mix and match jackets and pants and still the zippers mate. FYI when you buy the gear they will come with sew-in zipper mates in case you want to mate it to other gear.

Now that's the good, here's the bad..

I had a set of their boots. High rubberized waterproof boots. A seam tore and I got the runaround on repair. The ultimate reason was they got completely out of the boot market and didn't want to divulge it at the time. I now have boots that are pretty useless (the runaround went beyond the warrantee period). Long story...


I also got a pair of Killimanjaro gloves. Very warm and comfy but did not last long, maybe 3000 miles on them. The soft fabric in the web of the thumb area has worn through showing the insulation underneath. Still comfy and warm but no way waterproof.

And just because photos speak here is my Kathmandu...


NOte: Those are Bilt boots, a bit too new to review and gloves from about 2002 or so, well worn and highly recomended, too bad I can't remember the brand and am too lazy to go look.

[isleoman]

You really can't expect zippers to last forever so the fact that First Gear stand behind their product is the most important criteria for buying decisions. I have a FG Scout IV jacket from new enough and its excellent.

[GSequoia]

To expand on the boots story...


I bought the boots and a seam ripped about a month in. I contacted FirstGear directly and they had me send them the boots. I did so. After a short time they contacted me and said that they did not have any replacements but expected some in "a few months." In the meantime they would repair the damage ("high strength" glue) and honor the warrantee if it failed again.

Of course it failed withen a week or two as I expected. I contacted them again and they said they still didn't have replacements. I said that I would continue using the boots on the condition that I get replacements once they re-supplied. When the warrantee was about up (one year) I contacted them again and they told me to talk to the retailer to get a refund from them. Unfortunately the boots were a gift and, of course, MotorcycleSuperstore didn't have any replacements. They would only credit the givers card, no store credit option. I could have RMAed them, I'm sure, but the time ran out because I got busy at work.

I looked at FirstGear's website and they no longer offered boots, the waiting for resupply was all smoke and mirrors, I'm sure.


Also for another positive story...

I sent an e-mail in to FirstGear asking where I could order a replacement hydration bladder for my Kathmandu jacket. Their response was just to ask for my address, they shipped one out free (pretty quickly too), so props there.

I will continue to buy FirstGear clothing products, I just don't trust shoes or gloves.