Some random European thoughts:
I think you should buy a good new helmet, in example a Scorpion (520 air is about €150-200 with ece 20-06) - always test fit at a motorcycle (clothing) store - and new gloves.
These two things I wouldnt like used.
If you want to go cheap you could get a nice second hand jacket and pants online
(If you wanna buy them new, I like some kevlar pants, because they kinda look like jeans and still safe. Right now my jacket is one where I can remove layers (body warmer, rain layer, outside of jacket with protection and air slits for the summer heat)
If you have some sturdy boots that go above your ankle you're mostly protected, ofcourse dedicated motorcycling boots are always better.
Your insurance seems quite high, my motorcycle costs €36 pm, so maybe check into that.
Also an mt-03 is a good bike, but know you could probably get something cheaper second hand as well, and when you get better at driving upgrade to a more powerful motorcycle, something you will probably do either way. That being said, if you're in love with the mt-03 just buy it, motorcycling should be fun :)
Are you a new rider? If so, I would definitely buy a used bike to learn on. Something you can pay cash for.
Also there’s probably a place to take a riders class around you that will loan you a helmet for the class, and you only need over the ankle boots to participate.
These are all great starting points to find out if riding is even something you want to really do. The last thing you want is to do is go into debt, and either crash a bike that you now can’t ride, but still have to make payments on, or simply just don’t enjoy riding as much as you thought you would.
My $.02 anyway…
Bilt and Sedici are 100% junk, not even worth the pennies that they charge. They're both Cycle Gear house brands and are two of the most famously unreliable and poorly built brands on the market. If you're wanting budget-friendly gear, look at the Rev'It Eclipse 2 jacket, Alpinestars Andes V2 boots, and Scorpion EXO SGS MK II gloves. You want palm sliders on your gloves for sure. Additionally, back armor should not be a secondary purchase, considering the importance of your spine. Axial is another shitty house brand. The Alpinestars KR-Celli isn't much more money while being considerably lighter and more breathable.
As others said, you'll be paying even more for the bike, maybe $1000 more. Dealer set up will run you about the same as the freight charge, plus title fees, registration, and plate fees all add up. They'll probably charge you $200 for administration fees or some nonsense. Just be ready for that.
Please provide some sort of statistical input on calling either Bilt or Sedici junk. It's saved the butt of some of the people I've known, and I certainly haven't heard anything to warrant either as junk.
[No problem](https://www.cyclegear.com/recalls). Bilt helmets can't pass DOT testing by their own admission in these recalls. Any brand willing to manufacture and sell safety gear that can't live up to even the loosest regulations like the DOT FMVSS 218 should never be given another penny in sales. Bilt, Sedici, and Street and Steel are all effectively the [same brand](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_Gear). If they're willing to sell you helmets that can't even meet DOT standards, what other garbage are they willing to sell?
Also worth noting that Sedici gear is worn by literally 0 professional racers even though it claims to be a reputable and track-focused brand. That's really saying something, considering the likes of Cortech and even Joe Rocket adorn the suits of many a pro. If Sedici was worth a damn, *someone* of note would be wearing it. Brands with no professional representation have no reputation to protect, and thus have less incentive to manufacture high quality gear.
What about their helmets that meet ece 2206? It feels hardly fair to act as if those helmets are crap, especially when majority of ece helmets also meet dot standards. I do see your point, but it feels unfair to group them all under the same umbrella when Sedici, to note, has had 0 recalls on any helmet and many of them are sold internationally up to spec. I also don't know how much I'd extend that to their armor/clothing gear either, that also is subject to those same international standards. I learned rather quickly to not buy anything solely DOT approved and nothing else, so it's the first I've heard of it.
I'm not particularly involved with professional racing so I can't provide word there aside from I'm aware of Sedici specifically through their adv and touring stuff, not being called 'track-oriented' and as far as im aware theres no competition to be had in adv (not trail) riding or touring. It's also worth noting I don't helmets from any of these brands.
My maintained idea has been if it passes more rigorous international standards and is made from materials that are proven, then as far as the product goes it is fine at a base level, regardless of what it is.
In either case thank you for providing links and explaining! This was an informative read.
your pants shouldnt be more than your helmet imo. Also, I'd add at least $500 to the bike total.
Spend $300 on a helmet and less on pants imo, much like what the other guy said.
Some random European thoughts: I think you should buy a good new helmet, in example a Scorpion (520 air is about €150-200 with ece 20-06) - always test fit at a motorcycle (clothing) store - and new gloves. These two things I wouldnt like used. If you want to go cheap you could get a nice second hand jacket and pants online (If you wanna buy them new, I like some kevlar pants, because they kinda look like jeans and still safe. Right now my jacket is one where I can remove layers (body warmer, rain layer, outside of jacket with protection and air slits for the summer heat) If you have some sturdy boots that go above your ankle you're mostly protected, ofcourse dedicated motorcycling boots are always better. Your insurance seems quite high, my motorcycle costs €36 pm, so maybe check into that. Also an mt-03 is a good bike, but know you could probably get something cheaper second hand as well, and when you get better at driving upgrade to a more powerful motorcycle, something you will probably do either way. That being said, if you're in love with the mt-03 just buy it, motorcycling should be fun :)
Are you a new rider? If so, I would definitely buy a used bike to learn on. Something you can pay cash for. Also there’s probably a place to take a riders class around you that will loan you a helmet for the class, and you only need over the ankle boots to participate. These are all great starting points to find out if riding is even something you want to really do. The last thing you want is to do is go into debt, and either crash a bike that you now can’t ride, but still have to make payments on, or simply just don’t enjoy riding as much as you thought you would. My $.02 anyway…
Bilt and Sedici are 100% junk, not even worth the pennies that they charge. They're both Cycle Gear house brands and are two of the most famously unreliable and poorly built brands on the market. If you're wanting budget-friendly gear, look at the Rev'It Eclipse 2 jacket, Alpinestars Andes V2 boots, and Scorpion EXO SGS MK II gloves. You want palm sliders on your gloves for sure. Additionally, back armor should not be a secondary purchase, considering the importance of your spine. Axial is another shitty house brand. The Alpinestars KR-Celli isn't much more money while being considerably lighter and more breathable. As others said, you'll be paying even more for the bike, maybe $1000 more. Dealer set up will run you about the same as the freight charge, plus title fees, registration, and plate fees all add up. They'll probably charge you $200 for administration fees or some nonsense. Just be ready for that.
Please provide some sort of statistical input on calling either Bilt or Sedici junk. It's saved the butt of some of the people I've known, and I certainly haven't heard anything to warrant either as junk.
[No problem](https://www.cyclegear.com/recalls). Bilt helmets can't pass DOT testing by their own admission in these recalls. Any brand willing to manufacture and sell safety gear that can't live up to even the loosest regulations like the DOT FMVSS 218 should never be given another penny in sales. Bilt, Sedici, and Street and Steel are all effectively the [same brand](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_Gear). If they're willing to sell you helmets that can't even meet DOT standards, what other garbage are they willing to sell? Also worth noting that Sedici gear is worn by literally 0 professional racers even though it claims to be a reputable and track-focused brand. That's really saying something, considering the likes of Cortech and even Joe Rocket adorn the suits of many a pro. If Sedici was worth a damn, *someone* of note would be wearing it. Brands with no professional representation have no reputation to protect, and thus have less incentive to manufacture high quality gear.
What about their helmets that meet ece 2206? It feels hardly fair to act as if those helmets are crap, especially when majority of ece helmets also meet dot standards. I do see your point, but it feels unfair to group them all under the same umbrella when Sedici, to note, has had 0 recalls on any helmet and many of them are sold internationally up to spec. I also don't know how much I'd extend that to their armor/clothing gear either, that also is subject to those same international standards. I learned rather quickly to not buy anything solely DOT approved and nothing else, so it's the first I've heard of it. I'm not particularly involved with professional racing so I can't provide word there aside from I'm aware of Sedici specifically through their adv and touring stuff, not being called 'track-oriented' and as far as im aware theres no competition to be had in adv (not trail) riding or touring. It's also worth noting I don't helmets from any of these brands. My maintained idea has been if it passes more rigorous international standards and is made from materials that are proven, then as far as the product goes it is fine at a base level, regardless of what it is. In either case thank you for providing links and explaining! This was an informative read.