Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

ulez

Best to read up yourself TBH.

If you're only keeping it for a bit it might not matter. But long term I'd assume it will go to the North Circular.

Yes, generally you'll look like a power ranger. Textile suits or more recently motorcycle jeans are probably going to be enough unless you're planning on spending weekends racing round the countryside.

I'd get all the armour as an separate armour shirt (Knox) with d30 armour, motorcycle jeans or textile jeans, decent jacket and a one piece waterproof outer to start. Then you can look forward to years of searching for the perfect outfit. Tucano Urbano make some decent stuff, their lighter gloves will do 3 seasons. Daytona boots are excellent. Rokker jeans/chinos are nice but pricey.

You look more of a twat in shorts and a t-shirt!
Honestly when I first rode bikes I felt very conspicuous wearing any motorbike specific gear at all, but very quickly the fear of loosing all my skin and breaking joints set in and I clobbered up, now I feel naked if I'm not wearing everything. it's a worry that passes.
Over the obvious helmet gloves jacket pants boots and knee, spine protection, so much choice for proper strap on jobs now. £60-120 seems to get enough protection at the minute, a very low price for reducing risk of any spine damage! I have an uncle that was rear ended by a granny in a metro and has been in a wheelchair since.

My tuppence - definitely worth the expenditure on proper gear, and I recommend Rev'it as arguably best tech/value for money. They do full race suits down to waterproof armoured jeans and kevlar shirts. Lowest profile armour in the biz, as far as I know.

Will I look like a twat if I get one piece racesuit for general riding about?

People either think bikers look like douches or they look cool. A one-piece won't change that.

I wouldn't get a one-piece just for practicality, if you want that look get a matching two-piece. Plenty of people commute in them and everyone judges the super-dooper-expedition-troopers way more ;)

I got this jacket with upgraded back protection as it hits a lot of middle grounds - waterproof, warm enough with the liner for 3 seasons, ok in the summer, retro enough for my Triumph twin, but modern enough for a sports bike, etc... and cheap obvs.

It's a good eg of the choice you have with jackets. Whereas you should be budgeting at least £70-100 for gloves.