Hey, you're welcome. I'm certainly not an expert at any of this but I was in your shoes not too long ago, looking for a bike and gear and all that.
If you haven't been shopping for equipment yet, be prepared for sticker shock. I spent about $1K on jacket, boots gloves and a helmet. I didn't buy the super high-end stuff either. Most of my stuff is probably middle of road as far as price goes. You could easily spend more. But you can also spend less if you're willing to shop online and get in on the closeouts and stuff. The problem there is, as you mentioned, trying the stuff on and seeing if it fits. Once you've gotten into a jacket and gloves and helmet and all that, you'll know your sizes and you can shop online with a bit more confidence. One thing I would be very leary of buying online as a first timer is a helmet. You'll probably need some help with fitment the first time around and it's nice to have an experienced salesperson to help you with that. Again, the folks over at Motoliberty can be a big help here.
This is NOT a cheap hobby/lifestyle (whatever you want to call it) by any means but you simply shouldn't skimp on your gear. I actually bought all of my riding equipment before I bought a bike so I wouldn't go crazy and spend too much on the motorcycle and not have enough left over for the clothes. :rolleyes