| Author | Message | ||
     Spike |
So you know you're going down at some point but you don't see a point in wearing gear? I mean, you're free to wear whatever you want, but surely you're able to see the point of wearing gear, right? Mike | ||
| Jeremyh |
LOL YET ANOTHER POTENTIALLY UGLY THREAD.  | ||
| Blackxb9 |
Glad I opened up this topic of conversation. My XB is my first bike and I love riding it any chance I get. You guys make me feel much better about putting on my armored jacket, full face helmet, leather gloves, and jeans for each and every ride...no matter how short. I might add that one of the main reasons it took 7 years to convince my wife to let me own a bike is because her father wrecked his fatboy when she was a teenager. He was only going to the corner for milk and went down when a cager pulled out in front of him. He was only wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and those moccasin bedroom slippers. He lost part of his foot, suffered major road rash, had some skin grafts and still walks with a limp, AND hasn't owned a bike since. He does salivate when he jumps on mine. In any case, props to those who gear up, and best wishes to those who don't. As for myself who has only been riding about a year and is very in-experienced. I plan on many years of riding pleasure and I thank all who have commented on gearing up. One of the first, and best comments I read on this board was buy all the protection you can afford. Make modifications to your bike after that. Thats why my bike is still mostly stock. Remember the stories you read here and if these tales change the mind of just 1 person it did the job. Thanks again for the forum on this great site.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Garrett... You could just get a cheap Joe Rocket jacket (mesh if you are worried about the heat) and just bring a cable lock and lock the jacket to the bike when you go somewhere. The lock would be easy to defeat, but the Joe Rocket gear is cheap, so it is probably not a big risk. It will also keep dead bugs and other road spooge off your pants and shirt. The boots are very comfortable, they don't have to be motocross boots, just something to cover the ankle bone would be a good start. I had three accidents. One falling over in full gear at 5 mph (ran out of road). Not a mark on me, pretty good hack in the soft leather over the ankle boots. Would definately have been a hole if it had been skin. The one before that was in jeans and a riding jacket and helmet on a dirt bike on the dirt. Did a full flip, had a long rip in the jeans from mid thigh to almost ankle. No idea how I did it, it all happened too fast, but it is by the grace of God that it was just jeans and not flesh. That would have been a LONG cut near a lot of arteries. The one before that was a lowside on the cyclone (moderately aggressive turn with completely invisible road hazzard... had to stand on the side of the road staring for 5 minutes before I finally found the thing that got me). I was probably going 15 mph or less. I had a good jacket, good helmet, good gloves, boots, and cotton dockers. This one hurt the worst. The jacket had a big hole ground in it (4" by 2" ). The gloves had some pretty good grinds as well. The boots got a good grind as well. Helmet never touched anything. My leg had one sliver dollar sized rash, and a couple other quarter sized rashes. "No big deal" I thought. Ruined a good pair of work pants, had to continue into the office where I raided the first aid kit, and cleaned and dressed the wounds before they went "un numb" from the crash. No big deal I still thought. For the next 3 weeks, while travelling on business and folded up in airplanes and in front of clients, every time I stood up or sat down, I would have to go to great lengths to not groan out loud. I have a very high pain tolerance, and used most of it over and over. No matter how much I dressed the wounds, they would always seep something by the end of a work day, making me look like an idiot in dress cloths with bloody knees. It has been my experience that clients / employers prefer you keep your blood in your body. I was amazed at how much it hurt, and how long it took to get better. Then I looked again at the jacket, saw the 2" x 4" major grind, and thought about how bad that 1" circle on my knee kept hurting. Yikes. And this was just a 15mph lowside. Total damage to the Cyclone? $8 clutch lever, slight bend of bars that I ignored, and some time bending back and filing gouges out of my banke shifter. Total damage to me? 3 weeks of extreme discomfort and substantial inconvenience, and probably $150 worth of dressings before I was done. | ||
| Slaughter |
Welll.... reading the post above about riding in clothes based on the destination NOT the ride... hoooo boy. If you hope to keep riding til your 50's (trust me, you'll want to ride longer than that but that's another thread) - you'll probably "only" have maybe 4-5 crashes. Think about it. Me... I don't plan on crashing and protection is uncomfortable and inconvenient but it HAS happened and likely WILL again (and not just on the track) Fortunately, my nastiest crashes have been on the race track. I've "only" had a half dozen street crashes since riding motorized 2-wheeled vehicles (beginning with the Taco minibike in 1969) | ||
| Jeremyh |
I look at this way, no matter what happens or what i choose to do while riding is my choice, but at the same time if something unfortunate happens it is still 50-100% MY FAULT. Wether it really is or not doesnt really matter. The fact is in todays streets if you arent taking the responsability to be responsible or take resposability for your actions, then sooner or later your going to pay for someone else's lack of. oh an yes i know my spelling sucks but that has no bearing on my intelligence i am sure any of us can find a ton or reasons on the net as to why we should gear up, its just a matter of making the choice your most comfortable with. I choose leather and a melon cap. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
ok, the boots youre talking about, are they actually comfortable to walk around it? like around a mall for two hours or so? 12-16 hours a day, every day. I wear the same type of boots that Law Enforcement wears(well I buy them at the LEO supply house) or I wear a pair of high top work boots. I don't wear "racer" boots simply because it is an expense I don't need at the moment, I just try to not ride aggressive enough to drag my boots. | ||
| 12bolt |
Fully geared up is like wearing a rubber, yeah it might save your life but it reduces the sensation! There are safe people and there are people that get off on the risks. I won't say which one I am.  | ||
| Steve_a |
One reason you see so many Aerostich full suits is because you can get in and out of them in less than 10 seconds. I timed it with a stopwatch years ago for a CW evaluation. That takes away the excuse that it's too much trouble to gear up. Aerostich's Roadcrafter suit is warmer than leathers in cold weather, and cooler in hot. I've worn them across the desert when the temperature was 115, and it's probably no hotter then than not wearing one. You just open up most of the zippers and the vents and you get airflow around your body. I've fallen off wearing one at speed a couple of times, and didn't suffer any abrasions, though I got some "rug burns" from the lining. Other than being expensive and looking a little nerdy, they are probably the single best innovation in motorcycle safety gear in the last fifty years. | ||
| Js_buell |
I always feel like that too when I go riding with my full leather on especially on hot summer days but I prefer to keep the damage to the minimum. Yes I went down once at slow speed 50km/h around 30 mi/h and this time I was wearing only my leather jacket and a pair of jeans, ok it did the job but if it would have been faster the jeans would have disappear really fast. | ||
| Truk |
Live in SC. 100 degrees today. That is why they make perforated leathers and mesh,and gloves. Once moving, good perforated leathers/ mesh and gloves work great. Wore mine today No loss of sensation, just good protection from road rash and cool breeze. Tie a wet bandana around the neck and you have air condition ... Personally, think the right coordinated riding gear looks good. Heck anyone can wear flip flops, shorts, etc...,and do all the time, but not me. Beisdes, when suited up in some classy looking riding gear,tinted visor on the outrageous looking full faced helmet, the kids think I am some kind of super hero, and to the ladies "Mr.Mysterious" ...leaves them wondering 'who is it behind those Foster Grants, or in my case Arai??? Besides ZZ Top had it right, "...women love a sharp dress man..." You got a great looking bike, why not match it with some great looking gear that protects and serves? (Message edited by truk on June 15, 2005) (Message edited by truk on June 15, 2005) | ||
| Midmofirebolt |
All I know is that I was iffy on wearing a jacket all the time, that is until a friend was hit at about 70mph on an interstate in Birmingham AL. Luckily he had his leathers on and walked away with a few minor abrasions where he had worn through the leather. After that I have my jacket on almost all the time. Mesh isn't much hotter than a t-shirt and the padding is def. a plus. Now skull caps, I just don't understand. I have one, but can't imagine going down in it, so I don't wear it. | ||
| Madbandito |
It was 96 today in Austin. Vanson perffed jacket, Joe Rocket Pants, Hi-point boots, Icon Gloves, AGV Helmet. Any hotter and I have Joe Rocket Phoenix Jacket and pants... I get looks from bikers and others, especially off the bike, but I choose to sweat a bit for a little peace of mind.. Everyone has a choice...for me, if its too hot to wear gear, its too hot to ride | ||
| Vonsliek |
i saw a pic of a guy who survived a crash w/ open face on .. everything bar his eyes was hanging off in some macabre disgusting display of swollen inside out meat & bone .. he was conscious & looking at the camera .. i was horrified .. fack that! similar to how a face wld look after a 14 gauge was discharged at it from 1 foot away. fwiw .. i wear hicking X boots .. kinda hiking meets basketball .. can change gears easily, no slip .. ankles protected. i wld wear them race boots if i cld afford them ... but i gots to make the bike payments!!  | ||
| Henrik |
There is an interesting article in the latest issue of MCN that's quite relevant to this discussion. A rider wrote in to comment on how road rash is quite similar to bad burns. Here are a few excerpts: "I went down on July 4th, 1999 wearing nearly nothing (very hot day that day and I wasn't going that far, uh-huh) ..." " .... when they moved me out of emergency, it was into a trauma-burns unit ..." " ... the broken shoulder took about a month to heal. The burns (ed. road rash) took nearly 2 years ..." " ... you learn that morphine is great, except for when they come to "dress your burns ..." " ... you learn that turnover among nurses is fairly high in trauma-burns because they can't handle the screams ..." "I think the worst thing about the daily dressings (gives a whole new meaning to the daily grind) was the anticipation - knowing that the agony you were going through was going to happen again tomorrow and the next day and the next ..." ' ...Speaking of helmets, I examined mine when I got home from the hospital. Had I not been wearing it when I went down, I would have lost a good part of my face to the road". At this point I wrote and then deleted some ramblings containing quite passionate expletives w.r.t. a few of the more ill considered comments on this thread. I'm glad I did delete, but having personally seen and worked with injuries like those described, I also hope that you get the point of the quotes above. Henrik (Message edited by Henrik on June 15, 2005) | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
If I am going for a "ride" I gear up. Sport, not racing leather. No question. If it's hot, I just change to the Joe Rocket mesh jacket. I don't mind sweating a little: prefer it to road rash. If I am just jumping on the bike to visit a friend in the village or nearby, I wear my rather stylish eye-talian butter-soft glove leather pants and jacket with over the ankle boots, padded palm gloves, and flip open full face helmet: offers some useful protection without a lot of weight, and the need to change clothes. If I am not riding my bike, I wear my butter-soft eye-talian glove leather pants and jacket and boots. I sure do like that eye-talian leather:-) | ||
| Brewtus |
I ride with a lot of Harley riders and they laugh at me because I dress for the worst, but this is my first bike, and don't want to tempt fate. I don't care who is laughing, 'cause when it comes to " opening it up" I laugh last.  | ||
| Rubdoggy |
never been down, always gear up. well, almost always. short rides down the way will slip by my better judgement sometimes. sometimes... | ||
| Emscityx |
I wont go into a detailed crash chronology, but I will note that in 2 unplanned off-bike excursions, proper gear has let me walk away; once, needing to have a Hein Gerike jacket patched, and helmet replaced. The other time, $300 repair to the Aerostich, not a scratch on me. An important note; the leather jacket crash, due to oily gravel in a curve, was 1/2 block from my house, at less than 20 MPH (turn after a stop sign). All the gear did its job, but no gloves could have prevented the Bennet's fracture of my thumb (that's when mr thumb is bent back to meet mr. wrist). Anyway, on a practical note, being covered by proper attire in hot weather can be cooler and safer from a temperature perspective than a long unprotected ride in the hot sun, where the sun's rays and transpiration can make you feel worse than being covered up. | ||
| Whodom |
Mark me down for always riding with gear. I figure it's one of those Murphy's Law things- the odds of me having an accident are inversely proportional to the amount of gear I have on. If I wear it , I probably won't need it. First time I DON'T wear it, I probably will. I always wear jacket, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, at least jeans, and full face helmet. For longer trips I wear cordura pants or Draggin' Jeans. I plan to get some mesh pants soon. BTW, it was about 100 deg. F here in Charleston, SC today too. The friggin' air on the interstate at 4 PM was so hot I don't think riding naked would have been any cooler anyway. | ||
| Joele |
Heat index of 108 F here yesterday - but I always wear all of my gear all of the time. Vanson Cobra II Jacket Icon 14oz Denim Jeans Icon Armored Gloves Icon Motorhead boots Schuberth Concept Helmet Ear Plugs (D+D Demands That) | ||
| Bbstacker |
Below 75 degrees...draggin jeans, Joe Rocket Ballistic 3.0 jacket, FirstGear carbon fiber reinforced gloves, Work Force Swat-style side-entry 9" boots, (super comfy) full face helmet. Over 75 degrees...Draggin jeans, EVS Ballistic jersey, (Has external chest, back, shoulder and elbow/forearm high-impact plastic armor with dual-density foam liners all stitched to a light-weight mesh zippable jersey) FirstGear carbon reinforced gloves. Work Force Swat-style side entry 9" boots, Full face helmet. Rain...The above 75 ensemble topped by Tour Master rain gear. sometimes augmented by a sweater if it's cold, When it's hot I change into shorts at work, but the boots are wear-for-work items. I generally work 10-12 hours per day and if I'm not walking around pulling orders or unloading my truck my feet are working clutch, brake and gas. I never go home with sore feet. I've never dropped a bike on the street and hope I never do, but I am sure there is some addendum to Murphy's law that says I will for sure the one time I ride unprotected. Sorry for the long post. I'ts that important to me.  Mark | ||
| Bbstacker |
Vonsliek, I know what you mean. I saw that picture. His mug piece looked like a london broil after it had been tenderized. | ||
| Awprior |
Death Valley, middle end of July... Temp on Ferris's VFR reads 128... What am I wearing???  A DRY HEAT? My •••. Granted, I was burning my way across the continent and needed to be ready for whatever came up. The Aerostich Roadcrafter and the Aerostich Combat Touring Boots and a Shark helmet are what I wore. Hot, sorta. Dump a bit of water down your back in 128 degree weather and you are golden. Before I bought some other gear, the only thing I wore was the 'stich. When I ride to work now, I wear a Vanson perf jacket with armor and a set of Joe Rocket pants... Jacket is great, pants are ok... When I go out shreading it's the stich or Vanson jacket and Vanson pants. Blackxb9 and Lucky, I am originally from Hanover, my parents are from there and just graduated in December, email me if you need a few numbers of guys to ride with there), but I was pulled over by a Hanover police officer for not wearing eye protection last January. Aerostich, gloves, boots and a helmet. Something tells me that a state that repels a helmet law should be a little more concerned about other things than a guy who flips up his visor to see when it is 23 degrees and stuff is fogged up. Anyway, start up a 'Storm Fronts' thread for ya'll, I know there a ton of Buellers in your area. Hope to make it back soon. Shoot me a PM if you'd like a few rider's numbers in the area. Alex | ||
| Elff |
I'll add my story On a sweeping left turn I had a moron run a stop sign. He finally saw me when his truck was at the double yellow line. I swerved around him and almost pulled it out but needed about 5 more feet of pavement because my line got messed up almost right at the apex. The bike low sided due to gravel in the last 2" of pavement before the road turned into a field. I went superman style over the clip ons, slammed the chin part of my helmet on the ground, bounced off my helmet and left arm/shoulder and then slid for about 40' in a grass field before stopping. Somehow, my legs were untouched aside from dirt. They must have hit the pavement but when I bounced, maybe it was so fast that they never slid until I was on the grass. I had on Kevlar palm leather gloves and a leather jacket. Both got rash, but neither burned through and I had no skin damage. I was deaf for 10-15 minutes due to my ears ringing. I remember my friend mouthing things to me but I could not hear anything. I could barely breath but it turned out I just got the wind knocked out of me. That helmet saved my face and possibly my life. The leather saved me from looking like pizza. That shook me up a bit and I took 3 years off from 2 wheelers. 3 years ago I climbed back in the saddle and it wasnt until I got my CityX that I finally felt comfortable again. Here is my motto You will go down. Just a matter of when, not if Be prepared for it. | ||
| Diablobrian |
As stated in my profile...It is NEVER too hot to save your own skin. I speak from experience. Proper gear can be the difference between life and death. Sure riding is in and of itself a risk. In riding as in life you have to manage your risk level versus reward level. It makes my stomach do a "slow roll" to see what some people use as riding gear. To me jeans are minimal protection. wear your gear. Save up a few bucks for mesh gear from ebay if thats what you have to do, just be sure you are wearing protective gear, not motorcycle fashion accessories that look like protection. Oh yeah, if you have half a brain feel free to wear half a helmet, Darwinians love the statistics generated that way. Half helmets/no helmets are like chlorine for the gene pool.  Wow, I was getting a little wound up, I'm just a little passionate about this subject. (like you couldn't tell) so try not to hold it too much against me.  | ||
| Brupska |
I say to each is own. I wear gear 99.9% of the time. If is is hot I wear my Joe Rocket mesh with full face helmet, gloves and boots. If I am going to be riding hard I wear my full racing leathers, gauntlet gloves,and racing boots. I have not been down yet but I have seen my brother go down three times at the track. The only thing that happend to him was a sore knee from the bike bouncing off a tree and back on his leg. I wear jeans also and they have little to no protection from road rash. So I just say wear what you want and if you go down with out any gear on you will pay the price IMO. | ||
| Awprior |
As Court will say 'always dress for fall'... | ||
| Vonsliek |
a word on gloves: i have the buell racing (well, so-called) gloves .. cost a bit & wore finger tip in middle left thru in exactly 2 weeks. i am wearing my tight but strong alpine stars, carbon fibre racing gloves .. a gift .. they have lasted a good season & still going strong! alpine stars race gloves are abt double the cost of the best buell branded wannabe gloves. rode hard for 5-6 hrs today .. down to usa border from kelowna, bc .. back again & around a few things .. glad i had gear on, as i was doing a LOT of 150-180kmh riding & trying to lean it over thru twisties a bit more than normal .. every ride is an exercise to improve my skill, as well as just ride. saw streams of sprtbike riders in tshirt, shorts & fullface. streams of cruiser riders in leathers & halfhats .. they never wave .. fockers! | ||
| Elff |
Are there any other short guys out there (29" inseam or smaller) That can recommend brands that fit my size. Ive had luck with Dainese because they are from across the pond and it seems I am more of a European sized person. Ive been looking for a good set of mesh pants with protection but most smalls are 32" inseam which is waaaay too big. Thanks Also, anyone have crash data on the jeans with steel fibers? or something like that? |
