| Author | Message | ||
     Kenny |
I was watching the morning news here in north alabama when they told of a motorcycle wreck.The news showed the bike downed on a bridge it looked like a sporster, the bike did not appear to be that damaged. The driver was flown to area hospital the passenger was killed. As the camera showed the bike on it side there was a pair of leather sandles and an open face helment laying beside the bike. This just reminded me why you should always wear you gear.Dont know the injury that killed the passenger but just thinking if they would have had on proper riding gear it might have saved a life. | ||
| Jasonxb12s |
I think most of us are guilty of not gearing up at times. I always feel that the minimum is boots, jeans, gloves, jacket and a full face helmet. With this heat lately down in NC I've found myself without the Jacket and gloves a few times. I do however value my head enough to own a couple full face helmets though. Are some riders missing something? Such as, a open face helmet can cause serious injury to your face and jaw. | ||
| Ginzero |
Yeah, I'm always tempted to not wear my jacket. It does seem like im the only rider out there wearing a jacket on a hot summer day but I do value my skin more than my comfort. | ||
| Bbstacker |
May I suggest, for those hot days, the EVS Ballistic Jersey. Lightweight mesh jersey with high-impact plastic armor with dual-density padded liners covering the usual impact points (back, chest, shoulders, elbows, forearms) Comfortable with or without a backpack. Most cycle shops should have them or be able to get them. It's been in the triple digits here in SoCal lately (you don't have to tell me how hot it is there in AZ, Charlie) and this thing makes riding in the heat a joy again. | ||
| Cataract2 |
96.6 °F / 35.9 °C Heat Index: 111 °F / 44 °C Humidity: 52% These are the temps and humidity that I ride in. Humidity has been up for 90% at times. I always ride with my jacket, gloves, helmet, pants and over the ankle boots. Only once did I go without my jacket and that's because I had washed it. | ||
| Mastros2 |
Luckily, I have had two jackets that were cool on hot days. I cannot say that I have never rode without a jacket but since I am getting wiser, I have worn a jacket on more occasions. It only takes one wreck to realize that the jackets, gloves, helmets all make a difference. I live in NJ and it does get hot around here. It is unfortunate that horrible accidents remind us of safety and how valuable those items are. | ||
| Bluebuellxb9r |
As someone who worked in a major university trauma center - I ALWAYS wear my gear, I know I should always wear my leathers, but, a good jacket, leather type gloves, over the ankle boots, dragon jeans, and my trusty Arai have served me well. During my time working in the crap, one thing I noticed that a rider can always avoid is DO NOT DRINK AND RIDE !!!!!! The vast majority of single bike accidents I saw over 2 years had booze involved. Yep , there are lots of times where the 4 wheeler jerks get involved, but, if you dont get on the bike drunk, you really lower your chances of getting hurt. | ||
| Buell |
That's something I can say *so far* about the Buellers that I have seen. NONE of them are ever riding around without the least amount of gear - I, for one, feel too vulnerable without my gear on. The funniest thing I see around here in Colorado is the riders who wear boots, pants, jacket and NO helmet.. Uhh so you want to save your skin but not your head?? doesn't make sense to me... Or the ones that ride around with their helmets attached to their helmet lock on the tail of the bike or to their sissy bar... | ||
| Scitz |
I'll at least wear the helmet, gloves, and boots, but on really hot day I'll brave it with just a t-shirt, 3/4 helmet, fingerless gloves, and boots. I've gone down before on a different bike and got rode rash, which really sucks, but sometimes you have to feel the open air. A guy that lives down the street from me has a sportster and will speed past my house wearing boots, cut off jeans, a denim vest, and no helmet. I know when you see someone like this on a sport bike you call them a squid, does this title also transfer over the HD riders? Note: I sometimes wear gloves with cut off fingers so I can adjust my iPod while riding. I guess I might just have to cut the tip on one of my good full gloves. Someone need to come up with a riding glove with tech devices in mind, GPS, iPod, Palm, ect... | ||
| Edonis |
Its understood if you value your body and overall well being you will protect yourself in whatever endeavors you pursue. Why some people in the motorcycling community miss this point I will never know. I just got back from a 2,000 mile ride to Texas and surrounding areas and I still put up with my black, thick jacket in 100+ heat. If you stay hydrated, open the vents its really not a big deal. I've got to say, Kenny and I live around the same area. It was so bad this week. Its basically a Japanese sportbike free-for-all bike weekend type deal where people flood the dragstrips and street race in huge crowds. I think I saw a total of 5 people wearing decent amounts of gear out of at least 500 bikes I saw on one night. Just an observation, but the majority were African Americans, all young men. I wonder how much of them make up motorcycle crash statistics. I even saw the aftermath of a guy on a GSXR1000 wheelie into the side of a Civic. Nasty stuff indeed. Cheers | ||
| Rubberdown |
I used to fixate on this sort of thing. Now I don't care what anybody else wears when they ride. Sure, it would be safer if they wore this or that, but why should it matter to anybody else? Everybody rides and takes chances as they deem appropriate. | ||
| Nadz |
May I suggest some stealth armor, for those of you who don't want to wear a full leather suit all the time. I put up with jacket, helmet, gauntlets and steeltoes, why leave the knees out there to get rashed up. Field Armor Shorts, Field Armor Legs | ||
| Kaese |
I can vouch for the armor and thick jackets. Saved an elbow for me and it was still very bruised. I ended up going over the handle bars on my way to work. Slid down a couple of lanes of freeway bouncing off a couple of vehicles in the process. Have acquired a new hip, numerous bone fractures, pelvis, collar bone, bruised ribs and a chunk missing out of my calf. Have been bedridden for over one month now. Did not have on boots and my shoes ended up coming off and sliding farther than I did. Full faced helmet kept my face in pristine shape. I'll pull through, but I will ALWAYS have my protective gear on! Thank Mom for the laptop at my bedside. | ||
| Bombardier888 |
It gets pretty hot here in Queensland Australia so there are lots of young bikers who wear a singlet, shorts, thongs and a helmet whilst doing wheelies on their replica MotoGP bikes. I asked one the other day if he would be upset if I tied his ankles to the back of my bike and dragged him down the road dressed as he was. His answer was unprintable but I explained that the same damage would occur when he either fell or was knocked off his bike on the bitumen. His response was, and you have gotta love the young and invincible, " I dont fall off ". Oh to be ten foot tall and bulletproof again. NOT. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Hey Kaese, Glad you are still on the "proper" side of the grass. Keep up the good attitude, and it sound like you are a candidate for membership in COBB! http://humanbandwidth.net/content/index.cfm?pageid=13 It only takes on serious fall to make a believer out a person. I had the nickname "gear Nazi" among my friends because of my constant nagging. After my accident they don't require the nagging anymore. Luckily I had my gear on, or I'd just be fertilizer now. 'nuff said |
