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Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Monday, June 06, 2011 - 08:38 pm: | 
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"I usually just make some unspellable sound and point to my mouth and walk away.Most of the time they look like they feel bad for trying to have a conversation with someone that can't talk"
"I usually answer not as hot as you would think, lots of vents and stuff, and if some dumb @$$ hits me I'd rather have the gear". +1.
"You want realility, come hang with me in the ER over a really nice holiday weekend."
Glad you and others have the stomach to deal with that. We appreciate what you do.
"Wondering if that is where a lot of new riders go astray? Over spend on the bike and can't rationalize the spend on items they believe they will never have to use. IMO, protective gear should be treated like consumables - budget for it and plan to "use" it like brake pads and tires."
Yep,I would think that may be the case. Bike is a priority, gear an after thought-if one at all. If someone has not picked out a bike yet and is interested in gear, I may suggest they go shop for gear first, and I'll pass along websites for reasonably priced quality gear. Don't make the mistakes I made and end up with fashion leathers you can wear to go out to dinner while riding in the car.
"Brittnay Marrow Rock the gear is awesome. I posted that video on WRN.
when I teach the beginners class I tell my students your wallets are going to shrink and your friends will grow in number! If I have a smart classroom to teach in I show them all of the internet stores. Bikes stuff like that.
I'm in a bind right now, its a happy bind, I've lost a lot of weight and can't fit into any of my Olympia gear and I have no money to purchase new riding pants! I have to get suspenders and I'm swimming in my riding pants!"
Agreed on the rock the gear video, talk about someone making lemons into lemonade. For those not familiar with it, she fell off the back of a sportbike, lived but had huge road rash, has a youtube video and now is an MSF ridercoach. Total inspiration!
And K, congrats on the weight loss! Such a good feeling, and that's the best shopping, reaching a goal and getting smaller clothes!
"I don't know that you're ever going to "school" anyone about wearing gear in a parking lot."
Really? If no one is learning anything guess I should stop hanging out in parking lots even though its fun to do...kinda like hanging there, tossing cones around, watching people ride around in circles, playing with a timer, and having friendly chit chat with some nice people...
Good times! |
Zane
| | Posted on Monday, June 06, 2011 - 09:20 pm: |
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Has anyone heard of something called a Cool Bandana? It's like a thick neckerchief, with something that holds water. You soak it in water then wear around your neck. The evaporation helps keep you cool. I wonder if something like that would make a difference on a hot day to make the gear a bit more comfortable.
I have not tried them yet myself but my land lady uses one when she sails and says they make a big difference in comfort level. Might do the same for us. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Monday, June 06, 2011 - 10:16 pm: |
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Zane - they do work. The idea is that the large collection of blood vessels in your neck are very close to the surface, making cooling in that area the most effective. Cooling the blood as it goes by cools your whole body as it gets pumped to the surface.
The idea is similar with these "cooling vests" you can buy that you soak in water, but provide an evaporative cooling effect over more area. Or, just use a sweatshirt for a lot less cash. I even just used a t-shirt when riding through utah and nevada and with the vents closed (yes, closed or your bone dry again in 15 minutes), you get a cooling effect for hours. When you stop for gas, re soak it. |
Zane
| | Posted on Monday, June 06, 2011 - 10:19 pm: |
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Sounds like a plan then. Maybe I'll try one when I get my jacket. It was 92 today on my 1 3/4 hour ride home.
Summer in Florida can be a beast! |
Billyboy
| | Posted on Monday, June 06, 2011 - 10:34 pm: |
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I may be late to the party, but here's a stab at a graphic...
Obviously it looks better bigger, but file size requirements kind of limit things..
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Leonard
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2011 - 04:13 pm: |
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvbDorJcg6o&feature =youtu.be |
2008xb12scg
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2011 - 06:59 pm: |
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great video, and I like Billyboys design.
Bike is a priority, gear an after thought-if one at all
When I bought my first bike I knew I needed a helmet that was it, the sales lady asked if I had boots, I said oh yeah I got some work boots I can wear. After riding for a few days I decided to get some thicker levis. Then decided I needed a leather jacket, looked at the HD dealer and they were super expensive I thought. I looked on craigslist and found a used A-star jacket that looked cool, didn't know what the ad meant by "CE armor" The guy I bought it from was an amature racer and explained to me some ins and outs of gear and about ATGATT. Now I always wear it, but the point is it never acured to me about anything other than the helmet. Now my dad started riding again and the only way I could get him to wear gear was to buy it and tell him I couldn't return it. Then have my wife tell him she was worried (she has a way of getting people to do right) about him and promise her to wear the gear. |
Firebolt020283
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2011 - 09:00 pm: |
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well Yall just convinced me to buy a mesh jack so I pulled the trigger on this shift mesh jacket today
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/39/17962/ ITEM/Shift-Racing-Airborne-Mesh-Jacket.aspx
the price was good and I have had pretty good luck with shift gear, also it looks decent as well. |
U4euh
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 11:37 am: |
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I just tried one of those cooling vest this past Monday. You soak it water for 1-2 minutes, dab it dry, and enjoy.
Pros- I stayed very comfortable no matter the situation or temperature. Sitting in traffic it was a noticable decline in the evaporation process, but still maintained a coolness to it.
Cons- your shirt will get slightly wet( hmmmm wet with water or wet with sweat, not really a con when looked at that way)
It adds an extra layer of cloth to deal with at rest breaks, or at the office, or in my case at school.
Cycle Gear had them on sale for 15 bucks |
Syonyk
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 03:07 pm: |
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Oh, nice... I should look at one. I thought they were closer to $50, not $15...
Riding around today, it was warm out - upper 80s. In town, we saw *one* other rider in full gear. Out on the twisties, maybe 50% of riders had decent gear. |
Weaponxbs
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 05:15 pm: |
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Billyboy,
Love the graphic.
Would you e-mail me the larger size? I need this as a wallpaper @ work.
THANX ! ! ! |
Metra6924
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 07:43 pm: |
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I'd like to chime in here too. I don't post very often, but this is my chance to say thanks to the fine people on this board. Several years ago (2005) when I found I could really afford a motorcycle, I started researching and decided Buell had something I was interested in. I found this board and started my research. The Blast! seemed to be a good bike to start with and it was within the budget, so the decision was made. Fortunately, the Chicago IMS show is in February so I went there to check things out. I walked out with a modular helmet, jacket and gloves. A few months later I bought the bike (after I registered for the class). I rode around the neighborhood a few times then put it away until class was finished. Passed the license test with flying colors. I had a minor target fixation problem after that - ran off the road in a long curve because I forgot to change my focus, but the gear I was wearing prevented any injury. I've since moved up to an XB12XT (the fast enough red one)and love every minute of it. I have also added to the wardrobe: 4 jackets, riding pants for warm weather, overpants for cooler times, boots and another full face helmet. I've grown so accustomed to the gear that I can't imagine riding without it. Thanks for all the great advice! |
Firebolt020283
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 08:26 pm: |
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I think my next helmet with be a modular. I will still use my full face helmets for aggressive country riding but for around town I would like to have that flip up feature at lights. |
Billyboy
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 09:37 pm: |
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Thanks, Joe, what's your screen res...1024x768, 1366x768...etc? I'll set it up to match for you. |
Preybird1
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 10:55 pm: |
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I was riding my 1979 honda XL250s enduro one time at night. I had only a helmet on some thin mechanics gloves a tank top, Shorts, and a pair of sandals that had a covered toe. I turned the corner and cat jumped out between 2 cars and right into my front wheel. It got tangled into the spokes and when it hit the forks...... It was a real mess. I immediately went down at 25-30mph and my right hand got pinned under the handle bar. Then the bike dragged me by my hand off it and onto my knees and then it dragged me through the crap that builds up around corners Dirt and pebbles glass. I couldn't tell what was my blood or the cats blood. And now all the blood is covered in dirt and rocks and looks like chocolate milk powder. So i got the cat guts out of the wheel and straighten the handle bars and rode it to the ER (I Could not afford $1000.00 ambulance ride). 4 hours of scrubbing and cleaning the road rash is a nightmare. It's worse than when you crashed. I have been down before off road and on road and gear is all the difference. I wear gear all the time now with the occasional shorts? I know but it's hard for me not wear them.
One other thing i think gets missed a lot is eye protection!! I have seen the results of a rock to the eye from a cager's tire! Sunglasses make it worse. You can't stop a bike if you got a rock to the eye and more than likely you are now blind in that eye. I took a bumble bee to the throat at 70mph and i thought i got shot! I had to stop as well as i could and almost laid it over. I had a huge welt the size of a golf ball on my throat. I had to wait like 30 mins before i left because it hurt so F'n bad. |
Firebolt020283
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 - 11:45 pm: |
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never had a bee in the neck but I have felt a june bug and that thing did not feel too damn nice. but unless you have a jacket with a leather turtle neck I don't think anything will save you from that. |
Milt
| | Posted on Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 10:55 am: |
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I feel naked without full leathers, and I won't ride without them.
Like PreyBird1, I've crashed both ways - and having full protection is a lot better. It's the difference between walking away with a bruised ego and spending months in rehab.
I heard a good rule at HC this year: Cover only the skin you want to keep.
And don't forget boots. Your ankles have really thin skin. Even at zero MPH, having a bike fall on your foot can be devastating. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2011 - 12:55 pm: |
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The heat thing is a red herring. On a 100 degree day, when you are stopped on a hot motorcycle on hot tarmac, you are hot. Doesn't matter if you are wearing good vented gear or sitting there buck naked. In fact, for the duration of a stoplight, I wouldn't be surprised if good vented gear is actually cooler.
When you are moving, good vented gear cools just fine.
The one place it is an issue is stopped off the bike, for example going into a store. If you don't leave the gear on the bike, you can get pretty hot. If you leave it on the bike, you either have to lock it, or worry about somebody stealing it.
I recently got to play superman across the back of a Toyota Corolla (full report will not come until after the at fault drivers insurance company gives me a final fair settlement). I was wearing my normal absurd amount of gear (touring boots, armored pants, armored jacket, icon spine protector / compression vest, armored pants, armored gloves, Schuberth helmet).
It was under 20 mph when the bike and I parted ways, yet everything but the boots had a hole ground somewhere. The holes weren't in me (though I had other significant injuries including a cracked pelvis and bruised ribs, again no details until the at fault drivers insurance company proves I don't have to litigate to be treated fairly).
I added it up, and it was $1700 worth of gear. Best money her insurance company ever spent. I expect, all said and done, that all that premium gear and my obsessive use of it saved them $30,000 to $50,000 easy. |
Oldog
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2011 - 01:40 pm: |
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DAYM-Reep!
some of your buddies would like to know that you are OK! ..... |
Syonyk
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2011 - 02:04 pm: |
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I feel naked without my normal gear too... even just wearing hiking boots instead of riding boots feels "weird."
From what I understand, most insurance companies happily cover replacement cost on the gear, separate from the bike. They want you to wear it too, because a few cracked bones and $1000 in gear is a lot cheaper than the alternative. I know several people who have crashed with gear, and the insurance companies have said, "Tell us what you were wearing, and how much it costs to replace" - no questions asked about it.
I'm still stunned at how few people I see wearing gear lately. |
Firebolt020283
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2011 - 02:22 pm: |
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here in my city none of the motorcycle shops sell gear because here no one buys it and this came from both the Honda and the Yamaha shop. The Harley shop had a bigger selection but of course is was all Harley brand crap. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - 10:31 am: |
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I'm OK. give or take a cracked pelvis. 
Healing up well so far, and after a very bad start, USAA is now being fair and responsive so far for the vehicle claim.
I can't say more until all the claims are resolved (first vehicle, then personal property, then personal injury).
Expect to see me and my Uly on the road again eventually though.
Meanwhile, all the gear, all the time. |
Aesquire
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - 11:29 am: |
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I play safety nazi in my role as a martial arts ref. But I'm dealing with adults, the folk who deal with children really have to keep the standards up.
And, relevant to ATGATT, it's SCA armored fighting. With rattan "swords", great weapons, ( 7 1/2 foot unpadded rattan polearms... rubber headed 6 foot battle axes, with rattan hafts, Braveheart style 6 foot greatswords, etc. etc. ) 9 foot spears, ( with padded tips... padded meaning a good spearman could easily give flail chest to an unarmored guy...but won't go through you...) etc. Really a great, old fashioned full contact martial art.... think football with cricket bats..
So impact injury prevention is a concern/hobby of mine, and I have quite a bit of experience in building, testing, using and evaluating armor. From modern ballistic to the stuff Achilles actually wore.
Good current tech leather & fabric riding armor is amazing stuff. The difference between the old Sears leather jacket & levi's I ( and everyone else with a clue but not the money to buy race leathers ) started riding with in the "before time" and typical 21st century gear is a quantum leap in protection. Even 1970's full race top tech stuff is like swimwear in comparison, except for the actual leather used for abrasion resistance. That's pretty much the same, but we now protect the pointy bits on the body much better.
All day long I watch squids & "bikers" in tank tops and shorts........
and even that sears jacket & levi's would be an order of magnitude better protection.
Junebugs alone........ dang. |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - 01:17 pm: |
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Billyboy-nice graphic!
Reepi-glad you fared mostly well, good luck with the insurance aspect of that mess.
That bee in the neck is no fun. No gear I own would have protected me from that. Happened to me at 45 mph, thank goodness I was returning from a 5 hour ride in the northwoods and was about a mile from my mom's house. Another reason to always have benadryl on hand. |
Whatever
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2011 - 02:23 pm: |
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I have not read all of this thread... so, as Steve Martin might say, Excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me if I repeat a point that has been already made ?!?!? 
I was at my mechanic's yesterday. He is great with Buells, and yesterday was no exception. I called him around noon to ask if he could fabricate a heat shield for the rear pipe on the XB. He said "No Problem, come on over!" I got there around four-thirty and by six-ish I had a presentable heat shield which he only asked 30 bucks for. Mind you, with painting, waiting for the paint to dry and his apprentice watching it was over an hours worth of work, including him re-painting it when it got smudged.
It was around 85 degrees yesterday and of course incredibly humid... as I am going to have to get used to... and his shop was no exception. I had on my new mesh First Gear pants (black) and my mesh Scorpion jacket (black and white).
I was sitting there around 40 minutes before I took off the jacket, and he said "That is why you are getting so hot, with all that gear on..." I held my toungue, as the look on my face usually always gives away what I am thinking anyhow (whether I like it or not)... I didn't even respond to what he said.
I wanted to yell at him... "ARE YOU F*ING NUTS ???" ... and then slap him upside the head... but he is only 20-something... and I need him to keep working on my bike.
A little later he said, joking around, but in a matter of fact way... "Look what I did to my leg." He pulled up his shorts, and sure enough he had a small burn on his leg. This time I didn't hold my breath and I said "I did that once in 1995 on my first bike... and I have never done that since..."
Like I said, the guy is pretty young, and he mostly works on Harleys... and he is GREAT GREAT GREAT with Buells... so I will cut him some slack... but I think there is no way in hell anyone of this mentality would see a patch and even think twice about wearing more gear.
It took one of my closest friends dying of a head injury and a year of not riding in the aftermath for me to change my ways... and only by the "grace of god" (or whatever the hell is out there) have I been very lucky, and never dropped the bike at anything over 10 mph.
I have never had any injury of any kind... other than that burn on my leg after over 15 years of riding. It is not even about the gear it is the attitude... "I could end up like Victor, or worse!"... that I have to keep in the forefront of my mind every day... that way, he is actually always with me.
There are also a few simple rules...
1. NEVER ride impaired... AND that includes prescription drugs... ABSOLUTELY!
2. NEVER ride tired... which I have only been forced to do once recently... in the last year of 20,000 plus miles.
3. NEVER ride upset. If this means I have to stay off the bike for a week or more at a time while I work through something... so be it.
Life is too short to take unneccessary risks !!! I also try not to hang out with people who do.  |
Ravensmith22
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2011 - 05:36 pm: |
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Sometimes if people ask me why I wear my gear I show them the large and deep scar on my left forearm. I show them how it stops where my elbow armor is, and explain that the armor kept my arm from getting severed. I cringe when I see people without gear, because I know first hand what can happen. |
Jb2
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 - 01:46 pm: |
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Ever think studying dinosaurs would lead to improved helmet design?
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/06/29/thick-he aded-dinosaur-was-king-head-butt/?test=faces |
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