The debate about gear rages on

[Bravnik]

Look the fact is that gear is better than no gear. No it's not some magical suit that will save you from every perceivable situation. But if you do find yourself sliding down the pavement you will be grateful that you have it on. It really can't get any simpler than that. The more gear you have on the more grateful you will be after the hurting stops.

We all know this. You can argue the merits of shorts and van's till your blue in the face but when the shit hits the fan you will regret that decision no matter how fast you're going.

As I have said before. Wear what you want but please don't be a puss when/if you go down and get some rash. Man up (or woman up) and don't cry about it. Learn and move on. The ONLY thing I ask is Please Please Please don't let your Girl get on the back of your bike without gear. You want to risk your skin, literally, then that's OK. But you are responsible for the one on the back of that bike so make sure they are geared.

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

Connie,

I just looked over my police report for my accident and other than cringing a bit looking it over again, it's amazing how much information is recorded. Distances, positions, debris fields etc etc...

There is actually a short paragraph describing what I was wearing, "Rider was wearing full faced helmet, leather full body protective gear, under clothing protective riding armor... etc"

There was also a description of the visible damage to my helmet and riding gear.

I wonder if that's typical, or if maybe the officer writing your report was particularly diligent, or maybe even a rider himself? Documenting that would certainly make it easier for you to recover the losses with your insurance company.

Look the fact is that gear is better than no gear. No it's not some magical suit that will save you from every perceivable situation. But if you do find yourself sliding down the pavement you will be grateful that you have it on. It really can't get any simpler than that. The more gear you have on the more grateful you will be after the hurting stops.

We all know this. You can argue the merits of shorts and van's till your blue in the face but when the shit hits the fan you will regret that decision no matter how fast you're going.

As I have said before. Wear what you want but please don't be a puss when/if you go down and get some rash. Man up (or woman up) and don't cry about it. Learn and move on. The ONLY thing I ask is Please Please Please don't let your Girl get on the back of your bike without gear. You want to risk your skin, literally, then that's OK. But you are responsible for the one on the back of that bike so make sure they are geared.

Quoted for truth.
And bolded for emphasis.
I see the little kids up at STP with their GF on the back wearing booty shorts, heels, halter tops, or low-cut jeans and crop tops, and all I think is "There goes a tool who considers that chick completely disposable, and doesn't give a rat's ass about her."
Sad.

 

[Feanor]

I wonder if that's typical, or if maybe the officer writing your report was particularly diligent, or maybe even a rider himself? Documenting that would certainly make it easier for you to recover the losses with your insurance company

You might be right about it not being typical... The officer was a moto chp, which I didn't actually find out until after I was already in ICU. He was in the hospital to see someone else and came by to see how I was doing, which was really nice.

Maybe being a motor officer, he felt more connection to other riders when bad things happened to them.

 

[mrmarklin]

So, for intellectual conversations sake, I propose the following question.

Why does everyone get so upset at people who don't wear gear?

I propose that wearing gear does NOTHING in the means of crash prevention. This would equate to the rider who crashes as only causing additional injury to himself, but still not having an affect on anyone else. It's his skin that pays the price, not mine. Gear serves only the purpose of injury prevention, but does not make someone less likely to crash.

I'm not wanting everyone to agree with me, but I can't be the only one out there that understands this. Or am I mistaken? Feel free to educate me if I have overlooked something. Either way, I wear gear sometimes, and ALWAYS ride within my limits as to prevent an accident.

Progressives always know better, and there's a lot of them on this forum. They get really wound up about other people's behavior.

In some ways this is a Bay Area only deal, because if you lived in an area where summer temperatures approach triple digits every day, you'd be like every one else there: wearing the minimum legal equipment. Probably only a helmet. And not even that if you don't have too.

In

 

[afm199]

Progressives always know better, and there's a lot of them on this forum. They get really wound up about other people's behavior.

In some ways this is a Bay Area only deal, because if you lived in an area where summer temperatures approach triple digits every day, you'd be like every one else there: wearing the minimum legal equipment. Probably only a helmet. And not even that if you don't have too.

In

I wore full fabric and armor in Texas and Arizona in the summer and still would.

I wish you luck.

 

[louemc]

I wore full fabric and armor in Texas and Arizona in the summer and still would.

I wish you luck.

The savvy riders in sizzle heat know that gear protects them from the Sun...Nothing exactly new, Camel riders in the Sahara Desert knew it as well.

It just comes down to, idiots will be idiots...Now we see Motorcycle riders that don't know squat.

 

[mrmarklin]

I wore full fabric and armor in Texas and Arizona in the summer and still would.

I wish you luck.

Pretty lonely for you, huh?

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

Progressives always know better, and there's a lot of them on this forum. They get really wound up about other people's behavior.

In some ways this is a Bay Area only deal, because if you lived in an area where summer temperatures approach triple digits every day, you'd be like every one else there: wearing the minimum legal equipment. Probably only a helmet. And not even that if you don't have too.

In

Lol. I live in Livermore... where men are men, the sheep run scared... and triple digit temps in the summer are pretty normal.
I'm an ATGATT rider, in a 1-pc leather suit. I figured out a long time ago that if it feels better with my visor closed, the leathers are actually helping provide some insulation from the heat, and it's not that bad.
The idea of getting taken out by the Prius Assassin Squad, and lying on asphalt hot enough to sear my skin like steak on a BBQ because it was "too hot to wear gear" is so not appealing...

 

[afm199]

Pretty lonely for you, huh?

Honestly? I don't care what you wear. I'll always speak up on a forum and encourage people to wear gear. I don't think I have ever spoken to someone on the street about their gear, and have seem idiots wearing helmets without the strap closed. It's your ass and your life. Gear has saved me more times than I can count.

You might change your tune after one good long slide when you lose 30% of your skin down three levels, but that's your problem.

 

[babyhuyx]

The savvy riders in sizzle heat know that gear protects them from the Sun...Nothing exactly new, Camel riders in the Sahara Desert knew it as well.

It just comes down to, idiots will be idiots...Now we see Motorcycle riders that don't know squat.

Agree with clothing protects from the heat, though not sure about full leathers. You might as well wear a sauna suit because your gonna be unloading a bucket of sweat. Mesh or textile with good vents might be a better choice.

And I still don't like the fact that people keep calling riders idiots just because they aren't in full gear. Just because they don't wanna throw them leathers on doesn't make them mentally handicapped or stupid. Its like saying if we had a modern day Da Vinci, who rode, and only wore a helmet he would be an idiot...

 

[louemc]

^^^ There are full leathers..And there are full leathers...They Didn't all come out of a cookie cutter.

I wear full leathers that have vents that can be opened and closed, And have Force field/T Pro Armor everywhere. These are designed for street use (that's where I ride).

Track leathers wouldn't be as thick on the leather, or have vents for weather changes.

 

[Bravnik]

Pretty lonely for you, huh?

Harley Riders really don't count when it comes to gear. For most it's the whole look that matters more. Which is perfectly fine. I have friends that ride Harleys. If I rode one with more on than a bucket, vest, jeans, boots and fingerless gloves they would laugh at me. This is OK to me. Most every Harley rider I have ever met has more blips of their throttle than they do actual miles on the bike. The only Harley riders I have ever met that step outside the Harley stereotype are the long haul riders. They tend to wear more gear (though Harley Branded) than your typical *$ Harley garage queen.

 

[Bravnik]

Agree with clothing protects from the heat, though not sure about full leathers. You might as well wear a sauna suit because your gonna be unloading a bucket of sweat. Mesh or textile with good vents might be a better choice.

And I still don't like the fact that people keep calling riders idiots just because they aren't in full gear. Just because they don't wanna throw them leathers on doesn't make them mentally handicapped or stupid. Its like saying if we had a modern day Da Vinci, who rode, and only wore a helmet he would be an idiot...

You would not want a tight fitting leather suit on in extreme heat because you need some air flow to make the sweat evaporate and cool your body. However, too much air like with mesh will have too much air flow and do more harm than good. Shorts and T-Shirt are by far the worst thing you can do in 90+ degree heat.

Personally I have a Aerostich Transit Suit. To me it's perfect. Fully Water Proof, Perforated, Coated to cut heat by 30% and is CE certified all around the normal spots. Great for just about every riding event you can have except the track even though I think it's allowed.

As far as Idiots go. I only feel this way when I see them riding on the freeway or in the twisties riding way above a normal ride. I think you should wear the gear you want to wear but when it comes to freeway speeds and riding aggressively, I think you should dress for worst case. I will admit that I do laugh at the guys that I see riding around town in Flip-Flops, T-Shirt, no gloves and shorts but wearing a back protector. That will get a laugh out of me every single time and yes those guys are idiots.

 

[mrmarklin]

Harley Riders really don't count when it comes to gear. For most it's the whole look that matters more. Which is perfectly fine. I have friends that ride Harleys. If I rode one with more on than a bucket, vest, jeans, boots and fingerless gloves they would laugh at me. This is OK to me. Most every Harley rider I have ever met has more blips of their throttle than they do actual miles on the bike. The only Harley riders I have ever met that step outside the Harley stereotype are the long haul riders. They tend to wear more gear (though Harley Branded) than your typical *$ Harley garage queen.

I rode 280+ miles Monday the 29th mostly in the central valley in high temps and speeds. I was geared up: Leather perforated jacket with armor and hydration vest, kevlar jeans with knee protectors and boots. I use a Schuberth C3 helmet.

Just because I comment on the usage in the hotter parts of the country, don't ascribe that usage to me, in general.

I will admit that around the cooler Bay Area climes, I'll forgo the kevlar. And in a real heat wave have been known to use only a T-Shirt for short trips. Most of this is sheer convenience, because as most of you know, it's a bit of a hassle to go around all the time with armor on your knees.

I personally know a lot of Harley riders, and they tend to gear up quite a bit. But I will say that for shorty runs, like most of us they use less gear.

You know, leather assless chaps can be quite protective!

But the reality is that most of you have never experienced the relentless heat that goes on in the rest of the country unless you've actually lived there for a while. It does affect riding habits.

 

[mrmarklin]

Honestly? I don't care what you wear. I'll always speak up on a forum and encourage people to wear gear. I don't think I have ever spoken to someone on the street about their gear, and have seem idiots wearing helmets without the strap closed. It's your ass and your life. Gear has saved me more times than I can count.

You might change your tune after one good long slide when you lose 30% of your skin down three levels, but that's your problem.

Been down twice, once at speed (50mph+).

Normally, I'm fairly geared up, but I'll admit that when the heat is on, unless I'm going a fair distance I'm willing to take my chances.

 

[weasel]

I'd like to hear (If they haven't already chimed in) what the LEO's and first responders think about scrapping squids off the road.

If you've never tried to help someone who's crashed wearing jeans and a hoodie then you don't know what a PITA it is to help them; therefore their problem becomes other people's bloody, messy problem.

I hate the "I'm only hurting myself" mentality

 

[mean dad]

lol, think of the first responders!

 

[weasel]

lol, think of the first responders!

It could be you

 

[Feanor]

On a very hot day my alterative to full leathers is leather race pants and a textile jacket with armor. I've found that close fitting leather pants helps my legs stay cool (and not burn from the heat of the bike and pavement) better than looser fitting protective clothing, and the looser textile jacket with armor is a great compromise over close fitting leather jacket, which can get a little sticky and binding if you make many stops. There's also much more room for cooling vests or shirts if you even need them.

Full race gloves is not even a question, I love my hands This same goes for race boots...

 

[clutchslip]

Been down twice, once at speed (50mph+).

Normally, I'm fairly geared up, but I'll admit that when the heat is on, unless I'm going a fair distance I'm willing to take my chances.

I swear to Budman, if you EVER go down on HOT asphalt in a T-Shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes, you will never forget it, and never ride like that again.
Ask me, "how do you know?"

And yeah, like weasel said, other people end-up involved in your choices when you get hurt. Sometimes, a LOT of people.