Wearing proper gear

[kevo]

I have one piece leathers, two piece leathers, two piece tex, two piece mesh and multiple jackets. I wear what I feel is appropriate for the type of riding I am likely to be doing, but minimally I will wear a riding jacket, good gloves, some ankle high boots, and my lid.

Same here.

 

[tony]

boots are a must. A 10 mph drop in gravel will likely pin your foot for a couple of feet, until the bike kicks you loose or you roll from under it. 500lbs of pressure on top of your foot dragging it through gravel sucks without torsion resistant soles and toe, heel, and ankle plates.

my $2 (accounting for inflation since the advent of "my 2c")

 

[gsxrbabe]

nerdo-stich everyday on my commute. or any kinda streetride. with carolina logger boots, held gloves and an arai. even if i go out to a club/dinner/etc, i can wear a dress under it.

i've never crashed in the stich, tho.....knock on wood......
crashed in jeans going about 20mph- have scars on my knees. now i wear shin-guards if wearing jeans (super rare). have a couple leather jackets. crashed in my hein gericke v-pilot going about 30mph, no damage to me. crashed on the track in full leathers a couple of times, no roadrash, just broken bones and bruises. had to have one set cut off. i wear daytona security boots on the track.

no way in hell could you pay me to go any distance without full gear with armour.

-alex

 

[fr0ng]

I've had 11 crashes.

I've done over 200,000 miles.

I've not worn gear about 10 times.

I've crashed while not wearing gear about 8 times.

I think I've maybe covered 100 miles in my life while not wearing gear.

So I crash about every 12.5 miles when I don't wear gear ('I'm just nipping out to the shops, back in a minute *CRASH*').

And I crash about once every 66,666 miles when I'm wearing gear.

I appear to crash 5,333 times more often while not wearing gear.

This is nothing psychological - most of my crashes were not self-induced...just Sods Law.

My crash per 1000 miles got you beat!

 

[Xenophonii]

Leathers/gloves/boots/full helmet in the dry, textiles/gloves/boots/full helmet in the rain.

 

[NoGall]

nerdo-stich

I like it!

 

[gsxrbabe]

I like it!

and i was told that people under 40 years of age aren't supposed to wear them....

 

[Mr.Ed]

Nothing is required except a helmet (in CA) and nobody is going to tell me otherwise.

however bowing to common sense, it is highly recommended to wear proper gear.

as for myself. full leathers in the twisties, whatever feels right otherwise (which is usually jacket, gloves, lid)

to all gear proponents, if you want to help those who dont wear gear realize the truth, at most just tell them what you do and why and thats it. as soon as you tell someone "you have to wear gear" and "90% of people who dont wear gear grow third nipples and become sausage creatures" their hearing shuts off automagically. its the "whothehellareyoutotellmewhattowear" syndrome. its a dominant gene that always shows up along with the gene that gives someone the crazy idea to ride a motorcycle. If you just show them what you wear, then back it up with some awesome riding, then they will all want to be as cool as you and run out and get gear (since they are all poseurs). if its your significant other that you are trying to change, just withold sex until they wear the rubber...i mean leather.

my $0.03 (because my advice is worth 50% more than all of yours)

 

[kurbycar32]

i ALWAYS wear my textile jacket and boots. i usually wear jeans too but i seldom leave town and rarely go over 50. i just cruise around town

 

[Webdev511]

my 12 year old Stich,Gloves, Alpinestars, and Quantum on the street, with the stich and alpinestars replaced with a Joe Rocket one piece and Daytona boots for trackdays.

 

[tiltedworld]

I have one piece leathers, two piece leathers, two piece tex, two piece mesh and multiple jackets. I wear what I feel is appropriate for the type of riding I am likely to be doing, but minimally I will wear a riding jacket, good gloves, some ankle high boots, and my lid.

WOT he said, always jacket, gloves, helmet and boots. Full leathers for twisty ridin'

boots are a must. A 10 mph drop in gravel will likely pin your foot for a couple of feet, until the bike kicks you loose or you roll from under it. 500lbs of pressure on top of your foot dragging it through gravel sucks without torsion resistant soles and toe, heel, and ankle plates.

my $2 (accounting for inflation since the advent of "my 2c")

Exactly, I won't ride anymore without my moto boots, even a short 5 mile ride to the store. When I lowsided at 15mph in November, I had my normal 5 mile leisurely commute riding gear consisting on jacket, helmet, and gloves. Only damage to me was road rash to my ankle, from getting pinned for a few feet. That was in November and I can see the reminder still there as to ride with boots on, even just cruising for a 10 min ride down the block.

 

[Red6Rdr]

cant afford leathers yet, so far, jeans and alter ego jckt, until i get money to get either A*S or dainese

 

[kingB]

One piece leathers, 2 piece leathers, 2 piece textile, boots, good gloves blah blah.

I'm always looking for that perfect balance of protection, comfort and ease of use. Thinking about a nerdo-stitch.

That said, around SF, I tend to blast around on the scooter in jeans. So, I'm not sure wtf my problem is. just lazy I guess.

 

[tofu-boy]

I always wear my leather jacket, boots, gloves... though I'm still saving up for leather pants. So right now I just cruise in my jeans.

I did see a guy wearing a Tshirt on 92 today while going towards half moon bay and I was thinking... "Wow, that guy is real gutsy..." I don't think I can ever ride like that, just too much to risk.

 

[Nahullo]

Crow – cool post, I’ve seen a strong insistence on gear in the Bay Area.

Not sure if any of you have had a chance to ride in other States or Regions, but it seems the Bay Area is notorious for stressing the importance of proper gear (excluding our hog/curser ridding brethren, of course). Gear is important on the East Coast, Mid West, South Coast, etc. but people are not normally considered ‘squidly’ if they ain’t sporting it.

Even within CA I notice a diff from Southern CA to Northern. I met a guy in Santa Cruz who just moved from LA. We were talking about bikes and he just brought up his Duc. The next words out of his mouth, “What’s the deal with all the emphasis on gear?” Apparently, he went for a ride (thru 9) and was asked / told about proper riding gear each time he stopped to chat with other riders. He had an helmet, armored jacket, boots, gloves and jeans on. I laughed and said it seemed to be a mantra for folks around here.

I’ve met people who were taking short trips on their bikes in t-shirts and they almost always start of with, “I’m just taking a short trip, normally I wear my gear.”

Personally, I ride with the helmet, boots, gloves, fully armored jacket for “light” riding (to work on Fridays or a weekday meet) and armored leathers + back protector the rest of the time. I think that’s the best way to go. But lets face facts – gear is $$$. I’ve got a Vanson two-piece and a Swift one-piece, Knox back protector, “light” riding boots, SMX Plus A/Stars, Violator gloves, four helmets, etc. Clearly, I’m not a student and have some disposable income - not everyone is that lucky.

The only advice I give regarding gear: Get the best you can afford and don’t ride beyond the limits of what you have (talent or gear).

 

[crow]

I’ve met people who were taking short trips on their bikes in t-shirts and they almost always start of with, “I’m just taking a short trip, normally I wear my gear.”

I hear this way, way too often. The sad thing about it is that most motorcycle accidents occur a very short distance from home. Just take a look at the Hurt Study on motorcycle accident cause factors if you don't believe me.

And ya know what makes me sick? People who bitch about how we shouldn't bug them about wearing gear. These are the same guys that go out and pick up an unknowing passenger who doesn't really think about wearing gear either, and next thing you know you've got a pile of ground beef that used to consist of a fly pimp with his MJ's and his poor passenger.

I don't think it really needs to be explained at length WHY one should wear their gear. If you can't think about this and instantly see the reasons why, you've got some real problems on your hand that aren't going to be fixed by people telling you to wear your gear. Do I have to post a gruesome picture?