Gear that's not gear
- Thread starter berth
- Start date
LectricBill
Kicks Gas
I only wear what I wear because I really like my skin intact, my blood inside, and I like my bones to remain in one piece as much as possible.
What other riders choose is their business and none of mine. If they ask why I'm wearing what I do, I'll offer why I chose each item and even how they performed when knocked across the asphalt for 13 feet at "only" 30 mph. Or show them the scar of having my chin split wide open and 4 teeth bent back parallel to the roof of my mouth when not wearing a full face helmet on a bicycle at 15 mph when its fork came out of the fork crown.
I even wore leathers on my scooter, but it was 500cc and I went on the freeways. The mechanics at the the old Golden Gate Honda dealer laughed at me until I showed them my scars.
Mesh gear for the hot. Hi viz for the rain. And, yes, I'm a glove whore too!
Maybe there's an opportunity for some hi-tech stylish leather jackets with thin, flexible armor just for hot scooter babes. OK, and guys too.
What other riders choose is their business and none of mine. If they ask why I'm wearing what I do, I'll offer why I chose each item and even how they performed when knocked across the asphalt for 13 feet at "only" 30 mph. Or show them the scar of having my chin split wide open and 4 teeth bent back parallel to the roof of my mouth when not wearing a full face helmet on a bicycle at 15 mph when its fork came out of the fork crown.
I even wore leathers on my scooter, but it was 500cc and I went on the freeways. The mechanics at the the old Golden Gate Honda dealer laughed at me until I showed them my scars.
Mesh gear for the hot. Hi viz for the rain. And, yes, I'm a glove whore too!
Maybe there's an opportunity for some hi-tech stylish leather jackets with thin, flexible armor just for hot scooter babes. OK, and guys too.
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
Pretty much this. I was riding behind my neighbor's shiny new 700 Yamaha he was riding it like a maniac through traffic...good helmet + hoodie, jeans, no gloves.
Side note, why do I see so many people riding in proper gear but then no gloves?
Lunch Box
Useful idiot
If it didn't change your outlook on gear, it certainly educated you more than you ever wanted about laxatives. :laughing (too soon?)
I prefer to wear full gear almost ever time I'm on a bike. That doesn't mean that I am in some way a better human being than someone who doesn't. It all comes down to personal choice and risk tolerance. I would rather trade a bit of comfort for a considerable amount of protection.
parainbow
Chicks dig squeaky pants
What you wear, and how an observer associates that with the type of rider they believe you to be, has much more of an impact than any well-intentioned speech can. They are watching and making note of it.
However, when someone asks "Aren't you hot?" I'm more than happy to show off scars and explain to them that CE armor (along with formal rider training) is the reason that I have two legs instead of one.
And, yes, chicks dig squeaky pants. Really REALLY dig squeaky pants.
However, when someone asks "Aren't you hot?" I'm more than happy to show off scars and explain to them that CE armor (along with formal rider training) is the reason that I have two legs instead of one.
And, yes, chicks dig squeaky pants. Really REALLY dig squeaky pants.
Last edited:
weasel
Eradicator
I fucking love this :laughing
+me
To the "wear whatever you want people". You've obviously never tried cleaning someone up after they've crashed on the street wearing a T-Shirt and jeans.
Your actions do affect others. Just ask any first responder :|
Ogier le Danois
Well-known member
I believe purpose built gear not only protects in a crash but also makes the ride more comfortable.
I haven't lived in a state that requires a helmet in years. Riding without a helmet at highway speed is miserable.
Accidents can happen at any time. No matter how careful someone is. It doesn't take much to break bones we all use daily ankles,
Fingers, toes, collar bones etc
I haven't lived in a state that requires a helmet in years. Riding without a helmet at highway speed is miserable.
Accidents can happen at any time. No matter how careful someone is. It doesn't take much to break bones we all use daily ankles,
Fingers, toes, collar bones etc
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
I put on my helmet, gloves and maybe even boots at a minimum to take my bike across the street to a different parking spot.
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
I am jealous of their sense of freedom and invincibility but not their intelligence.
VicTim
VMCSF
It might be easier to push it over.
Hooli
Big Ugly
Damn. :laughing
sanjuro
Rider
When I first started riding a motorcycle, I have been riding and racing bicycles for 20 years. I've crashed doing 35mph. I've been hit by a car multiple times. Plus many other crashes which resulted in a minor injury, including a few helmet impacts. BTW, all my road crashes I was wearing lycra clothes. Some of my mountain bike crashes I had arm and leg armor.
Without any previous experience on a motorcycle, I thought to myself, "I bet crashing on a motorcycle will be 100x worse than a bicycle. I better wear protective gear".
And since all I do is turn my wrist, it is not much effort to wear a leather jacket, boots, body-armor, kevlar lined pants, and gauntlets.
I bet none of the casually dressed riders have ever gone down.
Without any previous experience on a motorcycle, I thought to myself, "I bet crashing on a motorcycle will be 100x worse than a bicycle. I better wear protective gear".
And since all I do is turn my wrist, it is not much effort to wear a leather jacket, boots, body-armor, kevlar lined pants, and gauntlets.
I bet none of the casually dressed riders have ever gone down.
72SBC
Doesn't really care
I have, at 40ish mph. Jeep almost hit me and I ran the bike off the street into someone's lawn and it hit a tree. I jumped off the bike before it slid into the tree and rolled a few times with the bike almost landing on me. Was wearing jeans, t-shirt, gloves and boots. Hurt my leg and was a little sore but full gear wouldn't have stopped that. Picked the bike up and rode home. Was I lucky? You bet. Could have it been much worse? Yup. Do I wear full gear now? Nope. Do I ride smarter now? Yup, my awareness is a lot higher than before. It's a choice.
NeilInPacifica
Well-known member
When once a young man I wore jeans, jean jacket, cheap non-MC leather gloves, regular sneakers. Then I low sided in the mountains, just short of sliding down a cliff. I hurt but didn't see any tears or wear through the jeans...until I got home and took them off. The jeans stood up to it, but my skin was raw underneath. Now I consistently wear hip, thigh, butt, and knee armor under full leather pants and A* armored leather jacket. Full racing boots, full helmet, racing gloves...etc..
It takes a long time for those wounds to heal.
It takes a long time for those wounds to heal.
Johndicezx9
Rolls with it...
Ok, I bought this thing (on super markdown) for squidin around town, going to the store kinda stuff, but dayumm it gets' peoples attention... like pull over outta my way attention... this thing practically glows....
:laughing
:laughing
Attachments
-
Capture TNF jacket.JPG
Last edited:
berth
Well-known member
Well, that's kind of what I was more interested with this thread. It wasn't intended as a gear nazi thread (it just took off that way, so I shut up).
Rather, I was curious about "dual use" technologies. Clothing and such that's not designed for riding, but is "better than nothing", and some of that kind of clothing ideally is better than others. Your case, for example, what it may lack in armor or abrasion, it makes up in visibility.