Safety gear--what do you wear

[PJL]

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

I disagree, at least on a sportbike, the more gear I wear, the safer I feel, the faster I go because I am more comfortable in the corners, the more fun I have.

I agree. I always feel pumped for a ride when I put on full leathers.

[mtk1210]

I always feel pumped for a ride when I put on full leathers

+1

I feel like a badass.

I need to get some sidi racing boots and gauntlet gloves to feel like a bamf.

[canadian cruser]

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

I recently got an invite from a local forum to go for a ride. I was excited about going until they threw in all these rules. Now some of these are cool but the part about making people wear gear is ridiculous.

Here are the rules I found.

NO wheelies, stoppies, tricks, stunting, reckless riding, passing in corners, etc … EVER.----OK THIS SOUNDS LOGICAL

Bikes must be LEGAL: Current Tags | License | VIN | Insurance

Minimum Gear Required : Full face helmet, full fingered gloves, boots (they have to be a boot of some type or better), motorcycle riding pants (preferred) or regular thick blue jeans and a motorcycle riding jacket with sleeves.

Of course I would wear a helmet but, im not going into a ride with gear restrictions(i mean seriously are they not going to let me follow them if I showed up in shorts) And for that matter is someone going to check my insurance, tags, license? Im here to tell you that would not happen. Im not letting someone I don't know look at my personal info...even if they organized the ride or not!
Any thoughts?

they probably came up with these rules so that if somthing happens they dont have to pick up the pieces if some one goes down. Being trained in first aid I can appriciate the reasoning.

[Archangel]

I clicked on every thing except

no gear

after all I am Naked! under all the gear.

[Tdubb]

What about boots? Why weren't they on the poll?

I always wear a Jacket, Helmet, gloves, pants, and boots. No matter how far or slow I plan on going.

[rexmitchell]

I can add boots to the poll if needed but the results will be kinda screwy....we already have a lot of responses but the boots will be lacking those.

[blakedaking]

I as curious what kind of gear some of you sportsbike riders wear. I want to get an idea of what is comfortable and get some opinions about your gear.

Also was curious to see some of the helmets you all wear, post some pics.

[CB750F]

Usually I wear my leather or armored textile jacket and Kevlar lined jeans with my motorcycle boots. I always wear gloves of some sort. On special occasions I'll go full leathers. Right now I'm wearing a SparX Hornet helmet.

[bdavison]

Fulmer Thrust Helmet
First Racing Mesh jacket
Icon Kevlar Jeans
Misc boots
6th Gear Racing Gloves.

[rexmitchell]

I am going to merge this with the other gear thread we have going in MC safety.

[Plain Old Dave]

Needs an option for over-the-ankle boots. Being military, I wear all PPE; jacket, over the ankle boots, gloves, and helmet with eye protection. Windshield without eye protection don't meet the DoD instruction.

[rexmitchell]

Originally Posted by Plain Old Dave

Needs an option for over-the-ankle boots. Being military, I wear all PPE; jacket, over the ankle boots, gloves, and helmet with eye protection. Windshield without eye protection don't meet the DoD instruction.

For whatever reason I forgot to add boots to the poll, people can just post it and let us read.

[blakedaking]

i like that helmet CB750f

[ShadowOrange04]

Full face helmet. Most of the time I wear a t-shirt, jeans, and sturdy leather boots (not riding); but I have been seen with shorts on just around the neighborhood.

I just got a mesh jacket with pads, but haven't been out since I got it. I don't think I'll ever wear riding pants, and I'd like some gloves but haven't found any that fit quite right and provide ventillation yet, but I'm looking.

[67fire]

It just "feels" weird not to be in full armor on a bike.
All of those years growing up being hell on wheels and taking the falls in the dirt, seem to have left a permanent impression on me. I think it is called the learning curve. I got one of the older bikes running after sitting for a couple of years and just put on a helmet and gloves. I rode less than a block and came back to get suited up. It just did NOT feel right!

Ride safe,

Eric

[Unimoose]

I wear a helmet, gloves, jeans and boots at a minimum. I also have a leather jacket that is vented and wear that but there have been times I can say I have left it at home, on those days I still do wear long sleeves but the protection they offer vs. a leather jacket is not nearly the same.

[mjmdfw]

We can't control all the conditions. Beautiful morning, no traffic, little wind, clear and cool.

I took a crow square to the helmet last Sunday going 70 mph. Besides a sore neck, and some gore, all is well. Even if you don't do anything wrong, you can still get hurt. Be safe.

[Tdubb]

Woooooooooohoooooooooo, man its a good day. I feel like a kid in a candy store. My brother got a bad ass Vanson perforated leather with full GP armor in it about a year ago, and then had to sell his bike. I've been trying to get him to sell it to me, and he finally broke down today. Man, it's so sweet. I'll have to gear up and post a pic tonight.

[4Raven]

Originally Posted by mjmdfw

We can't control all the conditions. Beautiful morning, no traffic, little wind, clear and cool.

I took a crow square to the helmet last Sunday going 70 mph. Besides a sore neck, and some gore, all is well. Even if you don't do anything wrong, you can still get hurt. Be safe.

That had to hurt! A CROW !!! I have had some close calls with redwinged black birds....then the Turkey Vulture that my bf spooked on a country road, it flew straight up, then to the left, but instead of landing off the road, it made a u turn and came back...didn't know I could ride that well laying on the tank as it flew right over top of me and landed on the road again!

You are so right...that was my very first long distance ride...200+ miles. I wrote that experience down in my little book, because no matter how well you ride, something unexpected can ALWAYS happen!

[rexmitchell]

Originally Posted by mjmdfw

We can't control all the conditions. Beautiful morning, no traffic, little wind, clear and cool.

I took a crow square to the helmet last Sunday going 70 mph. Besides a sore neck, and some gore, all is well. Even if you don't do anything wrong, you can still get hurt. Be safe.

That must have sucked! Glad your ok! Another good reason to wear a helmet.

[mjmdfw]

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

That must have sucked! Glad your ok! Another good reason to wear a helmet.

It did SUCK. You would think with a full windshield it was unlikely, but if I didn't duck it would have been in the goggles.

I've noticed most small birds pop up backwards, larger ones frontwards. This guy went forward (per my plan), but immediately turned back to me. My eyes clamped shut out of reflex, but I got to watch him in my rear view mirror set a vertical record and bounce to a stop.

Lots of weak jokes this week from my friends about trading my eagle jacket in for something with a crow.

[bmjwright]

I always wear a half helmet...the rest (full face, jacket, chaps, gloves), it just depends on the weather.

[NoRegrets78]

Scorpion EXO-1000 FF helmet

Either Tourmaster Mesh jacket or Shift Triton SS jacket depending on weather.

Draggin Jeans with Alpinestars knee/shin armor or First Gear overpants (work).

Alpinestars boots (work, change to dress shoes there) or Shift Fuel boots for all day comfort

Olympia Riding Gloves

As you can see, I'm def one of those ATGATT types.

[PJL]

Helmet: Shark RSR2
Jacket: Joe Rocket Blaster 3.0 (most dry weather)/Vanson Mesh (hot weather)/Cortech GX Series 2 (cold/wet weather)
Pants: Joe Rocket Blaster 2.0 leather
Boots: Tourmaster Solution WP
Gloves: Olympia insulated full-gauntlet or perforated

I also have a Tourmaster rainsuit.

[Chuck A]

Yes i do wear gear, its a jungle out their , drive safe

[jerry226]

Helmet, gloves, jacket, boots, glasses or sunglasses.....

[raitchison]

Always wear:
Full Face helmet
Leather gloves
Riding jacket

I wear combat boots instead of riding boots

I wear jeans because I haven't found riding pants that fit me yet (44 waist 36 inseam)

[SuperSherpa197]

well i thought i had replied to this thread but i guess i just took the poll.

i wear:

Teknic Lightning leather jacket (blue/white/black)
Teknic Chicane leather pants (black)
Teknic Chicane boots (blue/black)
Teknic Chicane full gauntlet gloves (blue/black)

Teknic Chicane jacket (white/black/silver 07 model, not the uglier new one) - crashed, held up absolutely great. very impressed by the so called 'tasc' stitching.

Bell full leather short gloves (black), held up great in my crash as well, but i won't ever go back to a short glove. stitching held up just fine, they are now my work gloves.

had a white HJC cl-12 helmet, but since i crashed in it i decided to pick up two closeout Cyber branded full face helmet for like, ridiculously dirt cheap. i can't tell what brand they're a knockoff of, i'm thinking AFX but not quite sure. will hopefully be buying a Scorpion EXO 700 next weekend if all goes as planned.

ATTGATT is my religion

not the best pic but you get the idea:

[nansumner]

Gloves, full helmet, boots, jacket, jeans...it gets hot and humid here in NC during the summer, but I don't feel protected until I'm "geared up".

[Mr. Silver]

Helmet, jacket, gloves and boots almost all the time. Sometimes riding pants and sometime full leathers. Kinda depends on who I'm riding with and where I'm going. Twisty's = full leathers

[TJDukit]

Waiting until I get back from Vegas in a couple weeks to start riding. But I did just pick up all my gear the other day.

Icon ARC pants and jacket
Icon Pursuit gloves
and Icon Alliance SSR Helmet

I wear boots all the time anyway so thats a no brainer on that one. I still need to get a reflective vest in order to ride on base and they actually sell some nice armored vests on base here.

My wife said I can't ride without all my gear on all the time and I plan on wearing it all the time.

[MoldBuster]

Another firm believer in ATGATT...
Full leathers,
A*s track boots,
Gauntlets,
Full Face Helmet.
Back Protector.

Way I figure...take your hand, make a fist, kneel down on some asphalt, now scrape your knuckles across the asphalt. From this exercise you'll learn two things...

1) You are an idiot for actually doing it, and
2) Imagine your skin skidding across it going 30 x faster than the 2 mph you probably just did.

[Lightning]

Helmet
gloves
jacket
Jeans
Boots

unless it is a quick run, I wear my jeans, work boots, a jacket, gloves, and helmet. Most of the time its my leather Kawasaki jacket, but I also go with my denim (as long as I'm staying off the highway) and sometimes I'll wear my vest over the denim. But I always wear my jeans (learned early, have the burn scar to pove it)

[DavidLSI]

Just to add my two cents...

I am a "All the Gear Most of the time" Always the helmet gloves and a riding jacket. I am guilty of not wear the pants on the days I commute.

The choice to wear or not wear the gear is a personnel one and falls under the "Ride Your Own Ride" saying.

When I first started riding all of 4 years ago, I would use a helmet and gloves during the summer. I found this other forum that has a very social feel to it, and call lots of rides. The guy who introduced me to the group came up to me after the first ride I went on with them. He was very hesitant about what he wanted to express, but let me know they wanted me to ride with them and would not mind picking me up after a crash. They just did not want to have to scoop me up after that crash. He was telling me in the nicest way he could that they really recommend getting proper gear.

I took the advice and now have been down twice and can honestly say I walked away uninjured from both because I was wear the gear....

My Helmet after my crash this spring...

+ YouTube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y9Ye6YJCL8

[Jouri]

The full package here; Helmet, gloves, jacket, pants and boots and a backprotector when for trackdays.

[bdavison]

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

I recently got an invite from a local forum to go for a ride. I was excited about going until they threw in all these rules. Now some of these are cool but the part about making people wear gear is ridiculous.

Here are the rules I found.

NO wheelies, stoppies, tricks, stunting, reckless riding, passing in corners, etc … EVER.----OK THIS SOUNDS LOGICAL

Bikes must be LEGAL: Current Tags | License | VIN | Insurance

Minimum Gear Required : Full face helmet, full fingered gloves, boots (they have to be a boot of some type or better), motorcycle riding pants (preferred) or regular thick blue jeans and a motorcycle riding jacket with sleeves.

Of course I would wear a helmet but, im not going into a ride with gear restrictions(i mean seriously are they not going to let me follow them if I showed up in shorts) And for that matter is someone going to check my insurance, tags, license? Im here to tell you that would not happen. Im not letting someone I don't know look at my personal info...even if they organized the ride or not!
Any thoughts?

Its a liability issue. If you get pulled over with no license, insurance..or dump your bike an end up in the hospital because you werent wearing proper gear....the ride organizers dont want to get sued by your family, or have their ride tarnished by someone who was riding illegally. Gear up or dont go.

[Rossoneri]

I wear a full face helmet and riding jacket.

[E-T]

Wow, poll respondents seem to wear a lot more gear than the average biker. Non-helmet states usually have about 50% helmet wearers, would have expected more like 75 to 80 percent overall. Same for other gear.

[67fire]

Originally Posted by E-T

Wow, poll respondents seem to wear a lot more gear than the average biker. Non-helmet states usually have about 50% helmet wearers, would have expected more like 75 to 80 percent overall. Same for other gear.

That could be saying something as to who CAN participate.

They are still ALIVE.

Eric

[Pat Chamberlin II]

I wear the full monty. At times I have been close to naked but usually I always have something on. Its just that some of the stuff (helmet, gloves, jacket) is not always on. When its warm and a short trip during the day sometimes I wear less. I know this is a little bit of stupidity but its my life. When I am gonna lay the hammer down and pin the turns I definately dress for it.