Stability and ATGATT

We don't wear protective gear when we drive our cars or trucks because we are protected by the vehicle and things like seatbelts and air bags. Other than race car drivers I can't recall seeing a helmeted car driver. To a lesser degree I have found that the greater stability of riding a three wheel motorcycle, which greatly reduces the likelihood of ending up on the ground for anything other than an actual crash, has worked to move me further and further away from the ATGATT that I used to practice.

I started riding in the early 1980's and at first was totally oblivious to safety gear. But one day, riding my beautiful red Honda cruiser with no windscreen, no helmet, no gloves or jacket or boots even I hit a June bug at about 55 miles per hour. I thought I had been shot in the face, and ended up with a real bruise that took weeks to go away. The very next day I bought myself a helmet and gloves, and the boots came a bit later. But by the '90's I was a Motorcycle Safety Instructor and if nothing else then to not set a bad example should any of my students see me out on the road, I always wore full geat (other than armored pants which I always found too hot). I pretty much stayed "mostly" ATGATT until the summer of 2021 when I traded in my Goldwing for a Can Am Spyder. Now I find I am willing to wear an open face helmet or in some cases no helmet at all (yes, I know that this is foolish). I often wear fingerless gloves, "shoe" boots that are vented for hot weather, and a lightweight mess jacket if any jacket at all.

I think it is the reality that the Spyder will not tip over, at least during the type of riding that I do, and with the greater front end as compared to a two wheeler, I never even have someone turn left in front of me as used to commonly happen on 2 wheels. I come to a stop and keep my feet on the floorboards and don't worry about instability should the road suddenly turn to gravel or dirt. Some days I just wear a t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. But I find I still always wear some form of gloves, and most of the time a helmet of some type (usually a modular with the chin bar left in the up position).