Poll: How strict are you when it comes to gearing up on hot days??

[PizzaMonster]

Full gear all the time, except when going for lunch at work... helmet, jeans, Polo shirt, casual shoes.

Yeah.....  'Because we all know accidents never happen at lunchtime.   

(just sayin'..I'm guilty as charged too )

[TiNi]

wow, riding with no pants? bold, very bold indeed.  

riding pants silly 

[JDS 07 S4Rs]

Not a fun story here -- skip if you are squeemish.  

Living in Yuma, AZ many years ago a co-worker decided to go for a ride at 3pm in shorts/t-shirt but was wearing a helmet.  He was clipped on the bike and went flying.  Knocked out but not a scratch otherwise.  Problem was he was unconscious for fifteen minutes while laying on hot pavement before medics arrived.  Nobody at the accident scene moved him due to fear of neck injury.   It was 121 degrees outside -- the pavement was MUCH hotter than that. (nobody realized that at the time)  Sorry to say -- but he literally melted into the pavement.  Third degree burns.  Muscle tissue beneath was also destroyed due to the heat itself cooking him.  He was in surgeries for almost three years.  Still disabled 10 years later and in a wheelchair for rest of his life.  

You need incentive to wear protective gear while riding when it's hot outside now?

I'd only ride sans jacket if short distances in town and at slow speed or around my shop.  And usually with someone else riding along.  If riding alone -- always with gear on -- especially if its hot outside and the pavement is scorching.

Thats sad, & it makes me think. But it wont likely change what I wear. I did purchase a Tank bag last yr & have used that to carry my shorts & sandals so I can gear down or up when required.

I am one of the 4 that has so far said that they will go out with shorts & a T shirt (sandals too)So far I have been lucky. I rely on my superior riding skills & my Cat like reflexes   Crap,,,,I have been over 100 mph in this gear,(well over 100 mph) Just being honest.

[Betty Rage]

When my uncle was a teenager, he was working on his bike. He needed to run it up and down the street real quick to see how it ran. So he started to jump on the bike, thought twice, threw his helmet on, took off, and was t-boned at the next corner.

Gear saves lives.

[TiNi]

When my uncle was a teenager, he was working on his bike. He needed to run it up and down the street real quick to see how it ran. So he started to jump on the bike, thought twice, threw his helmet on, took off, and was t-boned at the next corner.

Gear saves lives.

thanks for the reality check neenja 
i have never rode without my helmet

[Narflar]

For the past 3 years I have ridden ATGATT.  One thing I noticed especially in the hot days is that I don't like being hot.  If it gets above 80 I am so uncomfortable I am no longer thinking about the ride.  The distraction itself I feel is just as unsafe as if I was wearing no gear.  So when it is hot out I will ride with at least Boots, Jeans, Gloves, Helmet.   I am going to try a mesh jacket this year but my perf leather jacket didn't seem to help much. 

I know it's not safe but neither is riding and I feel "safer" being able to concentrate on what I am doing instead of just how hot it is.  I know it's not the popular opinion and I wouldn't recommend anyone else to do it.  I have accepted the risk in order to enjoy riding in the summer. 

[mstevens]

Certainly I've been *tempted* not to gear up when it's hot. That doesn't mean I've ever given in to such temptation. I have no more interest in being injured when it's hot out than when it's nice and cool.

[695LAM]

All gear all the time.  I have so many things to choose from in the closet.  Cold weather, warm weather and hot weather gear.  So even though it's 110 out I still wear all gear.

[spinned]

I just cant put so much gear on that I overheat.  I that may be more dangerous that riding like a squid.

[Xiphias]

I wear gear all of the time. I've gotten acclimated to the sauna that I live in.

[Augustus]

Full gear all the time every time.  oops, I wear jeans mostly, but suit up in helmet, gloves, boots, and jacket 100% of the time.  I live in a college town and most of the young kids, like I did at their age, wear nothing but eye protection.  I guess I'm lucky that I have not had a spill in my earlier years and now that I have a wife and kids it would be, in my opinion, selfish to hit the road with out the gear.  I'm sure some of you are saying well then why ride?  My answer would be the reduced chance of injury in full gear is a reasonable level of risk.  Hell, we can't be too big of a wussy.

[NAKID]

Perf'd leather year round. Occasionally I will wear jeans, but under that would be the field armor and my Oxtars. In the winter, I wear a liner and long johns underneath...

[spinned]

I think the replies here are interesting.  I wonder how the survey would look if taken by a bunch of Harley riders.  I tell my wife..."the Ducati is the safest bike out there"... because it is Ducati culture to wear protective rider gear.

[DRKWNG]

It stays pretty warm year round here in Hawaii and I always wear full gear (except for one time when I took my buddies bike about 200m up the road from my house so he could hear his exhaust).  The only real concession I will make is weather to use the gauntlets of my more breathable city gloves.

[Pancake81]

I can live without the pants. But helmet jacket gloves no matter what. But I can live with jeans here and there.