Riding naked

[zooom]

now, I feel remiss if I didn't admit to boogeying around Cozumel on vacation with my sweety 2 up on a scooter in shorts and sandals and their required baseball batting helmet for head protection similar to the Honda 125 picture above (though I had a shirt on for sunburn protection, LOL)...was a cool way to explore the northern part of the island and see some resort that got washed out and killed by the hurricane a few years previous which some locals were using as a sailboarding launch area and surfbum loose living hangout....

[Speedbag]

To me, gloves come right after helmet in order of importance.

I'll reiterate this point.

If I would have been my wearing gloves the evening I had The Deer Incident, I would have been much happier. Giant, deep scabs all over the tops of your hands are no fun.

I'm glad I had on the rest of my gear, as it was trashed and I was not. I shudder to think of what would have been if I had ridden without (not that I ever do) - based on my helmet alone I'm pretty sure I'd be worm food.

[zooom]

put it this way with gloves...if your hands aren't protected...how can you type on a web forum!?!?!

[thought]

i'm surprised that not everyone puts on gloves all the time... for me, i've always thought it was a bit of gear you just get right away because it's the lowest cost of entry in terms of protection.  and with a good pair of summer shorty gloves, it's not a big issue to just toss them on even in hot weather.

the main reason i see behind being undergeared is cost most of the time... it's the major reason i can see people not getting armored up for.  good gear is expensive... and it's sometime hard to justify spending that much on it. however instant comfort for a possible lifetime of pain just never seemed to be a good equation for me when thinking about not gearing up.

on a side note... i wish they would just do away with the level 1 ce rating.  it seems to be pretty easy to hit ce lvl 2 now, and if they tightened up the standard to lvl 2 as a baseline, they can then force the industry to focus on even better armor... and also making all base armor stronger.

[orangelion03]

I just noticed there was a kid between that couple!!!


"the main reason i see behind being undergeared is cost most of the time... it's the major reason i can see people not getting armored up for.  good gear is expensive... and it's sometime hard to justify spending that much on it. however instant comfort for a possible lifetime of pain just never seemed to be a good equation for me when thinking about not gearing up."

There are amazingly good deals out there if one just looks around.  You dont have to go high-end to get at least moderate protection.  My Fieldsheer leather outfit cost me about $250 total, jacket and pants from separate sources, both on clearance.  Later I bought my Alpinestars one piece, used good as new, off Craigslist for $250.

[iRam]

The only time i dont ride with full gear is when i go half a mile away to the club house for a swim. I always have my helmet and gloves on though. Other than that, its full gear all the time.

[matt922]

Gear saves you from killing yourself.  Nothing will keep others from trying to kill you.

[thought]

Gear saves you from killing yourself.  Nothing will keep others from trying to kill you.

except loud pipes right?  cuz loud pipes saves lives, right guys?  haha

[Privateer]

helmet (required), gloves always, boots always, jeans or better always.  I have on occasion worn my casual dickies jacket (like to go vote, literally around the corner) but other wise it's armored mesh or better.

That's all assuming I'm not leaving my cul-de-sac.  As said above, I've been known take a lap around my street just in garage clothes to check something, but even then I wear work gloves.

[Timmy Tucker]

...There are amazingly good deals out there if one just looks around.  You dont have to go high-end to get at least moderate protection...  

Yup.

I got this jacket from Cyclegear on sale for $79, It was $140-ish. They're on sale for $49 now. I highsided in it at 25 mph, we both came out unscathed. It was quite a bit more comfy than the few A*'s jackets I tried on, w/ just as much protection.




Got this $160 Z1R helmet on sale last week for $89. 2 day shipping from UT to TN was only $10.



I did splurge on a set of Rev'it gloves, but they were still only $110. More than worth it for the quality you get. They're better built and more comfortable than the Dainese gloves they replaced.

 

[Drjones]

The majority of motorcycle accidents are at intersections and one finds the majority of intersections in town.  Amusing how the rationale to ditch gear occurs in the highest accident risk environment.

[matt922]

The majority of motorcycle accidents are at intersections and one finds the majority of intersections in town.  Amusing how the rationale to ditch gear occurs in the highest accident risk environment.

i think that's what you call being in denial.  

Buy a good helmet before you spend 500 on a jacket, 200 on gloves, 250 on boots, etc.

except loud pipes right?  cuz loud pipes saves lives, right guys?  haha

and bright ass HIDs

[DucofWestwood]

aside from the MSF course (before i owned gear), i have never ridden without full gear - helmet, gloves, boots, textile jacket/pants with full body armor.  it's a drag to wear all that sometimes (if it's hot or you have to go the dr's office or something), but the pros far outweigh the cons in my mind.  plus it's cool to look like mad max.

[Justo]

Bashed the road bad. In full gear. Still managed to smash my shoulder bad. Ive been off the road now for almost 4 months with surgery, bone grafts, plates and screws. It scares the bejesus out of me to think where I would be if I didn't have the gear on. My guess. Dead or wishing I was. I'll take hot and sweaty over dead 8 days a week.

[zooom]

just remember 1 key element...gear is good...

gear that fits properly so it works as it is designed to is much better!...I have seen guys get tossed and rashed because the armor rolled out of place and the gear didn't work as it was suppoed to due to ill fit...so make sure the gear you buy fits properly so it is effective in the event you ever need it for what it was designed!!!