Summer riding: jacket or no jacket

[Slim1899]

I live in Fresno, CA....100+ Degrees almost every day during the summer and usually until late at night....I always wear gear.  I've seen too many accidents at work where riders are abiding by every law and some jackass makes a left hand turn right in front of them and they go superman.  No boots???  No top of foot left!!!  No jacket...hmmmm, that'll be skin grafts....Bottom line...WEAR YOUR JACKET, a FULL FACE HELMET, and everything else please.   

[wannabfast]

i went down yesterday on my friend's bike, and i had all my gear on, thankfully it saved my skin, unfortunately the bike developed more cracks in its fairings, i think its repairable but we will have to see what my paint guy says, that being said, so glad i landed mostly in grass after sliding about what seemed like 30 ft, probably closer to 20, but yea, could have been a LOT worse but i will be buying a new cold weather jacket soon along with pants that connect to it

[Slim1899]

i went down yesterday on my friend's bike, and i had all my gear on, thankfully it saved my skin, unfortunately the bike developed more cracks in its fairings, i think its repairable but we will have to see what my paint guy says, that being said, so glad i landed mostly in grass after sliding about what seemed like 30 ft, probably closer to 20, but yea, could have been a LOT worse but i will be buying a new cold weather jacket soon along with pants that connect to it

Glad you are OK!!!

[CrashVR]

Just jeep in mind, we live in the "smart phone" generation.  Smart phones = stupid drivers.  As if we weren't hard enough to see before  .  Because of this, drivers ( especially young drivers) are more distracted than ever.  Also remember,  the first thing they do to road rash in the hospital is scrub it with a brillow pad!!!! Pre-painkillers!!!!

[sebastienb]

Decided to take my chance with no jacket on short rides if it's hot. But if I'm going for over 10 miles I'll wear the jacket.

[NAKID]

Decided to take my chance with no jacket on short rides if it's hot. But if I'm going for over 10 miles I'll wear the jacket.

Most accidents happen closer to home, just some food for thought...

[Scoober1103]

Most accidents happen closer to home, just some food for thought...

Both mine less than 3 miles from home, all gear all the time. Seriously!

[hankrecor]

Here is an interesting skin graft method.



If this technology becomes widely available it would be pretty cool.

[scduc]

To the OP, if your looking for someone on the board to say" go ahead, don't wear your gear" I pray no one will. Whether we all do all the time, well that is most likely a different story,  I'm sure you've heard this from your elders, " do as I say not as I do." You know right from wrong, its up to you as to whether or not you heed the warnings. But to get our approval, nay nay.

[George S]

dress to crash, dont dress to ride. always wear full gear... it's just not worth the risk

[The ModFather]

I just sold my Dainese Leather Pants which were race ready in terms of protection. I've never seen anyone wearing leather pants on the street. I go with Kevlar Jeans and I do wear Dainese Knee-Shin Pads and Dainese Racing Boots under the Kevlar Jeans. I had the Dainese padded shorts for a whiel which I would wear under the Kevlar Jeans but they were way too uncomfortable. I always wear a helmet and gloves. I have been guilty of not wearing a jacket on short local rides when it's above 90. (after reading through this thread probably not anymore  ) 

I have two jacket's a Dainese Leather and a Dainese Textile both padded but obviously the leather is better including titanium shoulder pads. I have one removable back protector that can go in both but sometimes I'm lazy and dont take it out of one to put in the other. Both black so both get hot at a standstill but are okay when you're moving as they are fairly well vented. Anyone try a white jacket? Wondering if that would make a substantial difference in heating up under the sun. Also what do you guys wear pants wise? I believe Kevlar jeans offer minimal protection only slightly better than Levis.

[Slide Panda]

Also what do you guys wear pants wise? I believe Kevlar jeans offer minimal protection only slightly better than Levis.

This

Dainese Leather Pants which were race ready in terms of protection.

I also have some Dainese textile pants that I wear from time to time, but don't like as much as they slide around on the seat/tank. Last I have some Kevlar jeans worn with T-pro knees used for around town stuff when I know I'll be on and off a lot.

Around here, it's quite common to see folks wearing sport leathers pants and it gets damn hot in the mid atlantic

[jongunz]

For me I wear mesh Jacket and jeans for riding in the Atlanta Heat.  It's hot sitting but as long as I'm moving its not too bad.  I tried a leather Jacket when I first started riding but after stuck in rush hour for over an hour thinking I was going to pass out I got a mesh one.

But aside from that do whatever you want knowing the risk that is involved.

[FiveG]

An anecdote I've heard is that a well-known trainer (forgot who) was asked "Do I always have to wear my gear?" to which he responded, "No, only on the day you crash."  I suppose if you could predict that day . . . but even then, crap comes up and hits you when you're riding, so that doesn't apply.

I went down on April 15, maybe 3 miles from my house, on a beautiful day looking forward to a ride, because of my own dumb errors (I will not blame anyone else).  The only reason I left the hospital two days later, and was riding two months later, was that I was wearing full face helmet, track suit, armored gloves and armored boots.  Every time someone tells me "you were lucky," I correct him or her, and say, "No.  It's because I wear the gear, every time I ride." 

Normally, I wear armored textile but on that day, I was even more geared up.  Regardless, I always thought beforehand going out without protective gear was foolish:  based on that event, I have changed my opinion:  it's moronic.

Wear the gear!

[The ModFather]

but really... who wears leather pants when riding? From MotoGP to Rockerbox I never see guys wearing these unless they're heading to a track day. I want to know honestly who wears Leather Pants when they ride?