All the Gear, All the Time?

[TomInPA]

I also did the long trip this summer, and as you move east to the states with no helmet laws, hardly a sole wears a helmet. Peer pressure is no doubt a big part of it. I felt like an alian in Ohio with a full-face and ATTGAT., so I started wearing the half-helmet, and liked it.

 

[TriggerT]

Your chin I suppose.

 

[dcarver]

I wore 3/4 when on Harley during 90's now it seems vulnerable.. just me tho

 

[RadioHowie]

I also did the long trip this summer, and as you move east to the states with no helmet laws, hardly a sole wears a helmet. Peer pressure is no doubt a big part of it. I felt like an alian in Ohio with a full-face and ATTGAT., so I started wearing the half-helmet, and liked it.

DO love that baby-poop oil filter, though!

 

[wfooshee]

I'm a full-face guy, too. The only time I've used my helmet for the designed purpose of protecting my noggin was a lower left facial impact. Yet I still have a working jawbone - amazing! Had I been in a half or 3/4 lid, I'd probably be slurping protein shakes through a straw.

 

[TwoWhldTerror]

Even when it's 100 degree's in Georgia it's always jeans & riding boots. Shifting with sandals would feel terrible as well IMO. But too each his own. (sigh)

I hope you don't think jeans are any better protection than riding naked. They might protect you from bug splats to the shin, but that's about it. Like you said, though, to each his own. :huh:

True but we all make choices, and if you ride a bike at all for just social fun and "running around town" then there are times when a full Roadcrafter suit or big ol' pants are just not appropriate.

It is about mitigating risk, not eliminating it, to a level each individual rider is comfortable with. In the dead of GA summer I wore, and wear again now that I have a new-to-me bike, a full-face helmet, mesh jacket, gloves, jeans and boots. Sure the jeans are not all that if one slides, but if one tumbles they still can provide a modicum of protection.

Would some scoff at the jeans? Sure. However it is still better, far better, than shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops.

 

[Thug]

DC I'm with you i am astounded these days by some of our brothers and sisters how ******* dumb and ignorant they really are...I have dear friends who ride with minimal gear and I chip them every time...might sink in the next time the go tumbling off down the road...Some people just don't get it.

 

[mdisher]

Yeah, in Ohio, for what ever reason, I'm clearly in the minority.

Of the 12 commuters in the same building as me, I'm the only gear wearer. I'm ATGATT 90% of the time, the 10% I'm not it's usually ditching the pants, and just commuting in a pair of jeans.

I do pass a guy on a VFR almost every day in his stich though, rain or shine he's always there.

-MD

 

[dcarver]

DC I'm with you i am astounded these days by some of our brothers and sisters how ******* dumb and ignorant they really are...I have dear friends who ride with minimal gear and I chip them every time...might sink in the next time the go tumbling off down the road...Some people just don't get it.

Great to hear from yah Thug! I agree. Just today, a nice guy that runs the Crestongeneral store, a Harley Fat Boy rider,and good mate, asked me to ride with him to Las Vegas, about 5 hours away. My first thought "Only if you wear full gear.." Got to think this one over.

Yeah, in Ohio, for what ever reason, I'm clearly in the minority.

Of the 12 commuters in the same building as me, I'm the only gear wearer. I'm ATGATT 90% of the time, the 10% I'm not it's usually ditching the pants, and just commuting in a pair of jeans.

I do pass a guy on a VFR almost every day in his stich though, rain or shine he's always there.

-MD

Tossed a BMW to ground once - face first slide. RayBan glass sunglasses sliding down the nose. Closed my eyes. That helmet was toasted. Bright orange marks from helmet on pavement, the front chin piece still attached but 'broken', fragmented. Then, not learning from that lesson, I wore a 3/4 helmet on the Harley for years. Go figure.

 

[Pepperell]

Thanks Don! <_< That's me with the sandals at NERDS. I was migrating from the front parking lot to the rear parking lot. The other choice was to ride thru the lobby and out the back door. I intentionally chose to take the incredibly high risk of riding 100 yards at about 15 mph...call me reckless!!

Besides, most accidents happen at home... :lol:

By the way, the bike doesn't have ABS either!!! :blink:

 

[DailyCommuter]

How do we feel about jeans when they are the Kevlar lined type like l Sliders", I have 2 pair of them, one regular size, and one a couple sizes bigger, that I can wear over my normal jeans for the cooler weather.

Speaking of peer pressure- I honestly think of this forum, and all of you as my only peers, an when presented with the decision to atgatt or not atgatt, the forum voice, usually pops onto shoulder like my conscience, and I will go atgatt- because I'd hate to have to face you all if I were injured (or worse) because I made the wrong choice of gear for a ride on any given day.

Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow; even when you're not there to do so.

DC

 

[mdisher]

How do we feel about jeans when they are the Kevlar lined type like l Sliders", I have 2 pair of them, one regular size, and one a couple sizes bigger, that I can wear over my normal jeans for the cooler weather.

Speaking of peer pressure- I honestly think of this forum, and all of you as my only peers, an when presented with the decision to atgatt or not atgatt, the forum voice, usually pops onto shoulder like my conscience, and I will go atgatt- because I'd hate to have to face you all if I were injured (or worse) because I made the wrong choice of gear for a ride on any given day.

Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow; even when you're not there to do so.

DC

I think they are a good compromise. I've started to buy them a couple times but never have. It's always been a size/fitment issue for me.

FWIW the only time I've been down, I was wearing jeans. And I slid a good 35-40 feet. I did burn a hole in the knee, and bruised my hip a bit, but the road was well lubricated which is what put me down in the first place. So in that instance the jeans did OK for me. But I readily admit they are not the best choice.

But it's my choice to make when I get on the bike just like the choice to wear a helmet, which I always do, without question.

-MD

 

[James Burleigh]

When I see someone riding a M.C. in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, or similar combination, my initial reaction is typically to shake my head and think, "What a moron." And I don't wave at those folks 'cause I figure we have zero in common.

But I am a fairly self-reflective guy, and I wonder, Why do I give a sh*t how someone else dresses when they ride a motorcycle? I know others on the forum think it's silly to judge fellow riders by what they wear, judging by the comments I've seen.

Why DO we get angry or outraged or whatever when we see riders not wearing ATGATT? What's up with that???

 

[beemerdons]

When I see someone riding a M.C. in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, or similar combination, my initial reaction is typically to shake my head and think, "What a moron." And I don't wave at those folks 'cause I figure we have zero in common.

But I am a fairly self-reflective guy, and I wonder, Why do I give a sh*t how someone else dresses when they ride a motorcycle? I know others on the forum think it's silly to judge fellow riders by what they wear, judging by the comments I've seen.

Why DO we get angry or outraged or whatever when we see riders not wearing ATGATT? What's up with that???

Thank you so very much James Burleigh, finally an intelligent and insightful response to this sorry *** and completely pathetic thread. Hans is correct, dcarver can just go bite me! Don you *******, I had my Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses in my front pocket and my fingerless gloves were in my back pocket.

 

[frito1]

At this stage of motorcycling at least in America the real anti social ones may just be the Power Rangers.

This statement rings true if you read multiple MC forums. Groups that favor more gear are vocal and condescending to the riders that don't conform to their perceptions of the perfect riding gear. In the groups that typically don't wear lots of gear, it is a seldom discussed subject and I've seen very few comments regarding power rangers. A lot more live and let live, and less, big brother, "we must protect you" attitude.

I'm a safety guy at work, but what free willed adults do outside my workplace doesn't give me heartburn. It rates little more than a head shake and doesn't keep me from being friendly to any rider I encounter. I don't consider any riders, beyond my riding friends, brothers or any such moniker, just kindred spirits if they ride for any reason. I could care less what you ride or what you wear, just that you ride. As long as they ride mostly within the law, I'm good with that.

JB asks

Why DO we get angry or outraged or whatever when we see riders not wearing ATGATT? What's up with that???

That is a good question.

 

[dcarver]

Thanks Don! <_< That's me with the sandals at NERDS. I was migrating from the front parking lot to the rear parking lot. The other choice was to ride thru the lobby and out the back door. I intentionally chose to take the incredibly high risk of riding 100 yards at about 15 mph...call me reckless!! Besides, most accidents happen at home... :lol: By the way, the bike doesn't have ABS either!!! :blink:

LOL, didn't know it was you, but had to pick on someone, Thanks for being a good sport. At the time I thought you were heading out for a 2,000 mile, NOT! Maybe for gas down the block or something.. :lol:

Don you *******, I had my Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses in my front pocket and my fingerless gloves were in my back pocket.

This from a so-called Harley pirate with saddlebags proudly proclaiming 'Leather-Lyke'? Really? :huh: :****: :rofl:
Power Rangers Rule!

 

[Mount Rainier]

Live and let live Don.

Basically what you saw is the 'uniform' that permeates each of the biker types. Take a look at the September'11 MCN and read their article titled appropriately...*Uniforms*, it's on page 38. I will go out on a limb here and say in most cases, it's peer pressure for each bike type that cause folks to wear what they feel is necessary. OK, the couple on the GW trike is a little over the top.

--G

+1 George.

Last week I found myself riding through Ignacio, CO. Unbeknownst to me, each year the Ignacio Bike Rally is held there during the Labor Day weekend. As I entered the tiny town it was like "What the Hey?!" I had to call home and share the experience with my SO and remember saying that's it's just a matter of completely different mindsets.

One mindset that results in this,

and one that lends you to feel this is the better option.

One can certainly argue the merits of either, based on individual priorities.

Keep Going!

 

[kolonial72]

I think we have a winner.

DO love that baby-poop oil filter, though!

The baby-poop oil filter rocks!

Thanks Don! <_< That's me with the sandals at NERDS. I was migrating from the front parking lot to the rear parking lot. The other choice was to ride thru the lobby and out the back door. I intentionally chose to take the incredibly high risk of riding 100 yards at about 15 mph...call me reckless!!

Besides, most accidents happen at home... :lol:

By the way, the bike doesn't have ABS either!!! :blink:

lulz

 

[TheZsdad]

This one with a guy wearing a motocross helmet is good-

Think I'd be practicing stoppies on a bike like that. :grin:

 

[dcarver]

Oohh my, maybe I'm wrong with all this power ranger crap?