I blew a chance to educate a young rider.

[boardsNbikes]

A little off topic, but I've noticed the local CHP motor officers will sometimes wave to me because I'm ATGATT (on a 05 FJR w/ bags) but I've yet to see them wave at the gearless. Yes, purely anecdotal evidence but an observation nonetheless.

And I 2nd the motion to include helmet and gear use as an insurance rate factor. Three years ago I went down on my FJR on Angeles Crest Hwy and the only reason (besides luck in not impacting a hard obstacle) I didn't visit an emergency room was the gear. I had to repair my suit and replace the helmet but that was cheap compare to an ER visit.

In fact, the notorious CHP motor officer (I forget his name now) who routinely tickets riders for speeding +5 over the speed limit and using race pipes, found me not at fault in his assessment of the accident. I'm the sure the gear meant something in his finding. That, and the sedan parked in the roadway, pedestrians in the roadway and the overturned pickup with the camper shell while rounding a corner It was a little more than diesel on the road surface.

 

[RayW]

I actually commended a co-worker who is a new rider for investing in good gear and using it all the time.

It is a bit funny though....

The co-worker reminds me of the guy on the old Saturday Night Live bit, "The Ladies Man". He said he was too pretty to take a chance not wearing the proper gear.

Now....the best part.....his ride of choice is a Vespa......yep...picture the ladies man in full face helmet and good quality yellow and silver riding jacket.......on a Vespa. :lol2:

I applaud his choice to wear ATGATT but I'm still gonna give him s*** about his choice of ride....although.....that 120 mpg sounds pretty good...... :blink:

oh...and my buddy with the new Sportster used his $300 gift certificate to buy a good jacket but only a half-helmet though....better than one of those "beanies" at least. At least my preaching ATGATT got him to get that much, and he does wear it whenever he rides. :clapping:

Ray

 

[Thug]

Good job ray

 

[STC10]

I always wear all the gear when I ride. In Pa helmets are optional. I still wear one and always will. I also think how stupid it is when I see someone not in full gear. Then I remember that I am an American and live in a country where you can make some of your own PERSONAL choices.

It is not in anyones place to press their opinions on someone else. I would think that most people are at least smart enough to know that gear is going to protect you in a get off. It is then their decision not to wear it.

The last thing I want to hear is someone lecturing me about a choice I've made.

I hope that those who believe differently will follow their own lead and take the time to sit with the next religios group who wants to share some pamphlets with you.

As for the additional cost... I'm sure my money is being fairly wasted on many, more inane things.

 

[L2M]

I'm not sure it's worth jumping into this conversation, but after reading over two pages of comments I just can't resist.

I'm firmly in agreement with those who say that others are welcome to be as stupid as they please. I also believe there is a lot of truth in the statement that when the collective is paying for the stupidity of one we should look at the congresspersons who allowed that scenario to exist. However, there is at least one such scenario for which I don't see a way to avoid collective impact from the stupidity of an individual:

Assume you are driving home and your car dies on the road. There isn't a shoulder, and you are forced to stop in the road a short distance from a bend in the road. At that point a rider, without gear, rounds that corner and, due to lack of riding skill, is unable to stop before rear ending your vehicle. He's going slow enough that you or I would have sustained bumps, bruises, and maybe a broken bone. However, he has no helmet, strikes the back of your car with his head and dies. Now, had he been wearing gear there would have been a possible suite for damages well within the bounds of your insurance. However, the family of the deceased is now suing for millions, you are forced to retain your own lawyer, you have to miss work to be in court. Who cares if you end up winning; you will have spent tens of thousands in personal defense where you previously wouldn't have spend anything. We all pay for it because now the insurance companies raise premiums.

Where's the legal cause of that?

I really dislike others trying to protect me from myself, but there is a saying, "Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose".

 

[Rob]

I bought my 07AE so that I could wear Flip Flops. That shifter hurts you know.

I come from AZ where there is no helmet law to NV where there is one. I feel it is up to the rider but I always wear mine as a preference. As for us paying for them it doesn't matter what state or what gear was worn. If a NV rider with no helmet dumps and has no ins then I still have to pay his med bills through taxes. So saying that making a law will save me money is crap.

And back on topic, if you had said anything to him he would have laughed told you he was a God on a 2 wheeler and walked off. And to prove him right you would have got on you bike mad and tried to ride off with the stand down and fallen over or something equally embarrassing.