I should know better but I'm asking for an opinion

[n7myr]

I think they are yours and you get to choose.

if you likem who cares what anyone else thinks.

they work for me. but my vote does not count for much.

 

[Bounce]

If you have your helmet on and ear plugs in, you won't hear them laughing at you anyway.

 

[Geezer]

I wear Hi-Viz and believe that even if I look like Bozo it is worth it for the extra safety. So for me, I'd wear the leather if it was safer than other gear in your environment.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

Wearing racing leathers on the street isn't for me personally, it screams "Look at me, I ride motorcycles" and I don't need the attention, but If you feel like doing it you really wouldn't look out of place. Allot of riders these days are sporting leathers on the streets. I'm kinda low profile these days.

 

[Aasland]

First thought: Wear what's comfy and protects you.

Second thought: Upper midwest fashion clothes dictates chaps, leather vest, fringe and no helmet. Wear anything else and you're a squid in the eyes of majority of the population.

Third thought: What you DO (or not DO) is going to have more influence on the attention you get from LEO's than what you WEAR.

 

[Old Guy]

When I first started riding, wearing a helmet on the street was considered stupid. Times have sure changed. I think my next jacket and helmet will be high-viz.

 

[xcsp]

You need a matching helmet now.

Or a matching red 2014 FJR!

On the leather gear, if YOU like them, wear 'em!

 

[Sharif]

Another thought - you could just move to Europe - you'd fit right in. Can't recall the last rider I saw in the Dolomites of northern Italy who wasn't wearing leathers...

 

[LKLD]

Like I keep reminding my daughter.....function over fashion.

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

Second thought: Upper midwest fashion clothes dictates chaps, leather vest, fringe and no helmet. Wear anything else and you're a squid in the eyes of majority of the population.

You have that right!

I wish I had a dollar for every time I hopped of the bike wearing my Klime gear and was asked where my snowmobile was at.

 

[JimNtexas]

I wear hi-viz Motoport Kevlar, which is both the safest and dorkiest looking riding apparel that exists on this planet. Your leathers look like something from GQ by comparison. Wear them with pride!

​

People think I'm a fireman.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Who gives a flying **** what anybody else thinks they look like? If you like them and the superior protection they provide then wear the leathers with pride.

That's my my thought exactly. If YOU like them, wear them.

I like the leathers. Might make it more difficult to talk your way out of aspeeding ticket, however.

You need a matching helmet now.

On speeding tickets: most days I ride with a tie on (tucked into my jacket, of course). Only been pulled over once, not for speeding, but for rapid acceleration. Funny, I never took the engine over 4500 rpms that day. Most days I never do. Glad I wasn't doing any genuine rapid acceleration. But you have a good point here. The way you dress will definitely affect things when you're facing an officer. That leather suit makes a statement, and not one that you want an officer to hear. But so also will your attitude. I got a warning that day.

Zilla can you weigh in on this?

Gary

darksider #44

Most times what a person is wearing has absolutely no bearing on getting citations. I have pulled over guys in leathers and not cited them. I actually appreciate that they have gear on. However I have cited guys in leathers that were riding like dummies. Same for just about every type of gear or lack if gear out there. Driver's license pictures mean NOTHING.

First thought: Wear what's comfy and protects you.
Second thought: Upper midwest fashion clothes dictates chaps, leather vest, fringe and no helmet. Wear anything else and you're a squid in the eyes of majority of the population.

Third thought: What you DO (or not DO) is going to have more influence on the attention you get from LEO's than what you WEAR.

Asaland hit it square on the head. Being polite and not acting like a douche will help more than any cheesy tie or leathers out there.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Most times what a person is wearing has absolutely no bearing on getting citations. I have pulled over guys in leathers and not cited them. I actually appreciate that they have gear on. However I have cited guys in leathers that were riding like dummies. Same for just about every type of gear or lack if gear out there.

Just curious, since you are a motorcyclist yourself, the idea that it's good that someone is actually wearing gear is something you can actually "Get." Do you think your answer would also be the same from the officers who don't ride?

 

[HotRodZilla]

Most times what a person is wearing has absolutely no bearing on getting citations. I have pulled over guys in leathers and not cited them. I actually appreciate that they have gear on. However I have cited guys in leathers that were riding like dummies. Same for just about every type of gear or lack if gear out there.

Just curious, since you are a motorcyclist yourself, the idea that it's good that someone is actually wearing gear is something you can actually "Get." Do you think your answer would also be the same from the officers who don't ride?

I'm not sure. I have ridden since I was 8, so I have always understood the pavement vs. body equation. It seems the guys that don't ride have an understanding of the importance of helmets but nothing else. It is our Harley/cruiser guys, and we have a lot of them, that seem to follow the accepted pirate style safety gear, sans helmet gloves, or whatever. Most of it depends on their experience and personal beliefs. If I see a kid on a MC without a helmet, someone's getting a ticket. Other guys don't wear helmets, so don't see it as I do. However, a couple refuse to wear helmets but freak out if they see kids not protected to the fullest. Kind of the, "I'm old enough to make my own decision, but your child is not, so protect him/her."

I have honestly never seen any trend one way or the.other, but I haven't really looked. Probably less than 5% of our stops are motorcycles, so it's hard to judge.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I've seen worse.

You may get a little warm in the summer time but otherwise we approve.

If you have your helmet on and ear plugs in, you won't hear them laughing at you anyway.

Now that's funny!

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

My Wife says to tell you to wear what you want as long as someone doesn't tell you your Ass looks Fat in it!!

 

[gixxerjasen]

I'm not sure. I have ridden since I was 8, so I have always understood the pavement vs. body equation. It seems the guys that don't ride have an understanding of the importance of helmets but nothing else. It is our Harley/cruiser guys, and we have a lot of them, that seem to follow the accepted pirate style safety gear, sans helmet gloves, or whatever. Most of it depends on their experience and personal beliefs. If I see a kid on a MC without a helmet, someone's getting a ticket. Other guys don't wear helmets, so don't see it as I do. However, a couple refuse to wear helmets but freak out if they see kids not protected to the fullest. Kind of the, "I'm old enough to make my own decision, but your child is not, so protect him/her."
I have honestly never seen any trend one way or the.other, but I haven't really looked. Probably less than 5% of our stops are motorcycles, so it's hard to judge.

Thanks for the insight.