Riding in Shorts

[Redfish Hunter]

When I am about to get on the bike and start putting on all that gear, it changes my thinking. Putting on gloves and helmet and all the rest is a "reminder". I am putting it on to protect my body but it shifts my brain into the proper self-preservation mode. I have read that riders who go ATGATT ride more aggressively because they think they are invincible in their gear. I have found just the opposite to be true. Riders who spend the money for the gear and then use the gear as a rule care more about their skill levels and are generally more safety conscious. Both I and Dad have crashed. If I had not been wearing the helmet...Dad had on full gear. He ground to the hard armor on both the left knee and left elbow. He barely scuffed his left boot and his left glove. His helmet was deformed but functional. Broken ribs and bad bruises were the extent of his injuries.

It is a free country. I am not going to preach about what YOU should do. I personally have too much of a responsibility to my wife and son to let laziness get in the way of being a responsible husband and parent. I am not going to let laziness turn me stupid. As Skooter said, Stupid Hurts. Laziness and Stupid go hand in hand on this subject. Good luck with your choices. My choice is made.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Why do we preach to people about what we think they should wear? Why do we care??

Everyone on here is a big boy or girl, and is old enough to make a decision. Wear what you want. If you fall off, get serious road rash, and die a horrible death from infection or whatever, it has absolutely no effect on me.

Wear what you want.

 

[wheatonFJR]

The trip isn't done until you are in your driveway, engine stopped, sidestand down, ...and ride report posted.

:****:

 

[Bustanut joker]

Why do we preach to people about what we think they should wear? Why do we care??

Everyone on here is a big boy or girl, and is old enough to make a decision. Wear what you want. If you fall off, get serious road rash, and die a horrible death from infection or whatever, it has absolutely no effect on me.

Wear what you want.

Yep.. When you crash it ain't your, 5 years old, over the handlebars bicycle rash. You are going to get ****** up.................

But your insurance company will cover your stoopid ***. YOU have to deal with rehab and the pain of skin grafts.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Why do we preach to people about what we think they should wear? Why do we care??

If you fall off, get serious road rash, and die a horrible death from infection or whatever, it has absolutely no effect on me.

Zilla, I almost always agree with you but not on this one. It DOES have an effect on you, me, and everyone else who pays insurance premiums. OUR rates go up because of the selfishness, laziness, ignorance, and stupidity of others.

Again, I won't preach about what someone else should be doing, I don't have a perfect track record myself. When I got married, when I became a father, I assumed certain responsibilities. I will not fail those who depend on me because of laziness.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Why do we preach to people about what we think they should wear? Why do we care??

Everyone on here is a big boy or girl, and is old enough to make a decision. Wear what you want. If you fall off, get serious road rash, and die a horrible death from infection or whatever, it has absolutely no effect on me.

Wear what you want.

Because of that awesome moment of gloating "I told you so" moment!

Had a coworker, new rider, that I preached to. Our work attire was pretty much whatever we wanted being in IT in a building that never saw the actual customers. He shows up to work one day walking very stiff in a long sleeve dress shirt and khaki pants. He pulled me aside to chat. He went down at low speed in shorts and a tank top. Thankfully he'd listened enough to be wearing his helmet. His chat though was on would I mind going gear shopping with him.

Yes, the I told you so was kind of fun, but I was really glad he was covered with raspberries and not worse off than he could have been. Lessons learned by someone telling you stuff is much less painful than finding out on your own.

 

[MajBach]

Riding in shorts is DUMB whether down your street or 2,000 miles away from home...end of story.

There are a lot more drivers that think riding a motorcycle is dumb...period. Riding with shorts is NOT dumb, idiotic, stupid etc. It merely adds to the element of risk we all assume when we get out of bed in the morning.

 

[SkooterG]

Riding in shorts is DUMB whether down your street or 2,000 miles away from home...end of story.

There are a lot more drivers that think riding a motorcycle is dumb...period. Riding with shorts is NOT dumb, idiotic, stupid etc. It merely adds to the element of risk we all assume when we get out of bed in the morning.

You're correct, it's not dumb. IT'S STUPID.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Why do we preach to people about what we think they should wear? Why do we care??

If you fall off, get serious road rash, and die a horrible death from infection or whatever, it has absolutely no effect on me.

Zilla, I almost always agree with you but not on this one. It DOES have an effect on you, me, and everyone else who pays insurance premiums. OUR rates go up because of the selfishness, laziness, ignorance, and stupidity of others.

Again, I won't preach about what someone else should be doing, I don't have a perfect track record myself. When I got married, when I became a father, I assumed certain responsibilities. I will not fail those who depend on me because of laziness.

I have to wonder if the claims about insurance rates going up because of stuff like this are really true. I know they may go up due to the type of MC, but I donno about injuries related to the use or non use of gear.

However; I hear what your saying, and also gear up. Like you, I have responsibilities and I'm kind of a *****. I've fallen off a motorcycle before, and I prefer to be properly dreased should it ever happen again. Sometimes though, simply not having the "it won't happen to me" attitude helps prevent bad things from surprising us.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

This same topic came up recently on my ST forum. One of our members is a retired police officer from England. He says that in the UK the jury decides what percentage of your injuries are your fault. If you get injured because a car turned in front of you but you have minimal gear on, the jury will decide how much of that is the fault of the car driver. They will make deductions based on their findings, road rash for example would not occur if you were wearing your proper gear.

Obviously, I do not wish to follow the lead of the UK, but I found it interesting.

 

[Fred W]

Why do we preach to people about what we think they should wear? Why do we care??

Everyone on here is a big boy or girl, and is old enough to make a decision. Wear what you want. If you fall off, get serious road rash, and die a horrible death from infection or whatever, it has absolutely no effect on me.

Wear what you want.

+1!!! That is exactly what I was saying (or trying to). I think we all get to make and accept our own levels of risk. Believe it or not, I am actually in favor of not having helmet laws, nor seat belt laws. I favor people making their own choices in all matters of personal safety.

But, when someone comes on the forum and infers that it's OK to not gear up if you are only riding a short ride cause its safer than a long one, or a faster one, I think it is worth (trying) to break that misconception. Yeah, everyone has the right to make their choices, but they should be fully informed choices, not choices based on ignorance.

There are still many idiots around here (meaning New Hampshire) not wearing any helmets because they believe some tripe they've read somewhere that a helmet may actually increase your injuries in the event of an accident. I think we all would agree that is total horseshit, and would probably try to set them straight. The idea that riding close to one's home for a short distance is safe is a similar thing to me.

See? I am a zealot.

Why do we preach to people about what we think they should wear? Why do we care??

If you fall off, get serious road rash, and die a horrible death from infection or whatever, it has absolutely no effect on me.

Zilla, I almost always agree with you but not on this one. It DOES have an effect on you, me, and everyone else who pays insurance premiums. OUR rates go up because of the selfishness, laziness, ignorance, and stupidity of others.

I do not like that argument one bit. It is the "slippery slope" for sure. You could use that argument against ANY activity that increases a person's risk of health or safety. We really can't go into it without this turning political, but let's just agree that that is not a valid argument to support regulation of one's personal risk taking.

 

[ionbeam]

...I think we all get to make and accept our own levels of risk. Believe it or not, I am actually in favor of not having helmet laws, nor seat belt laws. I favor people making their own choices in all matters of personal safety...everyone has the right to make their choices...See? I am a zealot.

This is why Fred lives in NH where our state license plate says it all

 

[Top_Speed1]

I just don't think shorts is always a bad idea on a bike... (oh Megan u little Fox!)

 

[Silver Penguin]

I have to wonder if the claims about insurance rates going up because of stuff like this are really true. I know they may go up due to the type of MC, but I donno about injuries related to the use or non use of gear.

Perhaps your personal, auto insurance premium will not go up if a squid scrapes all his skin off, but what about your health insurance? Someone has to pay for all of his skin grafts, medical care, rehab etc. Health insurers are not a charity, and will raise costs to cover expenses. If there is more usage of their services, then premiums will go up. That increase will not be selective for the squid, but for everyone.

Perhaps the squid may be dropped by his insurance company, since he may not be working for a very long time due to his injuries. The health care providers will then bill him personally for the costs. But his only asset, that beautiful sport bike, was wrecked in the collision. So, he'll go on welfare and they will pay his medical bills.

So, you will pay more in taxes to fund the increase in welfare costs.

 

[wheatonFJR]

So, it does take a village...to pay for someone else's mistake.

I'm with Fred regarding freedom to do right or to fail...but Jill points out that sometimes...someone else's freedom means that someone gets to reach into your wallet and pull out a load of cash.

 

[Bugnatr]

I am so sick and tired of the whole "your insurance will go up because someone didn't wear a helmet/gear argument" If that was really true wouldn't our insurance already be much, much higher just because we ride a motorcycle or participate in other dangerous sports?

Hell there are already millions of people who milk the welfare system who never have rode a motorcycle. People get hurt real bad everyday on and off motorcycles.

We all do stupid **** (I have a personal list that goes around the block) but that's part of life. I am a ATGATT but that's my choice, just like running across Nevada at redline in 5th-it's my choice.

 

[beemerdons]

Why do we preach to people about what we think they should wear? Why do we care??

Everyone on here is a big boy or girl, and is old enough to make a decision. Wear what you want. If you fall off, get serious road rash, and die a horrible death from infection or whatever, it has absolutely no effect on me.

Wear what you want.

Right on, 'Zilla!

 

[Monty]

Well, feck all this. I'm going down to my local Hardly dealer today and trade my FJR for a Low Rider. Also trading Shoei for a patriotic do rag and have got my eye on some sexy flip flops with the Hardly logo on them. :yahoo:

 

[wheatonFJR]

Well, feck all this. I'm going down to my local Hardly dealer today and trade my FJR for a Low Rider. Also trading Shoei for a patriotic do rag and have got my eye on some sexy flip flops with the Hardly logo on them. :yahoo:

I'm glad that the responses in this thread have been educational.

 

[beemerdons]

Well, feck all this. I'm going down to my local Hardly dealer today and trade my FJR for a Low Rider. Also trading Shoei for a patriotic do rag and have got my eye on some sexy flip flops with the Hardly logo on them. :yahoo:

Now you are talking Monty Bro', I can get you a discount on those flip flops!

Well, feck all this. I'm going down to my local Hardly dealer today and trade my FJR for a Low Rider. Also trading Shoei for a patriotic do rag and have got my eye on some sexy flip flops with the Hardly logo on them. :yahoo:

I'm glad that the responses in this thread have been educational.

You know Wheatie, I may be able to get a huge group buy discount on the flip flops!