Does everyone wear gear when they ride?

Ok,
I know this is a touchy subject for alot of people. How many people here ride with gear? When you wear gear, do you wear full gear?

Me and most of my friends wear gear 100% of the time. Even here in hot FL. I will always have a helmet, gloves, boots, jacket, and jeans on. I'd rather be alittle warm then in pain. If i'm just riding the bike around the neigborhood or something like that i'll at least have a helmet and gloves on. I'll never go out on the street with no gear. How about everyone else?

I wear a helmet always and try to wear jeans at the least....but I usually wear jeans, motorcycle boots ( Icon boots that look like heavy duty work boots) I have some jackets, Mesh for the hot weather and Textile for the cooler stuff, gloves and I have a few helmets ( 3 Arai's)
I also have a scooter, 2000 Derbi Scooter and wear the helmet and shoes, pants..

Not 100% all the time. If I'm riding around town just running errands I'll wear helmet, gloves, and long pants minimum. If I shoot up to the mountains (only an hour from here - it's great!) then I'll put on the full gear.

My thinking behind this - Even though most accidents occur at 35mph or less at intersections, I seriously doubt the extra padding from a jacket and body armour will protect me from the impact of a Caddy or Lexus slamming into me. I would rather be comfortable in town and stay more alert to my surroundings while trying to avoid collisions.

On the other hand, if I'm out to ride - I mean really ride hard - the extra protection helps me ride more confidently, and in turn, better. The most likely accident on days like this will be of my own fault and will involve my body sliding accross pavement, rock - and if I'm really unlucky down the side of a cliff. In my opinion the extra padding comes in handy for scenarios where road rash is the enemy.

Disclaimer: But that's just my opinion. It's probably best to wear 100% all the time.

I always wear my helmet and long pants. I try to wear my Icon Jacket whenever I can but when it gets too hot I just wear a tshirt. I'm in the process of deciding on a new pair gloves I want... I think I'm leaning towards the Alpinestars SP-1 right now. Any suggestions?

Helmet, jacket (Joe Rocket Ballistic), gloves (Rhyno), jeans. Always. Even for a short ride to run errands.

I don't have boots, but want to get some this winter. I need new gloves too, my current ones are coming apart again and I don't know if I feel like getting them restitched.

It isn't so much the impact of something hitting you, as much as it is the road rash if/when you slide across the pavement.

It is really personal preference and I'm not trying to push my opinion on anyone. But that said, I would like to see everyone live to ride another day!

When communting and riding around town:
-Helmet, Alpinestars gloves, Venom air-flo jacket (GP armor), Roam boots

When riding the twisties with my buddies:
-Helmet, Full one-piece Alpinestars leathers, SMX-3 boots, back protector and GP Plus gloves (full gauntlet)

Cold Weather:
-Helmet, Alpinestars Lead Jacket (GP armor), Lead pants (GP armor), SMX-3 boots, Jet Road Gore-Tex gloves

I don't care how hot it is I would rather sweat than bleed anyday of the week. I have gone down before and if it wasn't for the helmet, armor in my pants and jacket I would have no elbows or knees right now and a reconstructed chin and nose. The one day you go down without your helmet and gear is the day you wish you would have put it on. It happens to the best of us. Majority of motorcycle accidents are survivable if you wear at least a helmet. Yeah, skin grafting sucks but at least your head is safe. Just my 2.5 cents.

QuiK

And when it comes to a helmet, I always remember an Ad I saw years ago.....


"If you've got a $25 head, buy a $25 helmet."

i've worn an Arai for over 10 years.

A good friend of mine gave me some words of wisedom years ago and I always try and stick by it. Dress for the crash, not the ride. It makes sence if you think about it too. I have had two friends of mine wreck in the past few weeks. Neither of them would be here to this day if they hadn't had gear on. One accident was the riders fault and the other was a car's fault. Neither could have been prevented. Sure they still got hurt, but at least thay are alive. I always wear jeans, a HJC AC 11 helmet, a joe rocket phoenix jacket, joe rocket phoenix gloves, and Icon super duty boots. I'm currently shopping around for a good cool weather jacket and gloves. I have a joe rocket meteor that works great in the cold weather, but it's too big (3xl). If anyone is interested in buying it, I need that money to get me a cold weather jacket that fits.

Sounds like everyone here wears at least basic gear, which is good. Here is a page I look at, everytime I think about getting on the bike with no gear. It totally makes me rethink that decision. Warning, there are some graphic pics on the page, but I think it's good for people to see. I usually try and share this with new riders. http://www.cmyoung.com/bikewreck.html

I have seen some horrific sh#t and that rates right up there. The other day I saw pictures of a teenager on a Hayabusa who had been doing 160 down a 45 mph parkway and a car pulled out in front of the bike. You can only imagine the carnage. The kid lived because he had a helmet on.

QuiK

I myself was pretty mangled by a accident...I was wearing full leathers back in '97 ran off the road and got drove in the ground like a stake by my YZF600 breaking both my hips, severing a artery, breaking my shoulder blade, severe concussion, ect...I spent two weeks in the hospital, during the operation to try and fix me, my saitic nerve got stretched and my left foot doesn't work so well..ok it was pretty much useless. No muscle control or feeling..it has gotten better over the years a little, but I still have a pronounced limp when I walk..(hence the name "Sirlimpzalot")
I had to wear a brace in my shoe for 5 years to help me walk otherwise I would trip over this flacid, flapping aroung thing I called my foot!! I can move it a little bit now but I have adapted to it..
I had to learn to walk again and I was in a wheelchair for a few months..but I was riding again within 5 months and have never stopped since..
Just be careful out there

Damn Limpz... sorry to hear about that. Glad that you are well enough to ride again though. You seem to have a good attitude about it.

The lesson to be learned.... don't take any day for granted. You never know when you're number is going to be called.

I broke my neck 5 years ago. I was fortunate enough not to have any real nerve damage. Just some nagging little things and a paralyzed vocal cord from the third operation to fix my neck. I can talk again now even though the vocal cord is still paralyzed. (my wife may say too much )

Stay safe boys and girls!!!!

I am not going to lie, and please don't try to convince me to change.......The only time I wear gear is when I am going to RIDE hard (like doing wheelies, stoppies, tank wheelies)......Or if I am going to do a lot of high speed driving (freeway/highway) then I wear a helmet.....But for intown riding all I wear is my Icon gloves and jeans and a T-shirt.

defiinitely always wear a helmet, that's #1 to me. i'm waiting for my local shop to get an order of gloves in because they don't have my size, but i'm buying them as soon as they come in. i'm hoping to get a jacket for xmas because i'd hate to go down and get scraped up. but i'm a college student and can't afford everything at once. but i will never go out on a public road without my helmet, i've been in too many dirtbike/4wheeler accidents to know better. ride safe everyone!

Wow Limpz. Glad you are still with us and still riding after that accident. That sounded horrible. Even with gear there are some things you can't avoid.

RT, have you checked The Helmet Shop in Daytona yet? Thats where I buy all my gear from. They have some of the best prices and best service around. I drive down from Jax to go there when I need something. It's worth checking out if you haven't.

cbr600, we're not trying to lecture anyone or convince anyone of anything. Just finding out everyone's riding style and what they like to wear. Don't worry, no flaming will be going on here.

Thanks for everyones concern..but I am really not all that bad off..I can walk, and ride, I just cant squat down and do things like jump or run very well..but it isnt all that horrible. I was wearing leathers, but never hit the pavement,,and those wouldnt help when you get spiked into the ground by your own bike!!

no, i've just been going to the dealership. i don't think i've even heard of The Helmet Shop. i'll look them up in the phone book and get over there this weekend. thanks for tip man!

The # for Helmet shop is 1-800-630-6434. Their website is http://www.helmetshop.com they have maps and directions on how to get to their store on the website. Prices in the store are usually cheaper then on the website as well.

cool, thanks a lot. i actually was just in there about an hour ago and bought a nice pair of joe rocket gloves. i saw a jacket i liked too, but can only do what the funds permit. who knows, maybe i'll be back in there to buy that jacket sooner than i think, hehe. thanks again man, The Helmet Shop is really a nice place.

How about everyone else? You wear gear all the time, some of the time, or never?

All gear all the time -- boots, gloves, jacket, jeans and helmet. I realize that jeans are only iffy in an accident but it's better than shorts.

I have been ridin for over 15yrs....Before the helmet law...But now i wear the helmet, jeans/ridin pants and leather jacket and boots....better safe than sorry..I have been down with out all the gear..it's not good...

Ya, already done my stoooopid crash. I've found that I appreciate the gear more now. Especially the gloves -- rocks hitting your pinky at 60+mph is a baaaaad thing.

while there is no helmet law in FL i always wear a helmet. 95% of the time i wear gloves. i seldomly wear a jacket. i know, i know, bad rider...lol

quote:

ORIGINAL: NeonspeedRT
Me and most of my friends wear gear 100% of the time. Even here in hot FL. I will always have a helmet, gloves, boots, jacket, and jeans on.

When did jeans become 'gear'? Even if you are refering to stunta jeans - they too will become defeated by asphalt or a blunt object.

Gear is always covering my body, and I ride approx 15k miles/year...ever increasing.

Commuting: Arai Quantum F, Cortech overpants, Diadora Express boots, Vanson CSRV jacket, and Teknic Violator gloves.

Aggressive rides (track days, twisties, mountains, etc): Arai Quantum F, Teknic Lightning 1-pc suit, Teknic Violator gloves, Alpinestar SMX Pro boots.

Yes...I am the gear nazi!