What protective gear do you wear........

[MagicRat]

...........other than a helmet?

(I am assuming everyone uses a helmet, right??)

Also, what do you think is the best gear to wear?

I was mulling this over after seeing a sportbike rider out in a T-shirt, shorts, jogging shoes (no socks!!) and a $600 helmet. Even a low speed drop would give this guy severe road rash. Realistically, I can see no excuse for a lack of gear like that.

Of course, most of us use leathers, although I have done much riding using jeans, jean jacket, helmet (and steel-cap leather work boots), which is probably not as effective as leather, (but is cheaper).

A buddy of mine who rode much motocross in the past always wears his race gear out on the street, including all the plastic body armour and padding and knee high motocross boots. Although it looks a bit strange, the armour may take a bit of the sting out of smacking the pavement/car/tree etc out there.

Your thoughts?

[CreepingDeath94]

Agreed. However, I live in south Florida and I have to admit I dont always wear full gear if Im going up the street or just to work, which isnt that far either. If I go on any kind of ride though, I always wear all my gear. I wear a helmet, and jeans all the time, regardless of how hot it is outside. At anything under 45, the jeans do a good enough job keeping the road rash to a minimum (personally found that one out :-p), crash resistant though, no. If Im not wearing all my gear I tend to keep it under 50 mph and take back roads with less traffic too. Honestly though, if you care about your body, youll wear gear whenever you take the bike...I just like to tempt fate and the inevitable road rash if I hit the pavement even at low speed...

[DealsGap]

I wear leathers, full face helmet, armored gloves, GP boots, and a spine protector every time I ride. No exceptions.

[aussieidiot]

guess i'm naughty.

option 1. proper rides and track days
helmet, leathers, GP boots, GP gloves, back protector and dry skin suit

option 2 commute to weekend job
helmet, armoured textile jacket, kevlar lined jeans, gp boots and gloves

option 3 going somewhere where bike gear uncomfortable
helmet, armoured textile jacket, jeans and normal shoes

option 4 quick trip

whatever i'm wearing at the time, shorts, tshirt, work boots

ps i don't like the idea of steel caps in place of bike boots. bend the toe back in an accident and kiss the little piggies goodbye

[teamneon]

always helmet, joe rocket jacket 80% of the time, and gloves 90% of the time. armor pants when going on long rides and its not super hot.

[eclipser2001]

I ALWAYS wear steel toed boots that rise above the ankle, jeans, JR textiled armored jacket, and my KBC helmet. No exceptions.

[WRT]

i see so many squidly kids around my area on hot days, t shirt, shorts (or tracky dacks.. wtf) but a helmet... good for them :P

i guess im a bit of slacker due to money, my commute to uni is mainly 60km/h so i wear what i can afford, jeans, boots with ankle protection, a good leather jacket that has some armour in it... but its old and skanky still, im buying an RJays armoured textile jacket im eyeing up in my local bike store... 150 bucks so cheap ... oh and my 90 dollar armoured big gloves, which i need to get smaller ones for summer...

[aussieidiot]

be careful with RJ's

you get what you pay for and RJ's is cheap. it may be leather but the quality isn't there and the stitching is crap.

a mate of mine got a learner pack when he got his first bike. it had a cheap HJC helmet, RJ's jacket and gloves. he lowsided on a wet corner at low speed. (i think he hit wet leaves). the jacket tore open at the seams and left him fully exposed. his levis survived and protected his legs.

[WRT]

ive heard that about RJays, but ive also heard the complete opposite from many people, my only other choice is the dririder aspen which is 40 dollars more expensive... and uglier.

[jeffcoslacker]

I just wear shorts, sandals, and a "wifebeater" t-shirt...

If I go down, I wanna look like one of those clunks of ice falling off a car on the highway in winter....just grind along, getting smaller and smaller, until there's nothing left...

[WRT]

hahahaha.....


well anyways i checked out both the dririder and the RJays, i ended up buying the RJays instead, its a voyager 2, seems decently good construction even if it is or isnt double stitched, nice and well made from first views though. REALLY warm... i was riding with the inner thing still in there on a 23 degree day...WOOOOOOO sweaty.

[tractorboy]

If you worry about your safety you should not wear a back pack while riding a motorcycle. I see it everyday. I have not had a MC for 25 years. If you ever fall off and I hope you never do, that back pack will snap your neck the first time you roll on it. Or if you stop abruptly it will accelerate to a lot of extra weight. I use to street race and have slid along the ground, broken legs, wrists, fingers .....etc.

[polacek]

Never thought about the back pack. I use it to carry my work clothes.

I always wear a helmet, gloves, jeans, and either steel toe shoes or alpinestars boots. Depending on the temperature and distance traveling, I wear an armored jacket.

[eclipser2001]

Originally Posted by aussieidiot

be careful with RJ's

you get what you pay for and RJ's is cheap. it may be leather but the quality isn't there and the stitching is crap.

a mate of mine got a learner pack when he got his first bike. it had a cheap HJC helmet, RJ's jacket and gloves. he lowsided on a wet corner at low speed. (i think he hit wet leaves). the jacket tore open at the seams and left him fully exposed. his levis survived and protected his legs.

I said JR's as in Joe Rocket. Not RJ's.