What are the gloves for?

I wear whatever helmet I want, and sometimes none at all.

Yea, ride in 20F weather with no windshield, you will want the full coverage helmet!

I cant bear to wear one in the summer.

I don't wear motorcycle garb, never did in 40 years of riding, no do rags, vests, etc, I wear a cheap old leather jacket when its cold out, jeans and sneakers even when dirt riding, although when I raced, I did have dirt bike boots.

Skill and miles ridden mark an expert to me, not what they ride, or what they wear when riding, and I am always suspect of anyone wearing garb.

As a new rider, your chances of crashing are VERY high, so wear as much gear as you can stand.
Rubbing all the skin off one side of your body hurts for a long time.

In zillions of miles, I have been down twice on the street, both times in the rain, both times very drunk.
I only got hurt once.

I was lucky, I rode for years in the dirt before I ever got on the street.
I got hurt a lot more dirt riding, really bad crashes (like 50 mph wipeouts on railroad tracks) but mostly when I got older and things break instead of bending.

The street is very unforgiving.

Brett

 

It's a matter of style and your level of comfort in the safety factor.

What a pinhead! Did this guy say anything about being willing to sign a contract to pay for your medical bills if you crash? Guys like him who think they are the sole arbitrators of who is and isn't a "real" Harley rider or "real" biker have no life.

Personally I don't wear a helmet at all, but I live in a state that doesn't require it. I would NEVER disparage someone for wearing a helmet, though. That's his/her bidness. In fact, I often think, "Man, that guy has WAY more sense than I do".

That said, I've worn full face and half helmets before and I have to admit there's nothing like the feeling of riding without a helmet. That's just a personal preference and has no bearing on whether I am or am not a "real" biker. I'm sure there are those on this forum who have their little cheat sheets out checking off boxes to see who is and who isn't a "real" biker, but if you're on the road and you're on a bike, you can be whatever you want to call yourself.

 

Wear what makes you comfortable with the risk of riding, not what others think is fashionable (the "uniform").

 

I must have not got that memo. I wear a Shoei X-11 FF. Most of the people I ride with are on the more safety conscious side, so you'll see all of them in FF.

 

Although... after rereading your OP, I have to admit that riding around with a FF, gloves, and "nothing else" might generate a bit of a buzz... May I recommend at least a pair of jeans, some boots, and perhaps a shirt or mebbe a vest or something?

 

Best thing about riding a Harley is not giving a **** about what everyone else is doing-do whatever makes you feel safe-

 

last time i checked my bike said Harley Davidson on it
I'm a full face rider too
riding is all about you man don't let anyone tell u what to do

 

Wear the full face helmet, I'll still wave at ya.

 

You dont dress for the ride, you dress for the crash.
Gary D.

 

Lol I just noticed that I typed that. Thanks for all the support guys, I really appreciate the advice.