How much gear do you use?
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
How much gear do you use?
Here it is. Not knocking anyone, I believe gear is a choice. Its one I choose to make. I always wear boots, jeans, jacket, gloves, helmet, glasses. If im on a sportbike, its a full-face shoei and full-suit leather. Im not a weekend warrior, or a RUB, and I dont do it to look cool.
I've seen enough wrecks on and off the race track(roadraced for 10 years, will again) where gear helped, and also when a lack of gear didnt. I know my fiance would not be here for me today had she not been wearing her Suomi fullface and armored vanson armored full-suit leathers when she wrecked two summers ago, and I would have had to watch her die. I choose to wear my gear because of those around me whom I love dearly and dont want to lose, or have them lose me.
So, do you wear gear? How much do you wear? And why did you make that choice?
I've seen enough wrecks on and off the race track(roadraced for 10 years, will again) where gear helped, and also when a lack of gear didnt. I know my fiance would not be here for me today had she not been wearing her Suomi fullface and armored vanson armored full-suit leathers when she wrecked two summers ago, and I would have had to watch her die. I choose to wear my gear because of those around me whom I love dearly and dont want to lose, or have them lose me.
So, do you wear gear? How much do you wear? And why did you make that choice?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
RE: How much gear do you use?
I try to make sure I have at least boots, jeans and my colors whenever I ride. I usually have on a t-shirt too. I do NOT dress for the "wreck". When ever the Lord decides to promote me to heaven, I'm ready and willing to go. I don't care what I look like when I ride... I don't really care what my bike looks like, whether or not it's clean or shiney, or whether anyone else approves... I ride for me and me alone.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
RE: How much gear do you use?
I don't need a jacket due to heat issues. I can't wear my boot due to medical problems left foot wont even go into the top of boot due to swelling. So I wear my helmet. My head fit's in it gald it did not swell up like my foot. When it's cold I wear Jacket, gloves, and helmet.
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 6
From: Londonderry, NH
RE: How much gear do you use?
typically:
Jeans, gloves, boots, helmet, and my..."hit air" air bag vest.
go ahead and laugh. I like it.
rob
Jeans, gloves, boots, helmet, and my..."hit air" air bag vest.
go ahead and laugh. I like it.
rob
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 531
Likes: 1
From: S.C.
RE: How much gear do you use?
I wear goggles for my eyes and boots on my feet. Leather jacket and gloves in the cold weather - none when its warm (jeans and T shirt in warm weather). No helmet unless I'm riding in a state that requires one. That's about the extent of my gear..... Oh yea, ear plugs, always
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, CA
RE: How much gear do you use?
FF Helmet, armored textile jacket (mesh version in summer), armored textile all season overpants, boots, and gloves. I'm not afraid of the wreck that kills me, rather I fear the one that doesn't kill me. For that option I want every chance I can give myself to avoid broken bones, bruises, and road rash. Also I definitely ride defensively to avoid the crash, but unfortunately I can't do anything about the cage driver that does the unexpected or unpredictable. If you ever end up on the ground you will be wearing exactly what you were wearing when you rode away from home.
Now for some honesty; I didn't always subscribe to the all the gear all the time philosophy, and I have broken bones, been bruised, and suffered road rash in the last 37 years. The conclusion I came to was that that stuff hurts and as I get older I am far less willing to chance it, and ultimately when I dress as stated above I arrive at my destination whether it be 8 miles one way to work or 500+ miles per day on a long road trip I am cleaner, less fatigued, less dehydrated, and not suffering wind or sunburn.
If others choose different levels of protection that is their choice. My onlywish is that they make that choice based on a full understanding of the consequences, and and acceptance of the risk.
Enjoy the ride, I'll wave regardless of how you are dressed.
Now for some honesty; I didn't always subscribe to the all the gear all the time philosophy, and I have broken bones, been bruised, and suffered road rash in the last 37 years. The conclusion I came to was that that stuff hurts and as I get older I am far less willing to chance it, and ultimately when I dress as stated above I arrive at my destination whether it be 8 miles one way to work or 500+ miles per day on a long road trip I am cleaner, less fatigued, less dehydrated, and not suffering wind or sunburn.
If others choose different levels of protection that is their choice. My onlywish is that they make that choice based on a full understanding of the consequences, and and acceptance of the risk.
Enjoy the ride, I'll wave regardless of how you are dressed.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,217
Likes: 3
From: Southern Ohio
RE: How much gear do you use?
FWIW, a couple of years ago, I helped pick up a bike that had fallen over at a red light..we went to help the rider up, fully suited up, overpants, long sleeve armored jacket...head to toe to gloves, full face helmet, etc even tho the temps had been over 100 for weeks...he wasn't moving and someone called 911...heat exhaustion, going into cardiac arrest...the paramedics couldn't believe anyone would have all that on in those kind of temps...a little common sense has to come into play sometime... just sayin'...