Atgatt
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Any time someone talks about a wreck, some f*ckstick comes along and blames the rider. They're p*ssies, and you should ignore them.
Here's the deal. Wrecking hurts, and it hurts a whole lot more when you're not dressed for the crash. I don't ride ATGATT, even though I was nearly killed in a wreck. I get complacent and at times give a damn how I look. Gear will not save you 100% of the time, but in general terms you're safer with it on than without it.
In the heat, you want to have stuff on. You'll be way cooler with non-mesh gear that covers all your skin and a full face helmet. And yes, you want it snug so it and the armor stays in place.
Oh, and read this.
Here's the deal. Wrecking hurts, and it hurts a whole lot more when you're not dressed for the crash. I don't ride ATGATT, even though I was nearly killed in a wreck. I get complacent and at times give a damn how I look. Gear will not save you 100% of the time, but in general terms you're safer with it on than without it.
In the heat, you want to have stuff on. You'll be way cooler with non-mesh gear that covers all your skin and a full face helmet. And yes, you want it snug so it and the armor stays in place.
Oh, and read this.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 647
From: Vegas, baby!
Such as noting that 'gear' can at times be good to have. And sometimes a single vehicle accident is not always the rider's fault. I suppose technically, to insurance agents, it is a rider's fault. But my point is that sometimes an accident is unavoidable, to most people anyway. To believe otherwise is 'whistling past a hospital or graveyard'.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 34
From: Wisconsin
I think one of the big factors is whether you ride in a city (slow) or highway (2 or 4). I have no good answer for the city but I started using an open face helmet to get better ventilation. I tried mesh for heat but it didn't work for me,it seemed hotter than the leather and since I have to ride a long way to get to the heat half the year it was extra to pack. On the highway I use a leather jacket that has zippered vents and I am on an endless search for a full face helmet with good ventilation. I wear Kuhl desert pants with leather chaps. My next jacket will have vents and armor pockets ( I'm looking at fox pro, recommendations welcome). I have tried this against perforated leathers, mesh (HD with armor), and armored heavy denim. I have a Nolan helmet in silver which good but only if moving, it's saving grace is that the chin bar flips open without a gap so you can right open. My wife wears a blinged out perforated HD leather jacket with chaps and since a 20 something in BFE told her she had a nice $$$ she doesn't care how hot she is.
I'll admit this is not a solution, once when I picked her up in Vegas headed for LA the temp was 117. I paid $20 for 4 bottles of cold water at the lone shell station to dump over our heads.
I don't think anything will stop that broken elbow, glad she is ok.
I'll admit this is not a solution, once when I picked her up in Vegas headed for LA the temp was 117. I paid $20 for 4 bottles of cold water at the lone shell station to dump over our heads.
I don't think anything will stop that broken elbow, glad she is ok.
Last edited by kokemill; Jun 13, 2016 at 09:46 PM. Reason: Spell check I have different opinions
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 250
Likes: 11
From: Florida
I'm all for wearing all the gear. However, the reality is, I don't. Florida heat and humidity is just too much for me. I find that I just don't ride too much in the summer anymore. Just putting on jeans becomes too much in the heat of the day.
It's funny. i have a Vespa that I will ride all the time in shorts and a t shirt. However, I would never do that on my Harley.
It's funny. i have a Vespa that I will ride all the time in shorts and a t shirt. However, I would never do that on my Harley.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,653
Likes: 9,113
From: Snow Hill, NC
I have some of those but the ones I wore Sunday don't .
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 313
Likes: 15
From: New Scotland, Canada
I'm all for wearing all the gear. However, the reality is, I don't. Florida heat and humidity is just too much for me. I find that I just don't ride too much in the summer anymore. Just putting on jeans becomes too much in the heat of the day.
It's funny. i have a Vespa that I will ride all the time in shorts and a t shirt. However, I would never do that on my Harley.
It's funny. i have a Vespa that I will ride all the time in shorts and a t shirt. However, I would never do that on my Harley.
I'm a new rider only into my second season of riding so I wear a leather jacket, jeans and heavy leather boots with leather gloves and a half-helmet. I just got a set of chaps and I know I would be better with 3/4 helmet or a full face but I just haven't gotten around to upgrading my helmet to a motorcycle shield.
Last edited by BigUglyMan; Jun 14, 2016 at 01:00 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,147
Likes: 404
From: Hurdle Mills NC
I ride atgatt. In the summer. Full face helmet, mesh gloves at least double stitched. Tourmaster Flex III jacket, Field sheer mesh pants, ten inch harness boots.
Biggest problem is the armor moves around. For it to be effective it should stay close to the body and not move during the crash. All of mine does.
THE BEST that I have tried... and I tried alot of stuff .. is located at https://www.bohnarmor.com/ .. my 15 and 18 year old daughters ride during the summer with me. On the bohnarmor home page you will see an armored jacket. If they want to ride, they have to wear the jacket. Theirs is similar to the one shown on the bohnarmor home page. It has mesh nylon which allows them to be completely cool but protected. I havent been able to find them a good solution for the bottom and they constantly bitch about the slip on leg armor I make them wear.
I also tried https://www.bohnarmor.com/catalog/pr....php?prod=BGSC (pants are out there also) which is probably the best solution and DO NOT move away from the body.
However, I cant wear these. When I start to sweat this material which is like ladies nylons stick to the body. I cant handle that. So when its cooler I where these. I wish they would make this stuff out of the same mesh my daughters jackets are made of.
During the winter .. I have a few layers on that helps with padding. These shorts are pretty good too .. I have a set .. https://www.bohnarmor.com/catalog/pr...l.php?prod=BGK
Biggest problem is the armor moves around. For it to be effective it should stay close to the body and not move during the crash. All of mine does.
THE BEST that I have tried... and I tried alot of stuff .. is located at https://www.bohnarmor.com/ .. my 15 and 18 year old daughters ride during the summer with me. On the bohnarmor home page you will see an armored jacket. If they want to ride, they have to wear the jacket. Theirs is similar to the one shown on the bohnarmor home page. It has mesh nylon which allows them to be completely cool but protected. I havent been able to find them a good solution for the bottom and they constantly bitch about the slip on leg armor I make them wear.
I also tried https://www.bohnarmor.com/catalog/pr....php?prod=BGSC (pants are out there also) which is probably the best solution and DO NOT move away from the body.
However, I cant wear these. When I start to sweat this material which is like ladies nylons stick to the body. I cant handle that. So when its cooler I where these. I wish they would make this stuff out of the same mesh my daughters jackets are made of.
During the winter .. I have a few layers on that helps with padding. These shorts are pretty good too .. I have a set .. https://www.bohnarmor.com/catalog/pr...l.php?prod=BGK
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Sorry to hear about your wife but had she not been wearing the gear just think about what could have happened.
The easy answer to the ATAGTT question is; if you want to protect it, cover it. Riding in Texas in the summer is miserable when you're wearing a full face helmet, gloves, boots, jeans and a mesh jacket. That said it's nothing compared to the misery caused by just a few feet of bare skin road rash.
In the end it will always comes down to personal choice; what choice will you make?
The easy answer to the ATAGTT question is; if you want to protect it, cover it. Riding in Texas in the summer is miserable when you're wearing a full face helmet, gloves, boots, jeans and a mesh jacket. That said it's nothing compared to the misery caused by just a few feet of bare skin road rash.
In the end it will always comes down to personal choice; what choice will you make?
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 179
Likes: 10
From: Switzerland
They have various products, I have linked their pants with the armor. They have pants without armor or only around the hip and they also have stuff for the upper body and stuff without any armor. Also, the material itself seems to be quite comfortable to wear with a wicking effect.
I have not yet bought anything there but I will soon. Am working with them to get the right size. Stuff isn't cheap but neither is one's life... I also read an (indirect) review on this stuff and apparently it was put on the dummy before they put protective jeans over it to test the jeans. After 40 (!) slides with the same Abra-Guard (various jeans over it to test those) the stuff was completely fine even though some jeans did rip etc. Wouldn't be surprised if you could actually ditch the jeans and just use that for protection alone... but that would look somewhat, well...;-)
I shall try to remember to come back here once I actually had a chance to put it on.