I think the problem most sensible people have with having the common sense solution explained to them is that they're sceptical that life can be that simple.
It's cool to have a thread where there are very differing opinions yet everyone be able to have their say and no bun fights I will go with common sense based on the damage suffered to my leathers from an off on a high street at 20mph. I am so glad that wasn't my skin because I got to go to work the next day with just a few bruises. Without leathers and on that super sharp pirelli grip surface I think bone would be showing. If our medical care system was like America's where you are insured and/or you pay for your treatment then I would say fine to freedoms of choice in what you wear but as its not and its already clearly strained, I'm not going to add to the burden Flip up helmets look soft why are we even discussing them??
OK then here is another one to throw in the mix. Ask what piece of kit most riders consider is most important second to their helmet, and how many will tell you their jacket or their gloves? To a degree, gloves I can understand because when we take a tumble it is instinctive to stick out your hands to cushion the fall. But Jacket? In most crashes, even where there is a highside involved, the legs and feet is the part of the body that takes most of the impact (and before anyone says anything I accept that there are exceptions to every rule which is why I said "Most"). Many crashes are low sides so the legs and feet get hammered big time and most injuries are to the lower body, but still people insist that the upper body needs more protection than the lower body. The upper body can suffer breaks to bones, but even wearing the best kit will not prevent that, but legs are the areas that scraped down the road, heavy bikes landing on ankle joints do a hell of a lot of damage, but the lower body gets ignored and I have seen riders this week wearing a good leather jacket up top and shorts and sandles down below. Is this brainwashing or again people simply not understanding the dynamics having a crash. Me? I always wear good strides and boots and I will in this weather wear something lightweight up top, but that is not to say that from time to time in this weather I can also be guilty of nipping down the shops in jeans and trainers
My problem is that "nipping down the shops" inevitably leads to an hour n a half run round the countryside, hence full kit all the time
I was considering getting the string vest top with front and rear, elbow and shoulder pads etc and still wear the 2piece bottoms. Would never ride anywhere other than the mile to town in trainers for a haircut once month, my Sidi's have saved me from serious damage quite a few times and I like my feet
Good point made TC and agree totally after protecting my melon, I have for many years trusted a pair of Daytonas on my feet, and in several heavy track crashes, even when the boots have been destroyed my tootsies have come through unscathed.
I don;t think I posted on this thread yet. A few things: Re T.C's post, after a mate almost lost his leg from the knee down at a accident at work. And he was talking to many others in the 2 months he was in hospital, many where bikers ( My mate is not) who were in the same situation and got to agree with TC's post. So my choice after lid would be good boots. Re Shorts and T shirt. if the law says only a helmet must be worn and fitted correctly then people can do as they wish with shorts tee and flip flops. I do cringe when I see this but it's their choice. Would I want the law changed. No. People need to be able to make their own choices right or wrong and risk asses what they are doing. With the part on the NHS. Yes if people were made to wear gloves, boots, jacket etc.. then the NHS may be less invloved after a bike crash But the same could be said to ban smoking. not allowing people to get obese etc..... Just my view
Well I am sure the same arguments about freedom of choice were put forward with compulsory wearing of helmets., thank God they saw sense over that Edit* seems I have just become a racer lol, good bye kneedragger
I started riding before helmets were compulsory and only wore one for my test, as did most people at he time. I also had a big crash in the summer of '76 whilst only wearing jeans and a Belstaff jacket along with gloves and boots. The jacket was shredded, the gloves and boots destroyed and I suffered multiple road burns. Hospital treatment consisted of scrubbing the wounds with peroxide, but it's only pain, I recovered but my 3 month old Z900 was totalled and that hurt more. You live and learn, part of freedom is having the opportunity to make mistakes, look foolish etc. if every listened to ''experts'' we would still be living in caves.
friend of mine was killed in a 20mph collision with a car when his roof flip up lid broke into two pieces and bounced on down the road.
Flip Flops are fine if you're OK with this! Image Removed, as has been previously reported on the forum for its graphic content. Thanks.
dont count on boots protecting you.many riders and racers have lost toe's and feet with bike crashes.superbike magazine once done a test of guys riding around a track wearing different levels of protection and they found the more we armored up the faster we rode, maybe felt more invincible?
I can't comment I jumped on mine wearing jeans and a tee just flew across city in rush hour Also when it's hot I wear a summer jacket and Kevlar jeans ALLWAYS full leather gloves and boots
Didn't one of the motorcycle magazines do a test? I did try to google it but i got no results, I'm sure they put someone on a track wearing very little and then riding fully kitted up. I could have been dreaming On the loosing bits, listening to the pre race chat they were discussing Cals Friction burn and they too mentioned how many riders both young and old on track have bits/digits etc worn away.
Didn't know this either. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dsa-reminds-motorcycle-test-candidates-to-wear-suitable-clothing
they did, thats what I was saying in my above post.superbike magazine did it. on the bits worn away one lad in our group has two middle toes missing after the peg went though his alpine stars, someone always cracks a joke about it when we are out(how kind are we).
