Do you ride with protection? Armor that is??

[dankrencisz]

Does anyone ride with full protection??

Example:

I have a Joe Rocket Atomic Jacket, Ballistic 5.0 pants, Atomic Gloves and Big Bang boots. I like Joe Rocket stuff, I've never been let down and the quality seems good too.

Does anyone else ride with all this junk on?? or am I the only one that suits up like I'm racing to ride to work??

[LJM9000]

Originally Posted by dankrencisz

Does anyone ride with full protection??

Example:

I have a Joe Rocket Atomic Jacket, Ballistic 5.0 pants, Atomic Gloves and Big Bang boots. I like Joe Rocket stuff, I've never been let down and the quality seems good too.

Does anyone else ride with all this junk on?? or am I the only one that suits up like I'm racing to ride to work??

Na I don't but I do like the stuff as well. If I rode sport bike I would definitely suit up though.

[ranger04]

I suite up every time I ride depending on weather
If to be nice out I wear armored leather jacket-leather gloves-helmet-leather chaps(when under 70-warmer than that I leave them in the bags)

when cooler or expecting rain I wear armored nittro jacket-suzuki riding pants(no armor)-leather gloves and helmet

I always try to wear the gear when I ride, the most ill do without is the chaps or riding pants, wear all the rest of the gear dispite temps

better safe than sorry

[m50Joe]

I'd like to. But it takes so long to suit up, unsuit, it's so hot, and the gear is so expensive. I am sure all those excuses will be comforting if I ever get road rash again.

Seriously, I have a desire to wear more protection I just havent started the process. I have my eye on a good mesh jacket as a start.

[The Pope]

Originally Posted by ranger04

the most ill do without is the chaps or riding pants, wear all the rest of the gear dispite temps

better safe than sorry

Full face helment, Icon Jacket w/Armor (Leather for cold weather / Mesh for warm weather), jeans & most of the time SIDI Boots. I do want to invest into some riding pants.

I forgot ..... I wear gloves too!

[khromalusional]

I am rocking a new Feildsheer jacket with a kbc helmet. Fox diget gloves and the good ol' levis. Anyone now of a nice pair of pants that will hold up but still look good around town?

[07M50Limited]

Does anyone ride with full protection??
You never know when you will need it, and if it makes you feel safe, do it, but in the summer, I wear a full face or 3/4 helmet, jeans and a t shirt, in the winter, I wear leather jacket and chaps, just for warmth.

But then again, I ride back rodes to and from work 35-45 mph, if I was riding highway speeds, would prob., wear extra protection...bugs, rocks anything at 50mph+ will put a nice bruse on you.

[Pinhead78]

Originally Posted by m50Joe

Seriously, I have a desire to wear more protection I just havent started the process. I have my eye on a good mesh jacket as a start.

I usually wear my full face helmet (no helmet law in OH) and Castle leather gloves. I have a leather jacket that I wear once in a blue moon. I need to get a lighter jacket, so I would wear it more often. I am just cruising around town though; I don't get out of a 30 mile radius of Cleveland very often.

[Luke]

I wear T-Pro pants, shirt, and back protector under my jeans and sweatshirt, as well as full face helmet and gloves. The T-Pro stuff isn't much in the way of abrasion protection, but better than nothing. I spend most of my ride on the freeway, though I also tend to gear up when riding to safeway for booze or whatnot.

[boooya]

My jacket has back, elbow and shoulder pads. If its too hot a were a t-shirt and shorts. I know if I go down i'll regret it but im just stuborn i guess.

[dr death]

I wear a full face,leather gloves with the gel palm(whoopdidoo),leather jacket,jeans and some over the ankle waterproof boots.I run in the rain a lot and have a 2 piece rainsuit in the saddlebags.Its funny cause i get home and take all the raingear and stuff off and i'm totally dry but i love when i'm at a stoplight and the car on the side of me is looking at me like"awww,that poor guy is stuck in the rain".meanwhile,i'm havin a blast riding my bike.I live in mass. and i got a limited time to ride.I tell my buddys whose bikes i rarely see"theres bike buyers and there's bike riders.i bought mine to ride not wait till its 70-73 out,wind at a 3-5mph clip,venus aligned with jupiter on a 37deg angle...well,you get the picture.

[phil.dye]

I have to wear long sleeve shirt, long pants, over the ankle boots, gloves, helmet with eye protection and reflective belt/vest. Of course that is because it is policy in the Army. If I wasn't in the Army I would probably tone down my level of "armored protection".

[alexg57]

All The Gear All The Time (ATGATT) for me. For those who wear everything except pants due to the heat, I recommend looking into the many varieties of riding jeans. I have a pair from Icon (about $90) that look like a pair of stylish jeans, but have Kevlar in the knees and hips. I figure road rash is probably the biggest of my worries, and these jeans will take care of most of that. I know they won't protect against impact injuries, but I'm willing to accept the risk of a bruised/shattered knee cap.

~ alexg

[oyrider]

I only own full face helmets, but my leather jackets don't have armor even though my mesh jacket does. Gloves depend on temperature, heavy in cold to mx style when its hot. Boots 99% of the time and plain old blue jeans. I guess my legs are the least protected. The cold weather suit has armor, but its not cold now... so its protecting the hanger in the closet.

[Michigunman]

I also have/wear the JR Atomic jacket. I have a JR leather w/armor for cooler weather. Castle gloves and full face helmet. I bought a pair of Draggin Jeans that have kevlar lining in the seat and knees, but had to send them back for fit. Hoping the replacements arrive early next week. I wear over the ankle boots and hope to get some water proof ones soon. So I'm close to full protection, but not completely there.

The only time I really mind the full face helmet and jacket is sitting at traffic lights on a hot humid day. Lately if it's hot I stay a little later at work to let traffic subside and then take the freeway to keep moving.

[rogerl]

I wear a full face helmet, Joe Rocket Atomic jacket, I have a Fieldsheer mesh jacket on order if it will ever get here, I wear the Olympia mesh over pants, and gloves. I read the article about passing the sander test and decided to get the pants. Yes the gear is a little warm at times and yes it takes some time to put the gear on but I know I have a much better chance of comming away from a fall with my gear on than off.
I have one of those motivational posters by my riding gear saying GEAR, it is better to walk away in disgust than ride away in an ambulance.


Roger L

[Hotform]

I wear a half helmet, goggles, gloves and jacket according to temp.
Last week I was wearing my leather jacket as it was cold in the morning. Of course when I ride home in the afternoon it is hot. I had a stinging insect fly up my sleeve and sting me twice in the arm. I switched to my River Road Yuma Mesh jacket the next day as it has sleeves that can be snugged shut. I can wear a sweatshirt in the morning underneath to take the chill off.
My mesh jacket is armored. My leather jacket is not, however it is Kevlar lined and reinforced in the key areas. Take my word for it, it does work if you go down.
I would wear a full face helmet on cooler days, but I really cannot find one to fit my fat head. Every one that I try squeezes the blood out of my cheeks. I'll keep trying them on, sooner or later there has to be one out there.
I always have boots on. Steel toe for work, and Schmidt brand waterproof work boots for my regular riding. I get them both at Tractor Supply. I would wear boots no matter what as they give you the ankle support you need.
I have a coworker who hit a deer last year and he had his gear on and is alright. Same coworker just ran into the back of a car that moved to the passing lane in front of him and stopped dead. Once again, he had his gear on and is alright.
Sometimes its hot and uncomfortable, but in the end it is worth it.

[FraTra]

HJC full face, Power Trip mesh jacket with armor and leather fingerless gloves. Wish I could be cool and just wear a skid lid and gloves like the Harley guys but I'm too skeered.

[thekirin]

I wear a full face helmet, leather jacket with built in armor, leather gloves, Icon riding pants and timberlands. It seems like alot but not really. I would rather have on the gear than have road rash or worse. Personnal Protection Equipment is there for a reason. I sometimes see guys riding in shorts t-shirt and flip flops. I can only imagine what an "accident" would look like without any protection.

[Nick Mystic]

If you shop around you can find some serviceable protective gear at very reasonable prices. Last winter I bought protective pants and two different jackets that each have double removable liners to be used according to the weather. When it started warming up this summer I bought a second pair of mesh riding pants and a mesh jacket from First Gear that I really like. It has great air flow and I've ridden with it in comfort up into the high 80s.

Once I started wearing ATGATT it just became a habit and now I wouldn't think of mounting up for a ride without all my gear on. It's just like buckling up when you get in your cage, once you start doing it you don't feel right if you don't do it. All of my jackets are bright yellow and black so I have the added benefit of high visibility, which we all know can only be a good thing to help people see you on your bike.