About Safety

[IntruderCruiser]

we have had quite a number of accidents in our area -- and not to preach --but I hope everyone is wearing good protective gear -- whereas it may not look as cool as a t-shirt and shorts --- if you should encounter the ground, it will sure give you a better chance of being injured less.

[Clint]

Man, the squids here lately. Must be the college kids returning to town with their "cheap" transportation. I even saw flipflops.

[Scott58]

I can't believe how many riders are paying so much attention to what everyone else is doing. Eyeballing everyone else talking on a cell phones or being squidly sure isn't paying attention to your rear views or looking right to left for oncoming danger. The only thing i'm looking for is something that may effect me directly. Easier to stay alive that way

[Clint]

Well, that's one approach. Another is to be concerned for:

1) Your fellow rider. We know what he's in for even if he doesn't. It ain't fun.

2) The impression they make on the riding public. That can impact local ordinances and general driver behavior, and that does affect you directly.

See?

[SNAFU]

Serious Question.

For all the riders that wear gear, what do you think when you see other riders wearing minimum gear, including but not limited to T-shirt or tank tops or even shirtless, shorts, dress, flip flops, no gloves, no helmet.

Do you think: (Just some examples)
1. They look cool
2. Whatever, their choice
3. Tsk Tsk, I hope they don't crash
4. Crazy fool
5. What an Idiot, I hope you crash.

For me I would pick 2 & 3.

This question could also go the other way. What do you think when you see the ATGATT rider.

[Trapper]

3&4. I don't hope anyone crashes. I don't think twice about a rider with gear.

[kiyofox]

I think it is reassuring to see another rider in "proper" gear (ATGATT), because I at least know I'm not the only one. The amount of riders I see in the shirts and shorts gear far outweighs the riders I see in full gear...which I find very disappointing.

I always wave to the guys in gear. I *never* wave to the guys in shirts and shorts.

[inspiron]

What do I think? Sometimes 2, sometimes 3 and sometimes 4. It also depends upon how they are riding. When I see someone riding "responsibly" (keeping safe distances, taking corners carefully/not crossing the centerline, etc.), I think that they are foolish for not wearing proper gear, but it's their choice.

When I see squid-like behavior, I don't care if they are wearing gear or not. My opinion changes then to more like "if he crash, he has only himself to blame".

During my ride yesterday, I came to the conclusion that I am a technial rider. I was riding some very tight twisties, not going very fast, but looking that I take the curves correctly - concentrating on my line, keeping my body on my side of the center line, etc. About halfway down the mountain, I had about 5 guys on racing bikes come fly past me, taking the twisties much faster than I was going. Sure, they were all in full leather ... But as I watched them fly past me, going around blind turns on the wrong side of the road, I was preparing to slow even more because I was expecting to see one of them splattered across the hood of an oncoming vehicle around the next bend. Fortunately, there was no traffic coming in the other direction.

Even the best gear won't protect someone from irresponsible behavior and stupidity.

[Mavman]

Originally Posted by inspiron

What do I think? Sometimes 2, sometimes 3 and sometimes 4. It also depends upon how they are riding. When I see someone riding "responsibly" (keeping safe distances, taking corners carefully/not crossing the centerline, etc.), I think that they are foolish for not wearing proper gear, but it's their choice.

When I see squid-like behavior, I don't care if they are wearing gear or not. My opinion changes then to more like "if he crash, he has only himself to blame".

"Hey Ma, I found a long lost relative in Switzerland!!"


Seriously....... ........I think the same thing.

[Scott58]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Well, that's one approach. Another is to be concerned for:

1) Your fellow rider. We know what he's in for even if he doesn't. It ain't fun.

2) The impression they make on the riding public. That can impact local ordinances and general driver behavior, and that does affect you directly.

See?

I really don't care if you wear gear or not and the fact that alot of people support all sorts of regulation has a direct effect on me anyway so it really doesn't matter. If you don't stay focused all the gear in the world isn't going to help you anyway.

[SNAFU]

Originally Posted by inspiron

When I see squid-like behavior, I don't care if they are wearing gear or not. My opinion changes then to more like "if he crash, he has only himself to blame".

Even the best gear won't protect someone from irresponsible behavior and stupidity.

So true, it doesn't matter how much gear you wear. If you ride like a squid, you lose all my respect as a fellow rider.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by Scott58

I really don't care if you wear gear or not and the fact that alot of people support all sorts of regulation has a direct effect on me anyway so it really doesn't matter. If you don't stay focused all the gear in the world isn't going to help you anyway.

I'm with you Scott, if I was to direct part of my thoughts at what someone else was wearing, it could be at the exact second that some idiot is getting ready to blind side me from the other way.

[Captain Steve]

I'm not a ATGATT guy. I wear my helmet and gloves all the time. I wear a leather jacket if it's cool enough that I won't die of heat stroke. I wear bluejeans and boots around 90% of the time.

I can't afford more gear at the moment. If I had the dough, I'd buy an armored mesh jacket and overpants. Since I don't, I do the best I can.

I'm a super defensive rider. I don't ride to go fast or take turns real hard. I leave that for the sports bikes... I ride to cruise around with the wind in my face out in the sticks doing 40mph on two lanes through the woods. I've got a car that's a heck of alot faster than my bike for driving more aggresively. Having 2 tons of steel with seatbelts and airbags wrapped around me tends to loosen the reigns on my speed demon.

I honestly don't worry myself about what other people choose to do on their bikes unless they're doing something that effects me. I have my comfort level and I respect other riders having their own.

If someone asks me, then I'm glad to preach about helmets and tell the story about how I went over the handlebars on my first bike.

I'm firmly in the "Whatever, their choice" crowd when it comes to gear.

I'm in the "Crazy Fool, hope they don't crash" crowd when it comes to riding dangerously on the street.

[inspiron]

How about this guy? BTW, this is completely legal - he is wearing a helmet. This picture was apparently taken in eastern Germany on the Autobahn between Chemniz and Dresden.

[RelicRider]

3, 4, and 6. Future Organ Donor, Could still be this season.

[Time4me2ride]

I could have gone all day without having that visual imprinted into my memory. Although, the guys in t-shirts and shorts have about the same resistance to roadrash as that guy.

[D_Klein]

I can't believe how much time some of the cruiser riders out here take putting on all of their spiffy leather vests and do-rags, but don't give a rat's tail about wearing a helmet.

I want to ride again after my first crash. Gear up.

[Firedog]

So, yesterday after work, I saw a wonderful display. A guy spent five minutes putting on his helmet and gloves (he was talking while doing it), then hopped on and let (presumably) his girlfriend get on. He was concerned with getting the helmet and gloves on himself, but was wearing a t-shirt and flip-flops (he had jeans on). He didn't seem to care that the girl riding on the back had next to nothing on (riding gear-wise - she was wearing clothes ). She had on a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. I really hope they didn't go down (crash) and she wouldn't be nearly so pretty without skin...

[ChicsterMG]

I only wear gear when I'm drunk. Really, I actually had someone tell me this once.

Anyway, I am definitely in the 2 & 3 crowd. Your choice. I will make suggestions and recommendation, but I try not to preach.

I am old enough to have children, buy a house, have a drink, and go to war.
I don't need a law to tell me to wear a helmet.

[LOU42]

After laying down my bike, I am surely happy that i was wearing all my gear.
Including a leather jacket in the heat.
I rather sweat and live over being cool and dying.

By-the-way I was the only guy in the entire group wearing gloves and a jacket. To each his own.

May God protect all of us, always.