Do you wear protective clothing?

[eb77k]

No need to judge everyone else. I doubt if you are a wuss. You might be a great rider. I don't know.

As I've stated before...Your equipment doesn't protect you as much as your wit and skill.

If you want to fathom stuff, read about how tricker and rowdy write about counter-steering.

[B-Rex]

Originally Posted by eb77k

No need to judge everyone else. I doubt if you are a wuss. You might be a great rider. I don't know.

As I've stated before...Your equipment doesn't protect you as much as your wit and skill.

If you want to fathom stuff, read about how tricker and rowdy write about counter-steering.

Please don't read me wrong. What you may see as "judging" is truly a lack of comprehension on my part. I'm sure there are plenty of folks on here that are better riders than I am. I'm sure there are folks with more miles on a bike than I have. But what I don't understand is how some of those very people make some of the choices they do.

IMHO, part of the "wit and skill" that you refer to has to do with having the knowledge that proper protective equipment is not optional for a wise rider. There is a growing body of data (maybe Uncle Bob can help with some exact numbers) that protective equipment, including armor and other reinforced items, are preventing many serious injuries and even death in motorcycle crashes where the riders are so equipped. Is it 100%? Of course not....I don't know if it's even 50%. But the fact remains that armor and abrasion resistant clothing/boots, as a rule, reduce the severity of injuries in motorcycle accidents. There is a reason why most racers wear protective gear.

We are quick to point out to a newbie that he/she should not buy this or that powerful motorcycle, and with good reason. Why is it not correct to ask why some otherwise knowledgable and skilled riders don't wear protective gear? Personally, I would appreciate understanding the reasoning behind it. Is it the same reasoning behind not wearing a seatbelt in a car? Is it a comfort issue? Maybe it's a "freedom" issue? Truthfully, I don't know but I would like to.

I'm relatively new to this forum but I'm not new to riding. Like many of you I've lost friends to this sport and have done a bit of "air" time myself. Yet in the last five years or so I have been hearing (and reading) about more and more bike accidents where the riders have walked away virtually physically unscathed while wearing proper helmets, armor and other protective gear. Maybe I'm one of the only old-timers hearing about this and it's purely an anecdotal phenomena. Maybe, the truth is that this gear doesn't really work for most people and the stories I've heard/read are just coincidences. I will accept that as a possibility.

However, if it is true that protective gear actually works, what is the reasoning behind not wearing it when riding? That is what I'm asking here. I'm not interested in arguing with or insulting others...I just want to understand. That's one of the reasons I read this and other motorcycle forums. I think it is a legitimate question.

I will admit that I suspect that some people don't wear proper protective gear because they are too "macho" or believe they are too good of a rider to get into a serious motorcycle accident. I have (and had) some friends who have said they know the gear is effective but they just don't have the time or the motivation to use it. Whatever the reasoning, I'm very interested in hearing/reading about it!

Is my fascination with the "reasoning" a bad thing?

B-Rex

[tricker]

Originally Posted by eb77k

If you want to fathom stuff, read about how tricker and rowdy write about counter-steering.

I wrote about counter-steering????? was i drunk?

*abandons search in the archives after passing by landry in the employees bathroom*

[eb77k]

Sorry tricker if it wasn't you. Check the thread on counter-steering, it's a bunch of egg head sounding gobldy-gook.

Wits: The ability to keep yourself out of dangerous situations, by being hyper-observant. Recognizing and avoiding situations rather than having to react to them once it's too late.

Skills: The ability to ride well. I'm all for everyone riding, and start riding whenever and however you can, but I really don't agree with learning to ride on the street. The ability to react properly by reflex.

I'm just making the point that avoiding an accident will do so much more to protect yourself than any piece of clothes. When you are riding, (especially on the street) you are never, ever safe, no matter what you are wearing. Your clothes don't make you safe. That is a fantasy.

[Thundurburd]

Originally Posted by B-Rex

Yet in the last five years or so I have been hearing (and reading) about more and more bike accidents where the riders have walked away virtually physically unscathed while wearing proper helmets, armor and other protective gear.

That's basically my view and I think it's a good point to make. Also, for me the fact is I can buy extra gear and protection now, experience takes time.

[frostbitevinnie]

I spend my entire work day waiting for that inevitable crash. I know that my senses are tuned to crash avoidance in my work place and I like to think that this has sharpened my senses while riding. However, I do not believe that wit and skill can protect a rider from that once in a life time unforeseen crash.

I have been hit once while wearing zero gear, thrown from the bike and survived with nothing to show for the accident except soiled shorts. I was lucky.

Now I ride with full gear because I hate pain, hospitals, and I want to grow old and intact with my wife. I also wear a full face mainly because I have to. If I don't I get a bad ear infection in a very short time. Why? I don't know.

I also don't understand why riders choose not to wear gear. Seems insane to me. I have lost two friends to bike wrecks. One hit a pole head first doing 60mph and no amount of gear would have saved Kevin. Brian hit a deer doing 80mph wearing zero gear and the doc said that if he had gear most likely he would have been a quad.

Again, I firmly believe that wit and skill are vital but there is always that one unavoidable time that occurs in the blink of an eye and ....well you know.

[B-Rex]

Originally Posted by eb77k

.

Wits: The ability to keep yourself out of dangerous situations, by being hyper-observant. Recognizing and avoiding situations rather than having to react to them once it's too late.

Skills: The ability to ride well. I'm all for everyone riding, and start riding whenever and however you can, but I really don't agree with learning to ride on the street. The ability to react properly by reflex.

I'm just making the point that avoiding an accident will do so much more to protect yourself than any piece of clothes. When you are riding, (especially on the street) you are never, ever safe, no matter what you are wearing. Your clothes don't make you safe. That is a fantasy.

Without a doubt your definitions of "wit" and "skill" are extremely useful in riding. No argument with you there.

However, I don't wear protective gear in order to exclude those things when I ride. My protective gear does not lull me into a false sense of security nor does it make me bolder or more prone to take risks. The truth of the matter is that I use it in ADDITION to whatever skills and wit I possess. I try and do everything I can to "stack the deck" in my favor.

In my humble experience I have NEVER met one rider...no matter how good, experienced and skilled he (she) was...whose body would survive a collision/accident at 60 mph any better than the most incompetent rookie on the planet.

We all seek to avoid such things...but no one is immune. Ever heard of any great riders, with exceptional wit and skill, who were killed? I have.

Why not stack the deck in your favor rather than rely on possibly misplaced self-confidence or denial? Anything else just doesn't make sense to me.

Protective gear doesn't guarantee you will survive any sort of accident...it just improves your odds.

B-Rex

[Thundurburd]

Originally Posted by B-Rex

Why not stack the deck in your favor rather than rely on possibly misplaced self-confidence or denial? Anything else just doesn't make sense to me.

Of course it makes sense to stack the deck in our favor. Why would you want to NOT do that?

Unless you thought a certain viewpoint...

...might rile up the the ATGATT guys.

Maybe that's the point.

[CruisingRam]

Yes I am an "advanced' rider.

Yes I counter-steer.

Yes, I have been down, and I have been hit by cars- but the last part only while on my bicycle.

Yes I wear ATGATT.

yes I believe it is "better to sweat than bleed".

But I am also a libertarian- I don't want the goverment to force the issue.

Ride at your own risk.

I have.

Nice pic of me "offroading" a dirt bike. Notice total gear.

[jprisme]

i know i am late but jammer is the man

[jprisme]

i use to wear only gloves and helmet constently. after seeing my friend which is a trick rider fall a lot and get back up with no scratches, made me relize that the jacket really does work (DUHHHH!!!) . i dont like to wear it all the time because it makes me ride proper. i think that is just because i need to break in the jacket and also lose some weight haha summers coming up and i wanna be like jammer, but full face helmet all day everyday, "don't really speed by the beach."

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by jprisme

i know i am late but jammer is the man

I appreciate the quote..but the Almighty is the man..but We will be passing you a few ladies with heavy assets that have been to the "Jammer" Universty of buffness and will ride on that back and not complain and give good backrubs

Tis ordained.

[tricker]

just had to stroke jammer's ego didn't you..

[eb77k]

Thunderburd is very observant.