Some clothing manufacturers are less trustworthy than others regarding protecting our hides: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/features/product/motorcycle-clothing-safety-ce-standards Among other things, I was interested to see that AAA only protects against 45mph slides in practice.
None of that is new news and the decline in testing requirements for clothing is nothing short of scandalous. Testing of motorcycle helmets is no different. Would you want to ride a super bike whilst wearing a helmet tested to same standard a helmet for a twist and go scooter rider ? Well, the chances are, you are. Andy
It never ceases to amaze me how much more gear is available for riders in the 20 year period since I stopped and started riding again. But it really doesn't seem to have moved on much in the way of safety. Not to the same extent I would expect anyway. I do think this trend of "technical Fabrics being much better than leather" nonsense is a good example of that.. Just seems totally marketing and fashion driven. It seems people all want to look like Steve Mcqueen on their bikes now rather than Barry Sheen...
I do take on board the tenor of your point but you're surely not suggesting helmets are tested for a machine type...twist-and-go or for a superbike? The ISO etc standards are the same when affixed to any lid - the helmet has passed the applied standard testing regime e.g. ISO I do understand an open-face and full-face are tested to a different standard...is that what you are saying?
It's a thing called "fashion" that has taken over...you have to look "cool" afterall....and "we" have fallen for it hook, line & sinker. Spend £2k+ on RUKA gear & yes, you will be dry but more importantly, you will look "cool" & perhaps even more importantly for some, you just know other people will also think you look "cool" you are wearing RUKA afterall. OR, perhaps I'm just getting more cynical the older I get.
No, I am saying the minimum standard tests helmets adequate for mopeds and restricted small capacity machines. Some manufacturers, not all, will test their helmets to additional, higher standards. When you see a helmet advertised, you need to look beyond the claim that it meets the minimum standard to see if it has been tested further. Some Chinese manufacturers do not, which IMO, makes their helmets totally unsuited to riding high performance bikes. Andy
In nearly all cases you are correct....except those supplied from the likes of BKS and Hideout(only 2 i know but there could be others) that supply textile clothing that is at least if not better than most leather. For this reason Emergency services buy their products and not Rukka for example(other brands are available). These are tested to the older Cambridge standard, which they exceed. I think it is very misleading that AAA sounds great, but in truth once out of urban areas is possibly not good enough. What the standards dont tell you is how much some clothing can exceed the AAA test by. BKS and Hideout are getting several seconds of protection in a high speed slide. On another note, I came off at about 90mph in my Lewis leathers one piece in about 1982. The suit was a bit scuffed but no tears etc. I doubt todays suits would do the same.
You either have the standard or you don’t. Can’t see them using different ones at Arai coz they have ‘real bikers’ than hjs who have a bigger mix of types of users
It get ridiculous, a while ago, someone pointed out that a manufacturer was advertising a pair of their motorcycle gloves and the standard they were tested to, turned out to be the standard for gardening gloves. Appropriate testing is hugely expensive and not everything should be taken at face value when it comes to profit. Sad but true. Andy
Some of the main stream leathers really aren’t great. I’ve been wearing held for years now, had 5 shunts in my current set two of which were at over 100mph and they’re still in great shape. The other thing is you hear “well if it’s good enough for bsb riders it’s good enough for me” they get them for free or next to nothing. And the rider kit is often different to what the public can get anyway.
Much as I'd hope that was true, I suspect that the purchase of any equipment in the emergency services relates as much to the bean counters' bottom line than to its suitability for purpose; I say that as someone who was issued with a set of horse riding breeches by one of the emergency services when I first started riding motorcycles for them. My colleagues that "road tested" them would strongly disagree with the assertion that they were better than leather. Granted that was a few years ago & the standard of clothing has improved, but I doubt that the bean counters' influence has diminished much.
Well the top quality textile clothing purchased from a select few suppliers is not cheap, it is more expensive than top of the range Rukka etc, so I don’t think it has anything to do with the bean counters, unusual as that is.
That’s very surprising. The EC have come out with some pretty strongly enforced testing standards and since 2016, the labeling of individual protection equipment has been made as obvious as possible. Not much room left for interpretation: if you crash, destroy both your hands, and your gloves don’t have the little motorcycle logo or your injury area isn’t guaranteed by the protection level printed on them gloves, you’re in for some trouble with your insurance claim… Here’s an interesting article about Euro standards. It’s written in French, I know, but I am pretty sure everyone will get the idea. https://blog.dafy-moto.com/certifications-ce-epi-moto-normes-obligations/
I'm not sure I understand re "insurance claim"? If I get knocked off my bike by someone, and my hands are "destroyed" their insurance will be paying. There is no requirement for me to protect myself in anyway whatsoever except for the legally required helmet. If I crash due to my own error, I won't be claiming for gloves!
The EC made motorcycle certified gloves mandatory since Nov. 2016 (that’s in the article above). That would have applied to the UK. May be the UK came back on that since Brexit? I would be very surprised but hey, wasn’t I surprised when the UK left the EU? My understanding is that somebody whose hands are being injured in a motorcycle accident (being responsible or not doesn’t seem relevant, here, as eventually, one insurance company or the other will be dealing with the claim) when not wearing mandatory protective equipment (i.e. helmet and gloves), wouldn’t be eligible to get any compensation. I never asked my insurance company as I always wear certified gear, but I will, just out of curiosity. What if…?
Gloves were made compulsory in France. The only compulsory motorcycle wear in the UK is a helmet. Andy
I hate the nanny state but choosing NOT to wear gloves while riding a motorcycle is madness IMO. If you trip, come off a bicycle or motorcycle, the first instinct is to raise your hands to protect your head. In other words, your hands are the first body parts to cop it… Always wear gloves kids…
