Been there done that got screwed still am !!!!! Hence tHe reason why I don't have my gorgeous 749 anymore !!! I'm not bitter...........MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the anal retentives here are gonna love this... Spotted a taxibike rider dodging round London today in a t-shirt - and even better, his pillion was wearing a short dress! Cue a hundred coronaries in Surrey...
A famous, ex Transatlantic Trophy (1980's?) series rider of this parish fell off a pit/cross/enduro style bike whilst hooning about in the paddock at one of his (now almost famous ) son's meets. He got the worst injuries he'd ever had at less than 20 mph 'cos he was in t-shirt and shorts. DON'T RISK IT.
Not quite, but about 15 years ago rode with a mate from Chessington to Brands Hatch in shorts and T-shirt round the M25 to watch the qualifying for World Superbikes. Once we got there, we both agreed it hadn't been our wisest move. Never again since.
I wear full leathers on the SF or the 749 and textiles on the GS. I sometimes have kevlar jeans bottom half if I want to be casual at my destination. I gave up my scooter as I didn't find it sensible riding in all weathers to the station in my suit and just a simple jacket I could stash away. The road is the same tarmac and the tree is the same wood regardless of bike and clobber at 60mph. I can't guarantee I won't come off so I gear up always. Even if I could handle the injuries, I'm a single parent and explaining to my children that the sage wisdom I've been dealing out comes actually from a plonker isn't my style.
I commute into Central London and I bought a Dainese mesh airflow jacket last year. The difference in comfort level is remarkable, as soon as you start moving the air cools you down and it feels like you are just wearing a T shirt. BUT it has armour in the shoulders and arms and you can add a back protector. Really impressed. This one is the newer version, now with a windproof insert Dainese Air Frame Textile Jacket | Bike Stop I didn't like the matching trousers as they had almost no venting so I've just ordered a pair of these. Rev'it Airwave Textile Jeans - Black - FREE UK DELIVERY and they do a matching jacket Rev'it Airwave jacket - Black - FREE UK DELIVERY
Until it's the law, I'll ride in what I think is appropriate, thank you. And yes, I've fallen off in jeans and t-shirts, trainers, etc. It's a bit like religion: you're more than entitled to believe in the invisible sky wizard, but don't expect me to do the same, thanks!
I have just seen a guy in shorts and helmet on a 600 no top no gloves weaving in and out of traffic and turned right across a lorry nearly knee down I was cringing waiting for the sprawl across the junction Crazy!!!!
antoyne - the more people getting hosed off the tarmac because they weren't wearing the correct gear - the sooner it WILL be made law that we all have to wear ridiculous day-glo body armour to ride bikes. Thanks for thinking about other people...
Do you not think that the negativity towards bikers who wear whatever they like, is more likely to prick up the ears of the powers that be ? I only started this thread as an admission of me being a total knobhead sometimes.:smile:
Where does the freedom of choice need to end though? Should we not all fit speed limiters, as we all know that speed kills? Maybe stabilisers are a good idea because people keep falling off? How about madatory airbag-enabled leathers all round? No more black leather, only day-glo colours? Stop being a Safety Nazi and let people decide their own risk level within the law. As I said, I'm not disagreeing that it's a bad choice, but at least we have the choice. A question for you JR45 - and anyone else who find riding in jeans unaccepatable - Do you ride a push bike? Do you always wear a helmet?
It is, of course, a very good point. You have to let people have freedom of choice, though you might think that if they get it all wrong, you might be entitled to have them meet some of the costs. It's a bit like people who insist on snowboarding off-piste, or indulging in other risky activity. But even this is problematic. You have more chance of having an accident and hospitalising yourself on track rather than off it, when you consider the miles covered. Every time you do a track day, at least one of the participants falls off. So does that mean that if you end up in hospital as a result of a track off, then you should be paying for the costs to fix you up? Racing is even riskier. But then motorcycling (even in your armoured superhero suit) is riskier than bowls, so does it mean that if you have a bike accident, you are partly to blame for being on the thing in the first place? You can see where this might end up. The gov't has stepped in and made seat belts and helmets mandatory. We'll just have to let people chose their own level of risk outside of these elements, even if I think that those who choose to ride in no protection are fools.
For those tempted to ride in shorts and T shirts I would suggest trying out some vented kit, the protection is not as good as leathers but way better than nothing. Once on the move my Alpinestars mesh kit feels great. Lets hope the heatwave continues and I can get to use it.Alpinestars Radon Textile Air Mesh Jacket from On Yer Bike
The difference is that you pay for the priviledge of riding on track, and part of that fee covers the cost of medical facilities at the track, which, iirc, are required by law / as part of the operator licence, to be there when the track is live. So in a way you are already paying for that service even if you don't use it. If it was purely a question of safety, why is there an exemption for followers of the Sikh religion to not wear a helmet on a motorcycle? Does their religion offer protection not available to those non-followers, or does the Turban have some magical powers over the head/tarmac interface? (btw, I'm taking the piss here in case you hadn't noticed...) Why not the same for cyclists? Cycle helmets are not compulsory but modern cycles can easily keep pace with 50cc mopeds! I'd hate to see the injuries sustained by MAMILs (Middle Aged Men In Lycra) should they slide down the road - surely this is just as bad? I would rather be pro-choice than oppressive; Darwin's theory helps clean the gene pool of those too stupid to know better.
That's an interesting comment, the generally accepted stand on track day forums is that track days are safer than riding on road, ok the speeds are higher and the chances of coming off are higher but when you do come off you are much less likely to hit something and do any serious damage... I do agree with you though, its your own choice to wear what you want when riding. Personally I believe its stupid to go out without wearing the correct protective gear but it is a personal choice. I always wear a helmet when mountain biking and I wear a helmet and back protector when snowboarding, its not required but I feel better knowing I have done what I can to reduce the impact of an accident.
...and then you get on to personal responsibility v state paying to sort you out. Cancer victims and smoking? Heart conditions and poor diet? Rugby and injuries? Working in an office and RSI?
