protective gear don't leave home without it.

Already there, VFRWorld has an entire section to it here: Apparel Reviews - VFRworld

I have posted reviews of the gear that I use there and others as well have posted their comments on gear. I'm on the same boat that almost everything I have I had to order online and it's just scary crossing my fingers hoping I didn't get a lemon.

 

Wait, wait, WAIT! ZONAMAN...what happened? Did I miss something in a recent thread about your accident? (I was on vacation last week.) Tell us what happened and where...especially being an Arizona boy I need to know...

 

ATGATT right here. at MINIMUM, i wear: helmet, gloves with hard knuckle guard, and jacket. that's for commuting. when riding hard on the weekends, i always wear a heavy leather motorcycle jacket and padded pants. i'd like to pick up some leathers, but $$$ always seems to be a little tight lately.

with the warmer temps, i picked up a Cortech GX Air Leather/Mesh. I friggin' love this jacket! it's mesh, but has 2 zipout layers for colder temps, and also has leather and armor in all the key contact areas.

my philosophy on hot temperatures is this: if it's too hot to wear the gear, it's too hot to ride. simple as that. yeah, there's been a few days this summer where i haven't ridden the bike just because i knew it was gonna get that hot, but for DAMN sure i'm not risking it when my commute is 120 miles!

Mike

 

I like my Sidi Strada evo airs. I have very narrow small feet and they fit perfectly. If you have wide feet I wouldn't recommend them. In the winter I just cover up the vents with some duct tape, wear soft wool socks and I'm good.

If you have a wide foot, go for the Oxtar(renamed something else) stuff.

 

I crashed about mile post 12, Catalina Highway at 6:30 in the morning on June 11th. I was coming out of a ride hander and had to lay it right over into a lefty and felt like I was going too fast, so instead of just looking into the turn and taking it like I normally would, I thought I would just pull off into one of the turnouts and stop(target fixation). I was going too fast to stop and hit the guardrail. I went flying head over heels over the rail and landed about 8 feet from the rail in some rocks. The bike bounced off the rail and got smashed up pretty good(totaled). Some guy helped me get to my feet and climb back up the mountain...........:doh::doh::doh::doh: was all I could think. What a dumbass.:kaboom:

I have confidence in my riding skills and know that road very well(ridden it dozens of times), I just made a very poor split-second decision that cost me big time in an area I would never have even thought twice about wrecking on.

My right hip, knee, and ankle all got a pretty good tweek, but nothing broken thanks to my gear. Got some pills and started looking for another VFR that day, which made the wife none too happy! Looks like I'll be buying a friend's 01.

Let's go ride Mt. Lemon when I get the new bike, Nung!!! I promise I won't wreck ! LOL

 

You can pick up AGV's vented sportrider leather pants directly from them for $155 shipped and they are very good quality. It's too bad mine showed up the day after my crash, but I think my A* knee armor saved me more.

 

Yo Zona, I am very sad to hear that! So you were coming down the mountain (or going up)? Mile post 12...that is right at Bear Canyon, right? Was it just after the steep section as you come into the Bear Canyon camping areas? I know what you mean, I have ridden that road about 100 times on my bicycle but I still haven't done it on the VFR...I am overdue. Let's do it sometime! ZonaMan and Nungboy...sounds like a Clint Eastwood buddy flick doesn't it? Take care of those aches, don't give yourself too hard of a time (mistakes happen) and buy that friend's VFR!!!

 

I have been quite happy with my AStars armored jeans. I will eventually move the knee armor out a bit. But they are comfortable and unassuming.

 

Yeah, I was already coming down at a pretty good clip. It was about 1/2 mile past Manzanita vista, and about 1&1/2 miles above General Hitcock in that steep S-turn section. Never had any problems there before.:unsure:

 

Oh, got ya...those twisties there. I can see it happening in that section. Glad you are ok.

 

cortech fan

full face shoei helmet
armoured textile cortech jacket for cold and/or wet days
armoured mesh cortech jacket with leather back, elbows and sholders for hot days
armoured full length leather cortech gloves on cold days
armoured short textile cortech gloves with leather palms on hot days
armoured leather icon automag overpants 95% of the time (expensive but awesome)

okay, i don't always wear the leather overpants to go to the office through the small town where i live. on wet days, I wear rain pants for the five minute ride, but guess i shouldn't do this even if max speed is posted at 40 kph. wet means greater chance of slipping and it's impossible to ride at 40 kph. :wink:

 

I had a crash earlier this week and without my leather jacket, gloves, full face helmet, riding pants and solid boots I wouldn't be feeling like reading these posts let alone adding my 2c's worth. Without the boots I would have broken either my ankle or some of the bones in my foot and I would be minus lots of skin.

Whether the temperature is 1C or 40C I always ride in full gear.

 

I just added up the approximate purchase price of all the motorcycle gear I have. The final total is well over $3500. Riding is expensive. At least this stuff lasts forever unless you crash test it.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Given you are an instructor I am sure you are already aware of this and check your gear regularly, but others reading this should realize that this gear does not last forever all the time. Just as important as ATGATT is to inspect your gear to ensure it is in good shape.

Just because you (no one in particular) have not "tested" the gear, does not mean that some part of it may not have deteriorated due to collision, poor maintenance on your part, errors or poor craftsmanship in the manufacture, or weather issues such as ultra violet rays and rain.

I am sure KC would agree with me that you should all do a pre-trip on your bikes. How's your chain? Sufficiently lubed? Air pressure in tires? Mirrors in order? Any loose parts?

Folks, do yourself an immense favor and inspect your gear. If you find a deficiency early, it will likely be a cheap fix. Even if not, your gear is designed to protect you the best if it is maintained to the standard that is was designed. Why risk your safety on a what is likely to be a few dollars. here and there. Leave it to add up, and you must come up with a lot of money to replace gear that has worn out. Ignore it and you may get hurt...or worse.:soapbox:

 

About 15 years ago... I wore Jeans and Leather Jacket....

Hit a black Labrador (ran out in front of me... must have been deaf as a post!) and went over the front.... landing bum side down (thank goodness.. its nice and soft), but on the downhill slide ended up with the jacket riding up my back... got some good scars from that... :wedgie:

Next day... bought a full suit 'o' leathers... lasted me years...

Recently got my self a suit of Macna gear... its great.. got armour in all the right places... liners for winter..removable for the summer.... (roll on summer!!!)

:thumbsup:

 

Glad to know that you are OK. What happened? Any/much damage to you?

 

This board has a ton of great info and lots of links to F$##ing scary pictures and stories. I am just getting back into riding and my wife is just about to start. we have our MSF course scheduled for 10 July.

My new to me 06 VFR sits in the garage where it has for the last week. I have been outside to clean, fondle and sit on it, all week, its killing me. But I feel like I have been watching that old scared straight show!! I am not riding at all until ALL my gear shows up.

I have a Cortech GX air II jacket, draggin jeans with knee pads, and a pair of Sidi boots on the way as we speak. My Shoei helmet and gloves are here but I am still holding off. This will be my commuting gear, and a good set of leathers will be added later for longer rides. Same goes for the wife, we are getting outfitted properly before we get riding.

I grew up riding dirt bikes, and ripping around on my old FJ600 back in the day in jeans and t shirt with sun glasses, feeling extremely lucky now that I never went down while riding like the ignorant teenager I was. In fact the reason I quit riding back then was two friends who were killed about six months apart doing stupid things on bikes without any protection. It has been a while since I have owned a bike.

Now that I am 35 and feeling a bit less bulletproof I have no problem waiting for my gear before I ride. I am extremely excited to get back on the bike and have missed it every summer day since I decided to stop riding.

ALL the gear for this guy.

 

A G-string and a big smile.....




LOL Seriously I never ride with out at least a mesh jacket, full face helmet, gloves and some form of heavy leather shoe/boot even on the occasional grocery run.

 

Randy makes an awesome point & I should have mentioned that. Pre flight your gear people. I discovered that my Alpinestars SMX6 gloves had a hole in them 15 miles from home. They are an all textile glove with a synthetic leather palm. The hole wore thru wear the textile was sewn to the synthetic leather. Had I done a proper pre ride inspection (which I normally do) I would have noticed that. I replaced the SMX6 with the Raven glove which utilizes real leather in the palm & knuckle pads.

Leather, as a general rule, will last just about forever if it's taken care of. My father still has his original A2 jacket he received in the Vietnam era.

Textile garments will deteriorate over time. My Icon TiMax pants are losing color at the stretch panels. This is most likely due to sun bleaching but it is still a sign of the garment "wearing out". The Polo gear I have was purchased in 1994 & it's still in nice shape. It simply doesn't get cold enough in NJ to wear it so I have worn it exactly twice since I moved back to the US. Keep your textile garments clean & give them a once over at least once a month.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Just one of those stupid lapses in concentration. I was lucky and got away with a badly bruised foot, thumb, bum and pride - all of which will heal.

Luckily it was low speed so damage to the bike is mainly cosmetic. The main parts to be replaced are the riders footpeg mount, pedal and rear Master Cylinder. The insurance will cover it but I'm just waiting to find out whether all the parts are available in Oz. Keep your fingers crossed for me.