they told me it would happen and now i believe

Normal jeans offer very little protection. There are special jeans with reinforced Teflon coating etc. etc. but there are other options. Airflow leather pants or airflow cordura pants. They have all the necessary armor on the knees and hips for protection but with millions of tiny pinholes for airflow. Some even have vented zips so that you can regulate the airflow. The same applies to jackets. Howewer, leather offers the best friction protection. That's why the race pros wear them.

Never wear any artificial or leather look plastics. Friction causes heat that will simply melt the plastic into your skin. Very nasty! ATGATT even if you just pop over to the shops! Ride hard, ride fast, ride safe!

 

Unfortunately, most mesh jackets are "Poly" something or another. You know ... plastic!

The only one I know that makes a non Poly mesh jacket is Cortech.

But I'm in the camp that says some gear is better than no gear!

 

I'm glad to see this isnt another "Just wrecked the new bike" thread - very smart using a 20 year old bike as your first bike. I wouldnt ride without my full face helmet for many reasons, not the least of which is getting hit in the face with large bugs hurts like hell. I still don't know how Harley riders can stand that, but then so many of them don't ride more than 10 miles at a time.
Btw, I've only been down once, about 20 years ago stopping at a sandy intersection, at night, wearing only sunglasses tennis shoes shorts and tshirt, and very drunk. Yeah, I was a stupid kid at the time and I'm not sure I even count that as a real crash - more like a drunken incident. I don't really believe the "there are only kinds of riders" thing - crashing is not innevitable.

 

You have my vote on that!

I've done some research before I bought gear. Although synthetic (not any of the poly type products) Proper registered Cordura dates back to 1929, invented by DuPont and was used by the American military in WWII to strengthen tyres made from synthetic rubber due to the tendency of Cordura to strengthen when heated and also due to it's resistance to abrasion.

Even though leather is still the best, in summer I use Cordura pants (more expensive than leathers) made by IXS with knee and hip armor. Haven't tested them on asphalt yet. Not that I have any desire to!

All the good brand leather jacket manufactures have woken up to the fact that you fry in the heat when waiting at intersections and have come up with some pretty good airflow jackets!

My advice? Check out the specifications of all the good quality brands and read the independent reviews on accessories! Buy the best you can afford. It's all you have between you and the asphalt!

 

Perforated leather pants for me, or jeans if I'm commuting to work. I'll wear a leather jacket most of the time too, but do switch to an Icon TiMax Mesh when temps exceed 95 degrees or so.

 

Cool to wear a helmet? Think of it like a condom, try and go without one because you think it's uncool or don't like the way it feels. And your life may never be the same again.

 

I am sure many of you will be glad to hear. i just got back from my MSF course. I aslo got my endorsement this afternoon. i feel A LOT more confident right now with slow turns etc... since i still kinda have a phobia of turning right now since both of my downs were in turns. but the course helped me a lot good instructors and lots of good info. thanks for the advice to take it all of you who said to. also i feel better knowing that now if i get pulled over at night i dont have to worry about it cause i have my endorsement instead of permit.

Also i went and bought a new helmet today. its red/white/blue Shoei X-Eleven Lawson TC-1. i also have my joe rocket red/white honda jacket. and some new gloves. and i am starting to get more and more into riding with my gear.

I love this vfr community.

 

My dad wrecked my 03 ACE, and escaped with only a broken leg. If it hadn't been for his helmet, he would have had a serious head injury. The car was totaled in the accident! The helmet saved his life!

 

Now you sound like a real sensible motorcyclist. Welcome to the two wheel motorized world and the VFR brotherhood here.
Your next mission assignment (if you accept) is to spread the word to your riding buddies. Happy motoring. Bob (former MSF Chief Instructor).

 

Thanx man. thats great to hear someone say that. especially at my age. lol. and i will definately spread the word.

 

You don't have to be old to be wise.

 

Like the others have said you learned things the right way....I def agree with the motto "Dress for the Crash" I myself had a low speed lay down about a month and a half ago. I was wearing my gear and i still wound up with bad bruising on my bicep and thigh. As much as that hurt i would prefer that bleeding all over the pavement...As funds allow i will be upgrading my gear starting with a pair of ICON Hooligan 2 gloves...Im also looking into offroad knee/shin guards to wear under my jeans for when i ride. Besides...who doesnt want to look like mad max or the terminator in full armor with a black lid and mirrored visor?

 

WAT TO GO, BIG DOG!!!

 

Tennessee is trying to repeal the helmet law. What the h$!! are they thinking?? I was waiting at a gas station (at a very busy intersection) for my riding buddies, when I saw no fewer than 3 near crashes! Most were Harley posers, who didn't have a clue how to ride. And they're the first to complain about having to wear a helmet. I've never seen so much wabbeling, duck walking, and plain 'ole foot scootin' in my life! One idiot tore the latches off his hard saddle bag by scraping it on the gas pump! On a Road King that'll cost him a plenty to get fixed. He just looked back for a second, then wabbeled off into the sunset. I'd hate to see what our insurance rates would do if these idiots are allowed to ride w/o helmets. Crashes happen to the best of us, but only the idiots will ride without helmets, and cost all of us $ at the insurance agent's office.

 

GEAR GEAR GEAR GEAR GEAR !!!! I love gear.
3 Jackets
3 Helmets
2 pairs of Pants
2 pairs of Gloves
3 pairs of Boots
Something for all riding conditions. Found good deals on all. I might not be able to pay the electric bill, but I got my GEAR.

 

speaking of pants. i just wear jeans. what is considered riding pants excluding leather race gear???

 

Try this site out for starters. If you need/want more info, go to the manufacturer web sites
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/Department.aspx?Department=113&Division=1

 

First Im glad your ok, I think its not if it will happen but where or when ? we all take that chance when we get on a bike, i have been down 7 times and i know it will happen again, i dont like wareing a helmet but the law says i must and it has saved me so i do, well good luck and stay safe

 

Glad you're OK, definitely a lucky fella'! I can't help but to respond to this whole gear/no gear/squid/serious rider issue.

I think as riders we all go through a progression. Most of us get our first bike and quickly realize the freedom and pleasure riding gives to our overall senses. The wind is in your face, there's no frame around you, etc. You're lovin' it which often times leads to a lack of judgement and/or recognizing things can go bad. This is also the stage when you think the entire world is looking at you because you are on a bike. News flash! No one cares but you! We've all seen the numbnut at a traffic light who is looking around to see who's looking at him. Often times they are looking at you and saying "what a dipshit", not man he's so cool!

Fast forward to the first time a new rider has a wreck and/or a really close one. This either causes an awakening or it causes someone to give it up. At this point, many riders will start to incrementally add more gear because they now "get it". They've gotten through the honeymoon period of bike ownership. Their senses have calmed down a tad and they begin to realize the ramifications of a slide on pavement with no gear. This is usually the period where a "still new" rider will begin to look at "brand new" riders as squids because they're out there in flips-flops and shorts. Keep in mind some riders never make it to this phase because they are either lucky or are killed the first time.

The riders who eventually make it to the point where they wear full gear are the ones who truely get why you ride. For the experience riding the bike, not because it's "cool". I've been down enough times to know the ramifications. I have the x-rays to prove it.

All this being said, I've been riding for a while now. I've trained myself on the track by making it to the Advanced level with NESBA, MSF, blah blah blah but I STILL support the no helmet law. It's your friggen' choice if you want to take the chance. I don't want to hear about medical this and expense that. We're talking about basic freedoms every one of us should have.

Enjoy the ride, make good choices and live to tell the stories!

 

Glad you're OK - but I guess that the way forward is to wear the gear at all times. I've just come back from a tour round Europe, lots of the "cool" guys over there ride big bikes with only t shirts and shorts + flip flops!! Very tempting given the tempreture - but the thought of using my body as a piece of cheese on a cheese grater of a road, always makes me put the gear on.... everytime. Infact I've just started going one stage further and wear a back protector if I am going for a real burn.... (but that is probably an age thing...as you get older it hurts more and the thought of the hurt is greater still!!