Adding fuel to the fire? ATGATT.

Logical Answer: crotch rot? You get used to the heat, I work in AC all day, I suit up in my stuff, don my brain bucket and march out to the time clock, punch and get on my scooter. If was doing a labour intense job out in the elements (sweating my balls off) I might think about commuting on a motorcycle. In South FL, AC in your car is not a luxury, its a mandatory! I may Jeep it in one day this week, just so I don't forget how to drive.

Got ventilated leathers, may try them out in near future; for now, I still with the Aerostich suit. Peace Out :thumbsup:

 

I've always been prone to getting heat strokes regardless of what I do as far as hydration. Perhaps is a medical condition? Not sure.
I've had that book for years and still read it every now and then.

 

All that may be true, but when I'm uncomfortably hot in jeans and mesh jacket, I can't imagine what full leathers would be like. I guess it's just what you want to get used to. And spending 5 minutes changing into full leathers for a 10 minute ride to the shop, I just couldn't talk myself into it. I can see why people do it, and don't think they're crazy, but I just can't talk myself into it.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't wear full leathers to go to the store, I use them when going on long all day rides, particularly if it's a sport ride. I have other gear that I use for doing the "quick run to the store" light weight, fully armored and comfortable to boot.

 

Okay, that makes total sense, and is very doable.

 

Have you tried a mesh jacket Mofo? I bought a JR from Revzilla and love it. Except for the elbows shoulders and upper back, It feels like a t-shirt. Downright chilly in the shade.

 

LOL!!

You and every dude on here.

 

Here, let me tell you. I don't know if it was 110 but it was 100 and more at times. Bitching hot when you stop. Proper undergarmets and hydrations is huge.

 

Took a ride up the mid Oregon Coast yesterday. Inland it was kind of toasty. I don't know how to covert that to F or C.. The coast route was perfect. The wind off the ocean keeps things cool. I took an inland route on the way back. Summer here for me is riding in a "vintage" Aerostitch rig. Keeping cool at least wearing an Aerostitch is easy. Toss a sweatshirt or a cotton sweater in your stuff. stop at any place that has water and if possible wet the sweatshirt or sweater. The wet gear goes under the jacket just in case that was not clear. Works like a swamp cooler.

 

Guys, I can't get into all the details yet, but most of you know I was in a head-on collision with a semi last week and totaled my bike.

I cannot stress enough how important your gear is, and how it factored into minimizing my injuries.

Each and every piece of equipment was destroyed - but did their job in protecting my body.

That said ... I won't tell you what to do or not to do, but I can guarantee you I won't ever hop on my bike without ALL my gear on, and I won't ever chince out on the quality of it. In the end, it factors into your survival and minimizing any suffering in a huge way ...

 

Hi Jeff. You have insight better then most now and it is important to hear. Thank God you are ok. I hope you get riding again soon. Laker

 

First chance I get ... been scouring Kijiji for bikes all night between Ontario and Alberta.

There are only 3 bikes I'm looking at ...

VFR800 (6th Gen) w/ABS
VFR1200FA w/ABS
Concours 14 w/ABS

 

Hey Guys,

I am in the ATGATT camp. But, just to throw something in here, there is a school of thought that goes along the lines of "The more gear you wear, the more you believe in your own invincibility", kind of "if I don't wear much gear I know it is going to hurt, but if I am kitted out like a stormtrooper from Star Wars I can take more risks because even if I do come off I am well protected.

just my $.02 worth ( or 2 of whatever the smallest denomination of coinage is wherever you live) !!

Be Safe People

D.E.D.

 

I am 62+ and I ride ATGATT (99.5%) for the simple reason is that the gear is like a condom.

An inexpensive piece of protection will prevent a life time of grief. We are free in this country the USA and people can wear what they want. That is their choice. Other countries such as in Europe they are required by law to wear gear all of the time. IMO this is good and bad. the government is telling them what to do but here we do have a choice and the outcome of an incident here because of the choice you make may not be great.

Is gear a pain? Yes but just falling in a parking lot the armor can save a knee or elbow. I rode my ST1300 last week with jeans on because I was lazy and found that the engine heat was not very comfortable. With gear I had never noticed the heat from the engine. Riding in high temps? That is what they make water for. Drink it wear it whatever. it is good for you. I have soaked my riding jacket and pants in water on 100 degree days out west here and boy what a difference that makes. I may only last an hour or two but it is worth it.

 

I have Rob. As a matter of fact, I have two textile perforated jackets and use them.

 

The smallest denomination coin in the US is the penny. It started oot being copper. During WWII it was steel with a zinc coating. A fun thing for kids of that era was to solder one of each to a bit of wire, dunk the whole thing in a mild acid and generate some electricity. The zinc coated pennies are rarely seen anymore. The copper pennies are being phased oot for alloy types. Before long, even those will go, and like the 12oz lb that BTW ain't no way metric, the American penny featuring Honest Abe Lincoln will be replaced by the Centavo.

Muchos Pesos everyone.. and Adios America.. (a real book by Ann Coulter)

I'm glad nobody so far did the "Wearing a fucking helmet infringes on my God given civil rights when I ride my Harley" bit.. Thankee Jesus..

 

There's also the inverse to this mode of thinking. If you're not thinking about if/when you'll be in a crash, then you will most likely be concentrating on riding and less on the "what if". Personally I find that while I have my gear on, I don't even think about what if I were to crash, my concentration is on my lines, speed, and being more cognizant of what's around me. Not thinking about what would happen if I were to crash, gives me that much more "brain space" to concentrate on the other more important items! That being said, everybody's mind set is different, so of course, YMMV!

 

Jeff, I'm glad you're ok!

I look at it this way. I have Cycle Gear Sedici brand leather gear. Rapido Jacket track pants and boots. It takes me no more time to put on this gear than it does jeans etc, especially since I'll be wearing a jacket, gloves, boots already. Do I get hot sometimes? Sure. But, as long as I'm moving, I'm good. I've only had low speed offs and the gear I was wearing helped, but the textile jacket I was wearing in one off slid up my arm exposing my forearm to the pavement. Still, the armor took the impact of the initial hit.

I don't think we need to look further than Jeff above to get an example of why ATGATT makes sense. You gotta put clothes on to ride, so why not make it clothes that are going to protect you? It doesn't even take any more time. FWIW, I have ridden in leather in 111 degree desert heat and in 95 degree humid heat in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee, as well as hot humid days here in SoCal. I've ridden in 40 degree temps while wearing my perforated leather, and while I was initially cold, I learned to hide behind the fairings and kept going. On colder days, I just switched to my Fly Racing textile jacket and wore the liner with some warmer clothes under it. I won't wear less than all my armored leather gear. It's stupid not to.

That said, on my trip last year, I saw so many people flying down the highway wearing nothing. Not even a helmet. F*cking idiotic, but we at least have the freedom to be stupid, at least in some states. But, crashes aside, as I've stated earlier, I have rocks hit me on leather sleeves of my jacket and it hurt, a lot. I can't imagine what a bare arm would have felt like. Bugs and rocks hit helmet HARD and again, what would a bare head feel like?

ETA: I know that there is better gear out there, i.e. Dianese and Alpinestars, etc, but Sedici has a lifetime warranty, so if anything comes unstitched etc, I just get a new item. I've tested it in a lowside caused by a failed radiator cap that leaked glycol coolant onto my back tire mid high lean angle turn and it saved me. I literally got up and my only thought was of my bike. Then, it was gratitude for the gear, as my foot slid under the bike for a bit and I didn't even know until I looked at my gear at home. No injuries at all. Scratches on the leather instead of road rash on my arms and legs and a ground down broken ankle.

If anyone is wondering about the gear, I actually emailed Cycle Gear about it a few times and I received an email back from Jesse Duncan, the street gear Product Manager.

 

So, is it more about culture then? Harley riders wear next to nothing in the way of gear, but I've seen guys on touring and crotch rockets wear as much as Harley guys. Of course, this is in different states for the most part.
I just don't get why we -Californians- really go out of our way and label everyone that wears little or no gear as "stupid" and are adamant that everyone should ride atgatt. Why do we care? What happened to freedom? Is it that we feel better talking about how stupid others are?
I grew up like most of you did. Taking risks and paying the price for my decisions -or lack off- when things went wrong.
Personally, I can't care less what you wear on your ride, none of my damn business. Riding and making friends is what I'm into, not giving sermons and judging what you ride or choice of how much gear anyone wears.

 

mofo ... there's no doubt that it's a personal choice ... I don't live in Cali and I think it's stupid if you choose not to wear your gear - but in the end it's the riders choice.

All I can tell you is that gear definitely plays a roll in your survival, and if you do survive, the degree of your injuries.

I will always wear my gear. I always have, but this just drove it home further.