How geared are you?

90% of the time, I'm fully armored, head to toe. About the only time I don't is to ride the bike around the block after I wash it or to the local gas station if I'm prepping the bikes to trailer them somewhere.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

I officially have 10 years on my Aerostich, that works out to be 100 bucks a year for gear, can't wear the damn thing out! and I don't think my buffalo hide chaps I bought in 1983 are proper sport riding gear! Interestly my chaps would cost 3 times as much today as what I paid when I had them made for me. My Vanson leather coat I also bought in 83 for 300 fetches nearly 500 bucks now.Leather last forever if you treat it right.

 

I'm the same regarding riding to work.

Shoei RF900 helmet, DriRider Carbon Force jacket, DriRider Summit pants or Draggin Jeans, AlpineStars GP Pro gloves, SetUp H2O GP boots. I'll get around to getting a set of leathers one day...

 

I'd have to agree with the majority here...

I dont have leather pants yet BUT...
I always ride with all my gear.
I have 2 Jackets (1 leather 1 textile for hot days)
2 Helmets
couple different pairs of gloves
and a good pair of Icon boots...
worst case I wear a high pair of leather hiking boots when commuting to work.

Too many idiots on the road to not wear my gear!

I went out to Chicago this summer, and to my suprise NO helmet law!
I saw MANY people flying through interstate highway traffic on sport bikes with no helmets or gear...some with no shirts even!
Just a little suprising, Its been years since I've seen that here in MD.

 

Aerostich two piece, Arai QUANTUM, Alpinestar boots and roadracing gloves. Don't leave home without 'em.

 

There are two types of riders:

1) Those who have fallen off.

&

2) Those that will fall off.


Been ridin 41+ years, and I wear full race 2 piece Dainese Kirishima leathers w/full armor in the summer & Cortec ADX insulated textile jacket w/full armor mated to Tourmaster Carbon insulated pants w/full armor in the Winter. KBC carbon fiber helmet. Sidi Canyon Sympatex boots. Lee Parks full gauntlet gloves in summer, and Olympia gore tex insulated gloves in winter. I do not leave home without full protection.

Had a cousin that was ridin his chopper back in the seventies wearing a tank top, and went down. He spent two weeks in the hospital, and countless operations grafting skin from unmentionable places on his body to repair the rash.

Like the saying goes...."there are old bikers, and there are bold bikers, but there are no old-bold bikers"....would rather be the former...sure beats the alternative.

 

90% of the time:
Joe Rocket armored jacket
Arai helmet
Gerkee gloves

more than half the time, I wear my Alpinstar Boots
(otherwise, I wear some Doc Martin shoes)

and when "Touring" or riding "Sporty" with my other bike friends,
I wear some Vanson Sport Touring pants

 

I always wear my boots, gloves, full face helmet, and a jacket with some kind of armor/protection.

Recently I was in the market for a new jacket as my previous one was getting old. I ended up getting one of those airbag jackets (www.impactjackets.com), and it's not bad. When it's warm I remove the nylon wind liner and the ventilation is excellent.

 

I am ATGATT

 

I'm too fat for leather pants

Mostly geared.

 

I am in the pants-on-the-way group. Jeans for now, but will have real riding pants before the season gets into full swing.

 

Alpinestars Z-1 Jacket w removable liner & armor (Red White and Black)
Icon Timax Gloves (Red)
Icon Recon Pants
Icon Mainframe Helmet (flat black)
Need some boots

 

1/ Full face helmet
2/ Jacket (ALWAYS) either mesh, leather or winter weight
3/ Gloves either summer or winter weight
4/ Boots
5/ Either leathers or Levis
6/ Latest addition that I just cant do without now ... ear plugs!

And I ride to work every day I can :smile:

 

Regardless of the weather: Joe Rocket armoured textile jacket (liner comes out when the summer arrives), HJC Full Face Helmet, jeans (looking for armoured type), gloves & boots.

 

I always wear a helmet, gloves, and long pants. Sometimes, when it's warm I wear the armored, mesh jacket (without the shoulder or back inserts). I also have armored mesh pants but, truthfully only wear them at Deals Gap. That's the only place I worry about it. Around town in the summer, I am sometimes guilty of wearing a t-shirt and jeans (still with the helmet and gloves).

In the winter, a standard, old-school biker leather jacket. I've been wearing that type since 71, and see no reason to change.

I don't race around much, so I don't dress like a racer. Yes, I have crashed before...numerous times in the dirt, and a few on the street, but I don't push my limits these days.

To me, it seems that lots of guys wear the full-race gear for the same reason Harley riders all dress the same. It's just another uniform, and a guy who can't ride, or doesn't ride smart, isn't safe regardless of what he wears.


Lane

 

Always always ride with full Kit on but find it is important to wear what is most comfortable Vs most protective so on very hot days or commute to work wear Draggon Jeans rather than regular leather ST pants and my quality Cordura Gortex beathable Jacket instead of my normal Leather Jacket.

Gloves are all Alpinestars:

Regular/fast riding = Alpinestars SP Plus
Hot riding/commute = Alpinestars Octane SuperMoto
Cold & Wet = Alpinestars Tech Road GoreTex

Boots are Alpinestars SMX-3 Gortex.

My last slide in Nov '04 was very happy I was wearing everything as was in hostpital nursing only 2 broken ribs unlike the squid in the triage room next to me who speaking to his mate in the waiting room had come off at a similar speed but was being scrubbed with hard bristle brushes before I was admitted and his road rash was still being scrubbed shoulder to feet after I left .

 

Here's another thought I feel I should pass along. Many people start to feel incincible when they wear full race-gear. The "Ricky-Roadracer" persona can take over, and I've seen many guys crash because they suddenly thought they could do no wrong. Don't fall into that trap.

Ride smart! Remember, nobody sees you, and nobody cares. I use the "law of gross tonnage" as a guideline when I ride. Whatever can squash me has the right of way.


Lane

 

Mostly geared- Boots, jacket, gloves, and a Helmet, although my pants combo (4 layers) has protected me (road rash wise) very well in a slide. So maybe I should have voted fully geared. Board shorts, sweats, wind breaker style jogging pants and loose jeans over the top. (they have to be loose to fit over all the other stuff)
Also, I always wear a baggy sweat shirt over my fully armored leather jacket.
I just like the jeans and sweat shirt look, plus the sweat shirt polishes and protects my gas tank while I ride... Yes, I'm serious.
In SOCAL there are only a few differences between winter and summer gear. They are my helmet, gloves and I take the winter liner out of my jacket.
Summer: Dirt bike helmet and fully armored yet breathable gloves.
Winter: Street bike full face helmet and fully armored thick leather gloves that cut out wind.