PLEASE READ: long post, sorry.
So there have been a few discussions about gear recently and I am glad! I have been pretty disappointed in my own level of protection, but I am looking to remedy that this year and I hope all of you will too.
My normal commuting attire in the past has been a FF helmet, jeans over dress pants, leather riding gloves, and a crash tested leather jacket. In colder weather I wear snowboarding pants, a winter coat and thicker gloves.
After reading this article that was posted here in the cafe, I have really been motivated to upgrade. I hope you all read it too.
http://www.rockthegear.org/index.php?/testimonials/view/brittany_morrow_the_r...I can tell you from experience that jeans offer absolutely ZERO protection against pavement. Not all leather jackets are created equal either. Most department store jackets or motorcycle-style jackets are not thick or strong enough to handle a fall at even 15 mph. Again, i learned this. I also know that it's not the impact that hurts,
it's the slide. Once you start to slide,
and you will slide, you cannot stop it. Whatever part of you is being ground into the asphalt will have to take it until the slide stops on its own. And the things you will slide on most will be your hands, knees, shoulders (a reason to get gear for each!).
I used to ride without a helmet sometimes or put it on the the backrest, but what good is that nice expensive helmet going to to do there? Wear it! You cannot predict which ride you are going to have an accident. Last time I took a low speed tumble on grass. I came to standing up, fully conscious, coherently talking to a police officer. Even with the cushion of the dirt and grass, I still bumped my head hard enough to black out
. That's like taking a punch from a professional boxer, with the helmet! I could have been brain dead.
If you think "oh, that won't happen to me, I'm a safe rider," or "I've been riding all my life and never blah blah blah," then you are truly stupid or just plain ignorant. Statistics are against you. The old adage that there are two types of riders is true: those who have and those who will. No matter how safe you think you are, you can never account for road conditions, other drivers, or just freak occurrences. My dad has been riding longer than I have been alive and he went down 2 years ago on some gravel that had accumulated in a corner. Very low speed, broke his lower leg. A couple of thousand dollars later and his leg still hurts. My buddy just got hit by a car. In the ER but ok. It happens, neither of them saw it coming or were able to do anything to prevent it. We all know someone who has died riding. I cannot say that gear could change any of these incidents, but it will never do more harm. Hindsight may be 20/20 but is worth f*ck-all after it has happened.
Closing statements:
Seriously, this stuff does not have to be expensive. A $50 KBC helmet will do just as good of a job as a $800 Arai for how we ride. I implore anyone reading this to please spend just $100 this year on some actual gear. If you don't have gloves, get a cheap pair. If you don't have an abrasion resistant jacket get one. Don't have a helmet? What the hell, man!? If you think you are stronger than steel and asphalt, don't think of gear as protection for yourself.
Think of it as protection for your family and loved ones from the pain losing you, or the horror of watching your spend months in the ICU after being partially skinned alive on the highway, or having to feed you through a tube and empty your sh!t bag. I wouldn't wish that on anyone i know. Don't forget about the financial burden of hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical bills. Gear will look cheap after that.
For anyone worried about price, check out
motorcycle-superstore.com. Great prices and review on everything, plus they do returns!
Seriously:
FF helmets from $44
Pants less that $90
Jackets, plenty under $90 too
For those worried about comfort, mesh is great for the summer and is more breathable than jeans (and no, its not see through). even taking the pads and armor out still gives you a lot of protection. Helmets are not uncomfortable, if it is, you got the wrong one. I actually stay cooler in my black helmet in the summer b/c it keeps the sun off and is vented.
Worried about looks? seriously? do you care about how people think you look? Besides, you ride a motorcycle! you're already look cool!
Would you rather dress up like pirate like harley guys do or be called a squid?
Finally, I don't want to criticize anyone here, and of course, it's your choice. I want everyone to be safe so you can continue to post here and be a part of this great community!
I will never stop riding, but I have absolutely no reason not to protect myself.
What's your excuse?
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