All the Gear, All the Time?

First topic message reminder :

As the title suggests really. I was wondering who wears full leathers/textiles EVERY time they ride?
So far during my riding career I've always worn full protective gear. However sometimes it'd be handy to go somewhere in jeans, like a meal for example.

I know you can get jeans designed for bikers with protective elements but I'm always unsure how well they work? After having an off, I was glad I had proper gear, and even they had a hole melted in the hip and elbow. Would the jeans fair any better/worse?

Please note now, I'd never ride in regular jeans!

Regards

Mike

MrNutt wrote:

Snowcat wrote:

MrNutt wrote:the petrol stations the rideouts stop at dont know whats hit them lol....

Rub their grubby little petrol soaked hands together though when £400+ gets dropped in one hit

that is very true steve , theifing barstewards...

Should have a word with "The Robertcains" about contacting the fuel stops on route to see if a group discount can be organised!!

haha, yeah I mean if nick can sort the weather and places for grub and the route and all of that, surely a couple of quid off a fill up cant be much to ask lol

MrNutt wrote:haha, yeah I mean if nick can sort the weather and places for grub and the route and all of that, surely a couple of quid off a fill up cant be much to ask lol

I is a listening ya knows [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Back to the original subject I'm hoping less peeps try out thier PPE this year [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Nickmarvy wrote:....Man, looking at the poll results this is one risk adverse group.

Or just sensible?

Always ride in full gear.
I've had some stupid offs in my time (back down everyone!) and, apart from the embarrassment, have got off lightly.
That's because I was wearing the appropriate gear.

I wear shorts if I want to get a tan!

I'd rather go out in full leathers/textiles with helmet and gloves etc, come back in one piece having not had an off but safe in the knowledge that I'd taken every precaution to protect myself and stay safe should the worse happen.

I've been out in some lovely weather, BC last year being a good example, and not once have I struggled out of heavy armour etc and thought "that ride would have been so much better in shorts and flip flops"!!

It's about having the precautions in place and not having to use them I think.

Sitting in the towns at traffic lights I would have killed for shorts and flip flops and so might have my bike, but as other day if rather wear the proper gear just incase that one off chance comes up..

Getting myself sorted before i pass, (hopefully) I'm getting there
Bought me a jacket with armour off fleabay brand new,

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bidding on some puckka boots too, 2 days to go on these.

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Also bought a 2 peice armoured suit size 50 (euro) thought it would fit but the guy must have been tiny. Just need to get protective trousers now

Oh yeah, theory booked 2 weeks (dont ask for a date cause I won't answer lol) from now and MOT booked for wednesday,
Hopefully fullfill my ambition to meet up with you guys.
Will let you know how it all goes

PS, my better half has just bought me this as an early fathers day prezzy, only snag is I've been told I can only have it when I pass my test, still love her tho lol

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cant wait, will be looking pro lol

Looks good. Bet you're excited. You'll be knackered if you ever buy a different colour bike though! and that's not a snag as such, unless you were planning on wearing it 'round the house? :d

Regards

Mike

i'm really excited, I love red, its the fastest and best colour to have so my next bike would be red anyway.

as for

unless you were planning on wearing it 'round the house? :d

I will be A LOT

95% of the time I'm in full gear but if it's popping to the local tesco or food place I change my leather trousers to bike jeans, but always jackets glove lid and boots

Always full gear for me top to toes!

I think it was Ride mag who did some comparative abrasion tests a year or so back, to see how Kevlar-reinforced bike jeans (not sure of the make) stacked up next to leather. IIRC, they didn't do too badly, but the surprise was that the textile pants they tested were just that - wore through in no time, even quicker that 501's.

Of course, it depends on all sorts of things, and in a real world situation who knows what would happen. And although the textile pants wore quickly, at least they have armour.

I had an off at relatively slow speed (20-30 mph) some years ago wearing fabric kit (fairly cheap Frank Thomas stuff), and that certainly wore through the outer layer, though not the lining, even at that speed. It was repairable, though never completely waterproof afterwards.

I think this experience made me doubt the wisdom of spending huge sums on top-of-the range Goretex kit, for the average rider anyway, when you can stay just as dry with basic leather or textile and a waterproof oversuit.

I know at least two all-year round riders, one an ex-dispatcher, who just wear an offoad-style armoured vest and a cheap yellow PVC jacket from a builder's merchant on top (plus however many layers you need to keep warm). It's certainly arguable that the armoured vest is more likely to keep the armour in the right places in the event of a spill. It just looks a bit odd to see a bionic person when they take the jacket off.

What isn't in any doubt, though, is that leather is way better than anything else for protection.

i did have 3 crashes.
so YES everytime