I sure

am seeing alot more riders wearing runnin' shoes and shorts while ridin' their motor cycles. Whats up with that?
 In the 30 years I've been ridin' I have been down a couple of times. Some not so bad others not so good.
 1986 I was " T - boned " by a Chevy Luv pick up truck. The impact was directly on my right foot. The doctors in the E.R. had to cut my tightly laced jump boots off of my foot. My doctor told me if I had not been wearing the boots I would of had alot more damage than a crushed foot and ankle.
 Once in Kansas City I dumped my CB 750 on some gravel. 1984 ?  Iwasn't going very fast, rather quite slow. Had a deep purple and yellow bruise pop up after a couple of days. hurt like hell. No road rash.
 I opt to wear long jeans-helps keep the road debri flying in the air from penetrating . I still wear a good quality laced boot, even though now and then I cheat and wear my western style boots.
 There are wrecks and there are accidents. Accidents do happen.
 Hey whats your opinion?:bringit:

[Pistolchamp]

Here in south Texas it gets a bit hot and I still wear jeans and boots at all times when on the bike and won't take a passenger that doesn't do the same.

A helmet at all times is also required.

June 6th, 1981 found me on the ground in the middle of Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma after driving my 1979 Kawasaki 1300 half way through a Toyota.  It was ugly, but, I survived to ride and walk again.  Without the helmet... probably not!

[RevRider]

I don't think people think it will ever happen to them...

Personally, I don't believe you can be too safe.  I ride with a helmet, jeans, boots, gloves all the time.  I've been riding since 1979, 1 accident in the 1st year of riding, a woman made a right hand turn from a left hand turn lane, I saw it coming, slowed down, but she still clipped my muffler, sent sliding for a while.  Thanks to the coat, glove and helmet, I picked my bike up, and rode it home...

The lesson I learned was this, people in cars (especially today with cell phones) are about the stupidest, careless people on the rode.  All I can say is if I ever get hit by someone in a car on a phone, if I survive, I WILL OWN EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AND EVERY PENNY THEIR INSURANCE CARRIER HAS...but then again, here in California (I hate to admit living here - the state of political pukes, and a free-for-all non inforcement of illegal immigration) there probably wouldn't be a penny for me.

At night, I try to light myself up with reflective gear...

RevRider

[ossiningvalkyrie]

Love my dragginjeans  At 45 mph the jean part tore but the kevlar held tight. No road rash!
Boots are always on, usually the high ones, but I have cheated and used my low hiking boots when I wanted to hike some.
I have worn the black draggin jeans to work and no one can tell there is kevlar in the knees.
In fact no one had ever noticed when I have the knee armor in the jeans. They come in blue and black.
Has anyone ever ordered the shirt?
happy mothers day to all?
rider safe
:chug:
evan

Mort,

I wear jeans and Steel Toe lace boots.  On a long haul I wear Chap-Type Leather Pants with a Leather jacket.  On the hot days I will wear a lined thick Leather Buttoned shirt... maybe not a tuff as a Mesh Jacket... but will reduce the road rash by a significant amount.  Oh yeah, did I mention a half helmet on hot days... full face on the cold ones!

I seem to recall a few of your collisions and scrapes!  One with a nice tear in your elbow meat really sticks out as I recall! :crap:

I have the scar to remind me of that one. Thats when I hit the train bridge. Can't wait to see you and your bride next month.

I am one of those running shoe, shorts wearing guys.

I do it because I can, and it is what I want to do. I sometimes wear a helmet, sometimes not, depending on what the road conditions are, where I will be riding.

To me it is simply a matter of choice, I weigh the risks, and make my own choice. It really has little to do with "It can't happen to me" thinking.

I like how it feels without a helmet, with the air hitting my legs, and my feet staying cool. If I am working in the yard, and need to run to the store, I hop on the bike and ride it to the store.

I ride my bike to work a lot, and I am not getting all Geared up for a 12 mile ride, so much of it is conveinence.
I always wear eye protection.

Lest you think I am totally carefree, and reckless; when I fly my Ultralight aircraft, I always wear a helmet, eye, and ear protection, and a full seat harness.

[Valker]

However, I would hope that you have sufficient hospitalization insurance to prevent the general public from having to pay for skin grafts and body repair/therapy should a crash happen and mess you up.
I wear gear because I still have 5 kids at home to raise. It would be quite selfish of me to become a burden instead of a help to them. This is my :2cents: and is worth it
I fuss at my friends who want me to ride without helmets, etc and I say it is my decision to wear all the gear.
That's what makes us a nice, varied group.

posted by Valker [/i]
However, I would hope that you have sufficient hospitalization insurance to prevent the general public from having to pay for skin grafts and body repair/therapy should a crash happen and mess you up.
I wear gear because I still have 5 kids at home to raise. It would be quite selfish of me to become a burden instead of a help to them. This is my :2cents: and is worth it
I fuss at my friends who want me to ride without helmets, etc and I say it is my decision to wear all the gear.
That's what makes us a nice, varied group>>>


Well yes, I do have good insurance, and when I started flying, my wife doubled the life insurance. 8-)

Unlike you, I have no kids, so that relieves me of a lot of responsibility.

I completely understand your choosing a helmet, I wear one sometimes.
Most of the time I wear long pants.
I can't really understand your buddies encouraging you to lose the helmet, it is none of their business, and a good responsible decision on your part.

Out on the highway, I prefer a helmet, most of my no helmet riding is local short rides.
I tend to ditch the helmet more in hot humid weather. and always wear it when it is cool out.

Jerry P

[Parrot Head]

most accidents happen within a mile of where you live (been there, done that, got the t-shirt).  Something to think about before going lid less on that short local ride.:doh: :doh: :doh: :2cents:

Hey Jerry P., I understand your choice as I sometimes go without a helmet myself. I know alot of people think it is a careless decision, however I have taken plenty of precautions, Large life Ins policy, very good medical Ins and a long term disability policy.
If there is anything I have a problem with it is people riding without a helmet and expecting the tax payer to pick up the bill while they lay in the hospital. Of couse I feel the sameway about people who never exercise, eat fast food, smoke and drink, then when they are fifty expect the tax payer to pick up the check for open heart. I always wear long pants and over the ankle shoes and most of the time I wear long slevee shirts. That's what I love about this country, we can make our own choices.

['KC']

I agree with wearing plenty of quality gear, I am a believer in Leather, lots of it. I finally learned that THERE IS a time that it is too hot for leather. I've been to Sturgis, 106-112 deg. and been asked how I could wear leather? I asked how could you not? (you never know when something is going to happen).
In July of '02 I rode with RH, LD, and the Florida pack from Helen, Ga. and I learned that it CAN BE too hot for leathers. I still almost always wear my chaps, but have found other jackets.
I always wear really good boots, gloves, and the highest quality helmet that I can afford.
Had a hard get off in July of 1993; I rear ended a stopped Jeep Cherokee in the fast lane at night (just over the crest of a rise) at 60 MPH, I moved the Cherokee 198 ft. The only road rash that I had was a half inch dia. spot on one knuckle, (I had some other injuries too).
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR QUALITY RIDING GEAR!!!!

[hoser]

I like knee length jean shorts, T shirt, preferably valkyrie related with some smart ass remark about horsepower or number of cylinders, with lace up boots(those valve covers are hot) and a shorty helmet, sometimes with a leather cap instead.  I think I look very stylish.:jump: Oh, and don't forget the shades!

[WisconsinSteve]

I've heard that same thing about most accidents happening close to home. So I moved. ;)