Cap'n Bob said:Does it prevent a broken neck or internal injuries from killing you? Sorry, I couldn't resist. Now where's the pop corn because here we go! opcorn:
Rev Ryder said:I wear it and will continue to as long as I ride. That's my two cents anyway.
JimA said:Not me! I wanna feel the wind on my skin! J/k - couldnt resist!
Is that girl actually barefootin' it? I may be crazy, but I'm not THAT crazy...JimA said:
ChipDoc said:Is that girl actually barefootin' it? I may be crazy, but I'm not THAT crazy...
GlenJJ said:Thanks for the post OP (and hot weather comments from ChipDoc) and I wanted to ask how others handle the heat and humidity...I lived in Orlando for a few years and although I am in the Ozarks now (we have hot and humid here too) I wondered how those who are ATGATT handled the heat/humidity issue.
I wear my riding jacket all the time unless I am just going to pass out from the heat (just how I roll). I was seriously thinking about shopping for a more summery lighter jacket as the First Gear jacket I have is pretty thick even with the liner removed.
Does anyone have a good recommendation for lighter more summery riding jackets that still give reasonable protection? Thanks in Advance.
GlenJJ
GlenJJ said:Thanks for the post OP (and hot weather comments from ChipDoc) and I wanted to ask how others handle the heat and humidity...I lived in Orlando for a few years and although I am in the Ozarks now (we have hot and humid here too) I wondered how those who are ATGATT handled the heat/humidity issue.
I wear my riding jacket all the time unless I am just going to pass out from the heat (just how I roll). I was seriously thinking about shopping for a more summery lighter jacket as the First Gear jacket I have is pretty thick even with the liner removed.
Does anyone have a good recommendation for lighter more summery riding jackets that still give reasonable protection? Thanks in Advance.
GlenJJ
Ranger Jim said:When I'm touring during the warmer months I wear shorts and a tee shirt under my Aerostitch Roadcrafter or Darien Light/Darien Light pants. I make sure all the vents are open. Yes, it's hot when I'm not moving but I have plenty of fluids on board in a camelbak-type container. I wear elkskin roper gloves and Vasque hiking boots with wool socks. When I'm riding around home, running errands and such, I wear First Gear mesh gear (jacket & pants) over shorts/tee shirt, elkskin roper gloves and lightweight motorcycle boots (don't know what brand they really are but were offered by Buell). Helmets are HJC Sy-Max II and a HJC IS-Max.
For those who choose to wear less protective gear because "it's hot:" I, truly, hope you never get to find out how uncomfortable it is to crash without it.
S Smith said:ChipDoc said:Is that girl actually barefootin' it? I may be crazy, but I'm not THAT crazy...
Flip-flops - the Florida State shoe.
JimA said:Not me! I wanna feel the wind on my skin! J/k - couldnt resist!
I'm sure unhappy to hear of your accident and injury ChipDoc. I agree 100% that the gear is a lifesaver. Are you going to have to buy a car now?ChipDoc said:I'd really like to put in a good word for my FirstGear Kilimanjaro Air mesh jacket. It's a 3/4 length touring jacket and I love it because of all the pockets and other wonderful convenience features. Sunday night I got to experience another of its great features when I plowed into a left-turning car at 45mph, sailed over the trunk, and found myself lying in the street.
Yes I broke my wrist, but there's not much which can guard against that. But I wound up hitting on my left side right on the armor and it did its job. I didn't even get any road rash - none. That jacket may well have saved my life. Way to go, FirstGear!
twowheeladdict said:This is my observation over the years. The more gear a person wears the more risk they are willing to assume. Meaning the faster they will take the curves increasing their risk of a single vehicle wreck.
Careful, defensive SKILLED riders have less risk of going down or getting run off the road or getting hit.
But, there will always be the risk of the unforseen. The animal in the road. The drunk / unattentive / sleep deprived driver. etc.
I tend to wear my gear according to how and where I am going to be riding and the level of risk I am willing to incur.
My gear is all motorcycle specific but some offer more protection than others.
Rev Ryder said:I'm sure unhappy to hear of your accident and injury ChipDoc. I agree 100% that the gear is a lifesaver. Are you going to have to buy a car now?ChipDoc said:I'd really like to put in a good word for my FirstGear Kilimanjaro Air mesh jacket. It's a 3/4 length touring jacket and I love it because of all the pockets and other wonderful convenience features. Sunday night I got to experience another of its great features when I plowed into a left-turning car at 45mph, sailed over the trunk, and found myself lying in the street.
Yes I broke my wrist, but there's not much which can guard against that. But I wound up hitting on my left side right on the armor and it did its job. I didn't even get any road rash - none. That jacket may well have saved my life. Way to go, FirstGear!
twowheeladdict said:I tend to wear my gear according to how and where I am going to be riding and the level of risk I am willing to incur.
My gear is all motorcycle specific but some offer more protection than others.
Every time you throw a leg over that sucka you assume all the risk that exists... life and death, drunks on the road, deer in the headlights, cell phone soccer moms in traffic, someone putting on their makeup or reading the newspaper or texting or spilling oil and this list can go on and on and on. So my take is this... IF I am assuming a life and death risk every single time due to the unforseen, why not take out the insurance?
For me, personally, I know that changing what I wear changes the feel and operation of the bike. IF I want to be as confident and safe as possible, my preparation includes being completely comfortable riding in my gear so that the feel of gloves or boots or riding pants or an armored jacket is my NORMAL when on the bike. Then I am set free to concentrate on looking for the unseen mayhem dude. My $23.97 on that one.
twowheeladdict said:This is my observation over the years. The more gear a person wears the more risk they are willing to assume. Meaning the faster they will take the curves increasing their risk of a single vehicle wreck.
Careful, defensive SKILLED riders have less risk of going down or getting run off the road or getting hit.
Good point Rev we all know that its the folks that have EFI and Turbo on their bikes are the ones that take the unnecessary risks.
Mcfly said:It's unfortunate the rider is only a percentage of the equation. ATTGATT is a
practice that tries to compensate for the other parts of the equation.
Those parts are not consistent, including other drivers, road conditions, weather
conditions, a rider's mental and physical condition, to name a few. It's these
variables that push me towards ATTGATT
You can do everything right.... and it can still go wrong. That's what all my gear
is for.
Mcfly said:It's unfortunate the rider is only a percentage of the equation. ATTGATT is a practice that tries to compensate for the other parts of the equation. Those parts are not consistent, including other drivers, road conditions, weather conditions, a rider's mental and physical condition, to name a few. It's these variables that push me towards ATTGATT . You can do everything right.... and it can still go wrong. That's what all my gear is for.
millsan1 said:I had this conversation the other day with a person in my condo in the elevator:
She: You must be hot in all that gear (it was over 90 that day)
Me: Yeah it is rough
She: It is too hot to be wearing all that stuff
Me: The ground is too hard to not wear it. I dress for the crash, not for the ride.
She: OMG you are so smart and manly, take me now!
cra-z1000 said:Conservative riding with less gear won't stop that idiot from hitting you , deer from crossing your path , etc , etc . You don't get to choose when accidents occur .
Rev Ryder said:I'm sure unhappy to hear of your accident and injury ChipDoc. I agree 100% that the gear is a lifesaver. Are you going to have to buy a car now?ChipDoc said:I'd really like to put in a good word for my FirstGear Kilimanjaro Air mesh jacket. It's a 3/4 length touring jacket and I love it because of all the pockets and other wonderful convenience features. Sunday night I got to experience another of its great features when I plowed into a left-turning car at 45mph, sailed over the trunk, and found myself lying in the street.
Yes I broke my wrist, but there's not much which can guard against that. But I wound up hitting on my left side right on the armor and it did its job. I didn't even get any road rash - none. That jacket may well have saved my life. Way to go, FirstGear!