Motorbikers not wearing proper protection...

[dizmouk2009]

Does anyone else feel that people who ride around on motorbikes should wear more than just a helmet? Why do people ride around just wearing shorts, jeans and t-shirts? I understand that protective equipment is pricey but I'd like some feedback from people as to why you see so many bikers not wearing proper motorbike jackets, trousers or even gloves.

Thanks in advance,

Dizmo.

[dothawkes31]

well when they come off their bike at 40 mph and all the skin on their arms and legs is scraped off all over the road they'll understand .

[dizmouk2009]

It's just a shame it has to come to that. I ride around on a Honda CM250TB and I have kevlar racing trousers, kevlar jacket, high visibility vest, thermal lined gloves (any biker will know that cold hands are not pleasant and lower overall concentration) and a £40 helmet (not as comfortable as the expensive ones but it is to the standard of protection as all the others. If I drop or scatch my helmet I won't feel too sick at the cost of replacing it!). I've been hit by a car before which, completely wrote it off. Without my leathers I would of been a dead man.

Dizmo,

[nogginthenog]

I've been hit by a car before which, completely wrote it off.

What did the driver say, sorry mate i never saw you ?

If you have kids buy them a helmet and protective gear in case he/she runs into them on the pavement the next time .

[joggerjayne]

I think it's really bad.

We get it all the time on the seafront ... bikers in tee shirts.

As Dot says ... it's not just the impact ... it's being scraped along the tarmac.

I wear kevlar, as well ... from Draggin Jeans. They look like normal jeans, so you don't have to look like The Terminator just to be safe.

[ChuckFickens]

When I first started riding motorbikes my father went to the back of the garage and pulled out an old set of leathers that he had been waring when he had come off a bike in his younger days. after having seen the state of these leathers after a relativity low speed accident I swore that I would never ride a bike without the proper clothing.

I have also gone sliding down a road a couple of times myself, OK I've ended up with knackered leathers but it's a lot easier and less painful replacing leathers than skin!

[joggerjayne]

Absolutely, Chuck.

At the Motorbike Show, on one of the stands, they had a pair of kevlar jeans, and they were placed against one of those power sanding belt things.

The kevlar lining was completely unaffected, and I thought ... yep, those are worth wearing

(just imagining your own skin against a power sander!)

[dizmouk2009]

mdoo: yes it is personal choice, I assume people don't wear leathers or kevlar gear purely because they are unable to afford it. When I put my bike back on the road (pay for repairs to be done) I always price in the cost of gear that needs replacing. Some people don't even replace their helmets every 3 years (5 years if the helmet is to a higher standard) or if they get damaged (dropped, chipped etc).

noggin: describing my accident as 'hit by a car' was, and I agree, very vague. I was riding my brand new Honda CG 125 around the A38 traffic island in Derby (opposite the little chef), a women (apparently pregnant) in a car pulled out at speed and hit my motorcycle center of the left hand crank casing (bending my gear change back double). I was thrown underneath the car and dragged around the road until the car eventually stopped. No doubt in 10 years time due to Health and Safety, pedestrians will be required to wear suitable body armer to protect them from being hit by vehicles.

JJ: If i was on a bike as big as yours I'd be honoured to look like terminator. Most people, after being in an accident involving a motorcycle don't tend to be bothered how they look as long as they are safe (or maybe I am just speaking for myself :) ). I like the analogy about the belt sander; my riding instructor said that if someone was to come off on a motorcycle traveling at 30mph they would be cut down to the femur after sliding for around 6 meter. I don't profess to know anything about how far a person could skid along the road at what ever speed but I can tell you that I wouldn't like it to happen to me!

Chuck: All parents should pull out a ripped up pair of leathers and show their children who intend to get on a motorcycle. I remember my first CBT, I was shown a clip of motorcyclist being hit by cars pulling out of junctions. Lovely stuff!

Thanks for all your comments, keep them coming!

Dizmo.