Discussion
I went out for a ride without leathers. No back protector. Army boots not race boots. Thin casual jacket. No kevlar or titanium bit, foam padding, or anything.
Didn't go over 85. Didn't want to speed much at all.
But I felt so *free*. I might even go out late one night without my lid, just to say I did something really daring for once in my life.
Just let go! deactivate your airbags and ABS. Throw away your selt belts. You'll be a lot better a driver if you know you're going to get hurt.
And feel a lot of freedom too. Crazy, but I became safer 'cos of this. Made me think that we've taken a lot of steps backwards with all this safety gear.
C
Didn't go over 85. Didn't want to speed much at all.
But I felt so *free*. I might even go out late one night without my lid, just to say I did something really daring for once in my life.
Just let go! deactivate your airbags and ABS. Throw away your selt belts. You'll be a lot better a driver if you know you're going to get hurt.
And feel a lot of freedom too. Crazy, but I became safer 'cos of this. Made me think that we've taken a lot of steps backwards with all this safety gear.
C
I went out today on me fazer and had some old tosser pull out in front of me. due to some excellent braking work on my part stopped out 2 inches from his driver door.
In this case the large padded motorcycle jacket did aim to scare the living f**k out of him as I got off the bike and started storming toward.
Many shouts of "sorry sorry sorry" then he drove off petrified.
Wonderfull! Basterd did f**k my wrist tho.! was at the wrong angle to be decellerating that hard!
In this case the large padded motorcycle jacket did aim to scare the living f**k out of him as I got off the bike and started storming toward.
Many shouts of "sorry sorry sorry" then he drove off petrified.
Wonderfull! Basterd did f**k my wrist tho.! was at the wrong angle to be decellerating that hard!
Just let go! deactivate your airbags and ABS. Throw away your selt belts. You'll be a lot better a driver if you know you're going to get hurt.
C
Crazy this, but if ever I'm driving something that should cause a few safety worries, I'm more concerned about getting tugged by the cops than actually being in danger.
Guess it's different if you ride a bike.
I know what you mean Herts, riding in 'normal' clothes feels soooo much better than being in all the powerranger gear.
But - I've come off wearing jeans/T/trainers/no lid (only at around 20-30 mph) & by Christ did I hurt for a couple of weeks. I've got a lovely big scar on me forehead as a reminder, I recon a few inches to the side & it would've been a hit on my temple & lights out!
Now I feel the hand of doom on my shoulder if I dare go out without a back protector, sort of a taunting fate thing.
But - I've come off wearing jeans/T/trainers/no lid (only at around 20-30 mph) & by Christ did I hurt for a couple of weeks. I've got a lovely big scar on me forehead as a reminder, I recon a few inches to the side & it would've been a hit on my temple & lights out!
Now I feel the hand of doom on my shoulder if I dare go out without a back protector, sort of a taunting fate thing.
Know what you mean about the comfort thing, when I first rode bikes (many years ago Italy) Helmets were not compulsory, I never had leathers, only wore gloves when it was cold or wet - biking always seemed more fun, suppose I was lucky that I never had serious injury but I certainly never worried about it then.
Now I generally wear all the gear but feel very 'restricted' (especially since my leathers 'shrunk' since I bought them
) however when I clean the bike I often nip up the road and back to dry the brakes (otherwise they rust & bind up) and have been known to go 'Lidless' in shorts & T-shirt which feels great, except for the windblast in the eyes you certainly get a better feel for the thing.
BTW in Italy many bikers still do not wear leathers or gloves and even the bike factory test riders are well know for wearing that highly approved safety gear of Jeans, Trainers, thin jacket & no gloves - however since Helmets were made compulsory 'most' now wear them.
Now I generally wear all the gear but feel very 'restricted' (especially since my leathers 'shrunk' since I bought them
) however when I clean the bike I often nip up the road and back to dry the brakes (otherwise they rust & bind up) and have been known to go 'Lidless' in shorts & T-shirt which feels great, except for the windblast in the eyes you certainly get a better feel for the thing. BTW in Italy many bikers still do not wear leathers or gloves and even the bike factory test riders are well know for wearing that highly approved safety gear of Jeans, Trainers, thin jacket & no gloves - however since Helmets were made compulsory 'most' now wear them.
It’s amazing how much the mind is concentrated my the healthy fear of death or serious injury
Examples
Working on LIVE electricity
Working at heights
Driving a seven type car
Riding a Cycle in traffic
Too many people are cosseted into believing that they will walk away due to seatbelts impact bars air bags so is ok not putting in the necessary skill and commitment to driving safely for the conditions.
Paul.
Examples
Working on LIVE electricity
Working at heights
Driving a seven type car
Riding a Cycle in traffic
Too many people are cosseted into believing that they will walk away due to seatbelts impact bars air bags so is ok not putting in the necessary skill and commitment to driving safely for the conditions.
Paul.
I'll probably bottle out of the jeans & tshirt look. Put the full works on today, felt loads more "invincible", but started going faster!
Wonder if there is an optimum level of safety gear that protects, but doesn't encourage being a loon.
Told Mrs biker that the only reason people drive cars dangerously is that they know they are unlikely to get hurt in an accident. She agreed - apparently hadn't thought of it like that before.
Don't fancy skidding up the road on skin, but man... it felt good to be out of the gear for a bit.
C
Wonder if there is an optimum level of safety gear that protects, but doesn't encourage being a loon.
Told Mrs biker that the only reason people drive cars dangerously is that they know they are unlikely to get hurt in an accident. She agreed - apparently hadn't thought of it like that before.
Don't fancy skidding up the road on skin, but man... it felt good to be out of the gear for a bit.
C
Well having been knocked off a bike at 30mph wearing full leathers (pre CE armour days) I can honestly say that I will never do more than cazzo's "down the road to dry the breaks", which in my case is a nice quite dead end, without the full kit.
Luckily I wasn't seriously injured but leather jeans had a ripped knee, left boot had no strength left in the armour, leather jacket had deep scratches, gloves written off and helmet written off - all, as I said, at 30mph (or less as I did manage to break abit) when a car pulled out on me. One car headlamp had been kicked (literally) out, bonnet was 12" shorter, bike was written off and I travelled about 20feet on my back down the wrong side of the road with on coming traffic
It didn't take much imagination to know what would have done to my body if I had not been wearing decent (for the time) leather kit. Todays stuff is much better quality (especially the armour) than back in the mid 90's as well.
Luckily I wasn't seriously injured but leather jeans had a ripped knee, left boot had no strength left in the armour, leather jacket had deep scratches, gloves written off and helmet written off - all, as I said, at 30mph (or less as I did manage to break abit) when a car pulled out on me. One car headlamp had been kicked (literally) out, bonnet was 12" shorter, bike was written off and I travelled about 20feet on my back down the wrong side of the road with on coming traffic
It didn't take much imagination to know what would have done to my body if I had not been wearing decent (for the time) leather kit. Todays stuff is much better quality (especially the armour) than back in the mid 90's as well.
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