What is it with some bikers?
Discussion
virgil said:
Find it ironic that when learning to ride (read wobbly, unsure etc) I wore Jeans, walking boots, borrowed jackets, helmet, gloves.
Now I wear all the gear everytime I ride. BUT one thing I've always wondered - if it is OK for a cyclist to wear nothing more than a spray on lycra skin when they can and do hit 30+mph, why is a slow pootle about on a motorbike any more dangerous?
I'd love to ride (slowly) in jeans, trainers, shirt and just sun glasses (IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS)
Just a thought.
Now I wear all the gear everytime I ride. BUT one thing I've always wondered - if it is OK for a cyclist to wear nothing more than a spray on lycra skin when they can and do hit 30+mph, why is a slow pootle about on a motorbike any more dangerous?
I'd love to ride (slowly) in jeans, trainers, shirt and just sun glasses (IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS)
Just a thought.
Agree totally! In fact I've just got in from a cycle blast when I was going pretty quick in shorts and t shirt! In the end who cares what people wear?! Wear what you want and enjoy. I would never tell somebody they were right or wrong in wearing one thing or the other. In Italy the other year I saw a bloke riding a scooter (pretty quick) in speedos, just made me laugh!!!
Its only really here and in Germany where I have seen people obsessed about riding in the right gear! We should all just chill a bit!
Virgil - good point re our pedal pushing cousins.
Is it not a case of rider confidence, for me atleast.
If I ride in jeans (Dragon with Knox armour) jacket, boots etc etc I ride ok, but with leather on I feel more confidant and ride better. While I know better riding on my part won’t affect someone pulling out on me, but might make me less likely to crash on my own?
It should be a matter of personal choice, for me leathers
Is it not a case of rider confidence, for me atleast.
If I ride in jeans (Dragon with Knox armour) jacket, boots etc etc I ride ok, but with leather on I feel more confidant and ride better. While I know better riding on my part won’t affect someone pulling out on me, but might make me less likely to crash on my own?
It should be a matter of personal choice, for me leathers
Edited by gordski on Wednesday 11th April 11:56
chilli said:
Not really as simple as "if you think it's dangerous". If you were worried about danger, you wouldn't get outta bed in the morning (although seeing your post at 02:05, I doubt you do anyway!) I guess it's just down to personal choice and managing risks. As David has said before, we are all taking risks and I agree on the point that it's imperative that we can make our own decisions, but I would never get on a bike without the full gear on....my choice.
However, I do wonder in years to come, if Ipotter around on something "comfy" whether I'll change my mind?
I posted at 02:05 because i work nights ,but are still generally up and about early - cos i'm that sort of person. Very early when i'm not because it's the best time to enjoy a counrty road(especially in the cerbera).I've owned many bikes since i started riding in 1978 and a had a few tumbles . And if you come off ,IMHO yes the correct gear(and don't get me wrong cos i own a fair collection of it) will save the skin on your arse n elbows. But it won't do nothing for you leg if a car slams into the side of you or if you overcook a corner and plough into a wall or in car coming the oppositeway.
Riding within your limits and riding well(don't read that as POTTERING around ,because it's never been in my vocabulary) is what will save your arse!!.
The goverment want to take it all away from us . Hang on to it - and enjoy it whilst you can . It's changed alot since my first days scratching round on a 250,and I don't beleive it's all for the better. God i sound like my dad
chilli said:
Grant's post got me thinking....Lovely bike, all keen to get out there...etc. How many blokes have I seen on quality bikes, no expense spared, wearing jeans, trainers and sometimes no gloves......Who lets them out like this? Anyone on here a regualar "casual dresser"?
Amazes me...perhaps I'm just getting old?
Cheers.
Amazes me...perhaps I'm just getting old?
Cheers.
In my youth, on a 175cc traillie I just wore jeans, DM boots, leather gloves, polycarb helmet, and a thick Army jacket. It was all I could afford. I do think it's a bit risky these days to blat about on a bike in traffic with just a T-shirt and jeans on. Seems to be many more eejits out to get you nowadays.
My leather jeans were in the menders last week, so the bike stayed in the garage.
Having said that, what got me started in biking near 10 years ago was hooning around Cyprus on a DT125 in shorts vest and baseball cap. The only thing remotely protective was the sunglasses keeping the wind and dust from my eyes. Now, though, as already said by others, I feel wrong popping to the petrol station around the corner without my full kit.
Buck
Having said that, what got me started in biking near 10 years ago was hooning around Cyprus on a DT125 in shorts vest and baseball cap. The only thing remotely protective was the sunglasses keeping the wind and dust from my eyes. Now, though, as already said by others, I feel wrong popping to the petrol station around the corner without my full kit.
Buck
chilli said:
Grant's post got me thinking....Lovely bike, all keen to get out there...etc. How many blokes have I seen on quality bikes, no expense spared, wearing jeans, trainers and sometimes no gloves......Who lets them out like this? Anyone on here a regualar "casual dresser"?
Amazes me...perhaps I'm just getting old?
Cheers.
Amazes me...perhaps I'm just getting old?
Cheers.
What's your point?
We all choose what level of risk we are happy with. I've been riding for decades, on all sorts of bikes, but am sometimes happy to ride in jeans and trainers.
You think that it should not be allowed, or what?
northernboy said:
chilli said:
Grant's post got me thinking....Lovely bike, all keen to get out there...etc. How many blokes have I seen on quality bikes, no expense spared, wearing jeans, trainers and sometimes no gloves......Who lets them out like this? Anyone on here a regualar "casual dresser"?
Amazes me...perhaps I'm just getting old?
Cheers.
Amazes me...perhaps I'm just getting old?
Cheers.
What's your point?
We all choose what level of risk we are happy with. I've been riding for decades, on all sorts of bikes, but am sometimes happy to ride in jeans and trainers.
You think that it should not be allowed, or what?
My point is that I can't understand people who would ride without the proper gear on. Let's not repeat all of the other posts about mitigating the risks etc, I'm merely stating the fact that I wouldn't even think about it, and it makes me cringe when I see people riding in their "beachwear".
As for whether it should be allowed or not...I never mentioned that it shouldn't be allowed. You do what you like, but if my mate/brother was a rider I'd be suggesting full kit everytime.
Got my point? No? Discussion on everyones thoughts.
chilli said:
...I never mentioned that it shouldn't be allowed. You do what you like, but if my mate/brother was a rider I'd be suggesting full kit everytime.
Got my point? No? Discussion on everyones thoughts.
Got my point? No? Discussion on everyones thoughts.
Well, do did say "who lets them out like this".
I see no problem with it at all. I'll ride in a t-short (with elbow protection) off road, but tend to wear extremely good equipment on longer trips.
What do you wear? Have you gone to town on the best stuff?
One thing to remember is risk homeostasis, of course.
northernboy said:
chilli said:
...I never mentioned that it shouldn't be allowed. You do what you like, but if my mate/brother was a rider I'd be suggesting full kit everytime.
Got my point? No? Discussion on everyones thoughts.
Got my point? No? Discussion on everyones thoughts.
Well, do did say "who lets them out like this".
I see no problem with it at all. I'll ride in a t-short (with elbow protection) off road, but tend to wear extremely good equipment on longer trips.
What do you wear? Have you gone to town on the best stuff?
One thing to remember is risk homeostasis, of course.
TBH I can't argue this anymore. I get what most on here (you included) are saying, and take it on board. However, I can't change my opinion on whether or not it is a wise course of action....just can't, and I don't think I'd ever ride without it.
I wear fully protected textiles in the cold, and a 2 piece leather suit on the summer. No, I haven't gone to town on the best stuff, purely for the fact that I can't afford to do so. I have however, bought the best stuff I could afford...advice I gained from friends and a majority of guys on here.
chilli said:
northernboy said:
chilli said:
...I never mentioned that it shouldn't be allowed. You do what you like, but if my mate/brother was a rider I'd be suggesting full kit everytime.
Got my point? No? Discussion on everyones thoughts.
Got my point? No? Discussion on everyones thoughts.
Well, do did say "who lets them out like this".
I see no problem with it at all. I'll ride in a t-short (with elbow protection) off road, but tend to wear extremely good equipment on longer trips.
What do you wear? Have you gone to town on the best stuff?
One thing to remember is risk homeostasis, of course.
TBH I can't argue this anymore. I get what most on here (you included) are saying, and take it on board. However, I can't change my opinion on whether or not it is a wise course of action....just can't, and I don't think I'd ever ride without it.
I wear fully protected textiles in the cold, and a 2 piece leather suit on the summer. No, I haven't gone to town on the best stuff, purely for the fact that I can't afford to do so. I have however, bought the best stuff I could afford...advice I gained from friends and a majority of guys on here.
Each to their own, but I have to agree with what Chilli says.
biker's nemesis said:
Each to their own, but I have to agree with what Chilli says.
About what, though?
That you really can't understand why people sometimes ride in less than full kit?
It feels good. It is fun. Like sex outdoors, dropping into a ski run that scares you to death, or hitting 150mph+ on your bike.
Sadly, most things which are great fun are dangerous, and riding in no kit is one of them.
northernboy said:
biker's nemesis said:
Each to their own, but I have to agree with what Chilli says.
About what, though?
That you really can't understand why people sometimes ride in less than full kit?
It feels good. It is fun. Like sex outdoors, dropping into a ski run that scares you to death, or hitting 150mph+ on your bike.
Sadly, most things which are great fun are dangerous, and riding in no kit is one of them.
As I said, each to their own. If you have read the whole thread you would have seen that I do occasionally nip out in jeans and trainers.
Sex outdoors and ski runs? all good fun but nowt to do with riding kit.
Riding to and from work in the City, in jeans and trainers, sorry or suited and booted is a different ball game to going out for a blast in the country side or hitting 150 plus.
Chilli in my opinion was merely pointing out that some seem to spend a small fortune on the latest and greatest, with not much thought to safety.
John.
Fair enough, I would not nowadays ride at over 100 without the proper kit. However, at 150, I would argue that you are maybe safer in the t-shirt. A crash on the public roads at that speed, I'd assume, is 99% likely to kill you no matter what you wear (chances are that you'll hot something solid at high speed), and you are going to be much more carful as you see the cheese-grater like tarmac shooting past when your skin is exposed.
It must be a modern or sports bike thing Mr Wedg1e,a mate of mine who only does track days now and no road riding, calls it cheque book biking! , shiney bike - shiney leathers , makes some feal safe from danger(though it's an illusion).
The guy the other week who ploughed his GSXR into the front of an oncoming car at an very high speed on the Stokesley to Helmsley road was apparently put into two seperate black bags ,and his one-peice race suit didn't save him !!
When you run out of talent your in the hands of lady luck.
Chilli: maybe your time would be better spent thinking of small ways of trying to keep things together out there ,than saying things like "WHO LETS THESE PEOPLE OUT", who are obviously more confident/comfoftable on two wheels than yourself.
P.s. Mr Wedg1e we'll have to meet up for a ride out sometime.
The guy the other week who ploughed his GSXR into the front of an oncoming car at an very high speed on the Stokesley to Helmsley road was apparently put into two seperate black bags ,and his one-peice race suit didn't save him !!
When you run out of talent your in the hands of lady luck.
Chilli: maybe your time would be better spent thinking of small ways of trying to keep things together out there ,than saying things like "WHO LETS THESE PEOPLE OUT", who are obviously more confident/comfoftable on two wheels than yourself.
P.s. Mr Wedg1e we'll have to meet up for a ride out sometime.
Edited by blueflash on Friday 13th April 01:16
blueflash said:
It must be a modern or sports bike thing Mr Wedg1e,a mate of mine who only does track days now and no road riding, calls it cheque book biking! , shiney bike - shiney leathers , makes some feal safe from danger(though it's an illusion).
The guy the other week who ploughed his GSXR into the front of an oncoming car at an very high speed on the Stokesley to Helmsley road was apparently put into two seperate black bags ,and his one-peice race suit didn't save him !!
When you run out of talent your in the hands of lady luck.
Chilli: maybe your time would be better spent thinking of small ways of trying to keep things together out there ,than saying things like "WHO LETS THESE PEOPLE OUT", who are obviously more confident/comfoftable on two wheels than yourself.
P.s. Mr Wedg1e we'll have to meet up for a ride out sometime.
The guy the other week who ploughed his GSXR into the front of an oncoming car at an very high speed on the Stokesley to Helmsley road was apparently put into two seperate black bags ,and his one-peice race suit didn't save him !!
When you run out of talent your in the hands of lady luck.
Chilli: maybe your time would be better spent thinking of small ways of trying to keep things together out there ,than saying things like "WHO LETS THESE PEOPLE OUT", who are obviously more confident/comfoftable on two wheels than yourself.
P.s. Mr Wedg1e we'll have to meet up for a ride out sometime.
Edited by blueflash on Friday 13th April 01:16
Aye, by all means, give me a shout. I ride the HGV of bikes, you'll be right at home
If you do a quick search on the Gazette website, it's quite scary how many people have stuffed it on that road in the last couple of years. Do they just leave their common sense at Chop Gate or something? I mean, it'd be fair enough if it was like the IOM and you knew there'd be nothing coming the other way, but
it's a public bloody road! I accept there may be contributory negligence by other drivers but most accidents on there seem to be one man, one bike... I reckon it's only a matter of time before there's a blanket 40 limit, no overtaking on it. Not that that would stop some people... I learnt to ride a motorbike in Greece.
70mph in nothing but shorts, t-shirt and a pair of aviators was a daily occourance.
No helmets. To tell you the truth, I much preferred it that way. Granted, I was probably about 6000% more likely to die in the event of a spill, but the whole point of being alive is to feel alive - and nothing beats feeling alive than going as fast as possible on a twisty road with no helmet!
If I killed myself, I killed myself. I was only risking myself.
Now there isn't many times where I am not fully dressed up on the bike, although if its a short journey I sometimes wear jeans, boots & jacket rather than armoured trousers.
70mph in nothing but shorts, t-shirt and a pair of aviators was a daily occourance.
No helmets. To tell you the truth, I much preferred it that way. Granted, I was probably about 6000% more likely to die in the event of a spill, but the whole point of being alive is to feel alive - and nothing beats feeling alive than going as fast as possible on a twisty road with no helmet!
If I killed myself, I killed myself. I was only risking myself.
Now there isn't many times where I am not fully dressed up on the bike, although if its a short journey I sometimes wear jeans, boots & jacket rather than armoured trousers.
My view on the risk is that I choose to ride fast when I do, and I'm happy with the risk, but we take a risk whenever we go out riding, even very sensibly, because of all the car drivers out there totally oblivious to what's around them. It's that risk I'm uncomfortable with, as it's much more outside my control, and the main reason for not venturing very far without protective kit. It's about managing the risk/enjoyment compromise. Donning my full kit is hassle, but doesn't reduce my enjoyment once I'm out there. Riding ultra carefully does reduce my enjoyment. Simple.
Buck
blueflash said:
Chilli: maybe your time would be better spent thinking of small ways of trying to keep things together out there ,than saying things like "WHO LETS THESE PEOPLE OUT", who are obviously more confident/comfoftable on two wheels than yourself.
Edited by blueflash on Friday 13th April 01:16
Are you suggesting that making general observations about other road users is a waste of time? From the advanced training I have done, hazard perceptions, forward observations etc are drummed into you as a major part of expect the unexpected. Not suggesting that a biker in just his pants is gonna take me out, but you know what I mean.
I agree with you, a majority of riders probably have more talent and are more comfortable on a bike, but that doesn't take into account other road users who may not be so clued up.
Really sorry guys, I respect that a lot of people have put good posts on this (and a few divvy ones) but I still think riding without the proper gear is a bad idea.
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