Getting Your Gear On



ScottBug

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I ride motorcycles, I ride them quickly, sometimes faster than is responsible and prudent. I used to crash a lot riding bikes but being as I was immortal I never wore much stuff to protect me and I have the scars to prove it. Good thing I never hit anything very solid.

I have a cousin who was in an accident the first time he rode with his friends I’m not sure why he crashed, I do know he isn’t the same guy anymore, his parents will be taking care of him for the rest of their lives. He did hit something really solid. I have a friend who used to ride Harleys, he said he fell asleep on the way home while on the freeway. Aside from the scars, after he came out of the coma he’d lost quite a few I.Q. points and tends to be forgetful.

I have other friends and relatives who have walked away from some ridiculously high speed crashes with injuries that have required nothing more than a hot bath or two. The difference gear; the people who dress for the fall are going to survive better. My absolute minimum that I put on before every ride is a full face helmet, jeans, leather or Cordura jacket with CE certified armor, above the ankle boots and gloves. That’s if I’m just going to the store or for coffee. If I plan on riding quickly on the county roads near home or a trackday the minimum’s go up to;  helmet, riding boots, leather pants and jacket that zip together or a one piece suit and armored gloves that are gauntlet length, all of it padded and well built. Yup it’s hot, yup it’s kinda uncomfortable to walk around in, yup the cruiser folk tease me and my friends but it beats the hell out of losing half my already skinny ass or face on a freeway or county road that looked smooth till I hit it. It’s also beats being fed with a spoon by my wife or father (if you knew my father you would understand). If you’re gonna ride, ride responsibly and buy slightly better gear than you think you can afford and wear it every time you ride. Honest it hurts less.

Some recommendations: Aerostich makes fine one and two piece Cordura riding suits they are waterproof and come in a multitude of colors, not much style but lots of colors and the Iron Butt guys swear by them.

Shift, Alpinestar, Spidi, Vanson and a ton of others make wondrously protective one and two piece leather suits with or without knee sliders depending on how racy you’re feeling, most also make boots and gloves. Soumy, Arai, Shoei, Shark, Scorpion and KBC make good to great helmets. Sidi and Frey-Daytona make boots that will keep your ankles safe during that 140mph get off. Helmiot makes some really nice gloves, protective and comfy. Most of this stuff is expensive, all of it is high quality which is important both so you will wear it and for when it and you hits the road or your favorite track because you made a boo boo.

Some of you are thinking to yourselves but Scott I don’t ride like you or that crazy old man Walter do and I’m super aware of conditions blah,blah, blah, all I have to say to that is, are you sure, I mean really sure as in god spoke to you personally and said “nope you aren’t gonna crash ‘cause you’re my guy or gal” if not you will at some point in time fall off and when you do what do you want to be wearing. A doo rag and flip flops or good gear?