South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

It's up to you.

I've been sitting in the sun today at work watching bikes go past with riders in shorts and t-shirts even one without a shirt, the moped riders are the worst today saw one in flip flops.

I came in this morning in full leathers, boots and gloves was hot but safer.

I remember years ago when my sister got a moped, she would wear bike trouser and jacket but wouldn't wear gloves, I pinned her hand against the wall and said pull it out, she wouldn't as said it would scratch too much made her think about it Lol

Goes to show the importance of good bike gear and that you ware it.

The bit that got me worried is motorbike kit that is advertised as being able to protect you that basically isnt.

Got some kevlar bike jeans that I have been told are no better then normal jeans and got Oxford Superdry boots that Ride mag reviewed and advised would literally last a couple of seconds when skidding down the road and don't really protect your feet much more then a pair of wellies.

Hence now I always where full (thick) leathers. race boots, gloves, back plate, 4* (or above) sharp rated helmet.

It might be a faf to put it all on but I would not want to fall off without it..........

Here here! My brothers life was saved by wearing top of the range gear, he might have weeped a little bit when they cut it off him and it wasn't because of his shattered bones... He still rides today because he had the gear on and I don't even ride to the shop with out it

I agree, can't beat decent kit.

But then again, many years ago, the only safety equipment used on a Vanvan 125 in Corfu was a towel on the seat to stop it burning your backside - yeas a helmet was provided but the shell came off leaving the liner on your head - that stayed at the apartment. Oh & bees hurt at 50kmh.

I experienced heat last year in the south of France, jacket open to my chest, jeans & boots - sweating so much it stung my eyes & the sweat made my gloves dye my hands!

Sorry I'm not helping but yes, I'll pop out later wearing leathers - I personaly think they are cooler to wear than kevlar jeans though.

dchurch1604 wrote:I've been sitting in the sun today at work watching bikes go past with riders in shorts and t-shirts even one without a shirt, the moped riders are the worst today saw one in flip flops .......

Here we go, the usual annual summer weather gear nazi b*ll*cks.

Mopeds. A two wheeled vehicle restricted to 30mph. How many cyclists have you seen? How many of them were wearing full leather suits, gloves, boots, back-protector, etc?

How many cyclists do you expect to see wearing the above? Then why expect any moped rider, or indeed anyone riding in an urban area, to wear any more than a cyclist? The average road cyclist can maintain an average speed of 25mph nowadays, and keen ones 30mph even and everyone seems quite happy for them to do so in a thin shell of Lycra ........

Would I do it? No, not really ...... But that's not the point. Someone hooning down the bypass, or anywhere over 30mph, fair enough, but I really struggle to see the difference between mechanically or human propelled two-wheel devices in an urban environment ......

I tend to feel a tad vulnerable without the proper kit, mostly because I've learnt the hard way and so I've invested in some decent kit over the years.

Although the pan (st1100) I use for training is excellent against inclement weather, I have always got on well with Caberg helmets, Frank Thomas leathers, Richa textiles, Hein Gericke boots, and Roleff/Richa gloves I've been using a Richa c-change jacket for the Winter and heavy weather, It's an expensive piece of kit, but so far so good it got me through -5 (without wind chill factor) and every down pour last winter, Richa trousers with armour and goretex over trousers, my hein gericke boots (Tuareg) have lasted 5 years, that might be because I'm a fat lazy [bar steward] that does not like to walk or the quality of the boot, which is rather good n all, they've never let a drop of rain in, even on the KTM.

I started to wear my summer kit on Saturday, a very light Richa breeze through summer jacket with complete armour including spine, and breeze through trousers again with hip and knee protection, an excellent pair of Roleff ventilated leather summer gloves, with knuckle and finger kevlar armour and also doubled stitched on the palm, I'm currently using a new pair Richa (adventure) boots so far so good but a bit too big and hot for summers.

I agree with the other posters good kit is worth investing in.

TLS-Moose wrote:

dchurch1604 wrote:I've been sitting in the sun today at work watching bikes go past with riders in shorts and t-shirts even one without a shirt, the moped riders are the worst today saw one in flip flops .......

Here we go, the usual annual summer weather gear nazi b*ll*cks.

Mopeds. A two wheeled vehicle restricted to 30mph. How many cyclists have you seen? How many of them were wearing full leather suits, gloves, boots, back-protector, etc?

How many cyclists do you expect to see wearing the above? Then why expect any moped rider, or indeed anyone riding in an urban area, to wear any more than a cyclist? The average road cyclist can maintain an average speed of 25mph nowadays, and keen ones 30mph even and everyone seems quite happy for them to do so in a thin shell of Lycra ........

Would I do it? No, not really ...... But that's not the point. Someone hooning down the bypass, or anywhere over 30mph, fair enough, but I really struggle to see the difference between mechanically or human propelled two-wheel devices in an urban environment ......

How about this for a reminder of how important it is





Those boots save my foot..... Nuff said

billinom8s wrote:

TLS-Moose wrote:

dchurch1604 wrote:I've been sitting in the sun today at work watching bikes go past with riders in shorts and t-shirts even one without a shirt, the moped riders are the worst today saw one in flip flops .......

Here we go, the usual annual summer weather gear nazi b*ll*cks.

Mopeds. A two wheeled vehicle restricted to 30mph. How many cyclists have you seen? How many of them were wearing full leather suits, gloves, boots, back-protector, etc?

How many cyclists do you expect to see wearing the above? Then why expect any moped rider, or indeed anyone riding in an urban area, to wear any more than a cyclist? The average road cyclist can maintain an average speed of 25mph nowadays, and keen ones 30mph even and everyone seems quite happy for them to do so in a thin shell of Lycra ........

Would I do it? No, not really ...... But that's not the point. Someone hooning down the bypass, or anywhere over 30mph, fair enough, but I really struggle to see the difference between mechanically or human propelled two-wheel devices in an urban environment ......

i see plenty of nippers riding peds in flip flops and the like, it's the summer, it's cool!, and as long as they stay upright nothing occurs, they'll be learned if they come off, even at 20mph, and then have their skin removed from their arses to cover their arms and legs, (no it's not happened to me) but I was bucked off a Norton 750 commando years ago on a dirt track, I stupidly ham handed the front brake which seized having being garaged for six months and high sided it and slide for a while on my left elbow, it wore out a lot of ink and still itches today.

When you get on a machine, it's not worth taking any risks, car drivers treat learners like shit, even if you're on a 50cc wear the minimum safety standards, a good helmet, jacket, jeans, boots and gloves, we only learn through experience.

The best safety device to have in a car isn't the seat belt,airbag,abs etc, but a 9" spike in the steering wheel boss. So the best safety on a motorbike might be that you have to ride naked.
https://youtu.be/JC47sZet5po?t=115" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I would but I feel the cold so I prefer quality clothing full leathers boots gloves and helmet

mike69 wrote:The best safety device to have in a car isn't the seat belt,airbag,abs etc, but a 9" spike in the steering wheel boss. So the best safety on a motorbike might be that you have to ride naked.
https://youtu.be/JC47sZet5po?t=115" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I would but I feel the cold so I prefer quality clothing full leathers boots gloves and helmet

I'd still lick the motherfucking Krud outta her gstring!

I think people are missing my point. I always wear boots that protect my ankles. I always wear decent, leather gloves. I always wear a jacket.

What I'm trying to point out is the gear-nazi attitude that comes out every summer when someone is seen pootling through town, sub 30mph, in T-shirt/shorts cos its so blimmin hot. Likewise all the spotty like on their personal that won't best 30 downhill with a following wind. No-one blinks twice at a cyclist riding in exactly the same state of undress, and yet they are often travelling at the same speed, so if its acceptable for a cyclist to be so attired at those speeds then why is it unacceptable for a pedd/biker ?

But moose, what you have to remember is that not many people mind if a cyclist comes off unless there squat.
But if a motorcyclist comes off it was because of riding too fast, acting a fool or other similar and then becomes a statistic to help put insurance up more.

I am the same, boots gloves jacket at least just because it's not always your fault. I couldn't ride round in shorts and flip flops,

Everyone must have been hit by a stone at some stage. Imagine that on bare skin

Would the added weight of a ped ( say 100kg) not drag it's rider a bit further down the road at 30mph?