No need for safety gear...

[maximus conjugatius]

Safety First!

Right before my first MC driving lesson I bought myself a complete set of body armour. Not like the midieval stuff (though that looks nice I'm sure, it only scratches your tank a little bit ) but a nice suit with protectors inside. Just seemed like a good idea, lucky I never had to test it ( ).  Yet.

I see these guys driving the highway wearing only a crash-helmet, with shorts, a shirt, no gloves, and, off course a pair of sports shoes. Absolutely irresponsble. Think of the "ambulance-men" (correct English?), picking you off the ground...... they have families too.

But OK. Wise words. Keep sane.

[straightforward]

Believe it or not, prior to reading this post I have not even been aware that this type of gear exists for street riding use. I was like 'hey, I've got a leather jacket and gloves so I am reasonably well equipped'...

know better now, went to the shop the day after reading this and bought some summer gear with all kinds of protectors... good feeling.

Great posting!

[proudlom]

If you're not going to wear your gear, at least have the courtesy to fill out your donar card...

[sillysealey]

Greetings,


I am a new certified parking lot rider. I just passed my msf class yesterday. I have been reading this board all summer trying to get into motorcycling. Its great to hear posts about the gear and proper attire. Besides responsible riding gear is definitely up there. After my msf course, I was driving my car home and behind me was a guy and a girl on a honda cbr. Really sexy bike. He was basically riding naked, wearing a  gold chain, basketball shorts, and a sleeveless t-shirt. He did have common sense to wear a helmet but with the visor up at 50mph. The girl on the back had not type of protection either. As a kid, I hit many things on my mountain bike, garages, parked cars, signs, and the curb. Each time they hurt. I remember a helmet saving me from going to the hospital when I was like 9. I had  one of those bulging cartoon bumps on my head but luckily I was wearing a helmet. I am definitely going to gear up once I start riding. I even pointed out to my mom how stupid it is not to ride with gear on. I'm going to consider the cost of gear into the cost of the bike. So if i can't afford the bike and gear together, I dont get none at all. For me the cost of gear is definitely the cost of life. My insurance company will put thousands of dollars into saving my life but will I put a few hundred before they even have to? I definitely will. Thanks for all your help.

When you guys bought gear, did you buy it to match your bike? Did you buy it in a shop, although it might be pricier? or did you buy it online?

[Roadstergal]

When you guys bought gear, did you buy it to match your bike? Did you buy it in a shop, although it might be pricier? or did you buy it online?

It all ended up matching each other, although it was by accident.  My first bike was red, the current one black and silver.  I bought a silver jacket and black pants; I already had a silver helmet and black gloves.  I got the jacket, helmet, and boots all on sale at a local cycle shop.  I got the gloves from an online closeout.  I found a set of grey Hein Gericke leathers on eBay, and got them for a song; but I would have gotten them even if they had been orange, because I wanted a full set that fit.

I knew I would be getting a bike, so while I was looking, I kept my eyes open for sales and accumulated.

[Roadstergal]

I can't think of anywhere else to ask - but what's up with John's avatar?  I   every time I see it...

[Kerry]

what's up with John's avatar?

Do you mean "John - our beloved admin"?  

The gal in his avatar is his wife Annie.  The GS500 she bought  a few years ago is what started this incredible journey called GStwin.com.  See the Site Owner Info page.

Oh ... you're wondering about her riding gear?  Must have been a "closed course, professional rider, don't try this at home" photo shoot or something.

She really does (or at least DID) have gear.  It even matched her bike!  Follow the link above and check out the 1st photo on the page.

[Roadstergal]

Nice!  I wanted a yellow one.

[pantablo]

When you guys bought gear, did you buy it to match your bike? Did you buy it in a shop, although it might be pricier? or did you buy it online?

I bought my helmet in a shop (paid more for it too) but it was important to get the fit right. I figured they helped me with selection so I would help keep them in business since they're a good shop. Most other gear I bought online though. I bought my stuff in black (with grey accents). I dont like matching the bike but I recently bought a perforated leather jacket and the only color it came in was Red/Black/White, coincidentally matching the bike (for some reason Alpinestars only sells leather perf in red). helmet is Black. Wanted yellow for visibility, not to match anything.

[spirit33]

HERE IN AUSTRALIA, WE THINK ANYONE WHO RIDES WITHOUT HELMETS OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOTHING IN THEIR HEAD WORTH PROTECTING ANYWAY !

I SAW THE AFTERMATH OF MY FIANCE GETTING T-BONED BY CAR. BECAUSE OF HER LEATHERS HER HOSPITAL STAY WAS REDUCED BY MONTHS BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T NEED SKIN GRAFTS.
HAD BAD COMPOUND FRACTURES OF BOTH WRISTS BUT NO ARSE SKIN ON HER FACE.

ITS NOT THE SIZE BUT HOW HARD YOU GO ON THE TWISTY STUFF !

[Weed_246]

wow guys...as a scooter rider (stop laughin all of you!! soon im gettin a "proper" bike) i never thought i needed to get all the gear. I've been riding now for about 4 months. I've got a material armoured jacket, a full face Shark helmet, and leather gloves. These three items i wear everytime i ride but i only normally wear jeans/work trousers and trainers/workshoes.

After reading this thread im going out to get some armoured material overtrousers and i'll probably get some army surplus boots to wear.

Thanks for waking me up!!

[juggernaught]

It was a hot summer over here but spending $140 on a joe rocket phoenix jacket was an excellent investment. Last year in my "accident" i got to hop away with a broken foot and only because after being airborne for 30 feet and landing on my back with the back of my cranium bouncing off Brooklyn concrete did i realize how my helmet and back protector did their work.  Now this summer i have to say there were days i worked up a sweat in the heat at times (wear a cold wet bandana around your neck under the jacket)  But i never regret wearing my gear.  And already my leathers are ready for the fall...    


Keep the rubber side down.....

[mrblink]

Pretty awesome thread.  I'm actually one of those people who wears their gear.  I made sure to buy a good jacket, gloves, helmet, and boots before I ever bought my GS (neutral colors - black and silver, so they would match anything).  

My girlfriend went sliding down the freeway on her Ninja 250 one morning, and could have been seriously jacked up.  Luckily, it was a cold day, and she had her nylon alpine stars jacket and joe rocket pants on.  She popped a couple stitches on the jacket, and a tiny hole in the pants.  Her helmet was torn up where her jaw still is, and her gloves were thrashed, but hands in tact.  If she was only wearing jeans, her knee would still be on the freeway.  She was able to get up, pick up her bike, and finish riding to work.  A couple bruises, but not a single scratch on her.  Oh, she was also wearing some $40 Nordstrom boots that were all chewed up, but her feet were fine, and Nordstrom's replaced them for free.

I wasn't so lucky with my crash.  I broke my wrist really bad, but I didn't have a single scratch because of my gear.  I was only wearing jeans, and don't even remember touching them on the pavement, and somehow got a hole in the knee.  I slid the whole way on my back and arm, and my Tour Master jacket barely had a scuff.  Amazing really.

I wasn't properly geared on my legs because I only ride 6 miles to work.  After my crash, I ralized that it's no freaking excuse.  I have a pair of JR mesh pants, and some warmer Tour Master pants.  It's a pain in the ass to gear up to go 6 miles, so I bought a pair of Draggin Jeans.  They don't have any impact protection, but are 100X better than regular jeans.  I still wear the good pants on long rides.  Has anyone here ever crashed in Draggin Jeans??  I'm wondering if they really hold up, or just give me a false sense of security...

I keep thinking about all this random crap to talk about...  Advice for NOOBS on a budget.  Buy the following at minimum:

* HJC full face helmet - cheap and good
* A light colored (mine's silver) textile jacket with removable insulation and good vents.  I like Tour Master stuff.  Very good quality.  A light color won't attract as much heat in the summer, and should give you a well-rounded all-weather jacket.
* Joe Rocket leather gloves
* All-leather magnum boots.  They are comfortable for all day wear, look nice, aren't bulky, light weight, and should help in most crash situations.
* Draggin Jeans or a mesh overpant.  Regular overpants get really warm.  If it's cold, wear long underwear or something.  If it's that damn cold, you should drive.

So I'm basically saying "don't be a jackass".  You will eventually crash.  Most accidents happen when you are "just cruising", because you aren't as alert as when you are riding like a bat out of hell.  Don't make excuses, or justify your dumb ass reasoning.  If you have to justify it, it's probably not a good idea.  You can probably buy all new gear for about $600.  It's not that much.

[cujosocal]

So I'm basically saying "don't be a jackass".  You will eventually crash.  Most accidents happen when you are "just cruising", because you aren't as alert as when you are riding like a bat out of hell.  Don't make excuses, or justify your dumb ass reasoning.  If you have to justify it, it's probably not a good idea.  You can probably buy all new gear for about $600.  It's not that much.

I spent close to $1,000 on my "base" gear... Not too much, my skin is worth more...  IMHO

[sanjay]

If there's one thing I learned out of all the talks I had with friends and family and strangers before getting a bike, it was to get the best gear I could.  I spent more on my safety gear than on my GS.  College student = low budget, but I didn't skimp on the gear.  Bought through craigslist, and got some good deals.  

It's kinda funny when I go riding up in the hills and pull over to talk to some of the guys on R1's and GSX-R's who are often wearing less gear than I am.  They look at me, then at my not-so-shiny 12-year-old 500, then back at me,...

Thanks for posting that Pablo. I'd read it before, but every time I see it I read it again, just to keep things in perspective.

-Sanjay

[Nerobro]

I would suppose I get the same reaction.  new gear. 1980 bike.  I ride a 1980 gs550.  I am "on loan" from the gsresources....    Big freaking forum that covers a lot of bikes.

Just about the first thing I did when I started riding was get a helmet, gloves, and jacket.  when  I took the MSF course, I got proper boots to go with it.  

Every peice of gear I was wearing september 12's was damaged in my wreck.  

http://www.zodnetworks.com/~shorah/greg  

That's for those who are cuirous what happens to gear post crash.  

I was in the middle of a group of riders, and I tried to catch up to the riders in front of me.  I screwed up a turn, and went off at the very exit of the turn at ...45ish mph.  

I broke both arms.  The ball of the humorus on the left, and both the radius and ulna on the right.  I also broke the metacarpal part of my pinkey.  

last weekend I got the bike back togother.  Tonight I will be making it nice.  Sunday I will be doing the chicago toys for tots ride.  

I am lucky to be alive.  Wear that gear.

[mrblink]

Hey!  I had the exact same break, and exact same external fixator on my LEFT wrist.  You get full rotation??  I didn't.  :-(

[Nerobro]

I have a little more than 90 deg of rotation.  I am much less concerned about that though.  I can't lift my hand past horizontal.  So my wrist only has 45deg travel in the vertical.  Appearantly I am having some tendon issues.......

My rotation is slowly coming along.  A few degrees a week.

[straightforward]

Hi friends,

still being most impressed by Pantablo's initial post, I have sat down and translated it into German, posted it at gs-500.de, starting the thread Schutzkleidung? Brauch ich nicht!.

I've convinced myself: even if there is only one single guy / gal out there who thinks twice and at least uses a leather jacket instead of a t-shirt, it was worth these my

[poormanracing]

that original post makes this forum truly exceptional

 ive been lookin in this forum way before i bought my gs (first bike!) and it always had been a great resource for a newbie like me...after doing msf, i bought my 94 gs with the bitchin purple paint. i bought a jacket, gloves, helmet and used my caterpillar boots. i was practicing figure 8 u-turns (like in the MSF) when i first fell.. the rear break pedal hit the toe area and boy was i glad that my boots held..i quickly remove the boots to look if it went straight to my foot..glad that it didn't....i rode the gs for 25 miles last weekend on traffic (from my parents house to my crib)and boy was i glad to get home safe i never felt so vulnerable...thinkin of buying some icon knee guards and shorts, updating my shoulder and elbow pad with ce armor and a back protector.

ive been sheddin some dough in refining my bike and buying gear no wonder my_celica_is_jealous and wont start :x  :mrgreen: