hi all!

i'm new here, my name is alex.  i picked up a 1993 GS500E a few weeks ago, and between the few quick rides i've had around my apartment building's parking lot and the huge number of useful posts i've read here, i can honestly say that i couldn't be happier about my choice to join the GS family.  it's great that there is such an involved and friendly community that is so willing to help one another out. 

i finally got the ball rolling this week towards getting the bike on the road.  my tires finally arrived (pirelli sport demons - thanks to starwalt for the list!), so i could get the bike inspected.  i'm going to get it titled today, and my MSF course is next weekend.  the only outstanding issue left is my gear, which brings me to my question:

how many of you actually wear riding pants / boots?  i've already bought most of my gear (helmet, jacket, gloves) but i'm not sure whether i'm going to buy pants or not.  it seems like a lot of the people here (and a lot of riders in general) opt for jeans based on comfort and convenience, despite their lack of real protection.  it also seems like most people choose to wear medium-weight shoes (light boots) or sneakers instead of motorcycle boots.  i know that we all "should" wear full gear all the time, but how many of you actually do?  and in your more experienced opinions, how necessary are these last 2 pieces of gear?

i was leaning towards some heavier boots for riding (doc martens or something else that's leather and covers the ankles), but i'm still not sold on the pants...  what's the group consensus?

Welcome

We should wear ATGATT (all the gear all the time), but like you mentioned pants are usually the lowest on the list of gear.  I just wear jeans, though I'm always thinking I should get some riding pants.  I even tried some one time, but they didn't fit very well and I never replaced them.  I know every time I ride I'm risking rash on my legs. 

I always wear some kind of boots that cover my ankles.  I usually prefer my motorcycle specific boots, but depending on my destination I occasionally just wear work boots that cover my ankle.  I think the ankle is the most common place for injury on a motorcycle if you go down.  I remember hearing that somewhere, but I don't have a source on that

Welcome Alex, I like Wolverine boots, mainly because I have to work in them too. If you dont buy motorcycle specific boots make sure you get some boot with oil resistant non slip soles. Like I said the Wolverine durashock works well for me. I should buy some riding pants myself, but funds dont allow yet. Good luck and have fun.

I always wear pants

On the bike though I have a pair of mesh overpants with armor in the knees and hips, and a pair of tour master jeans with leather lined seat/knees and knee armor. While lower body injury is less likely to kill you, it can still be incredibly painful and take a long time to heal. I'd rather have at least some protection. Currently I'm wearing work boots while I ride, not motorcycle specific but they cover the ankle and have a steel toe and shank. No ankle protection though, but I haven't seen too many motorcycle specific boots I like...

I've been wearing Icon riding boots since day one.  If I'm staying very local I'll be bad and just wear runners.    I like my Icons (sorry, don't know offhand the specific type, probably their cheapest ones... about $100CAD) because they are comfortable enough to do some walking in them and just regular old black.]

Riding pants are tough.  I bough a pair of Joe Rocket Ballistic 5.0 but find I really only ride with them on cold days or for very long rides.  I am very happy with them and intended to wear them for every ride but they are a lot of work to put on and off.  I don't regret buying them but they get used very little. 

Why don't you look into a pair of those riding jeans?  I think they are just regular jeans but with some level of protection in all the proper places.

Look for DRAGGIN Jeans on ebay , there combats and Jeans with Kevular Lining 

Welcome and congradulations on the bike!

I've been wearing overpants, now, for 4 years, and feel absolutely naked without them: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=11184.0
Although, I'm still only wearing hiking boots (lighter means less mass to fling your leg about, and flinging is what breaks things).

Overpants, only $50, been a good investment.  The FirstGear HT overpants, although less denier-age, have knee armor, and pockets for hip armor, and only go for $115 (at the most).

I wear  leathers in winter/cold period, otherwize in texas its very hot and most days I wear  the mesh pants (phoenbix 2.0 joe rocket)  they are easy to get on, and let all the air I need to stay cool, so I dont feel "overheated" in spring/summer times.

in winter its the joe rockets leathers or joe rocket balistic 5.0 (great for real cold days and unlike the leathersm no need to change pants when you get to work)