oh dear oh dear - summertime

[Balky001]

Yes, another 'biker's in shorts are nutters' thread. However, I've not seen one so blatant and on an SV to boot.

Biggish lad, light blue SV pointy waiting to enter Bank junction in the City. Black shorts, a t-shirt (black) hanging around his neck, part covering his chest, back and stomach completely uncovered showing off his collection of tats. Wouldn't want to get stuck filtering behind that. Now, whose was it? Thinking of a cheap way to get rid of the body art or just really really hot?

[tanis34]

i saw a classic one yesterday flying around just in shorts on his honda cbr and helmet his pillion in a bikini top and hotpants crazy :confused: but what can you say their attitude is it wont happen to me i hope for their sake it never does otherwise it mite be:smt059

[Bluepete]

It does happen to them, and boy oh boy do they winge like bitches about it!


TCP anyone?

[Balky001]

i saw a classic one yesterday flying around just in shorts on his honda cbr and helmet his pillion in a bikini top and hotpants crazy :confused: but what can you say their attitude is it wont happen to me i hope for their sake it never does otherwise it mite be:smt059

Yeah, I don't normally like to criticise and each to their own but I just couldn't understand the t-shirt round the neck - hope he wasn't going to go too fast or he might have hanged himself

[tanis34]

It does happen to them, and boy oh boy do they winge like bitches about it!


TCP anyone?
never mind tcp when i worked in a+e i had a couple come in who come off their bike ,gravel rash on legs and butts n arms luckely it was only 30 mph had to use surgical brush and hydrogen peroxide to clean them up (painful)

[Rhiwbina_Squirrel]

Saw a guy on the motorway. I was doing 70 and he over took me at a fair old speed, I'm guessing he would've been doing about 80, possibly 85 and he was in a t-shirt, jeans and trainers! I'm not going to rant at anyone not wearing kit, it's their choice, but it does make me cringe when I see it.

Alex

[Lissa]

If adults choose not to wear the correct gear in hot weather, it's their choice and their skin.

What makes me froth at the mouth is letting kids go as pillion dressed the same way. Kids trust adults to do the best for them. That isn't the best, IMO.

[Razor]

I rode my bike naked the other day, it was just sooo hot.

[blueto]

I rode my bike naked the other day, it was just sooo hot.
:smt103

[SoulKiss]

On the nearly totally naked rideout yesterday (Raf was the let down there), we passed a guy on a ZX-6R wearing no shirt.

When we discussed it at the stop, I was all ready to make comment, when one of the wise ones of the site brought it up, commented on how it wouldn't have been his choice but.....

So yeah, I wouldn't have chosen that myself (mainly because of the accidents I would inevitably cause :P) people can wear what they want as far as I am concerned.

Oh and nearly naked rideout cos there was a naked Z750, SV650 and SV1000 there :)

[skippy]

I am a firm believer in wearing good protective gear at all times, but wearing my leathers today I nearly melted, I was hot and bothered and not happy. Any recommendations for good gear for the few hot days we get in this country?

[markmoto]

If adults choose not to wear the correct gear in hot weather, it's their choice and their skin.

What makes me froth at the mouth is letting kids go as pillion dressed the same way. Kids trust adults to do the best for them. That isn't the best, IMO.

Seen this today guy on a gixxer shorts tshirt and on the back was a young girl no more than 6 with shorts and a vest top on... WTF...

[Razor]

I rode my bike naked the other day, it was just sooo hot.

:smt103

Don't worry I put the fly screen back on today ;)

[tanis34]

Don't worry I put the fly screen back on today ;)
and i had visions of u doing a lady godiva:rolleyes:

[jans1971]

a bloke who came in to our local pub a few years back only wore shorts and flip flops just crazy

[gettin2dizzy]

I just feel sorry for the guys who have to clean up the bodies

[Griffo]

I also think that if people choose not to wear full gear, fair enough. However, whilst it's their skin, it's hospital staff's time, and money we've all paid that will be going towards fixing their stupid skin and repairing all the holes they've made in themselves.

If they've got private health cover I don't give a **** though! hehe

[Balky001]

that said there's an article going about on bikers having crashes due to loss of concentration due to being to hot It said if you are 40, slightly overweight and leathered up you could be in danger of losing control of fainting. I'm 40, 13.5 stone, unfit and with full leathers. Was this article just about me????:smt045 Where's my man-kini??:thumbsup:

[Griffo]

Yeah I read that too as it happens, dare say there's some sense in it, depends on the person and situation I suppose. I'm just learning how not to die, not melting too much in leather yet, as long as i'm moving!

[Ed]

I'm all in favour of proper gear BUT we need to remember that we live in a free country and it's up to individuals to make lifestyle choices.

[Balky001]

I'm all in favour of proper gear BUT we need to remember that we live in a free country and it's up to individuals to make lifestyle choices.

So true, and to be able to comment too. ;) I only posted (as I see 100's dressed skimpy in London a day) as the T-shirt necklace ticked me (not literally). It was nuts - in a totally legal way of course :D At least my man-kini will be tight and snug and not blowing in the wind :thumbsup:

[Viney]

I have my air jacket, its great. I did um and ah this mroning about jeans or leathers for the bottom half, and leathers won.

[Ceri JC]

I used to be a H&S nazi with regard to riding in proper kit, till it occurred to me that riding across town, sticking to the speed limit and riding fairly cautiously is much safer than doing the same route on a pushbike with even less protective kit (an inferior lid) and going mad with speed on the downhill sections, which I (and most other people) will happily do without thinking twice about. Yes, it's a bit dim to go out for a proper ride, or along a motorway/NSL road without good kit, but for nipping over to the beach less than 2 miles away and 30 all the way, I don't think twice about it.

[Steve_God]

Saw a girl pillion on Sunday wearing tracksuit bottoms, t-shirt, helmet, but NO SHOES!
Seriously... just socks...

[Alpinestarhero]

Someone has to supply the donor organs I suppose...

Yesterday I rode around richmond park at 20 mph with my gloves off and jacket undone. It felt really nice, kept me really cool. I can understand why people are tempted to ride without full kit....but the benefits don;t outweigh the risks. Riding home from richmond park (now zipped and gloved up) i got hot, very hot, but as long as I kept moving it was bearable. And if I got too hot, then I'd just stop and have some water and sit in the shade.

Saying that, I really wish I wore jeans. They owuld have been easier to get off when I got home than my leather trousers, they where stuck to me!!!

Ride safe

Matt

[SoulKiss]

Someone has to supply the donor organs I suppose...

Yesterday I rode around richmond park at 20 mph with my gloves off and jacket undone. It felt really nice, kept me really cool. I can understand why people are tempted to ride without full kit....but the benefits don;t outweigh the risks. Riding home from richmond park (now zipped and gloved up) i got hot, very hot, but as long as I kept moving it was bearable. And if I got too hot, then I'd just stop and have some water and sit in the shade.

Saying that, I really wish I wore jeans. They owuld have been easier to get off when I got home than my leather trousers, they where stuck to me!!!

Ride safe

Matt

Draggin Jeans are your friend then

Have a pair of those and 2 pairs of the Icon ones I got from the US.

Makes for a nice cool ride :)

[Professor]

OK, now that a few years have passed I can reveal a skeleton in my closet:
I actually rode my bike stark naked on one occasion. However

a) this was for a photo shoot (charity calendar),

b) it was terribly cold (beginning of December), and

c) I kept my boots and gloves on. Safety first!

[gettin2dizzy]

Draggin Jeans are your friend then

Amen to that!...
I'm all in favour of proper gear BUT we need to remember that we live in a free country and it's up to individuals to make lifestyle choices.
...And that!

[Davies]

I'm all in favour of proper gear too, but if it's simply too hot then it's t-shirt, jeans, gloves, boots and helmet all the way. When I was in Oz last December I felt it was more dangerous to be in full gear than it was to wear just a t-shirt because the temperature was pushing 40 degrees C, and being stuck in traffic on a litre bike in full kit isn't nice.

On the weekend me and the girlfriend went for a pootle around Richmond park in just t-shirts, jeans and trainers and it was great, although I didn't feel comfortable going above 40 so I adjusted my riding accordingly and didn't hoon around.....felt perfectly safe!

If I'm on a rideout though then I'll wear full leathers no matter how hot it is because of the increased risk of something happening, but if I'm in town on a hot day I prefer to stay cool. I did laugh though at the dude who pulled up next to us at the lights, looked us up and down and shook his head..........yeah, what ever mate FFS! :D

[muffles]

This is why I bought a pair of Alpinestar motorcycle jeans from the states last time I was there...

They don't feel as tough as Draggin jeans (and Hood jeans, which I gather are similar to Draggin), partly because the denim is so thin - but it has a second internal layer (over much of the jeans, but not all) of material, which although it looks thin - it's supposedly the protective bit (think it's some kind of nylon-base material? Can't really remember atm...). Also has some knee armour in them.

Along with those, and a second pair of boots I bought (which were intentionally discreet and go under the jeans), I have the added benefit that I can get off the bike and not tramp around looking like I have been on a motorcycle 8)

[thedonal]

A mate from work was knocked off his bike on the M25 yesterday (don't know what speed- 60-70 I think)- was in full kit- leather top, textile keks and back protector. Lost a bit of skin on his forearms, but other than that, says his back protector did it- without that he would have been in serious trouble. (amazingly, his lid wasn't even scratched after a 50 yard slide)

This makes me think I will never ride in less than proper gear (was my general policy anyway).

I've seen a few this year- including a pillion with a t-shirt and jeans this morning. I do wonder, but as said above- it's not really up to us to dictate. Just observe!

[ThEGr33k]

Scooter rider in shorts. No shoes. Shocking. Silly imo. Silly to most people I presume!

[ThEGr33k]

I've seen a few this year- including a pillion with a t-shirt and jeans this morning. I do wonder, but as said above- it's not really up to us to dictate. Just observe!

You are right to a point... You see gravel rash is clased as a major injury (for obvious reasons) and so when these foolish people slide along shedding flesh faster than jonny vagas on a diet the major injuries of bikers goes up and anti-bike propaganda gets some extra fuel.

So it does effect us in that the government looks at out safety closer and causes us all hastle.

[timwilky]

My blade riding neighbour is a paramedic.

He once knocked on my door demanding beer at the end of one bad shift where a chest cavity had opened as the vest/shorts failed to stop the internal organs being spilled as the guy slid down the road and my mate had to pick them up to send with the remains of the body

[G]

Whenever I go on my bike its normally for a purpose ie long/fast ride or commute. So wear the full hog.

Minimum full textiles with minimal armour (Commute)......Maximum full leathers will heavy duty armour.

I can understand to some extent, if someone was bimbiling 2 miles to the shop and back all in 30 zones, you COULD be tempted to wear shorts, tshirt and trainers......the risk is very very minimal. I personaly know that I would end up going the long way or having a quick blast so would never do it.

[SoulKiss]

I once rode my SV with just shorts and a t-shirt.

Ok so it was just from the front of my house, up to one carpark then back to my garage in a gated community, and I can really see why you would be tempted.

But my choice is to wear a bit more than that, but after suffering from really bad cramps due to salt loss from sweating in my leathers so much (on my CBT no less) I had to go down the jeans and mesh jacket route, and find them to be great.

Even do motorway stuff in the jeans (with added hard armour)

[jimmy__riddle]

i fell off my push bike on a road at 20mph or so, totally knackered my elbows, knees etc. dread to think what would happen if i came off even at 30.

[philbut]

yep, its just the same on a push bike, so I guess if someone is only riding round town at 30 then its a risk that they might be reasonable taking - would still wear jeans though incase the exhaust landed on my leg - I've come off pushbike and skinned my arms and legs pleanty, but at 30mph its just surface damage really (I'm currently sporting a 6 inch patch of gravel rash on my left arm). For extra urban speeds though I'd never ride in anything less than full gear.

[Razor]

I like riding without a helmet. I do it quite often, if I'm out shopping and I want to go to the other side of the shopping centre instead of lumbering about in my leathers I just hop on the bike and ride it round, my helmet on my arm. I'm doing like 20 MPH or less and some fools hoot their horns and tell me I'm going to kill myself, but they're driving a car and staring at me, they'll most likely knock somebody over.
Look after yourself, us darwin award types will do the same.

[MavUK]

Someone has to supply the donor organs I suppose...

Yesterday I rode around richmond park at 20 mph with my gloves off and jacket undone. It felt really nice, kept me really cool. I can understand why people are tempted to ride without full kit....but the benefits don;t outweigh the risks. Riding home from richmond park (now zipped and gloved up) i got hot, very hot, but as long as I kept moving it was bearable. And if I got too hot, then I'd just stop and have some water and sit in the shade.

Saying that, I really wish I wore jeans. They owuld have been easier to get off when I got home than my leather trousers, they where stuck to me!!!

Ride safe

Matt

Get an undersuit - works wonders, soaks the sweat up and is more confortable than ridign without. Then leathers in 30+ are not *so* mcuh of an issue. ANyone thinking 'just a short trip' should read big apes 'Alway wear your freaking leathers' link...

Oh - and as has been said it may be your choice, but some poor sod has to scrape you off of the floor...

[grecian9]

I saw a guy riding a quad bike on the M62 with no helmet on in the fast lane! Pretty sure he was just wearing shorts and a t-shirt too. A teenage kid lost 3 fingers in Holmfirth last week when he crashed his quad whilst not wearing any gloves. Quads may have 4 wheels but they're more dangerous than bikes as no bike test needed.

[ThEGr33k]

Indeed Quads are BAD. They are so dodgy!

AlpineStarHero - I think its ok riding with the jacked unzipped to about half way. You get a good air flow. Not wearing gloves though... Look at Bayliss, probably the best kit available on a fairly safe track lost a finger... imagine if he had no gloves! I don't want to.

[STRAMASHER]

Had a Goldwing trike go past me as I joined the M/way at about 90-100mph, blasting a bit of RAWK!:smt035 Jeans and denim shirt. Shades. No lid. Made me chuckle!:)


...but not as much as when he "hit" traffic. See me filter, see me wave goodbye!

[Ceri JC]

ANyone thinking 'just a short trip' should read big apes 'Alway wear your freaking leathers' link...



My point is that whilst it's certainly still risky, it's much more dangerous to do the same trip by pushbike:

1. Often going quicker- I tend to go further above the 30 limits on a pushbike on downhills than I would on a motorbike.
2. Usually no protective gear other than a lid.
3. Very often only shorts, rather than at least jeans as I'd usually have on a motorbike.
4. Much less visible.
5. No indicators (harder to communicate intentions to other road users) and indicating by hands compromises the bike's stability and your ability to steer.
6. More dangerous position on the road.
7. More people overtake you (being overtaken on any bike is inherently dangerous as if the person overtaking you stuffs it up, they'll invariably plough into you, rather than having a head on).
8. Can't suddenly wind on the throttle to accelerate out of harm's way.
9. More of a temptation to "ride like a k***" as you have no numberplate and little likelihood of prosecution.
10. Typically much less formal training than on a motorbike.
11. No mirrors.
12. No brake lights.

And yet, no one criticises people going 2 miles across town on push bikes just wearing a lid (if that).

I once had to go into a dealers to pick up a repaired jacket when my bike was my only transport with just a fashion leather jacket on rather than a real one. Other bikers who saw me without knowing why might of just assumed I was reckless. Don't get me wrong- I shake my head when a clown does a dangerous overtake at triple figure speeds on a sportsbike they clearly can't handle wearing shorts and t-shirt. I just think that lumping all people not wearing proper leathers together is a bit like saying all people who drink are alcoholics. As an aside, I been injured at sub-30mph round town in jeans (when I'd of been unscathed in leathers/textiles) and saved (escaped with no injuries) by good textiles at a crash at 60mph, so I'm well aware of the risks/benefits of both. I've also come off on a push bike at legal(ish) speeds and sustained worse injuries than I ever have on a motorbike. I was wearing a proper lid, high vis jacket, steel toe capped boots, jeans and 2 long sleeved tops (in addition to the jacket) at the time.

[SoulKiss]

Just remember folks, its only been since 1973 (the year of my birth) that it has been a legal requirement to wear a helmet.

[Sid Squid]

If you were really concerned about safety, I mean really concerned, there are a million things you might not do - you probably wouldn't ride at all, whatever gear you may or may not choose to wear.

No-one takes every possible precaution* every time, so we may all equally be criticised for not doing everything to protect ourselves, the difference between t-shirt man, you and me is that the decision on what's 'right' in any circumstance might be different.

Which are our own individual choices, long may we all be able to make those choices for ourselves.

*No you don't, and you make mistakes and errors when you ride just like everyone else, fortunately most times they never come back to bite us.

[tonyk]

when i used to (sometimes ) pick my daughter from school,
she had to wear gloves and got my jacket, i would ride in a t shirt...
making sure i did not come off, riding very safely...
it was more of, i did not want her to come off...
nowadays she gets on ONLY with full kit....:takeabow:

[MavUK]

If you were really concerned about safety, I mean really concerned, there are a million things you might not do - you probably wouldn't ride at all, whatever gear you may or may not choose to wear.

No-one takes every possible precaution* every time, so we may all equally be criticised for not doing everything to protect ourselves, the difference between t-shirt man, you and me is that the decision on what's 'right' in any circumstance might be different.

Which are our own individual choices, long may we all be able to make those choices for ourselves.

*No you don't, and you make mistakes and errors when you ride just like everyone else, fortunately most times they never come back to bite us.

And the fact that I make mistakes is the *very reason* I wear as much protection as possible ;). (Also the fact that others make mistakes :()

[MavUK]

My point is that whilst it's certainly still risky, it's much more dangerous to do the same trip by pushbike:

1. Often going quicker- I tend to go further above the 30 limits on a pushbike on downhills than I would on a motorbike.
2. Usually no protective gear other than a lid.
3. Very often only shorts, rather than at least jeans as I'd usually have on a motorbike.
4. Much less visible.
5. No indicators (harder to communicate intentions to other road users) and indicating by hands compromises the bike's stability and your ability to steer.
6. More dangerous position on the road.
7. More people overtake you (being overtaken on any bike is inherently dangerous as if the person overtaking you stuffs it up, they'll invariably plough into you, rather than having a head on).
8. Can't suddenly wind on the throttle to accelerate out of harm's way.
9. More of a temptation to "ride like a k***" as you have no numberplate and little likelihood of prosecution.
10. Typically much less formal training than on a motorbike.
11. No mirrors.
12. No brake lights.

And yet, no one criticises people going 2 miles across town on push bikes just wearing a lid (if that).

I once had to go into a dealers to pick up a repaired jacket when my bike was my only transport with just a fashion leather jacket on rather than a real one. Other bikers who saw me without knowing why might of just assumed I was reckless. Don't get me wrong- I shake my head when a clown does a dangerous overtake at triple figure speeds on a sportsbike they clearly can't handle wearing shorts and t-shirt. I just think that lumping all people not wearing proper leathers together is a bit like saying all people who drink are alcoholics. As an aside, I been injured at sub-30mph round town in jeans (when I'd of been unscathed in leathers/textiles) and saved (escaped with no injuries) by good textiles at a crash at 60mph, so I'm well aware of the risks/benefits of both. I've also come off on a push bike at legal(ish) speeds and sustained worse injuries than I ever have on a motorbike. I was wearing a proper lid, high vis jacket, steel toe capped boots, jeans and 2 long sleeved tops (in addition to the jacket) at the time.

All good points - I've been quite seriously injured on a push-bike before doing something stupid (racing down busy streets, didn't get hit by a car but the person I was racing) and that's the reason I'm glad I got a bike at 24 and not 17. There may be valid (personal) reasons for doing it, but I wouldn't do it...

[yorkie_chris]

When it's hot I wear a jacket made of stretchy mesh, it's got elbow, shoulder, back and chest armor in it, it's snug enough that I'm confident the armor will stay in place in a slide, and my draggin jean combats which I'm hardly ever out of.

Plus gloves, proper boots and lid.

By proper boots either the wulf sport MX style things, german army para boots, that sort of thing with ankle protection.

Halvarssons outlast insulation FTW while we're on about gloves... I've been riding in my winter gloves for the past couple of weeks for some reason, not sweaty at all even when the weathers been nice.

Anyway that's just me, 30mph speed limits don't bother me, 30mph f###ing hurts. I would advise you to wear your gear, when something so cheap can save you so much pain then why not?

Both crashes I've had on the road have seen leather scuffed from my gloves. I've lost skin on my hands before from burns and it really hurts, they were just little uns too.

[chakraist]

I went to work the other day in the boiling heat in tshirt gloves, thick corduroy trousers and leather shoes, felt quite scared but went very, very slowly (as in 30 all the way).

[DanAbnormal]

While I was in Turkey I saw about two people wearing helmets. Everyone else (and I mean everyone) rode their scooters, gixers and R1's in shorts flip-flops and no helmets either. Even in that heat I would not risk it.

[STRAMASHER]

I got pulled over in Greece going from Zante - Olympia a few years ago, and the cop took my passport , went of to book some car driver, came back "Next time , helmets on the motorway, enjoy Greece!"

Different world.

I wear what I want and ride accordingly. I remember getting my first set of leathers and thinking I was bulletproof.:rolleyes:

[Pete_58]

I really cant understand why people ride in next to nothing!!?? Obviously it is completely their choice, but even at 30mph tarmac blooming hurts!

I ended up in hospital once with cracked ribs and a heavilly bruised kidney, and that was racing motocross, with armour, kidney belt etc...

but, each to their own i suppose...