Temptation ...

I see a lot of people wearing Jeans (normal jeans) on bikes ... sure better than nowt, but barely surely???

I should imagine at say 15mph, you'll stop in what 5m??? It'll still go through the jeans, but you will end up with just a nasty graze, but at 30mph+ by the same virtue, its only going to have minimal affect? Jeans are going to go through in the first couple of meters aren't they?? I really don't see that as much more sensible than nothing at all!!

To me it is either leathers (or proper textiles) or it might as well be shorts!!

Also you can wear all the protective gear you like, when you hit that lorry head on at a closing speed of 100mph its all irrelevant anyway

On my MOTORbike I always wear full leathers, however hot ... but psychologically I feel less vulnerable/as well protected as possible ...

I sometimes wonder if I should go out in shorts as the inherent feeling of vulnerability might keep the speeds down and me more alert ...

I dunno if it is an urban myth, but the safest car ever was a old American car that had a big spike in the middle of the steering wheel

[yorkie_chris]

Very wierd when I fell off my 125, I had normal jeans on and my knee was well scuffed. But my ar$e and hip had some pretty big grazes without a mark on my jeans?!?

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Very wierd when I fell off my 125, I had normal jeans on and my knee was well scuffed. But my ar$e and hip had some pretty big grazes without a mark on my jeans?!?

Skin is weak stuff ... you imagine your behind landing on the deck with the full force of your body (+acceleration) landing on it instantly ... its gonna be quite a bit of force, your skin will rub HARD on the inside of your jeans as they swivel round that few CM before they become taught!!

This is also what worries me about textiles ... where they are not spray-on and rigid like leathers, you are going to get a lot of movement between your skin and the jacket/bottoms in an off ... I think you could still end up with some pretty nasty abrasion related injuries ... also where the armour won't stay in place in an off, I am not sure it will do much good ... not as much as in the tight fitting&sturdy leathers ..

Obviously textiles have to be much better than nothing at all, but I personally prefer leathers, for two reasons ... firstly the aforementioned concerns and secondly, I think leathers look cooler!!

I prefer to sweat it out and stay safe. If I get too hot, I'll just pull over where tehres some shade and have a rest and some water

All cars should come fitted with that big ass spike on the steering wheel, it will be best saftey device to be ever fitted.

Its up you what you wear on the bike, I either wear full armour textiles or leathers, not willing to take the chance to many idiots out there.

For those wearing just a lid I see it as a form of natural selection. I saw a kid in East London on a RS125 a year or so a go just wearing a cheap lid, shorts and trainers. Man if he came off wearing that he would be in a world of pain.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Its been hot and sunny, wearing leathers means sweating buckets ... who succumb to the temptation of not wearing them?? ..

Me, wearing:
- Summer armoured gloves
- Textile armoured jacket with air vents
- Knee armour to fit either under or over my jeans.
(And Helmet ofc...)

Much cooler and still protected!

[Supervox]

The only time I don't wear 'full-on' bike gear (Lid, Leather or Textile Jacket, Leather or Textile Trousers, Boots, Gloves) is when I ride to work when I wear my usual chino-type trousers.

Silly ?

Possibly, although it is only just over a mile to my office through the village, with no main roads - at approx 0650hrs as well so not a lot of traffic around.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

For the trip to Torquay I added extra leg armour

Jeez, that Torquay must be rougher than I thought!

It will see you well warmed up too in the sunshine - i have the forcefield shirt and it feels great on - i'm 6ft2 with a 42" chest and oddly enough i opted for a small sized top - the large didn't seem to "fit" it was far too loose IMHO -

Blue - yup have succumbed to temptation my 6 mile schlep to work is now done in boots Jeans and Leather Jacket and Lid -

anyway i seem to remember you saying that didn't do any road riding - so is that why there are lots of nudge nudge winks winks going on

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Jackhammer

anyway i seem to remember you saying that didn't do any road riding - so is that why there are lots of nudge nudge winks winks going on

Thats because the "biking" he has been doing without a lid has been on a push-bike......