Bike mag journo accident

Just been reading the new mag and the long term Triumph 675 rider has had a nasty off, grinding away a big chunk of kneecap and ripping the tendons off it. It was a typical sliding accident apparently. He readily admits that if he'd been wearing proper gear and not jeans he would have been practically uninjured. His nasty injury will affect how he walks and participates in work/leisure for the rest of his life probably! I had a minor knee injury when I was 16 and it still affects to this day.

I don't want to start a big safety debate, if you want to ride round in Speedos that's cool, it was just a wake up call to me as I'd started slipping quick jeans on instead of the proper kit when just going 'for a few miles'. No more though! I think the HSE would call it a 'reasonably practicable' safety measure

Maybe one day people will realise that wearing leathers is worth their while!

well, i stand half way on this one.

id advise you to wear your full kit at all times,
yet i still go out wearing jeans and trainers on the bike.

do as i say, not as i do.

and here is something for you all to think about, i had an off about a year ago, i was wearing trainers, jeans and my buffalo motorcycle jacket.

slid the bike down the road, and i followed it sliding down the road from 40mph.

my jeans (thin pair from burtons) didnt rip, my trainers didnt come off my feet, but my buffalo jacket (only a few weeks old) got ripped to shreads and the road went through to my arm.

not what i expected to happen to be honest.

Originally Posted by Warren

not what i expected to happen to be honest.

[Biker Biggles]

No one expects the Tarmac Incision.

i bought a pair of draggin jeans last year and they're ace! they're lined with kevlar which is safe to 150mph! and have velcro knee armour in. i wore them through summer with no issues, now i just put them over my jeans. I've never been out in just jeans since i had these. Be careful out there!
(i apologise if this is a repeat post, the last one crashed on me!)

i been thinking about those draggin jeans, but to be honest, id probably need a few pairs of em to stop me going out in regular jeans.

its all to easy in the summer heat.

I do ride in jeans over very short distances at sedate speeds and feel very odd doing it, to get petrol at lunchtime for example. Years ago (1980s) jeans n boots was the norm, now its full leathers or full decent textiles for anything more. I have bits missing from my left knee that are a constant reminder of not wearing the right kit.

I read that. Scared the crap out of me.

Saving up for leather bottoms now - i do have my dads old ones to wear, but they arnt very protective. Better than nothing, assured - but not as good as something new and modern with armour and stretchy panels for comfort.

I cringed all summer at the site of GSXR / R1 / FireBlade pilots in shorts and t-shirt .

Organ donors, my riding instructor called them!

Matt