It is a common known fact that the home and the work place are dangerous places, how many members have stubbed a toe, fallen down stairs, suffered broken bones, cuts bruises etc etc. It hurts doesn't it, bang your knee on the table and you hop round with tears in your eyes.

It is also a well known fact that riding a motorcyle can be dangerous, for years now there has been a love hate relationship with bikes, some hate them coz they are dangerous, some love them regardless.

So why is it that loads of people still think it is ok to ride their bikes in t-shirts, no gloves, shorts etc etc. Are they invincible, or is it because they are such good riders that they will never fall off.

I once quizzed a chap about why he felt it was ok to ride like this and his answer was " Well i don't intend to fall off ", prize pratt.

He may not intend to fall off, but then he may not intend for the dopey car driver to do a U turn in front of him with no indication or warning. At 30 mph he would hit the car, probly ricochet off and slide down the road with his t-shirt shorts and trainers to protect him. That is if he is lucky and only doing 30mph.

Then his family will have to help him out round the house, change his dressings, and deal with the trauma of seeing their loved one all scraped up and bruised.

Thats if he is lucky.... !

All the people who seem to wear t shirts and shorts have never come off , if they had they would be wearing every known peice if safety equipment. They have just been luckY, but i reckon everyone comes off at one time or another and you learn everytime you do.
It amazes me as well but it will never stop.


I saw this qoute somewhere the other day How true

"NEVER RIDE FASTER THAN YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL CAN FLY"

Don't know if it's just a fashion thing but round my way I've recently seen a couple of blokes ridin about in the afore mentioned fashion but............



With a back protector on

and another with one of those under shirts that look like they are made out of old tights with armour sewn into them... you know the thing is supposed to be worn under a leather to hold the arour in place not with shorts, trainers no socks, no gloves etc

same people probably complain about the floavour of the chewing gum they bought from the machine in the gents

i agree i think people who ride on ride after ride without any equipment are stupid... i almost feel it should be law to wear protective equipment... but that might put some people off

Saw the ultimate one today riding a trials bike along the high street, wearing trainers, tracksuit trousers &.....wait for it....no shirt at all!!!!

Makes me cringe everytime I see someone poorly dressed.

Many years ago, I fell off with a t-shirt on. I didn't slide far but you should have see the mess of my back with gravel rash. I slide on my shoulder.

I was a right mess. I spent days lying face down on the sofa because I couldn't lie on my back. It's not something I would want to repeat and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

I totally agree!!!! I just cant help doing the old ' ' as they go past.Like Ace said, they dont realise that its thyeir family that will suffer when they have to be waited on hand and foot because their neck is broken and they cant use their arms anymore.

Neglect the preparation, suffer the concequences.

What surprises me most are the ones that have the £300 arai or shoei helmet and feck all else, not much use having a top of the line lid if you've no skin on yer erse
Don't get me wrong i'm not knocking buying a good quality helmet but let's get in context folks a good budget helmet will protect your bonce just as well as an expensive one, plus you can spend what's left over on other kit. Strong de-ja-vue here.

Our front room window looks out over a main road and major junction, we see this stuff on a daily basis, and most belt up our road too.

But what realy dissapoints me is that many of the regulars at our local who are experienced riders do just the same..... Duuuhhh ! it must be an image thing.

when i though I had seeing it all,, like ladies on skirts,,,, high-hills,,, t-shirt,,,, sandles etc..

wait,,,

wait for it,,


can you beleive it.



Lady heavly pregnant, on a scotter, no gloves, sandles, jacket and carrying 2 large bags between her legs that made her riding position funny to say the least....

Now how Crazy is that...........

I really can't understand why the law for motorcycles does not include the wearing of protective clothing.

If you follow the logic, I should not be pulled for not wearing a seatbelt in the car as it is my choice whether I sustain horrific injuries and potentially become a burden to my loved ones by going through the windscreen.

I know some will jump on me claiming 'freedom of choice', but surely freedom of choice should be limited by the effect on others.

I know it can be uncomfortable on hot days, but seriously folks, when people stare at people in t-shirts etc on bikes they are not thinking 'What a cool guy, he must be rock hard' but rather ' What a berk!!'

I for one would welcome tighter legislation regarding protective kit.

as it happens 955 i agree 100% with you, anyone wanna know what roadrash feels like? rub your bod with some feck off rough sandpaper for 5 mins and see how it feels.

I must have sweated a bucket and a half yesterday! (Did I tell anyone I picked up my new bike? )

Black cordura jacket, gialli jeans etc. Bloody hot! So I can understand why some people might feel the need to lose some clothing to prevent sweating. But not once did I think to take off the jacket and forego the protection it provides. I like living and would like it to continue as long as possible, unfortunately some car drivers don't like other people and try to get them! (SMIDSY's etc! )

I remember when I was at school aged 15, we had a traffic cop come in and give us a talk about gravel rash and picking pieces of people up off the tarmac. (Scare-mongering for those about to get scoots!) That stuck with me more than I thought it would!

I cringe when I see the shorts-t-shirt-trainers-burberry-socks-race-rep-helmet-cost-more-than-yours-ner-ner-wearing people. But that's all I can do is cringe, because I am not going to chase them up the street to shout at them and their inability to protect themselves, just if I meet them socialy try to find out where they get their invincibility potions!! Free choice, works both ways unfortunately!

I'll shut up now!

I tell people of the dangers of not wearing protective clothing or at least sturdy clothing whilst riding bikes. then i see them a few days later riding their bike or scooter with a tee shirt on and the helmet not done up etc etc etc.

I was annoyed at first because i thought if anyone, they would believe ME that it can hurt this falling off lark. then i realised, some people are just fecking stupid. It was a liberating experience.

Now i say all my stuff and add ' you can take my word for it or if yourare a total dickhead you can make your own mind up - there's no law to make you wear decent gear, you can wear shorts and a tee shirt if you like, but the road is hard and rough wether its hot or cold. I would rather be sweaty on my bike than sweaty in the corridor at casualty waiting for the wire brush and detol. But then again, at least the mortuary viewing room is air conditioned so your mum wont perspire too much while she waits to view your flayed corpse..'' Obviously i keep this for the young lads.

Some people will never learn until they become badly injured and even then some wont learn.

SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST FECKING STUPID.

This thread ties in nicely with the vision zero one, the government are trying to reduce serious injury and death on the roads, HELLO, try making it a legal requirement to wear proper gear, not only will you look good in the europen parliament, but you might, just might help to reduce said deaths and serious injury..

Sorry IMA... as much as I agree and want people wearing protective clothing etc. Making it law will not necesarily (Spelling sucks!) make people wear it!

Wearing seatbelts in cars will be bandied about (as an example), or helmets... when do seatbelts change what you are wearing? Or helmets change the fashionability? (plenty of choice and easily removed if you put up with helmet hair!) *sudden thoughts of "there's something about Mary" and '''HELMET'' Hair!'*

Same arguement for clothes? Either way it's got to be fairly thick for protection... summer sweats anyone? Sorry... making people wear what they dont want to wear is going to make people "wrong" on bikes. Being comfortable (even if a little hot) makes me, I think, a better rider. If I aint comfy then I aint wearing it!

Maybe off subject? I don't think more rules and regs are the way to go. Better training would be more beneficial. Even just a leaflet with some photos would help!!Like This
Zomb!e... again for taking the time to expalin to trainees! I did my DAS in full bike gear, so was treated immediately with a little respect cause I knew some of the dangers.

IMHO (anything I say here can be taken as my opinion! PLEASE don't think I am creating arguements! I have a bike and just want to be left alone to ride it where and how I see fit! and this forum allows all opinions to be aired with some respect!)

PS. I did look at other forums before joining this one!

Blimey scorpio - never seen so many back out clauses at the end of a thread - who do you think you are? ME?!!!!!

riding a bike is a shout of independance and a lot of bikers dont like being told what to do. this will always be the case. I try to make people aware of the dangers - check out the painting helmets thread for instance - but it still remains a personal choice to wear or not to wear protective gear. some dont, i think they are making a fecking huge mistake to be honest but then when they crash they may or may not learn. making it law will onyl make amtters worse i reckon. the manufacturers of clothing will up their prices overnight ( demand push economics) and many will carry on regardless with some who wear gear now deciding not to wear gear just to be a rebel.

I just dont get it myself. when i get stuff out of the oven i alwasy use oven gloves or a folded tea towel or whatever so i dont burn my fingers - its like these lot wouldnt because theyd think it makes them an individual not to . They burn their fingers, but they like the scars??

Its like gary numan once said '' They could give us a war just to keep us amused......We are so fragile, it must be wrong but ill do it all the same....''

THEY WILL NEVER LEARN AND THEY WILL NEVER LISTEN. THEY WANT TO RIDE THEIR BIKES IN THEIR TEE SHIRTS WITH THEIR FLIP FLOPS ON. THEY CARE NOUGHT OF THE DANGER .




One second before my accident i was absolutely fine. One second later i was fecked. six months in hosptial, skin grafts galore, unspeakable things done to me in the name of healthcare, unbearable pain, subsequent amputation of my leg despite thirty operations . IF THESE PEOPLE WONT LISTEN TO ME WHAT HOPE DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE MAKING THEM UNDERSTAND? THEY ARE FECKING IDIOTS AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE UNFORTUNEATLY. lets hope their wives/kids/mothers get on their case after reading this sort of thing and nag the feckers into capitulation

I must admit to wearing jeans while riding before.

however in my defense i was still wearing bike boots, gloves, jacket and helmet

the day was scorching and the only protective trousers i had were leathers, i think had i gone out in the full gear i'd have passed out from heat stroke.

Thing is, when i get my bike, i also need to get some gear, my helmet is over 5 years old and needs replaceing, and my boots and leather jeans dont fit anymore.

jacket still fits barely and gloves fit fine.

Now as i intend to ride all year round I'm gonna get textiles, I cant afford to get gear for every season, so am gonna have to wear the textiles in the summer too.

Kinda annoying that no-one has yet created bike gear that can be worn in all weather, keeps you cool when its hot, yet toasty when its cold, so i'm probably gonna end up being too hot when its hot and too cold when its cold

Finn... someone now gonna say there is gear for all weather... watch...

there is gear for all weather !!!!

Bought a Crowtree Two piece a few months ago.... bloody marvelous

Serious protection ,made to measure so great fit and look good...... you can also add any personal touch colour patern you like, you can have it perforated for warm weather etc

Hundreds of club racers can't be wrong

So you love biking .. then treat yourself to some proper kit, get as exited about what you wear as what you ride.

It will last longer, fit better, look better, perform better, make you feel better, be better value in the long run......

Like hello.... please try and get some decent kit... you are priceless keep it that way

Most of the cordura stuff has removable lining for summer use. Jusr make sure it's still a good fit with the lining out, which is probably the biggest hassle.


Instead of worrying about that, I picked up a Triumph leather jacket for £70 at a bike show. It has the perforated leather, which keeps you really cool during the summer.

okay you asked Dragin jeans you can even get them waterproofed. But if your smelly might not be a good idea as each time you wash them they loose the waterproofness(very scientific speak here)

Let's face it folks riding bikes can be a dangerous pasttime, They're out to get you and make no mistake, how many times has someone pulled out of a junction, cut across your path or "did not see you".

I'm not trying to stop anyones fun or take away your individuality but if riders don't start taking resposnsibility for themselves then the likes of vision zero could in the end cause an out and out ban on bikes, i'm not talking now, but maybe 20 or 30 years down the road, this won't really affect us but our kids and grandkids.
My young uns love riding on the bike and are both already talking about getting bikes when they grow up, i'd hate for them to have to miss out on the fun i've had beacuse some euro mp has decided i'm not responsible enough for my own safety so the decision is taken out of my hands better to be told wear kit or eventually lose your licence. I don't really remember the helmet law coming in but i do seem to remember it caused quite a stink and there was talk of "they'll never make it stick" yet look at us now, who of us would even consider going out without a lid on?

If you were to legislate for protective clothing then how would you enforce it anyway? And what would count as adequate protective clothing anyway? Would I need to wear a set of bike boots or would heavy work boots do? Does my leather jacket need to be CE marked or would any old leather jacket (fashion or otherwise) do? Its hard to see how police or anyone else could enforce this practically, I mean even with the helmet law you still see people riding around with beanie type helmets etc on cruisers which aren't made to the British Standards ratings bike helmets for the road are supposed to meet.
I agree that wearing protective clothing on a bike makes sense, for me its never anything less than an armoured leather jacket, jeans and strong boots - but if you were to legislate for making protective clothing compulsory supposedly only CE/BS marked stuff would be legal and the police would then be given the right to stop you at any opportunity simply to check over what you're wearing. I for one would find that an infringement.

I wend down at around 15 - 20 mph a couple of weeks ago wearing full equipment - leathers boots gloves and helmet.
Here is the bruise i sustained I know it don't look much but it was sore as fook!
I hate to think what damage i would have gotten if i was in a vest & shorts like I see daily!
Full equipment everytime for me!

Its a sad fact Zombie that most likely the newbies look at you and think "that won't be me" however hard you try. I don't think you should stop trying as for every group that does not listen there will be the small few who will.

I believe that much more attention should be paid to accident cause and prevention, especially on DAS courses, with lots of horribly graphic photos and just keep slamming the message home.

I also think it should be drummed into riders that they have a responibility to their pillions. It makes me sick to see riders fully kitted up with their girlfriends (or worse still, children) on the back with cheap helmets and very little if any proper gear.

Girls - if you read this, if they don't make you wear the right gear they don't care enough to keep you as pretty as you are.

Guys - don't encourage anyone to get on the back of your bike without enough gear to protect them.

When i say protective clothing i don't mean complies with bs whatever, i'm more concerned with getting the t-shirt, shorts and trainer bods sorted.

<RANT>
Easy one to answer.

'cos they're fecking morons with the IQ of a small squeezed lemon who deserve everything they get.

</RANT>

Ahh, that felt good.

But to be more constructive. It's the indestructability factor. Most teenagers (who are the lions share of people who do this) suffer from the "I know what I'm doing, nothing can hurt me" syndrome.

They'll never believe they need protection till they've had something happen that makes them believe it. (usually having an off).

But hey, you can't tell the youngun's

That's very ture.....not wearing protective gear...I allways use my leather...

Well..sometimes I change the leather trousers by jeans, specially this week as my leathers are soaking wet and stinky because I was caught in the middle of a thunderstrom last week.

But it also amazes me how people can ride only with t-shirts and shorts...I can't even look.

I was amazed this hollidays when I was back in Portugal and I saw very, very few riders using protective equipment...most of them, if not all, ride with t-shirts and jeans/shorts...I've seen some even in flip/flops.
It's really dangerous and we know it and I suppose everyone knows it.

While in Portugal I had a go in a mate's bike and I was wearing only a t-shirt, but I couldn't ride far, I wasn't feeling confortable with that....

But now you answer me this question....

Protective gear is ok to wear here in England....but how would you wear protective gear in Portugal with temperatures around the 37/38 degrees?
Sometimes get's over 40s.....I don't think anyone would feel confortable in any bike gear to ride around with that temperatures...

FFS is this site full of old women or what??? - If someone wants to take the risk then that is up to them. I may (or may not) think its a good idea but I do not want to force my views on them. They are bloody adults and can make their own decisions, and take the consequences. There is enough bloody state nannying in this country without bikers asking for more!!

er - OK rant over


PS there seems to be something wrong with my speil chucker as well

I sometimes think it's a lack of imagination. Some riders can't imagine that such a thing could happen to them, and they also can't imagine the world of damage and pain that they will find themselves in should they come off.

I can imagine it only too well...

Old women? Maybe there are one or two members here like that. o

Throughout the entire thread here I think most people recomend the wearing of protective kit, but also acknowledge that it is the individuals choice.

It's just that some sensible people (loose term to include almost everyone!) do worry or feel slight concern over other peoples safety as well as their own, whether related, friends or whatever. It's a biker thing I think. Where you are part of a group/fraternity of 2 wheeled demons! and don't want to see anything bad happen to anyone else, especially when it could happen to you too. NOT.

For those of us who have come off bikes, lost good friends to bike accidents or other, just as nasty things, we do not want others to go through what we went through or see another family in the kind of anguish and pain as our own during the trying times.

Therefore I recomend safety gear. Even if it is only so the body can be identified in one piece than lots of little bits!

Some people accept the risk of injury - simple as.
It's the same with other sports/hobbies too.

I know mountian bike riders who won't wear a helmet or protective gear yet ride at speeds of 30mph+ in shorts, T-Shirts and trainers - gravel rash hurts just the same regardless of what you come off.

Snowboarders who dont wear padded shorts or back protectors yet hit sheet ice and rocks at over 20mph.

Motocross riders who dont wear body armour, only thin tops and padded pants and jump 100feet gaps on hard dirt and rocks at speeds around 70mph.

Motorbike riding is dangerous, some people don't want to risk injury and wear protective gear, others don't mind that risk and carry on regardless - it's personal choice at the end of the day.

Ask my bro about that, 30 mph binned it and slid down the kerb edge on his shin.
I'll leave you to paint a mental pic of the mess that caused

When I was training they showed us phots of people's legs etc that had been in accidents without the right clothing.

I agree it's a good idea but it didn't stop me riding in heavy denim jeans.

Didn't stop my mate losing alot of flesh from his arm when he was knocked off at 20mph on a roundabout, was wearing all the right things but he went down wrong and the gear just split - just bad luck.

And a friend who went on holiday on his bike somewhere hot said that he rode in shorts and t shirt altho he would never have dreamed of doing so in UK, but he said that the heat exhaustion was so bad otherwise that he didn't feel safe to ride.

I don't believe in compulsion - I like the MAG motto that says "Helmets Yes, compulsion NO"
Once you start making rules about safety you are getting close to the complete banning of bikes that is already being discussed elsewhere.

i saw a guy riding in T & shorts yesterday, my 1st thought was "wouldnt like to be you if you come off"
its up to the individual, i personally wont give someone grief (used to as an instructor, but it would be remiss of me if i didnt) cos thats who i am.
on here i have a duty to point out the obvious.
just bear in mind, i came off on diesel at no more than 40MPH nearly a month ago-i'm STILL not riding due to muscle injuries(The ZZR hit me in the back as i slid to a halt-the bitch )
i had a good quality two-piece leather suit on-its virtually unscathed.
wouldnt like to think the state i'd be in without it.

Not a bunch of old ladies at all. Most of the replies simply state that writers opinion that it isnt a godd idea to ride without protective gear. wether someone does or not will be up to them. i accept that. But it will always be more fool them in my opinion.


could not agree more.

OOoooohh you'll have to watch that one DP, if she can stab you in the back once..... Praps she dint like the colour and liked my sugestion of doin it pink.

Like this... remember ?

People not wearing protective kit is my biggest bug bears, just ask eb, he's taken to trying to distract me if he see's an offending rider that i haven't seen yet.

I hate the thought of people getting hurt and being scarred for life if they live, these things ARE their choice but why not choose to keep ur skin in the event of an accident? Your skin is the biggest organ you have (regardless of what some guys may think ) with out it u will die, sorry to be so morbid with it but thats how I am on the subject.

In the very least I will wear thick heavy jeans if going around town, leathers for longer journeys despite the weather!

The worst thing I ever saw was a guy on a Ducati 996, he was dressed "properly" but his daughter on the back who cant have been older than 9 was wearing shorts, vest top, and flip flops. I was seething, you may trust your own riding, but what about the people on the roads who don't see, or the grit/ gravel that catches you unawares?

I choose life skin ad no scars please.

How about this one. Whilst on my hols in Cancun, I visited a small island about 2 miles off the coast. While driving around, I kept on seeing the same thing time and time again......man or woman with 2 - YES 2 children on their mopeds AND.....the adults wore helmets and not the kids!!!!!!!!! . Mind boggling - and damn stupid.

I may be leaving myself open for a flaming but here goes...

I occasionally ride without my leathers on and sometimes in t-shirt, shorts and trainers.

The reason is I keep my bike in a friend's garage which is just under 1/4 mile down the road, when I want to go out for a ride I go and pick up the bike in whatever I happen to be wearing at the time, ride it home and then change into my leathers etc.

I consider the risk associated with the journey to be acceptable, especially when considering that I regularly cycle at nearly 30mph which I consider more risky (and 1/4 mile is a bloody long way in leathers, boots and carrying whatever else, especially on a summer day).

I am sure many people have seen me doing this and called me some choice names (and I am a race rep riding, top of the range lid wearing, fair weather rider so they are probably justified ) but I suspect many others would do the same.

Hopefully this will highlight that some of the people you have seen may have thought about it and set some limits - though bottom line ofcourse is that I would not recommend this to anyone else, in fact I refuse to take my GF pillion at all because I consider it too great a risk to her safety.

Probably not the best way to introduce one's self to the forum

Alex.
Don't worry too much, u will probably get flamed anyway

Burn him burn him...yes him and his shorts.....

Oh hello and welcome by the way

Alex... the other consideration would be to the GF and what she then thought of biking as you wont take her as a pillion! You might put her off and then she wont want you as a biker! Oh dear!

I still shake my head at other bikers... the ones I didn't see today! Fair-weather freaks! Never mind!

Alex - i will flame you! doesnt matter how far the journey, unless youre pushing thebike, wear something proper, or youll regret it one day. The car that hits you doesnt care how long your journey is mate, it doesnt know you only got on the bike a minute ago, nor does the road or the telegraph pole youve just hit.

My bike is in a mates garage about 10-15mins walk away and I understand your problem but have never gone down the shorts route ...


I have walked round in my shorts and carried my kit cooling off when I got there but not thought sod it I'm too lazy to bother...

It's your choice and you will have to live with it si far play you being an adult an all that... but if your push bike fell on your leg would it hurt as much as a 200kg bike ????

Take care mate

well I do not know how protective those new Mesh Jackets are.......


but sure it is better than just T-Shirts, shorts etc etc....

or if you can afford some of those Perforated Leathers Jackets?

I guess you can keep cool.........



again,,, when the temperature goes up, like JP said, if you were to wear your normal gear,, you run the risk of Heat-Stoke , dizziness etc....

So I guess in very hot places,, there is more temptations to just wear a T-shirt......


I got a jacket with vents etc that does an OK job,,, as long as you are moving,, but in slow traffic, it gets very hot...

But...
last summer on a very hot day, I had to ride just with Normal Jeans, my jackets almost open and had to stop to get some water and pour it on my face and t-shirt under my jacket.... Got caught on very heavy traffic and the heat was getting to me.....

I guess we have to take the weather conditions into consideration too....

ScorpioTaz - I won't take her pillion but I am encouraging her to pursue her bike licence.

ZOMB!E & mot - I don't disagree with you, I know that what I am doing is not particularly clever and as I said originally I would not recommend it, the reason I put myself in the firing line was to try and illustrate the thinking of a perpetrator.

And now that the rain appears to have departed this fair weather biker is off out for a ride

No, it's not full of old ladies. Is that supposed to be a argument for not wearing gear. We say, wear your because you never know when you'll come off. The argument is, I'll not wear my gear because people will think I'm an old lady.

Unfortunately, some people just a have idea what it's like to fall off. I'm not for people being forced to wear bike gear. (read Darwin)

The bike is quite a bit heavier than the pushbike and that makes a difference. Especially, if your leg is trapped under it, when you're sliding down the road.