Ok some thoughts for you all ....

I have noticed that when I am not wearing leathers** I ride a lot slower and more cautiously than when fully geared up....

Thefore I ride faster and harder when in full gear...and so am more likely to have an accident

Car drivers buy vehicles infulenced by the 'keeping your family safe' advertising.... 'Ive got Side Impact Protection It does not matter if I pull out in front of someone, we will be safe'... and so are less concerned about having an accident

I heard the other day that one of the Sates of America (Florida?) are re-fighting the helmet law on the strength of biker injuries increasing since compulsion.

I think this 'comfort blanket' of safety technology may subconsiously reduce the driver/rider concern with driving/riding safely and the feeling of need to read the road/ anticipate other road users

So.... If all car drivers were forced to drive without SIP. Crumple zones, etc (or Billy Connoly's suggestion of a big sharp stake sticking out of the dash) and all Bikers forced to ride in shorts, T shirt and flipflops....

Would the accident rates go down?




** On hot days I feel I am safer not overheating and being relaxed and able to concentrate rather than stressed and suffering heat stroke in full protective gear.

I've got a perforated leather jacket for that one day a year, when its too hot. They don't seem to sell to well up here, so you can pick up one for £70 reduced from £200 at bike shows. like I did.

I would say that hazard perception makes more of a difference to cars. The little protective shell seems to isolate folk from the outside world, especially since the stereo is normally blasting as well. I don't know if sips makes a difference but when you think about it some of the most bullish drivers on the roads are the 4x4 driver with the bull bars fitted. Maybe its something to do with the size of the vehicle that makes a difference.

On the bike, I will usually were my leathers but I will occasionally go out with jeans. I know its a risk but I still do it. I always wear gloves, jacket and boots though. I wouldn't go out in anything less. I fell off in a tee-shirt in my early days and learned my lesson the hard way. You still have to worry about other people making a mistake as well, so although I don't go mad when I got the jeans on, I am consious of the fact, that I'm wearing them and not my leathers. I do feel safer, when I have the full kit on.

I noticed this. After just doing a CBT in armoured jacket, jeans and trainers last weekend I was very aware of my unprotected feet... My inital idea was to avoild my normal footwear ...steel toecapped boots... as I wanted to 'feel' the gear pedal, but I'm going to wear my boots for the next lessons (I'm on DA) and next week the NEC will have a willing customer looking for boots and armored trousers.

Wayne

At the Scottish bike show last year. I managed to pick up a pair of alpinestar Max Biaggi specials, reduced from £200 to £70. The only probably was the luminous orange Marlborough Yamaha colours.

You can pick up a bargain at most bike shows, if you have a good look around before parting with your cash.

wouldn't recommend steel toe caps on a bike, they have this nasty habit of chopping your toes off in an accident (mind you wouldn't recommend trainers either).

nod nod... and they are bloody cold in the winter!

I wear Leather hiking boots, or CAT's mostly... lots of grip on slippy roads and muddy footpegs.. but they do chew up the peg rubbers though

That'll be the teeth and claws

I'll dig out the hiking boots then.... instruction told me about someone who turned up to a scooter CBT in sandals.

Wayne

I witnessed a girly doing CBT wearing high heeled platform boots - most appropriate


But yes Shebee - I do find I ride faster when fully clad - and slower when in denim.

The problem with drivers at the moment seems to be pedestrianitis they seem to think that they'll get wet if they have to wait at a junction - so they move out (ahead of me ) uncaring and locked safely (?) in their box - some days i just wish for bigger boots

Personally, I think that all lady riders should always wear the full leather... but that's just me I s'pose

I never ride in anything other than the full kit I'm afraid. Don't feel good in jeans although I've taken the bike to be serviced once in them (no, smart arriss, I was wearing them... they were not doing the service) but found I rode at about 20mph the whole way.

If it's too hot... then I sit by the pool with a large g 'n t

I'm glad you were in your jeans before taking the bike for a service otherwise it could have been quite embarrassing.

I am another always full gear dude. You never know when the urge to wind it up is going to come and draggin your knee in jeans isn't a good idea. The car drivers in the states do not give a rats ass about bikers. They will cut you up and push you in a ditch sooner than look ta you. Do insurance companies give any discount for using full gear ?

I doubt it... you might have more chance of survival and thus make a claim. Insurance is a real joke... fit an alarm they said... £300 class 1 Thatcham system, professionally fitted.... Insurance discount??? £7!!!


Wayne

Might be worth campaigning for though

On the subject of insurance company payouts and protective clothing, an insurance company can lesser your payout or in some cases refuse to pay out on the grounds of contributory negligence, the same as having an unfastened helmet.

This is what you get when your wife is doing a law degree

Personaly, i would rather give myself as much of a chance of protection as possible, if the kit is there then it makes good sense to take advantage of it. Some one said to me a couple of weeks ago "Well i dont plan to fall off" Duhh.... what kind of attitude is that, none of us plan to fall off, none of us plan for the dozzy car driver to pull out in front of us.

I ride how i ride no matter what, if i come off at 30mph with my leather jeans jacket and waist coat on in traffic, i fancy my chances of just bruises and stiff muscles than the person with a t-shirt trakie bottoms and trainers on, especialy when the nurses are having to pick the gravel out of thier rash with a tooth brush

As for cheap kit, most of my lot wear the army surplus boots from our local army store, you can get them at the shows but the stores tend to have a better quality boot, usualy about £30. The ones i have are gortex lined and do stay dry in the worst of weathers, good thick soles, stiffened (not steel) toe caps.
My jacket cost £80, not the best but adequate with back protection, gloves £30 with carbon knuckle protectors and ventilation, and some thermal liners for the winter. i made my own buff type tingy out of some flece material brought for just £1.95 a metre and stiched by my own fair hands :tounge:

There is nothing wrong with being a power ranger, but you dont need to spend 100's on name brands.

Ace.

Well I always wear jeans, and I always ride slow.

I am currently off the road due to riding too slow!

Not sure how that fits your theory Shebee!!!!!!

welll BG ... theres always one! (how come its usually one that I know?)