Full gear all the time?

[blairnz]

I mentally do a risk assessment and adjust for the ride, the weather, and what I want to do where I'm going.

If I go on the motorway, it's always full gear.

If it's the 8 minute ride to work along quiet roads then I'll just wear the 100% helmet, 100% gloves, 95% jacket, 80% boots, and 20% leather trousers. If I can get a nice pair of draggin jeans I'd probably wear them 90% of the time.

[jrandom]

The best gear is not falling off.

ATGATT types are, without exception, n00bs. (Some people stay n00bs all their life.)

I was pretty ATGATT focused for some years, but I grew out of it when I realised that my safety on the bike was within my control.

And there's nothing quite like riding in shorts and T-shirt on a hot sunny day. Protective gear is like wearing a condom - it makes the ride more boring, and isn't necessary if you're smart enough and self-controlled enough to manage the risks in other ways.

[jrandom]

The only injury I've ever received on a motorbike (getting my left thumb crushed by the handlebars against the tank when I highsided) couldn't have been prevented by any riding gear I've ever seen.

And I've been down the road on my arse a number of times in jeans and everything was fine.

And I've seen a guy with his thumb nearly completely torn off simply by landing awkwardly when he lowsided at the track. In full toothpaste tube gear, of course.

And the vast majority of guys I know or know of who've died in motorcycle crashes were, as far as I'm aware, ATGATT'd up when they died.

Wear the gear if you're not sure whether you're going to fall off or not. It'll help with the bumps and scrapes. But if you're not sure that you're not going to fall off, what are you doing riding a motorbike?

[kiwi cowboy]

Here is a trickier one for you. I am also a ATTGAT fan. The other day I had someone who wanted me to take them as a pillion - but they refused to wear the gear I had for them, instead wanting to ride with just jeans and with no jacket.

I explained to them the effect of coming off, even at low speed. I figure if they understand the risks it should be ok.

The still decided they didn't want to wear any gear. I found it a tough call, but I decided since I was the person actually riding the bike, that I had a great deal of responsibility of the pillions safety, and even though they accepted the risks that I could not. The net result is I didn't take them.

What would you do?

exactly the same as you did.

Having chucked my bike off a track in two races now made me realise how important gear is.

[caspernz]

I thought we were talking about a quick trip to pick up a few supplies, not moving house!!

So beer and babes aren't supplies? But yep, fair call. Oh, and I have at times ridden with just jeans and jacket, but that was back in the day when 2 wheels were the sole form of transport.

[Akzle]

She didn't say pants.
no one gets on my bike with out pants

i will.

wuz that you in titirangi today getting a wheel up on the road after golf?

[BoristheBiter]

i will.

wuz that you in titirangi today getting a wheel up on the road after golf?

Na I only go wheel up off road, or is that wheels up

[f2dz]

The best gear is not falling off.

ATGATT types are, without exception, n00bs. (Some people stay n00bs all their life.)

I was pretty ATGATT focused for some years, but I grew out of it when I realised that my safety on the bike was within my control.

And there's nothing quite like riding in shorts and T-shirt on a hot sunny day. Protective gear is like wearing a condom - it makes the ride more boring, and isn't necessary if you're smart enough and self-controlled enough to manage the risks in other ways.

I guess I'm a n00b!

What happens if a rabbit/cat/dog runs out onto the road, around a blind corner, you hit it, and come off?

Like the OP said, your body your choice at the end of the day. But just something to think about.

I'd admit I'm a n00b, and pretty new to riding, but I've already figured out some things can potentially slip out of your control. Not many things, but there are a few.

[jrandom]

I'd admit I'm a n00b, and pretty new to riding, but I've already figured out some things can potentially slip out of your control. Not many things, but there are a few.

Indeed. As you start to become more familiar with the things that can happen and the ways you can control outcomes, you might find yourself growing more comfortable with your own ability not to fall off, and letting that translate into less reliance on protective gear.

Or maybe not. I'm sure a lot of it comes down to personality and risk acceptance levels, that sort of thing.

I'm just sayin', me, I was obsessed with protective gear when I started riding motorbikes ten years ago but now I love going for a ride in summer in a T-shirt. YMMV.

[willytheekid]

I guess I'm a n00b!

What happens if a rabbit/cat/dog runs out onto the road, around a blind corner, you hit it, and come off?

Like the OP said, your body your choice at the end of the day. But just something to think about.

I'd admit I'm a n00b, and pretty new to riding, but I've already figured out some things can potentially slip out of your control. Not many things, but there are a few.

On ya mate

Please ignore the blatant DRIBBLE that jrandom has posted!...10yrs SO CALLED riding experiance and he is promoting tee-shirts over protective gear to new riders?
Irresponsible and pure stupidity!
...want proof, go into your local hospital...talk to the doctors and nurses that see the effects of road vs tee-shirt or jeans...bet ya they have some rather disturbing photos and storys to share...and one peice of advice!...."wear the gear!...unless you have a fettish for skin grafts!"

Ive crashed in Tee-shirt & ripped jeans before (15yrs old, on a dirt bike, riding on the road, and hit a dalmatian!)...result of that wee slide down the road, left lying in a pool of blood with half my butt check hanging off and ground the left side of my body(leg, arse and arm!)...to the bone!!
...speed at point of impact...no more than 70kph!...speed of recovery....5 months of skin grafts and pain!(I still have the scars!...and a smaller arse)

DONT learn the hard way...ATGATT!...it will literally save your arse

ps: jrandom...I thought better of you, a senior KB member advising learner riders that ATGATT types are "nOObs"?...only one "nOOb" I can see posting here mate...and it sure aint f2dz!...only one week riding and he's already making better decisions than you!

[ducatilover]

I guess I'm a n00b!

What happens if a rabbit/cat/dog runs out onto the road, around a blind corner, you hit it, and come off?
.

I hit a rabbit with my knee going through a corner I had to boot a Fox Terrier out of the way once too. I've never actually run one over, would be an interesting thing to try...

[McFatty1000]

I hit a sparrow with my shoulder at around 80km/hr after I'd been riding maybe four weeks? Never thought something so small would disrupt my balance so much, and it gave a good punch, even though it got my armour. Would hate to hit something bigger..

[caspernz]

I can actually understand what 'jrandom' is trying to put across. The ATGATT approach won't save you if you ride like a fool. Similarly, with a bit of luck on your side and some experience you may have lengthy periods of getting away with the T-shirt approach.

In the real world, where we can't control all the variables, some choose to err on the side of caution and adopt the ATGATT approach. After 25 years on bikes, I'll admit to having ridden without all the kit in the early days on occasion. Nowadays? Simple, ATGATT works for me. That's my choice, and I certainly would recommend that to new riders

[jrandom]

promoting tee-shirts over protective gear to new riders?

Not quite. I'm promoting not falling off. If you don't fall off, the gear is irrelevant.

And, for that matter, if you're so worried about your safety, what the fuck are you doing on a motorbike? Get a Camry!

There's no way my words are going to make n00bs go out in a T-shirt. They're all too busy shitting themselves about falling off. Which is good, because we all do a bit of that when we start out, and then we either learn, and stop falling off (and maybe start thinking about riding in a T-shirt now and then) or don't learn, and spend the rest of our lives terrified of falling off - probably with good reason.

Folks, if you're terrified of falling off every time you get on a bike, it probably means you are in danger of falling off. Listen to your instincts and wear the gear, mmkay?

I don't want my words to be the cause of anyone ignoring that instinct. Cos the likelhood is that yes, you're gonna fall off. Particularly if you haven't yet. Or if you've only fallen off once or twice so far and still think that it wasn't your fault, or can't put your finger on something specific that you've changed that's going to stop it happening again.

What I'm saying is, once you've gone through that and come out the other side, scarred and wiser, the sunlit uplands of T-shirt-clad riding await the worthy.

[Maha]

Not quite. I'm promoting not falling off. If you don't fall off, the gear is irrelevant.

And, for that matter, if you're so worried about your safety, what the fuck are you doing on a motorbike? Get a Camry!

There's no way my words are going to make n00bs go out in a T-shirt. They're all too busy shitting themselves about falling off. Which is good, because we all do a bit of that when we start out, and then we either learn, and stop falling off (and maybe start thinking about riding in a T-shirt now and then) or don't learn, and spend the rest of our lives terrified of falling off - probably with good reason.

Folks, if you're terrified of falling off every time you get on a bike, it probably means you are in danger of falling off. Listen to your instincts and wear the gear, mmkay?

I don't want my words to be the cause of anyone ignoring that instinct. Cos the likelhood is that yes, you're gonna fall off. Particularly if you haven't yet. Or if you've only fallen off once or twice so far and still think that it wasn't your fault, or can't put your finger on something specific that you've changed that's going to stop it happening again.

What I'm saying is, once you've gone through that and come out the other side, scarred and wiser, the sunlit uplands of T-shirt-clad riding await the worthy.

A post most worthy Mr random.