Do you in NZ have to wear full gear?

[marigami]

i mean do you have to wear and be fullprotected with helmet, propoer jacket, gloves and proper shoes (if no real boots) or you'll be fine if caught by the police?
Because here in France the only thing mandatory is the helmet, for the other stuff there are recommandations only (even when you are training for your licence).
Too many times i have seen "motards du dimanche", I mean bikers who rides only when the sun is shinning and they are on holydays or whenever they can find the courage to ride...Sorry for thatSo i say I saw too often riders with only helmets on but with no jacket at all (not even jeans jacket)but long sleeves or short sleeves tee shirt or sweater or whatever in fabric, shorts and even flip flop, very handy to ride !!
And no gloves of course, it's too hot !
And pillions (I mean not all of course) very often women wearing nice fancy shoes or even high heels (when it is not skirts, yes I saw this, in Paris actually, but i am pretty sure it happened somewhere else).
I mean that is very good to attract people, men actually but it is very dangerous for several reasons, the first is in case one fall, nothing will protect one from the crash.
So do you have mandatory gear her in NZ to actually ride your bike?
I think it would be good although sometimes one likes to have a bit of freedom as a biker...
But security is the most important.

[motorbyclist]

Here in NZ we are only required to wear a helmet.

We do have a lot of weekend riders but they often wear full gear, and most riders overall have gloves and jacket simply because it can get too cold otherwise!

Scooter riders, however, are often wearing the bare minimum as you say and are of grave concern to most motorcyclists who see them.

[mstriumph]

same in Australia

- only the helmet is a legal requirement ... all the rest is a matter of choice [and common sense]

[YellowDog]

It's a bit like being a smoker!

Not wearing full gear is starting to be frowned upon and you get shamed into doing the ATGATT thing!

[Mrs Busa Pete]

How much would acc safe if it was mandatory to have full protective gear for all and more inportantly for scooters. I crinded when i see a kid riding along on a scooter with his helmet shorts, t shirt, and jandles. And what really pisses me off are the parents that let them do it.

[crazyhorse]

Only the idiots wear shorts and tee-shirt here, and normally come off second best in a fall.

Helmet is requirement, but the protective stuff is what you wear when you care about your safety. We have special jeans with kevlar in them, but I prefer my leathers.

You will have fun riding on our roads :yes:

[James Deuce]

I love riding scooters in shorts, T-Shirt and open face helmet. It speaks of freedom to me much better than an insectoid carapace wrapped around a contorted and hunched body pretending to enjoy a sportsbike's demonically unnatural riding position.

[Laxi]

I love riding scooters in shorts, T-Shirt and open face helmet. It speaks of freedom to me much better than an insectoid carapace wrapped around a contorted and hunched body pretending to enjoy a sportsbike's demonically unnatural riding position.

good fun when all the "carnage" starts aye james?

[James Deuce]

What carnage? I spent my teenage years falling off push bikes at scooter speeds. Still here. Still right.

[CookMySock]

NZ roads are quite a special case. The stone chip is very coarse and sharp and will remove body parts if you come in contact with it, so while only a helmet is required by law, full safety gear must be worn for other reasons.

Also there is too much road to keep it all in very good condition, so riders must expect some obstacle on the road at every corner and be ready to act. Often there is no time to react and there is a crash, and this is just the way NZ roads are. They are good fun, but dangerous. C'est la vie.

Steve

[James Deuce]

What do you mean "must"?

No it mustn't!

[Crisis management]

I'm with you Jim, keep up the fight for individual freedom..... :2thumbsup to show solidarity I will ride the trail bike round the section nude (as soon as it stops raining).



Body armour and fire hose required for the pitchforks & burning faggots?

[James Deuce]

You leave the flaming out of this! :)

[Swoop]

the ATGATT thing...

For our french visitor, this stands for: All The Gear All The Time.

[CookMySock]

What do you mean "must"? No it mustn't!I just read your earlier post, and I agree with you. I have done the tee shirt and shorts on the open road thing in the middle of summer, and what a spectacular way to cool off.

But you and I both know that its not workable in the longer term. While it's a cool idea, it IS an impossible dream.

Steve

[Big Dave]

you get shamed into doing the ATGATT thing!

Yer spending too much time online dawg. :-P

[HenryDorsetCase]

Its too cold here most of the time to wear anything other than proper gear.

[mstriumph]

.............. While it's a cool idea, it IS an impossible dream.

Steve

:( like democracy ya mean?

[SPman]

Its too cold here most of the time to wear anything other than proper gear.
It's great for the "after sauna" effect, though.

When I was younger (oh so much younger than today).....after a hot bath, a quick trip around the block in shorts and sandshoes was a great refresher!

[motorbyclist]

How much would acc safe if it was mandatory to have full protective gear for all and more inportantly for scooters.

to be fair, FULL gear including pants is not entirely suitable for slow speed summer commuting - you'll fatigue from heat exhaustion and dehydration before you've even got to the end of the driveway.

no excuse not to wear a jacket and gloves though

[klingon]

I have winter gear and summer gear.

In winter I wear DriRider pants with knee armour, full gauntlett-style gloves (with Rain Off over-gloves if it's wet or very cold) and a fully lined and armoured Spidi jacket.

For summer I have Draggin jeans, perforated summer gloves and an air-mesh jacket with extra vents and an optional zip-out liner (great if I stay out after dark... brrrr!)

The two things that don't change with the seasons are my helmet and boots. I would love to find a nice pair of vented summer boots - Sidi used to make the "Summer rose" with mesh panels but it seems they don't make them any more. :(

As for skimpy gear being attractive to men, I have three responses:

I have seen badly gouged and scarred legs as a result of coming off a bike. Not attractive to anyone (including the owner of the legs).
Well-cut bike gear tailored for a woman's figure is as attractive as anything! There is much more gear available for women these days, and some of it is just stunning! Imagine a red leather slim-fit jacket for winter riding, a powder-blue vented jacket for summer, sexy high leather boots and slim leather jeans. :drool:
There are more important things in life than attracting men. Keeping your skin is one of them.

[McJim]

I haven't noticed any discernable difference between Summer and Winter in New Zealand so I wear the same gear all year round. I used to spend Winter in Scotland (-15 to about 5 degrees C) and Summer in Italy (up to about 42 degrees C)...the climate range here is tiny from about 10 in winter to 28 in summer.
I am unaware of any country where it is mandatory to wear anything other than a lid. I recall childhood days in Tuscany on the back of a CB750 four wearing shorts, T shirt and no lid. I believe there are still parts (if not all) of USA where you don't need to wear a helmet.

[newbould]

i mean do you have to wear and be fullprotected with helmet, propoer jacket, gloves and proper shoes (if no real boots) or you'll be fine if caught by the police?
Because here in France the only thing mandatory is the helmet, for the other stuff there are recommandations only (even when you are training for your licence).
Too many times i have seen "motards du dimanche", I mean bikers who rides only when the sun is shinning and they are on holydays or whenever they can find the courage to ride...Sorry for thatSo i say I saw too often riders with only helmets on but with no jacket at all (not even jeans jacket)but long sleeves or short sleeves tee shirt or sweater or whatever in fabric, shorts and even flip flop, very handy to ride !!
And no gloves of course, it's too hot !
And pillions (I mean not all of course) very often women wearing nice fancy shoes or even high heels (when it is not skirts, yes I saw this, in Paris actually, but i am pretty sure it happened somewhere else).
I mean that is very good to attract people, men actually but it is very dangerous for several reasons, the first is in case one fall, nothing will protect one from the crash.
So do you have mandatory gear her in NZ to actually ride your bike?
I think it would be good although sometimes one likes to have a bit of freedom as a biker...
But security is the most important.


No.


But please reply at length. I just love that accent. keep talking Pleeeeaaaase.

[marigami]

No.


But please reply at length. I just love that accent. keep talking Pleeeeaaaase.

Arrghhh so it shows I'm not kiwi?:shutup::shutup::shutup::shutup:
Ooops shame on me!
Well I hope you won't hear from me now because of my accent (it is said anyway that, although my english is rather limited in vocabulary, I have good english -from england- accent)
I agree with you regarding Italy (and most of Spain and Portugal too),bikers tend not to wear full gear including helmets.....
So I wonder whether countries with hot weather and high temperatures are less keen on full protection...although weather in North Italy and North West of Portugal can be quite cool!
Here in France we do not have so high temperatures, except in the South but it is still possible to breath! So I don't understand people driving with flip flop and short sleeves tee.
And I do not agree,even for commuting I did (and do) wear full wear despite the traffic jam.
I really thing that those roads very close to the city are the most dangerous so you have to double,triple check and be over careful.

[James Deuce]

I really thing that those roads very close to the city are the most dangerous so you have to double,triple check and be over careful.

In NZ far more people are hurt and killed on backroads miles from anywhere.

[CookMySock]

Marie, no we like your accent a lot. ;)

It can get too hot here in full bike gear during the summer, unless you are on the highway constantly.

We hope you come. Lots of people will look after you and you will have lots of fun.

Steve

[PrincessBandit]

Talk as much as you like honey! The boys here will all have their jaws on the ground, salivating over that lovely accent (French, not pommy hahahaha) of yours!

As for gear, tempting though it is to ride with the minimum on a lovely summer say, as DangerousBastard said, our road surfaces are not very forgiving if you happen to get up close and personal with them unprotected.

[Clean_up]

Saw a complete retrard a wee while ago on one of those hot spring days wearing Shorts, singlet, and i couldnt believe it, but JANDALS!!!! oh but he was wearing gloves and a helmet.....what a complete f%#ktard I say! Those sort of people ruin it for those of us who are concerned with our own safety and the image of bikers in New Zealand. I think they should make it manditory to own good quality protective gear.

[klingon]

For the benefit of Mari, Jandals = Flip Flops

[James Deuce]

Saw a complete retrard a wee while ago on one of those hot spring days wearing Shorts, singlet, and i couldnt believe it, but JANDALS!!!! oh but he was wearing gloves and a helmet.....what a complete f%#ktard I say! Those sort of people ruin it for those of us who are concerned with our own safety and the image of bikers in New Zealand. I think they should make it manditory to own good quality protective gear.

How do they ruin it for you? You've got the gear on you feel comfortable riding in. You did good.

Whinging about what other people wear = bad.

Lead by example and bask in the warm glow of smug self-satisfaction when you see others doing it wrong.

[FJRider]

Lead by example and bask in the warm glow of smug self-satisfaction when you see others doing it wrong.

And say "I told you that would happen" when the motorcycle registration levys for ACC go up again. :innocent:

But I'm betting the "warm glow" will not be one of smug satisfaction ... :no:

[James Deuce]

And say "I told you that would happen" when the motorcycle registration levys for ACC go up again. :innocent:

But I'm betting the "warm glow" will not be one of smug satisfaction ... :no:

I'd really like to see a study into the costs related to treating riders in "full" gear (whatever that is) and riders "doing it wrong". I don't believe the difference would be as significant as some believe.

I think the winnable argument is the pain aversion one, and generally speaking people aren't that pain averse in certain situations until they've experienced pain as a direct result of ignorance or the choice to behave in a risky fashion without some precautions.

Most of all it's a personal choice and people making choices should be of no consequence to other random people. If you want to have a discussion with someone you care about, someone who will listen to your opinion respectfully, then that should be the target audience.

We do not need motorcyclists crying for regulatory compliance in regard to riding gear.

[FJRider]

I'd really like to see a study into the costs related to treating riders in "full" gear (whatever that is) and riders "doing it wrong". I don't believe the difference would be as significant as some believe.

A study, or statistics of such differences, wont make much difference untill enough people in position to make such decisions (to make that increase happen) believe it is signifigant.


I think the winnable argument is the pain aversion one, and generally speaking people aren't that pain averse in certain situations until they've experienced pain as a direct result of ignorance or the choice to behave in a risky fashion without some precautions.

There are a few people I have seen, riding scooters AND motorcycles that I would like to introduce to people I know personally, who have had an "off" inside town limits, in summer, in shorts T-shirt and jandals. They often get back to work in a reasonably short period of time. BUT ... the scarring, ongoing skin-grafts, and visible chunks (some large) missing, continue ...


Most of all it's a personal choice and people making choices should be of no consequence to other random people. If you want to have a discussion with someone you care about, someone who will listen to your opinion respectfully, then that should be the target audience.

We do not need motorcyclists crying for regulatory compliance in regard to riding gear.

All true ... but if as part of learner licence training, film footage of possible injuries, or being introduced to patients in hospitals with those injuries. More people would wear the gear.

[marigami]

For the benefit of Mari, Jandals = Flip Flops

Thanks for this, I was gonna ask about it...

[James Deuce]

A Samoan Mum brandishing a Jandal is the Pacific's most lethal Special Forces unit. Approach with caution.

[marigami]

I can see that this kind of discussion is leading towards discussion on freedom and self respect and rules and safety for the bikers.
Well I do think it should be mandatory in training courses even before the biker could buy its bike to have at least one hour regarding the proper gear the biker should wear and why.
True it would be its ownn decision to wear it or not but have the informations previous to the licence would be good.

[marigami]

A Samoan Mum brandishing a Jandal is the Pacific's most lethal Special Forces unit. Approach with caution.

Wooooww I'm impressed and scared!
i prepare for this.

[James Deuce]

I guarantee you're not.

[sinned]

What carnage? I spent my teenage years falling off push bikes at scooter speeds. Still here. Still right.
Likewise but only on push bikes (who rode scooters back then?) and damage to hands was one of the first areas the doctor inspected.
All this fuss about gear for riding motorcycles when cyclists have almost nil protection except for helmet and gloves. So here is a question; are you more or less likely to come off a motorcycle, scooter or cycle at under 50kph?

If you are okay about riding a cycle with no body protection why not a MC or scooter at urban speeds? I struggle to see the difference.

[breakaway]

Lead by example and bask in the warm glow of smug self-satisfaction when you see others doing it wrong.

And also in the warm glow of the fact that you didn't require multiple skin grafts :)

Personally, don't care about what others wear.

I reckon its just too risky - It's just that I don't fancy coming off at 50 km/h on my way to a mate's house or whatever and then spending the next few weeks in hospital with artificial skin dressings all over me because my unprotected skin dragged along the road for 10 meters.

All this avoided by spending 20 seconds gearing up. Not worth it I reckon.

[motorbyclist]

I can see that this kind of discussion is leading towards discussion on freedom and self respect and rules and safety for the bikers..
Here in NZ we have ACC - state owned mandatory accident health insurance.

To get users to pay extra for high risk activities, they charge levies. For a motorcylist, this is 9c/L on fuel and $250 per year per bike to register their bike, plus tax on our income.

For political reasons, we're under fire about the high cost of motorcycle injuries and are about to see that $250 increase to $750, per year per bike.

All this regardless of what we wear or how many claims we make.

Now while ACC did falsify data to back themselves up, motorcylists are still currently undercharged (assuming they own just one motorcycle).

So we have the common argument about personal freedom of choice, versus the responsible paying for the accidents of the irresponsible.



Personally, don't care about what others wear.
I own two registerd motorcycles and DO care that i can't afford to keep them if the proposed levy increase goes through parliament, despite have never made a claim and taking all practical/reasonable measures to ensure that if/when i have an accident I am unhurt.


I reckon its just too risky - It's just that I don't fancy coming off at 50 km/h on my way to a mate's house or whatever and then spending the next few weeks in hospital with artificial skin dressings all over me because my unprotected skin dragged along the road for 10 meters.

All this avoided by spending 20 seconds gearing up. Not worth it I reckon.
totally agree - though the skin damage pales in insignificance compared to the muscular and skeletal damage that can cost limbs (if not just the use of them)

as for those who dont see the connection between protective gear and protection:

I know two people who both broke their elbows on road bikes:
One was wearing a leather armoured jacket, helmet, boots, gloves. After his elbow smashing against a curb at 80kph and then going headfirst into a bank, two surgeries later he's got about 50% motion back in his arm and didn't even suffer a concussion.
The other was wearing nothing but a helmet a few sizes too big, and didn't even have a rego or wof. After a truck pulled across his path in a 50k zone, injuries included road rash to ass, thighs, both feet and hands, internal bleeding in his left arm and bleeding between skull and brain, and a destroyed right elbow (and a fucked foot). He now has a titanium elbow joint as half the bone was left on the road.
Seeing as he didn't even have a rego, WE are the ones who have paid for his titanium elbow, month in a nuero ward, and ongoing physio costs.

So, next time you pay for you rego or earner levy or even petrol, consider that you're paying extra so that other people can enjoy their "personal freedom" to not take reasonable precautions.

I say we keep mocking them and help reinforce the positive shift in attitude towards gear that motorcycling in taking, and hope that it even extends to the scooter riders out there.

[James Deuce]

Lecturing people never changes their minds about anything.

Sanctimonious long winded rants about what other people wear have no impact. You need to go and have a sanctimonious discussion with the person or people who offended you. That will go down well, I'm sure.

You can't use magnitude of injury as an example either. By far my worst accident was at 50km/hr and wearing all the gear. Subjective arguments about bike gear have less value than opinions in general. IMO.

In the meantime, I will wear on my motorcycle, what I feel comfortable wearing. I will never, ever demand that someone meet or exceed my expectations either. Most people can ride a motorcycle better than I can, and most people are equipped with enough faculties to make both good and bad decisions.

[Zuki lover]

well, sidewinder wears a pink g-string when he rides :lol: and backwards, when he wants to go faster :rofl: so what is it you do wear????


:laugh:

[twotyred]

No not yet, but under the globalist govt. system here,it's only a matter of time...

[marigami]

Still difficult to make the point I can see!!
As I wrote previously here in France only Helmet is mandatory and some of us do not even have full helmet but olddies one with googles (is that the right word by the way?)
If you're not wearing helmets you're fined.
In my opinion wearing full gear,or at least proper solid fabric gear like jeans(pants and jacket) and proper shoes is a question of good sense,obvious and,yes,sorry for those who are so keen on their own freedom and self decision,a question of good will and,in a way, good reputation.
Sorry for my bad english again because I can find the proper words to really explain what I want to mean.
I can't help wincing whenever I see I biker without gloves,short sleeved and with flip flop (jandals lol hehe) because we are all individuals true but we are also a community (well I might be naive but I still whish to see riders as a huge special community with a lot of solidarity) and for that we have kind of...duties:Oops::Oops:
All right with this word,you're not going to strangle me are you?
Bikers still have bad reputation for a lot of people (pff they just don't know) so it is also our "duty" to show our abilities and that we are not fools or light head.
Do you understand my meaning among all my mixing words, :Oops: again for that.

[James Deuce]

The bikers who generate the poor perception issues for bikers, generally aren't bikers. If you catch my drift.

So raising it as a "community" issue is flawed in the that the flip flop wearers generally aren't of the "community".

[Motu]

If you're not with us you're against us!

That's right up there with ...not my cup of tea.

[scumdog]

Thankfully only a helmet is required by law.

That way when I head down to the garage in my jandals, stubbies and tank-top I know I'm safe from the law as long as I have my helmet on.

[marigami]

Well I think we won't find any agreement as we have different opinions,which is very good by the way.
But I hope you can understand why I feel bad sometimes whenever I see bikers crashed...
I do care for my skin,my frame and my body so I wear full gear either during winter (well full gear plus in that case because of the cold) or summer and high temperatures:there are plenty of stuff which are made especially for differents seasons.
But I also must say that I would not be keen on to be a pillion (yes it happens sometimes to me still) with this kind of bikers as competent or good it might be.
Besides I do thing wearing tight (well not so tight) leather pants to be very flattering on men :Oops::Oops::calm:

[McJim]

Besides I do thing wearing tight (well not so tight) leather pants to be very flattering on men :Oops::Oops::calm:

'cept on fat gits like me :2thumbsup:

[scumdog]

'cept on fat gits like me :2thumbsup:

Yeah, ya lardy-arsed rider of Eytie scoots..:bleh::laugh:

[Ixion]

Thankfully only a helmet is required by law.

That way when I head down to the garage in my jandals, stubbies and tank-top I know I'm safe from the law as long as I have my helmet on.

You can get an exemption.