Concern over poor protective clothing

[kiwistorm]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">On my way to work this morning, every bike I saw on and off the motorway was wearing nothing that I would consider as protective clothing. Two bikes in particular, splitting lanes on the motorway in the wet with dress pants, dress shoes and a wind breaker on. One of the helmets was a 1980's Bell while the bike was almost new!
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">Short of posting disturbing pictures of what happens to people wearing a rain coat, sneakers and an old helmet. I would just like to urge any KB rider, perhaps the newer riders more so, to not take the lazy or cheap route when it comes to what you wear on a bike.
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">Personal experience alone makes me cringe when I see it.
I am far from suggesting that everyone go out and buy armoured leather race suits with back protectors but investing a little will go a long way to saving you a lot of pain and or even death.
Perversely the main offenders appear to be people who commute on motorcycles and they are the ones that would need it most. :(

[Antallica]

Yeah I usually wear:
FFM helmet (with tints :D )
Jacket/Jersey/Top
Gloves from Farmers ($15 ;) )
Jeans
Kevlar Snow Boots ($20 from Shoe bar :D look sweet & grip hard)

I'm not safe in any way, but I simply cannot afford anything that's $200 a piece if you know what I'm sayin.

[Antallica]

Originally posted by kiwistorm
I hear ya, I spent my time when I was younger (actually it&nbsp;was in Whangarei as well!) but interesting that you have a 2001 model bike but no money to spend on protecting yourself?

Not getting on your case but food for thought.:confused:

I don't own my bike actually (loan from grandfather) but it was only $2,300 ;). It's a damn cheap bike, hard to sell too.

[MikeL]

It's still a valid point. To me the logic is inescapable: Any biker who's had an accident while wearing unsuitable gear will (if he survives and keeps riding) certainly protect himself better in future, because he knows from personal experience what the cost is in pain and suffering. So, since accidents will happen despite our best intentions and superior skills, why wait for bitter experience to teach us a lesson?
I know how tempting it is to skimp on the protective gear. I commute on my bike every day, and in the time it takes me to put on leather pants, plastic overpants, scarf, jacket, boots, earplugs and helmet I could be half way to work. Not to mention the time it takes to change at the office. But without all that I'd feel naked now. And if I came off, I might just as well be.

[duckman]

I agree with kiwistorm, and would like to add this thought... If you don't have much in the way of cash a cheap ($60) saftely item is a backprotector. If you slide off your bike and scrape yourself up a bit, in time you'll heal and get back on the bike. If you f*ck yer back up, you'll never ride again!!

I have a good friend who was recently paralysed (not bike related), from the chest down. I wish this on no one.

Keep riding - Keep safe (here endith the lesson)

:rockon:

[Antallica]

Oh yeah I've come off enough times to know that if I was going about 30km faster, I'd be pretty wasted right now ;)

Once the new job settles in I'll invest :)

[MrMelon]

I got a reasonably major case of road rash 6 or 7 months ago after lowsiding my mountain bike while racing it down a hill at fairly high speed (for a mountain bike). I was just wearing a t-shirt and shorts, so I ended up with no skin down one side of my arm and leg, and the road burned through my motocross gloves and pants that I was wearing.

So the weekend before I bought my bike I went out and spent about $1400 on a full set of fairly decent gear, because if you stack it, that's all that's going to be saving your ass.

[Big Dog]

Well purely to amuse the others reading this....

I rode for Months with just a duck hunting jacket ($45) while I lay buyed a $285 jacket (the dealer then gave me a $80 rebate when he found out I didn't just want to wear it for style reasons).

Then came some boots took me another 6 months, in the mean time I wore John bull combat boots (still do at the moment as my Boots wore out and are yet to be replaced) $45

Then came pants. Took me over a year to find some I liked and fit.
and then 6 months to buy them.

So it was that I set out for Auckland from New Plymouth for a 5 day visit. First time ever in three years of riding i had pants, Jacket boots and a high quality helmet.

Crapped it at 35kmph on gravel.

Farked my $350 pants as I slid along bike on the back of my legs on my knees.

Best $1285 I ever spent.

I had ground through 7m of leather but not the armour so although I dislocated both knee caps I can still walk today.
No other injuries for me.

Helmet did not hit the deck but I felt safe.

Jacket was grazed on both elbows, shoe polish fixed that.

Brand new never worn before pants shredded, $15 saw the leather patched and the tailor replaced the armour for nothing.

Boots grazed and sole damaged. $10 sore the sole repaired and shoe polish did the rest.

Grazes heal but some bones don't. Kneecaps, ankles, spines, hips, Skulls or the fleshy bit under it.

You may buy the gear and never crash but you won't regret the added comfort and security it provides.

You may not and never crash anyway. Good on you pass on that skill to others.

You may buy it then crash, Best money you ever spent if you bought quality. Worst money you ever spent if you bought a crap.

Sorry if this sounds like a lecture but I have had accidents at low speed with gear and low speed without and it terrifies me to think some people take that risk at high speed:gob:

If you can't afford brand new try second hand places.

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by kiwistorm
Good on ya Antallica. Hope it wont take too long for ya. Im sure you could get another loan more eaisly to be safe?


Most bike shops will finance gear if you buy $500 or more some will for $300.

Jacket, Pants (or one piece), back protector and boots, should fit into most budgets.:done:

[Firefight]

Yeah I'm all for heaps of protective gear, I frequently see guys riding on the southern motorway, in mecahnics blue overalls,, and while Iám sure their great riders, I can't help but think what happens if some fu#kwit in a cage knocks them over:argh.

I know it might seem hard to justify the money, but like dog says a lot of places will let you laybye, or you can add gear to the deal if your doing finance:niceone:

It's worth thinking about.

firefight:rockon:

[georgedubyabush]

any opinion on draggin jeans?

is a bit of kevlar stuck on the inside of denim safe at all?

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by georgedubyabush
any opinion on draggin jeans?

is a bit of kevlar stuck on the inside of denim safe at all?

Only ever heard good reports about slides, practical as hell (going shopping in several shops is a pain in the arse in touring pants), but at the end of the slide - as in my case when I stopped skidding in the above accident it was because I hit a traffic island knee first- there is still no armour. I hear through their website that they now have armour upgrades sold seperatly.

Draggin Jeans (http://www.dragginjeans.com/armor.html)

I want some for those days were full touring pants will be a pain in the butt.
Ciao, Big Dog

[NZred]

Dunnu if Draggin Jeans work or not,.. and hope that I never find out personally. But I wear them every time I ride.. even under wet gear.:niceone:

Also they keep your knees warm on the cold nights .. :rolleyes:

[jrandom]

Have to chime in here. I was pretty strapped for cash when I bought my bike (from a dealer) but I put $1600 worth of gear on the finance deal (synthetic touring suit with armour, boots, leather gloves, Shoei lid) because I just couldn't justify the risk of not having it.

It feels a *helluva* lot safer riding around with that lot on... I shudder to think of what would happen if I came off at high speed without the jacket and pants (quite apart from the helmet, but wearing that isn't even a choice, anyway).

Matter of fact, I lowsided the bike going round a corner in the rain at about 40kph earlier this year. Had a lovely purple bruise under my hip armour where I hit the ground, but no other damage. If I hadn't been wearing the trousers, I suspect I'd be sitting here now with scar tissue over about half of my right leg.

Don't forget gloves, either... I tripped and fell in the dark during an early morning run a couple of weeks ago. Grated chunks out of both hands on the road when I landed. Was most unpleasant for a couple of days. I can only imagine what the equivalent injury would be like sliding off a bike at any speed over walking pace :(

[Lou Girardin]

When I went splat, my Spidi jacket wasn't marked, except for a ripped pocket. Probably did that on the car I bounced off, the CE armour worked really well.
The riding pants weren't too sharp though, they were scuffed up a bit. But there was no hip armour, so I got the mother of all bruises. the next pair will have proper armour in them.
Lou

[MikeL]

Good second-hand gear can often be found at Cash Converters. I got my Alpinestars there for $40 - almost as new, couldn't believe my luck when I found they were exactly my size. they also have leather pants, jackets, gloves, etc.
You could also try the shop in Onehunga Mall - I think it's called The Budget Clothing Shop or something like that. Big range of leather gear - new and used. Got my new leather pants there for $200.

[marty]

i agree with mikeL. i picked up a full set of apache zip togethers for $350 out of the loot. still riding in long laced docs though - must get some race/riding boots. feel naked riding in (just) jeans now. even got some kevlar palmed leather race gloves from cash converters for $20.

[PZR]

When I got back on a bike I bought the best I could afford which was middle of the road price range with second hand leather pants from the T&E. I then came of at around 70km (mechanical failure) and really appreciated the gear. A couple of scrapes and bruises on me and the gear was battered but reusable. I cliamed the gear on my personal insurance but have to watch that as they devalue it really heavily even tho I had only done small milage in it. Lets just say that the money I got back was well used to wards more biking. :Oops:


Good gear rocks. I remember what I used in my early riding days and distintcly remember the draughts and being wet a lot, and I never tested it by coming off on the road..People tell me taking off the top layer of skin is one of the more painfull experiances they have had, so its leather / cordura and armour for me all the way

I am interested in hearing about back protectors as I was thinking Santa might bring me one for Xmas. Any advise?
:done:

[MikeL]

Never come across hip protectors before but I can see the point of them. How do you avoid looking like the Michelin Man though?

[Coldkiwi]

I have spilled off at 30kmhr and about 90kmhr and if I hadn't had full leathers at 90kmhr I would've been well toasted. Got some holes in my lacket and grazes on hips/hands/back but VERY lucky. Even getting knocked off at 30kmhr (one of the rare occasions I wore jeans) I got nasty grazes on my knees and only saved major cuts and bruises to my hands with my 2 week old padded race style gloves.

If you wear jeans and didn't know... THEY DO SWEET SOD ALL in a crash. No impact protection obviously but i scored two nice holes in them hitting the ground at about 15k. imagine the carnage at open road speeds.

can you afford not to wear hard out gear?

[wkid_one]

Issues - armour is great - but it only protects you once and is only designed to protect from an impact with the road immediately after leaving the bike.&nbsp; It won't protect from impacts with stationary objects such as kerbs and the like (in fact can actually do more damage).

Poor fitting armour can actually be worse than no armour at all - causing/exacerbating injuries in an accident.&nbsp; Make sure the armour is sitting hard against your skin - especially important when you take the lining out in summer!!&nbsp; Make sure the jacket has adjustable straps.

Clover put out good back protectors circa $200.

&nbsp;

[wkid_one]

Nope - coz it is usually fucked from the original impact and can cause more damage as a result of it being deformed and or not allowing the joints normal range of movement.&nbsp; Hitting kerbs etc with armour - will just result in the injury damage being transferred to a weaker point where the energy will be disipated there.&nbsp; I would rather suffer a broken&nbsp;knee than a&nbsp;broken pelvis (well actually I would rather have neither). Just discussed the same issue with the Orthopeadic Surgeon on Monday as we got in to a discussion re motorcycle accidents and protective gear&nbsp;funnily enough.&nbsp; He has seen more accidents than I - so tend to believe him.

&nbsp; Yes,&nbsp;I would rather wear armour - but it will do fuck all if you hit a kerb/tree/lamppost and you are kidding yourself if you think it will- plus what are ya going to do - make sure you hit the tree with your elbow/knee - next we will want the full armour suit???

It is like back protectors - the best ones stop you from hyper-extending you back first and foremost as opposed to focusing on impact protection.

The forces with hitting the road are horizontal as you are travelling over it so impact force is lessened - the forces hitting a kerb are opposing you direction of travel (and usually immoveable) - armour is going to help very little (unless travelling slow that is).

I think the aim is to not fall off, and if you do - steer clear of immovable objects......

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[wkid_one]

ride in this

<IMG height=291 alt="Riot/Crowd Control Body Suit" src="http://www.cyclecop.com/crowdcontrolRiotSuit-mine.gif" width=200 border=0>

Our Riot Gear is designed to protect against blunt trauma injuries while officers have the mobility to get their job done. The unique multiple-layer laminate distributes and absorbs high impact strikes.

[wkid_one]

or this

<IMG height=120 alt="Full Suit of Armour" src="http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/images/products/997/images/134.jpg" width=41 border=0>

May need a tree and a couple of serfs to help you on the bike (and some investment in Ohlins)

[NZred]

Wkid_one,

I see the logic of your discussion with the doctor.

I also see that without any armour you may not survive the first impact.. let alone the secondary encounter with a kurb or similar.&nbsp; :rolleyes:

I think I would prefer to take the risk of surviving the first impact.. and hope like hell,, there is NOT a secondary hit.&nbsp; :eek:

I know that my dragin jeans will only help in relation to heat,.. and the armour 's defence is minimal... but in reallity .. what else can you do..??&nbsp; :confused:

[wkid_one]

That is exactly my point Red - armour is ONLY designed for the first impact - not impacts with stationary objects (kerbs/trees etc).&nbsp;

armour is great - but it only protects you once and is only designed to protect from an impact with the road immediately after leaving the bike.&nbsp; It won't protect from impacts with stationary objects such as kerbs and the like (in fact can actually do more damage).

The new armour with plastic cups and foam are worse on a secondary impact coz they usually pierce the skin worsen the injury/wound rather than protecting you (common in modern Technic and Spidi gear).

&nbsp;

[RiceBurner]

Do you get Hein Gericke Clothing and accesories down there?

It's German bike wear - lots of different styles, and very well priced. Consistently does well in the RiDE magazine scientific tests.

One thing they have is "Hiprotec" armour. It's not absorbing foam, it's neoprene rubber. The theory is that it will work more than once and actually absorb more impact energy.

I've not actually tried the double impact test - but I HAVE gone down the road in Hiprotec (and also in normal armour). The Hiprotec works well and better than normal foam armour.

I've also had the misfortune to sustain a head on without armour and have a weak knee as a result - I won't ride without armoured trousers now, and use nothing but Hiprotec because it's comfortable : It deforms to fit your shape without losing it's absorbing properties.

piccie (I hope) :
http://www.hein-gericke.de/shop2001/prodpics/P0005552-1.jpg
As you can see - it looks kinda like a Scholl sandal - but that's all soft rubber.

Also - I'll ONLY wear Leather on my legs - no denim anymore - learnt my lesson there.

But - I have crashed twice in a Weiss Textile jacket (lowish speeds - 40 max), and the abrasion resistance was respectable. (Good armour is needed for impact resistance obviously).

[wkid_one]

Originally posted by RiceBurner
One thing they have is "Hiprotec" armour. It's not absorbing foam, it's neoprene rubber. The theory is that it will work more than once and actually absorb more impact energy.

I've not actually tried the double impact test - but I HAVE gone down the road in Hiprotec (and also in normal armour). The Hiprotec works well and better than normal foam armour.

It must be super comfortable given it is rubber???&nbsp; A lot of suits use the thin neoprene pads&nbsp;in the hip as it is usually only a secondary impact point (primary being knees, elbows and shoulders and hands)

[RiceBurner]

Originally posted by wkid_one
It must be super comfortable given it is rubber???&nbsp; A lot of suits use the thin neoprene pads&nbsp;in the hip as it is usually only a secondary impact point (primary being knees, elbows and shoulders and hands)

oh yeah - EXTEMELY comfortable compared to regular hard foam armour.

Also safe because whatever shape you are - it conforms to it so it's always in the right shape - wherever you use it.

[mangell6]

Interesting subject this.

I always thought that as the body has a natural layer of protection then what else do we need to ride bikes. I always found jandles to be good foot wear even though they could create a large split in my foot, next to my big toe. :p:
:D :D :D
Anyway like most things in life each person considers what is important to them. I have an important back and head, tend to take care of them when riding with a quality "what I can afford" helmet and riding gear with armour.

Used to road race on push bikes, clipped a riders back wheel as part of the leading 'line' of riders - went down, the bunch road over me and I was wearing standard push bike clothing AND a push bike helmet. That helmet has front sprocket marks on it as people road over my head. :eek:

I have reached the conclusion that each individual has different values and that people ride with what they consider they are worth.

:done:

Mike
Older, wiser, and learnt it all young.

[Big Dog]

The loonies I dont get are those that commute in Aucland cbd on Harleys Dukes etc ($20k plus Bikes) but wear Shorts and t shirts?

I wore just jeans and a t shirt once to go and gas up for a ride the following day. I felt naked.

I came to the conclusion that our gear is more than just protection it is a uniform that when we put it on it allows us to enter the "zone" more easily.

Any one else had similar thoughts?

Ciao, Big Dog

[jrandom]

Originally posted by Big Dog
I came to the conclusion that our gear is more than just protection it is a uniform that when we put it on it allows us to enter the "zone" more easily.

Yes. The Putting On of the Gear is a sacred ritual which prepares the mind for holy communion with the road.

Without it, the protection of Bob, the divine drilling-equipment salesman and Patron Saint of Motorcyclists, can be found sadly lacking.

:p

[Big Dog]

Lmao, I assume this means you concur?

Kind of like christians wearing a cross, in search of divine protection from the evil doctor tarmac.:niceone:

[wkid_one]

LMAO

Agree entirely - however those idiots wearing feck all protective clothes are partly responsible for the increase ACC Levies&nbsp;- makes you wonder how many injuries/lives would be prevented/saved if people wore the correct gear.

In saying that tho&nbsp;- we still pay wayyyyyyyyyy to much for good gear in NZ - no wonder some people can't afford it -still if you buy a mercedes, you don't ask how much the gas is (or a VTR for that matter!)

[Marmoot]

AGV 2piece suit and good helmet with Teknic gloves and boots.

Has been proven THREE TIMES that they are stronger than a Honda Bike (that makes them stronger than everything in the world, innit?) :D

[PZR]

Originally posted by Marmoot
AGV 2piece suit and good helmet with Teknic gloves and boots.

Has been proven THREE TIMES that they are stronger than a Honda Bike (that makes them stronger than everything in the world, innit?) :D

If you keep coming off that Honda all the time maybe you should give up on the bike and just run everywhere in your gear. Itll keep our ACC levies down by the sound of it :p

Bring back the right and personal liberty to go helmet free like the yanks do. To truly experiance the wind in your hair and the bugs in your teeth. I'd love the freedom to be able to scrape my face off on the tarseal any time I want. :eek:

Did you see the guy on TV the other night that had his face chopped of with his lawnmower. What a look. Poor bastard should have been wearing leathers and helmet while on his ride-on

I did see an article for a motorcycle airbag suit once. If you come off it inflates same as an airbag. Just dont fall over walking into a shop or crash into gorse

[Kwaka-Kid]

Firstly: rule number one: HATE HONDA! love kwakas :p

secondly, bah, i think the problem today with regarding protective gear etc doesnt exist the way many see it.&nbsp; the only problem i see in it is all the good/nice people wasting their time babbling on about it.&nbsp; Is it not clear that we (the dumb ones) that go to work and back everyday in jeans sneakers, but at least a leather jacket and gloves, are bound to have already heard/seen all this stuff and will only learn by either coming off and hurting ourselves.. or coming off, hurting ourselves, many times and just not caring! its my body, i will do to it what i like, it takes every punishment ive given it so far and without ever going to hospital etc its repaired itself the way god made it to :)&nbsp; o-natural styles :)&nbsp;&nbsp; I love the feel of the classic jeans... wind gets thru them just the right amount, not too cold, not too hot. and its SOOOOO much easier to move in then leathers/my dry rider gear.&nbsp; so i leave them in wardrobe as ornaments (hehe thanks mitch for another wardrobe ornament:p) and feel the freedom of jeans!

honestly, loosing skin hurts... its true, but pain is temporary, and no protective gear will save my life from a head on with a bus or somthing random.. breaking a leg etc, so yeah :) ive said what i felt i needed to from over this side of the fence, but in saying all that, just to totally contradict myself, to all newbies: wear protective gear! it saves you.. or somthing like that, ive done my bit :) and feel special :cool:

[MikeL]

Originally posted by Kwaka-Kid
pain is temporary

True. So is life. Why bother?

[NZred]

PZR... :eek:&nbsp;&nbsp; NICE BIKE..&nbsp; but I see you have&nbsp;the good gear on...

You will go well at the next TRACK day...:rockon:

( did ya mug a Lil' kid ?? ) :Oops:

[Marmoot]

Originally posted by PZR
If you keep coming off that Honda all the time maybe you should give up on the bike and just run everywhere in your gear. Itll keep our ACC levies down by the sound of it :p



Oh c'mon......I pay $211 per year on ACC Levies on the bike, and another $180(?) on the car. ANd I only used $60 of them :D
I didn't even use any of them the last time I was tumbling around on the ditch. I am a MODEL CITIZEN on bikes.

ANyway, u're right. I've given up on that Honda. :o

[Nouseforaname]

Driving round town earlier this morning in the cage.... i was gutted when i noticed a bike coming up behind me.. that was until i saw the state of this guy! he was on a FXR wearing boat shoes, shorts, t-shirt, no gloves and an open face helmet, i wanted to pull over and take his keys off him to save his stupid ass. In saying that i dont ride around in $10,000 worth of protective gear, but i dont ride around in shorts and a t-shirt either.....:-)

P.S. whats the fine for not having a rego on ya bike? is the fine cheaper than actually getting a rego....im not planning on doing this, just wondering:D

[Antallica]

Slap that dude for me next time you see him will ya ;)

"It wasn't me" ;)

[Nouseforaname]

Im sure it wasnt you Antallica:D just makes you wonder how much value these guys put on there lives eh....i learnt my lesson after highsiding my bike just outta Whangamata wearing a t-shirt and a windbreaker:argh: What would have been a lucky escape saw me in the A&E in Whangamata with a nurse scarping gravel out of my arm with a wire brush... not a pleasant experience to say the least. I wish i was wearing leathers when i decided to run across Quay St pissed without looking, a taxi hit me at about 60k and then had the nerve to drive off:gob: haha but im sure i messed up his car in the process.

[marty]

it's a $200 fine for no rego. works if you only get one a year! if you get an 'A' reg though, which is a 'restore' rego the plate number doesn't become dormant after a year, and you still get a label (has an 'A' in place of the 'G'). An A reg costs about $30 or so for 12 months.

[georgedubyabush]

Originally posted by PZR
If you keep coming off that Honda all the time maybe you should give up on the bike and just run everywhere in your gear. Itll keep our ACC levies down by the sound of it :p

[Kwaka-Kid]

bah leave the dude on the FXR alone aiight!.

you know what.. heres a new view... i dont care about my body, well thats not new, HOWEVER, if i choose not to wear protective clothing, then i aint affecting anybody else, infact i mmore likly to ride slower as i dont feel as safe!

secondly not wearing it could be a plus to another driver/pedestrian.. if i hit a ped with my body we both get hurt.. if i hit a ped with my body behind a nice big steelcapped etc boot or somthing i will break his leg.. my body hitting another is bound to be softer to them then with hard outta plastic shells etc.&nbsp; and like i said, when i wear leathers, i feel invincible.. this might be my own personal problem.. but then again there might be a few more of me out there then you think...

and hey, there are all sorts of idiots out there slashing their wrists etc etc, go harp on to them, they are doing things intentionally to get hurt.. i do this to limit myself as i realise there aint much but skin between my bones and that road :) ride safe and happy dudes!

[Antallica]

Man it does feel good when wearing sweet nothing mind you :)

We all know your clothing style KK! ;)

http://www.ridenude.com/Images/RideMain.jpg

I'll remove this if it's too rudey :o

[curious george]

HOWEVER, if i choose not to wear protective clothing, then i aint affecting anybody else, infact i mmore likly to ride slower as i dont feel as safe!

*sigh*
You do affect other people. Family, friends, the guy who has to scrape you off the road.
It also keeps me awake on night shift when I have to fix your
broken ass:angry2:
We probably average 1-2 serious crashes a week at Auckland Hospital, and about 99.9% were: riding in T-shirts, jeans and sneakers. This makes it easy to cut their clothes off, but thats about it.
Some were stoned/drunk and also had no proper clothes.
I guess it's like Darwin's natural selection theory is working, but we tend to squew the results by fixing these people so they can go and do it again.
:brick: :brick: :brick: :brick:
*ends rant, lightens up, and goes for a ride:) *

[bikerboy]

You said it George !:rockon:

Besides PIP, the more serious the injuries the more cost to fix and more excuses to raise OUR acc levies.:argh:

It's attitudes like your's that created the nanny state. If people used their heads for more than a hat rack, governments would not feel the need to pass laws to protect you from yourself, with the rest of us suffering the extreme of their actions along side you! :done:

[Coldkiwi]

Originally posted by Kwaka-Kid


you know what.. heres a new view... i dont care about my body,

HOWEVER, if i choose not to wear protective clothing, then i aint affecting anybody else, infact i mmore likly to ride slower as i dont feel as safe!

if i hit a ped with my body behind a nice big steelcapped etc boot or somthing i will break his leg.. my body hitting another is bound to be softer to them then with hard outta plastic shells etc.&nbsp; and like i said, when i wear leathers, i feel invincible.. this might be my own personal problem..


i do this to limit myself as i realise there aint much but skin between my bones and that road :)

logan, to be blunt, this is some of the stupidest&nbsp;sh*t you've ever posted.

working in a hospital, you should bloody well know better and have even less of an excuse over ignorance than all the idiots that come in under protected (they're idiots for not wearing the right gear whether or not the accident was their fault).

does a wire brush and iodine on your open bleeding flesh sound fun? If you don't care about your body (its not bravado to be a sucker for serious injuries) then you need to get your priorities in life sorted out.

listen to your mates while you have the choice (you won't be able to make them go away when you're lying immobilised on a drip in the ICU).

[PZR]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kwaka-Kid
[
it takes every punishment ive given it so far and without ever going to hospital etc its repaired itself the way god made it to :)&nbsp; o-natural styles :)&nbsp;&nbsp;

You just HAVE to be younger than 35. I think everyone over that age soon works out that your body does not fix it's self like it used to and christ its hard (as in more difficult, for those of you with impure thoughts) when getting out of bed some mornings :D

[Antallica]

We could all just buy cups and use them, much cheaper to save the jewels with :D

[jrandom]

Originally posted by Kwaka-Kid
i dont care about my body, well thats not new, HOWEVER, if i choose not to wear protective clothing, then i aint affecting anybody else, infact i mmore likly to ride slower as i dont feel as safe!

Jeeeeeezus, KK, you're putting yourself firmly into the bucket with the fools I ranted about over in the 'fatility' thread.

*How* much tax do you think I pay every year? And do you think I want the already-too-small portion of it that goes on public healthcare used to patch up your sorry arse after you grate the skin off it because leather trousers and CE armour were too uncomfortable?

So long as you promise to drag yourself home on your elbows after you regain consciousness on the side of the road, and then use your mighty regenerative powers to heal on your bedroom floor, be my guest.

I suspect you might not want to do that, though.

:angry2:

[WanaGo]

I just got me a jacket! Ive ridden long enuf without gear, and im making a start. Been about 4 weeks now since Ive had my first bike, wearing a polarflece and 3 layers of clothing, and some cheap leather gloves.

Just got me a Orina jacket, with medium armor, just elbow, sholders, a back pad and whatnot. Has removable inner etc for summer.

The stories from this set of posts made me go get it!

Saving up for pants now, same set.

Thanks for the insentive guys :)

WanaGo

[Kwaka-Kid]

ok firstlly, I JUST BOUGHT A VFR400 NC24 with 16,500kms! :)

secondly, aiight sorry about all the shit.. and i did actually believe in it! but fuck that about those dudes nuts! fuck that shit man, do they sell a box or somthing @ bike shops? thats fucking scary, id rather be dead then have that shit happen! alright, i might buy pants oneday.

eww man, thats sick.

and thirdly, i dont use hospital care, or have never yet, i just get beaten by old man and learn lesson not to fall off :p hahaha! no but really, i just get my sorry ass home and go hard on the panadol and say, feck feck feck, but i aint gunna see no doc :) so dont worry, i didnt put ur ACC levies up, and i have a clean record for accidents.

and if you think none of my crashs have been serious enuf, then fair enuf, thats prolly true, but when they are, ill still do my best to save your money and stay out/away from a hospital etc.&nbsp; saves money all around and maybe ill learn.. well, maybe not too :) but thats my personal choice :p

hehehe, cheers dudes, and&nbsp; yeah i spose&nbsp; ishould wear more, but jeans is pretty good, rode from matamata on new bike in jeans, boots, jacket, gloves helmet, only to be overtaken by a dude wearing sandshoes, windbreaker, and NO GLOVES! (i honestly admit&nbsp; icant ride without gloves, it feels icky) on a blue firestorm.. anyone here?

anyways must go ride the new bike, laters. - IVE NEVER HAD SUCH A GREAT BIKE! fucking MINT! just 16" front rim feels fast turning.

[Lou Girardin]

Apart from the fact that ACC use injury costs to beat us to death with, I don't give a fat rats arse what other people wear or don't wear.
We are becoming the worlds biggest nanny state and the pollies are even talking about a fat tax and couch potato tax because we're getting obese. We're losing the freedom to live our lives as WE want.
There was a good point made about risk factors and vulnerability though, I heard one road safety expert say that the best safety device to improve driving behaviour is a 150mm steel spike in the middle of the steering wheel.
Lou

[bikerboy]

A big hand to Wannago for doing the smart thing.:niceone:

Congratulations PIP on the WORKING/RIDEABLE bike!!!:D

Now I don't want to read and posts about customizing this thing to pieces duded!!!!!:beer:

[RiceBurner]

Originally posted by Lou Girardin
Apart from the fact that ACC use injury costs to beat us to death with, I don't give a fat rats arse what other people wear or don't wear.
We are becoming the worlds biggest nanny state and the pollies are even talking about a fat tax and couch potato tax because we're getting obese. We're losing the freedom to live our lives as WE want.
There was a good point made about risk factors and vulnerability though, I heard one road safety expert say that the best safety device to improve driving behaviour is a 150mm steel spike in the middle of the steering wheel.
Lou

Bog off!! Try living in the UK if you're worried about the "Nanny State"! :(


Re the Steel spike - that's a commonly held view amongst a lot of police and accident investigators.

Problem is : Governments don't want to spend money on training people to drive better (cos they're tight gits) - so they chase road safety improvement by making car manufacturers make "safer" cars. Problem with safer cars is that they (imo) lead to more careless drivers - which leads to more accidents. But that's fine, because the safer cars mean no-one gets hurt....... :rolleyes: yeah right. :angry2: :argh:

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by Kwaka-Kid
bah leave the dude on the FXR alone aiight!.

secondly not wearing it could be a plus to another driver/pedestrian.. if i hit a ped with my body we both get hurt.. if i hit a ped with my body behind a nice big steelcapped etc boot or somthing i will break his leg.. my body hitting another is bound to be softer to them then with hard outta plastic shells etc.&nbsp; and like i said, when i wear leathers, i feel invincible.. this might be my own personal problem.. but then again there might be a few more of me out there then you think...



We have seen your build kk I could get away with that excuse given all my spare padding but I ask you this.

If you were hit by a katana (samurai sword not the bike) would you prefer scabbard on or scabbard off?

And you disappear in profile just like a katana.... lol

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by WanaGo
I just got me a jacket
WanaGo

Way to go WanaGo:niceone:

See KK us "old fuddy duddies" havn't just wasted our time with this thread. Perhaps you too have played your part by showing the idiocy of the argument against good gear.

Good gear Will not always save a life or even minimise injury but a good chance is better than none.

[SPman]

They tried the training thing in NSW to discourage young people getting into bikes! What happened....the death and injury toll among new riders in NSW has dropped 28% in the last 2 years, with an increase in new riders,&nbsp;while cars have remained static ! :big grin:

Now that is more of a safety effect than all the easy bullshit they foist on us - speed, drink, speed etc...

Safer cars mean video game drivers, until it all turns to shit!

[SPman]

Originally posted by Antallica
Man it does feel good when wearing sweet nothing mind you :)&nbsp;

It Sure Does!

[wkid_one]

Originally posted by curious george
*sigh*
You do affect other people. Family, friends, the guy who has to scrape you off the road.
It also keeps me awake on night shift when I have to fix your
broken ass:angry2:
We probably average 1-2 serious crashes a week at Auckland Hospital, and about 99.9% were: riding in T-shirts, jeans and sneakers. This makes it easy to cut their clothes off, but thats about it.
Some were stoned/drunk and also had no proper clothes.
I guess it's like Darwin's natural selection theory is working, but we tend to squew the results by fixing these people so they can go and do it again.
:brick: :brick: :brick: :brick:
*ends rant, lightens up, and goes for a ride:) *

Not also forgetting the other flow on effects....


Increased Insurance Premiums
Increased ACC Levies
Increased negative stigma about MB'ers
Increased focus by the Police


:stoogie:

&nbsp;

[WanaGo]

I got a cumfy jacket, I got a cumfy jacket.... :p
:done:

WanaGo

[jrandom]

Originally posted by WanaGo
I got a cumfy jacket, I got a cumfy jacket....

Yes, I think I've got the same one you mentioned.

It *is* kinda snuggly, isn't it? :p

[WanaGo]

Yep, I like it aye.

Here is my jacket.

www.kbl.co.nz/MyJacket/

:p

:rockon:

WanaGo

[jrandom]

Originally posted by WanaGo
Here is my jacket.

'snot quite the same one, I think it just has some different shiny bits on it.

The pants that go with it are good. Goooooooood. Very abrasion-resistant :D

I had to ask the guy in the shop for the largest size, though :o

[Coldkiwi]

well done to those that have just learned something from the mistakes and experience of others.

no points to people being stupid and stubborn. go to the back of the class.

[Antallica]

Ugh, I went driving today in my dress pants... bloody jeans are at the dry cleaners. Not very safe and ideal.

I really need to get some cheap gears, I'll have $600 so maybe I'll go on the hunt for some 2nd hand gear.

[Marmoot]

Don't mean to be slightly off topic, but, here's my opinion on bikes vs cars.

Having mates died both on cars and bikes, I tend to think that going on the road is gambling your life. They are as dangerous as each other.
With bikes, you tend to suffer more injuries in slower-speed accident. Tumble off at 50 and you'll receive grazes, while in car you are almightily protected.
But, crash at 130kph and you'll be flying to (hopefully) a ditch if you're on a bike, and (hopefully too) you'll only get concussion and/or some broken bones. In the car, crash at 130 and they'll spend 3 hours just to cut you out of the wreckage (that is if you are still alive). Ever heard about the Wellington boyracer on Evo4 who died instantly in his crash?

The risk is ALWAYS there. The game is only to manage it. How to minimize your loses WHEN the number is up. It's not about "if", it's just about "when".

Take this from an experienced rider/driver (I mean, experienced in the subject of crashing :D )

And, honestly, I feel more scared of dying in my car than on my bike. I got away from 3 150+ crashes on the bike....I don't think I will get away even once in the car.

[Marmoot]

P.S.
I hung up my leather due to recent crash. Not because I grew scared of bikes, but due to financial reason for just financing new car and not having reserve to repair the bike and stupid enough not to insure it and blah blah blah blah blah......(boring same old song......)

[bikerboy]

If you can afford to dry clean your jeans, then you can afford some decent gear. It's just a matter of getting your priorities straight.:)

[georgedubyabush]

Originally posted by Antallica
Ugh, I went driving today in my dress pants... bloody jeans are at the dry cleaners. Not very safe and ideal.


That D word needs to be&nbsp;blocked like swearing on some forums. Seems to really bug some people:D

[Antallica]

Originally posted by bikerboy
If you can afford to dry clean your jeans, then you can afford some decent gear. It's just a matter of getting your priorities straight.:)

Actually mums paying for it and where can I find decent gears for that much eh? ;)

[jrandom]

Originally posted by Marmoot
(snip stuff about car crashes being dangerous too)
The risk is ALWAYS there. The game is only to manage it. How to minimize your loses WHEN the number is up. It's not about "if", it's just about "when"

Bollocks. Nothing personal, Marmoot, but this is a load of fatalistic shite. We make our *own* destiny with every twitch of the throttle or glance at the road. If you've crashed three times (no other vehicles involved, yes?) then that's three times you made a choice that you shouldn't have made. There is no number to be 'up'. It's just that kind of responsibility-avoiding mentality that, I think, creates the rash of terrible road users we're seeing everywhere in NZ at the moment.

Contrary to how many think of it, the 'risk' is only driven from statistics created from numbers plucked out of a very real and organic world, where people make decisions and behave in very different ways across continually changing situations.

I could have crashed many times over the last year or so, but I avoided all of them (and made one stupid mistake which fortunately didn't injure me seriously). It still comes down to your awareness and thinking ability (and physical ability, too, on a bike).

When I'm on the road, I'm in control. I apply my awareness of physics to my observation of other road users (who may or may not be aware of *me*) and ride within the limitations of my own skill and my machine. If I ever do stuff up and get hurt (and stay alive), I sure as hell won't be bleating about inevitability. I'll be learning from the experience.

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by kiwistorm
kK - I have two friends who both ripped their&nbsp;testicles open wearing crap gear and having a motorcycle crash&nbsp;:eek5:One was ok but in bits, the other went through a lot of pain and problems and ended up loosing one.

Perhaps you should consider shaving yours nuts&nbsp;like cyclist shave their legs to stop from tearing the skin&nbsp;or getting too much gravel rash.&nbsp;:yes:
Perhaps this explains why after only a few wears the inner lining on my two month old pants has worn out (not ripped worn through). And thats staying on.:gob:

[Marmoot]

Jrandom, gravity pulls down. It's inevitable.
"awareness and thinking ability (and physical ability, too, on a bike)" is how you manage the game.
If you are good in managing it, then go and dress yourself in skimpy lycra if you want to. If you're no good, wear sensible leathers.
You said so yourself that you have fallen off once. That already proved my points of inevitability. :)

[Redstar]

HP on gear?
when I bought my bike on HP they said how about some gear? how say we build it into the deal? this is like would you like fry's with your burger? but being like inteligent..! I said ok so those boots how much for cash? they said like $250 ok them build them iton the deal how much do they add to the total repayment?
the end deal $400 so yep wear today pay tomorrow.
the price of bikes secondhand can be nominal compared to the gear? I recently visited a cash converter shop in auckland west
and was shocked a the stupid high prices applied to SH gear that was often higher than new prices.
My advice is :
dont buy gear with bikes from dealers
dont bother with cash converters
buy cash when you have it and drive like my Granny until you have the suitable gear.

[jrandom]

Originally posted by Marmoot
You said so yourself that you have fallen off once. That already proved my points of inevitability. :)

Yebbut... but... it *doesn't*! :confused:

It wasn't inevitable, it happened because I fanged it into a wet off-camber corner when I shouldn't have.

I guess I'm just trying to say that as soon as we give up and say that crashing is inevitable, we'll start crashing more often and forget that generally, crashes wouldn't have happened if we'd given it less beans into the corner, or remembered to check for traffic coming down side streets, or not assumed that a given road would be pothole-free, or whatever.

Wearing gear is, of course, an admission of imperfection :D

[Dave]

Right-nude motorcycling for us perfectionists then!

[duckman]

Er, Dave... You've crashed ....alot. I should know I followed you off the track... TWICE!!!!


:Offtopic: :done: :argh:

[Kwaka-Kid]

shite! if this is it then i should be all bundled up in cotton wool like my mummy demands! :p

not nude like a prefer.

lmao

[Mitch]

Originally posted by jrandom
I could have crashed many times over the last year or so, but I avoided all of them (and made one stupid mistake which fortunately didn't injure me seriously). It still comes down to your awareness and thinking ability (and physical ability, too, on a bike).&nbsp;


I wish I had known that when a car ran into the rear left hand side of my bike and high sided me.&nbsp;&nbsp;I agree that alot has to do with your awareness of what is going on around you, BUT you are kidding only yourself if you think you are in control of every situation you come across.&nbsp;

Wearing good gear is common sence.

[Kwaka-Kid]

hmm... somthing has seriously gone wrong... are you okay atm mitch? you been sick recently?

I got the "reply to post..." email and as soon as i saw the name "mitch" has replied to post... yadda yadda i thought, oh fuck, do i want to open up the thread and be abused or should i just not open it and pretend i never saw it :)

But no! seems im wrong.&nbsp; A whole post wihout a nasty at or about me :gob:

hahaha, must be a good day then, certainly now is for me.. well im off 2 my other job now, on the VFR :) hey look, amazing how the keys V F R line up so nicely on a keyboard.. go on.. take a look.. type it out.. now buy one! :cool:

[MikeL]

Originally posted by Kwaka-Kid
.. well im off 2 my other job now, on the VFR :) hey look, amazing how the keys V F R line up so nicely on a keyboard.. go on.. take a look.. type it out.. now buy one! :cool:

Is it true love, or just infatuation? Will they find lasting happiness together, or will he come down to earth with a nasty bump? Stay tuned for the next exciting episode...

:p

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by Mitch
I wish I had known that when a car ran into the rear left hand side of my bike and high sided me.&nbsp;&nbsp;I agree that alot has to do with your awareness of what is going on around you, BUT you are kidding only yourself if you think you are in control of every situation you come across.&nbsp;

Wearing good gear is common sence.

Good point mitch!

My first off I was stationary at lights and was hit from behind by a light truck:gob:

Dunno how my superior skill was supposed to stop that one.:p

The only person who has ever been able to tell me he has not had an off in 30 years on the back of a bike then went on to say (rather proudly) that he does about 1000 kms a year average.:rolleyes:

Fark I did that in my first year on a bike.:eek:

[matt420]

I saw a fellow riding pillion on a ZZR250(I think) with shorts and bare feet the other evening down Symonds street in the middle of rush hour..I wouldn't like to see the squidly after effects if they came off..:angry2:

[jrandom]

Originally posted by Big Dog
My first off I was stationary at lights and was hit from behind by a light truck:gob:

The only person who has ever been able to tell me he has not had an off in 30 years on the back of a bike then went on to say (rather proudly) that he does about 1000 kms a year average.:rolleyes:

Fark I did that in my first year on a bike.:eek:

Hah, I've done 8000 kms in the last eight months, dude :niceone:

Given that one of my colleagues just turned up to work minus his VFR on a nasty shite loan bike after being punted from behind this morning by some stupid tart who didn't see him at a stop sign... perhaps I should just shut my trap about the 'in control' stuff. :o

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by jrandom
Hah, I've done 8000 kms in the last eight months, dude :niceone:

Given that one of my colleagues just turned up to work minus his VFR on a nasty shite loan bike after being punted from behind this morning by some stupid tart who didn't see him at a stop sign... perhaps I should just shut my trap about the 'in control' stuff. :o

MMMM.. About 160,000 kms over five and a half of the last eleven years.

160, 000 for three accidents why that works out at one bad second every 53,333kms.

Still riding like a nanna carting eggs probably helps:p

[Marmoot]

Ha! It IS inevitable. It just doesn't say when and how many.
My point is proven
:done:

[Redstar]

ride your bike without the basic protective gear is like sex without a condom risky! but there has to be a formula of speed divided by the square root of gear?

like a moped on the beach = nil
R1 on a track = 10

so then sports bike on a morotway = 5 and so on

risk is a matter of situation and enviroment speed and speed

I think you ride to the limits of your gear not to the limits of your bike?

dam it I never thought I would talk safety since Cold kiwi told me off:o

[jrandom]

Originally posted by Redstar
ride your bike without the basic protective gear is like sex without a condom risky!

Doesn't feel quite as good, though, although some might argue the point :D

[PZR]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by kiwistorm
[B]<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">[font=Arial][size=2]Short of posting disturbing pictures of what happens to people wearing a rain coat, sneakers and an old helmet. I would just like to urge any KB rider, perhaps the newer riders more so, to not take the lazy or cheap route when it comes to what you wear on a bike.

I think that the huge input to this thread shows how important good safety gear is to people. There wil always be those who choose to not invest in their own protection (look at the USA with none or limited helmet laws) but the reality is that if you come off, (and there are not many who have ridden a bike any distance who have not come off) then (and here's that word again) "inevitably" if you come off you will suffer some damage.
Me, I choose to minimise it as much as I can with the best I can afford. I wear leather gloves becuase I know if I come off and have the time to react that my normal human reaction to falling is to put my hands out to protect myself. I do not have training to overcome this natural human instinct. I wear leather pants with padding because my legs will scrape along the ground and leather still has the lowest drag coeffeciant of all currently available protective clothing matrerials (i.e. cordura etc) This means that leather slides better over tarseal than other fabrics with hopefully less damage to me underneath.

Boy those cows know a thing or two do'nt they? Don't see many on bikes though?Guess they can find helmets to go over their horns.

I wear a cordura jacket as it is a comprimise over the leather in that it is more water proof and does not soak up water like leather does. It also has some armour though I plan on a back protector soon. I wear good bike boots to keep out the cold and water and also am aware there are shit loads of small bones in my feet so I want to give them good protection.

It hurts to much if I fall of and I don't like pain. Thats me done!!




:Offtopic: Is this one of the longest threads ever?:niceone:

[Coldkiwi]

"*Thats lowest coefficient of friction*&nbsp; coughed the anally retentive engineer"

&nbsp;

[Marmoot]

somebody forgot the mention of "luck" or "badluck" in the equation

[MikeL]

Redstar wrote that riding without good protective gear is like sex without a condom: risky. I think that's an excellent analogy. Naked is nicer, and there will always be some who prefer to take what they think of as a calculated risk in full awareness of the possible consequences. Perhaps they have some naive belief in "luck". I'm not a psychologist but I think there are probably subconscious factors at work here, with a self-destructive self-hating impulse lurking in some murky depths of the psyche.
With all due respect to those who genuinely belief it's their right to be irresponsible, because they're only harming themselves, they are wrong, stupid and immature. Wrong because others suffer when we hurt or kill ourselves, stupid because they haven't calculated the risk properly, and immature because like children they can only see the immediate cost, not the benefit (hell, if I didn't spend all that money on leathers/boots/gloves etc., I could afford a louder pipe or a new paint job).

Here endeth the sermon. Today's hymn is
["Nearer My God to Thee"]

[Coldkiwi]

on that analogy.. as for 'nicer': I enjoy my riding a whole lot less if I'm in jeans and normal shoes (I've only ever ridden 500m to my old work when I was a real lazy arse with no leather jacket on). So its really a whole lot nicer for me to go riding when I know I'm well protected. I enjoy myself more because I can push a little harder with a little more confidence that the aftermath of cocking something up (or someone else cocking it up) isn't quite so severe.

And I can sit at the lights and think 'well,&nbsp;if that stupid cow rams me from behind in her brand new $200,000 UAV that she can't drive and I get doused in petrol from my ruptured tank, at least I won't get massive 3rd degree burns cause i have full leathers on'. thats NICE.

&nbsp;

[Kwaka-Kid]

just for the fun of argueing: :p ill be laughing when you cant get out of them fast enuf and do burn! whilst i will have shed my clothes standing proud in hte middle of the street... errr, or somthing like that:confused:

but anyways, i think what redstar, and then even more so what mike went on to say is right.&nbsp; they are the best bits of text ive seen in this thread.. mostly because im immature and find the word sex amusing.. hahaha! no but really, (god i love being a kiddie :D) to be honest i think after reading what mikeL had to say ive changed :) im willing to accept being wrong and jump from the fun side of immaturity to the serious(ly boring) side of adulthood (if not in age or speach, at least in protective clothing/thinking) :p hehe.&nbsp; no no, that last bit was rather serious - and dont worry about going on about still being able to have fun when ur old and sensible.. i believe you :rolleyes:

[Coldkiwi]

Now all we want to see is KK donning proper gear on his commute (incl clear visors at night) and hell will have completely freezed over! (I'm looking forward to the cold weather KK!)

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by Kwaka-Kid
just for the fun of argueing: :p ill be laughing when you cant get out of them fast enuf and do burn! whilst i will have shed my clothes standing proud in hte middle of the street... errr, or somthing like that:confused: :

What kindy hasn't got as far as stop drop and roll with you yet?:gob: :rolleyes:
lmao

[RiceBurner]

Originally posted by Coldkiwi
"*Thats lowest coefficient of friction*&nbsp; coughed the anally retentive engineer"

&nbsp;


I'd say that's a moot point - certainly leather has the best WEAR rate of those materials generally used in bike clothing.

:)

[Marmoot]

Originally posted by RiceBurner
I'd say that's a moot

Somebody called for me?

[Big Dog]

Originally posted by RiceBurner
I'd say that's a moot point - certainly leather has the best WEAR rate of those materials generally used in bike clothing.

:)

And I dear say many of us opt for the comfort of codura for comfort knowing full well it will require replacement more often than leather.

I do because it means I kcan wear it in all weathers:D

[RiceBurner]

Originally posted by Big Dog
And I dear say many of us opt for the comfort of codura for comfort knowing full well it will require replacement more often than leather.

I do because it means I kcan wear it in all weathers:D


True - I wear a Cordura jacket cos it's comfier than Leather and waterproof. - but I don't scrimp on the armour.

[curious george]

Just to add to the thread, we have all forgotten the second most important reason for wearing leathers!

Chicks love leathers!

I was at the pub with co-workers after work, and all the girls had to come and feel the leathers!

-Unless it was my sharp chiselled physique, rugged good looks, and irrestable charm.......ROFL. Those who know me will know what I am talking about......*sigh*

Anyway, KK are you taking note?

[Kwaka-Kid]

Hell yeah buddy! im the happiest i think ive been scince&nbsp;the day b4 i&nbsp;binned the ZXR @ puke... Up till 4am on the piss here with a few mates around, woke em up @ 7:30am and kicked em out by 9am, wokrred on RVF in that time a little, went to dads mates place for some bike stuff... and man can he talk, but its all honest/perfect advice! i idle this dude! he rode my VFR as he used to love selling them and says its just perfect... anyways he gave me some AWESOME pointers on cornering with that 16" front wheel.. and believe it or not... im even loving riding the bike more! and i was in full leathers as i am sitting here still in them, boots, gloves, helmet, the works! fucknig enjoyed it even with a backpack ull of oil container and other numerous things... and fuckit! i say this day is a milestone for KK! i have changed right here on this day... i will still look for some cheap options/do alot of things myself and learn, but no more blindly stupid things.. im just loving riding this VFR too damn much to hurt it/myself to be seperated. :) :cool:

such a positive attatude for the day.. nobody but NOBODY better kick me back down.&nbsp; man o man, i just wanna type here how much fun im having on this new bike but i just can not damn well explain it! so much of my life already wasted not riding such a great bike... can 1 bike really change 1 man so much? can it really make the immature progress to the mature? can it honestly alter a mind to progress from insanity to reasonable thinking?...

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

fuck knows, fuck cares. but im taking my beast out for another ride! laters fullahs! hope ou all too have a good day!

[curious george]

Jeez KK, sounds like you've just joined a cult of some kind...:whistle:
Not been sniffing the fumes again?

Still, I'm glad you and your bike are happy in some kind of awful man/boy/machine type love...takes all kinds after all:p

[wkid_one]

Originally posted by Redstar
ride your bike without the basic protective gear is like sex without a condom risky!&nbsp;

Does this mean that like sex, if I choose the right time of the month to ride - I can ride with no gear and without risk of falling off???&nbsp; And that for 5 days a month my bike is going to be a bitch?

[Kwaka-Kid]

ohhh georgey! i am desperatly holding back trying to be the bigger man here... *bites tounge*

its hard...:niceone:

[SPman]

Originally posted by wkid_one
Does this mean that like sex, if I choose the right time of the month to ride - I can ride with no gear and without risk of falling off???&nbsp; And that for 5 days a month my bike is going to be a bitch?

Or, if you have a little "op" - snip, snip, - know what I mean.....you can ride forever with no protection??????

[marty]

i think it's 080 VASMAN they're advertising on the radio last night.

how about that SBK & 250GP last night? i've just finished watching it on tape. wish i could ride like those guys.....

[Marmoot]

Originally posted by marty
i think it's 080 VASMAN they're advertising on the radio last night.

how about that SBK & 250GP last night? i've just finished watching it on tape. wish i could ride like those guys.....

AND GET PAID FOR THAT!!!!! :D

[Coldkiwi]

Originally posted by Kwaka-Kid
i idle this dude!

such a positive attatude for the day.. nobody but NOBODY better kick me back down.&nbsp; .&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;


geez, I wonder how excited KK will get if he rev's him too? :)

hehe... sorry... i'm picky!

[wkid_one]

How fecken MAD was Xaus - you team leader is going for the championship - and you stuff him up the inside - rear wheel off the ground, foot of the peg, front wheel slapping.......no wonder he bloody apologised after the race.'......I didn't mean to....you know'

Rossi is bloody legend - talk about turn it up!

[Fireproof]

Just started riding and got kitted out through a guy on trademe with pants and jacket, nice thick leather and fully armoured. Seemed mint for $480. I think his tradename is dobofishing?

[Shadows]

?shit how did that happen?

[inlinefour]

ride your bike without the basic protective gear is like sex without a condom risky!

We live in a world of free choice. Unfortunately many of us have to learn the hard way initially. Agreed that riding without good gear is not wise, but depends on what sort of riding your doing to how much gear you need I believe. If I'm out riding with the lads (or ladesses) and likely to be having some fun, then its the full kit. However if I'm putting about town then I'm in my draggins, dealer jacket, gloves & cat boots. Or at least I was until my TT got nicked. I think its important though to have the freedom of choice. We don't have to like the amount of gear worn, or not worn. But in the end its their choice eh.:weird:

[Sniper]

Hmmm, thread dredging, its becoming common again I see.

[Joni]

Hmmm, thread dredging, its becoming common again I see. Yup.... :angry:
I think the subject of protective gear and the consequences of not wearing it has been discussed a lot on KB, no need to bring up a thread from 2003.

[SPman]

Anyone seen Duncan lately?

[ready4whatever]

sounds like alot of KB guys have had accidents. no good

[vifferman]

:eek5: ten fookin' characters

[marioc]

I see the motogp riders have actually started testing airbag leathers

[Big Dog]

Well purely to amuse the others reading this....

I rode for Months with just a duck hunting jacket ($45) while I lay buyed a $285 jacket (the dealer then gave me a $80 rebate when he found out I didn't just want to wear it for style reasons).

Then came some boots took me another 6 months, in the mean time I wore John bull combat boots (still do at the moment as my Boots wore out and are yet to be replaced) $45

Then came pants. Took me over a year to find some I liked and fit.
and then 6 months to buy them.

So it was that I set out for Auckland from New Plymouth for a 5 day visit. First time ever in three years of riding i had pants, Jacket boots and a high quality helmet.

Crapped it at 35kmph on gravel.

Farked my $350 pants as I slid along bike on the back of my legs on my knees.

Best $1285 I ever spent.

I had ground through 7m of leather but not the armour so although I dislocated both knee caps I can still walk today.
No other injuries for me.

Helmet did not hit the deck but I felt safe.

Jacket was grazed on both elbows, shoe polish fixed that.

Brand new never worn before pants shredded, $15 saw the leather patched and the tailor replaced the armour for nothing.

Boots grazed and sole damaged. $10 sore the sole repaired and shoe polish did the rest.

Grazes heal but some bones don't. Kneecaps, ankles, spines, hips, Skulls or the fleshy bit under it.

You may buy the gear and never crash but you won't regret the added comfort and security it provides.

You may not and never crash anyway. Good on you pass on that skill to others.

You may buy it then crash, Best money you ever spent if you bought quality. Worst money you ever spent if you bought a crap.

Sorry if this sounds like a lecture but I have had accidents at low speed with gear and low speed without and it terrifies me to think some people take that risk at high speed:gob:

If you can't afford brand new try second hand places.

I know this is dredging but I feel it may once again be time to bring this to the front for a fresh batch of readers to enjoy.

[retired motoman]

Very timely with summer around the corner . Not only for the rider to, i once again saw a kid on the back of a bike today with nothing more then sneakers and a hoody on and the rider bugger all to . Whats wrong with these people :no: We have trademe for christ sake , a second hand set of leathers for $200 to $300 is better then a new bright flash ski jacket.

[Big Dog]

Very timely with summer around the corner . Not only for the rider to, i once again saw a kid on the back of a bike today with nothing more then sneakers and a hoody on and the rider bugger all to . Whats wrong with these people :no: We have trademe for christ sake , a second hand set of leathers for $200 to $300 is better then a new bright flash ski jacket.

Not to mention the fillings in ski jackets have been known to catch fire in a crash and penetrate the skin still burning. I think it is Dacron (sp) that a byproduct of burning is oxygen meaning it still burns like napalm once in the skin... Juicy.