ATGATT - don't knock it.

[marks]

You're just lucky. ATGATT did me no fucking good at all.

I think you might be comparing apples with oranges

You road guys seem to be mainly concerned with abrasion resistance and think a pair of softish leather boots and some flexible padding in jacket and pants is adequate protection.

Struan was wearing a proper solid armoured pressure suit and separate hard plastic knee protection along with rigid mx boots - That - in my humble opinion - is proper adventure riding ATGATT.

Like dirt riders most adventure bike riders are possibly a little more concerned about impact injury than abrasion injury.

[XF650]

glad you OK....thats sacry though, that someone is willing to risk killing someone, I'd be phoning the bobbies....the next rider might not be as fortuneate as you!!

I am making "enquiries" to get the (road) issue fixed & why it was there in the first place. But really this thread is about safety gear & how in this instance I reckon the better gear saved my bacon.

[James Deuce]

I think you might be comparing apples with oranges

You road guys seem to be mainly concerned with abrasion resistance and think a pair of softish leather boots and some flexible padding in jacket and pants is adequate protection.

Struan was wearing a proper solid armoured pressure suit and separate hard plastic knee protection along with rigid mx boots - That - in my humble opinion - is proper adventure riding ATGATT.

Like dirt riders most adventure bike riders are possibly a little more concerned about impact injury than abrasion injury.

I think you might be confusing me with a dickhead. I was wearing full leathers with hard Armour at knees and elbows, boots that were rigid enough to be problematic to walk in, a back protector, a carbon fibre helmet and gloves with carbon fibre knuckle protectors. Abrasion resistance at 75 km/hr would be dealt with by a pair of Draggins.

The fact I still have a right foot is entirely down to my boots, the fact I'm alive is down to my helmet. The rib injures, the internal injuries and the gouges at knee and elbow are entirely down to supposedly superior leather gear and back protector failing and the "hard" armour shattering and the resulting shrapnel violating my inner sanctum. Actual injuries from sliding down the road had nothing to do with it.

[Ocean1]

I have a theory that knees are like a fuse e.g. a deliberate weak point that stops things (hips, pelvises) getting damaged further up the line. Ergo if you put a knee brace on you may break your hip if it is a twisting type injury.

Don't know about knees being an evolutionary sacrificial structure, when you fuck 'em they're usually well fucked compared typical damage to ankles or hips. Ankles and hips articulate through any angle, up to a reasonable distance, knees simply don't. In the seventies I bought a pair of Vendraminis, essentially full MX height ski boots. They were a bloody disaster, my knees coped it something wicked.

[DrunkenMistake]

Glad your okay mate, I bet it was that Fucker Nick Smith trying to prove a point by booby trapping the road
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ct-anyone-else

[bart]

Glad to hear you're OK. Good gear certainly helps, but I'm guilty of riding the 3km to work in t-shirt and shorts. I've had a shit load more close calls riding that same 3km on a push bike.

One bit of advice that's kept me alive for the last few decades is 'never outride your braking distance'. I can't say I always obey this, but the theory is sound, except when some idiot coming the other way is riding like a lunatic.

[XF650]

glad to hear that you are ok

buy a set of these THOR Force Kneeguards

I have tested my set many times and I don't think you will get better protection without getting proper knee braces.

Thanks for the link Mark. I think Nordie uses those too.

[Aslan]

Glad to hear you're OK Struan and thanks for posting the timely reminder to us all about the importance of good protective gear - cheers S

[Hitcher]

There's no such thing as "all the gear". Adequacy of gear is a matter of time and place. What may have worked for some does not mean that others will be afforded the same levels of protection.

Abrasion resistance is paramount for any motorcyclist, or scooter rider for that matter. Missing skin is quite hard to replace, as is missing flesh. Broken bones are comparatively easier to deal with.

I am constantly startled by riders who don't wear gloves, or who wear fingerless gloves. I am also startled by those who ride in short-sleeve shirts, tee shirts and shorts. I saw several such at Mt Maunganui last weekend. But hey, they're not going to fall off, so what does that matter?

Similar arguments can be raised about open-face helmets, or those stupid turtle lids that Harley riders who like their ears to flap in the wind like to wear. They are even DOT/Snell rated, more's the worry.

Every significant off that I have had has resulted in considerable grazing to the chin protection on my helmet. I would be even more chinless if I had been resolute enough to wear an openface.

I remain to be convinced about the value of armour because I'm not sure what it's supposed to protect one from. It may disperse the forces of some impacts but not others, particularly point impact sources, like posts.

So if there's no such thing as "all the gear" then it can't be worn "all the time". That's why I rail against that as I do against all similar lame cliches that have become battle cries.

[zeRax]

fark pal, glad you are ok

[NordieBoy]

Thanks for the link Mark. I think Nordie uses those too.

Yep.
Only when racing though as they don't sit well with the DR tank.
The XR and TT are much narrower and no problem with the bulkier guards.

[chasio]

Glad to hear you're OK, mon ami. What have you been doing to look after your leg since?

[NordieBoy]

What have you been doing to look after your leg since?

Keeping an eye on it by taking it with him everywhere he goes?

[Monstaman]

Keeping an eye on it by taking it with him everywhere he goes?

Wow ... now that is dedication to well being!

[jonbuoy]

I think you might be confusing me with a dickhead. I was wearing full leathers with hard Armour at knees and elbows, boots that were rigid enough to be problematic to walk in, a back protector, a carbon fibre helmet and gloves with carbon fibre knuckle protectors. Abrasion resistance at 75 km/hr would be dealt with by a pair of Draggins.

The fact I still have a right foot is entirely down to my boots, the fact I'm alive is down to my helmet. The rib injures, the internal injuries and the gouges at knee and elbow are entirely down to supposedly superior leather gear and back protector failing and the "hard" armour shattering and the resulting shrapnel violating my inner sanctum. Actual injuries from sliding down the road had nothing to do with it.

JD, what brand of back protector and leathers did you have on? Did you contact the manufacturers? Did the back protector do more harm than good?