SH22 protective gear test

[Sparkz]

Hey Neil

Big bummer about your crash mate. Lucky for you I guess that you only got a few bruises to show for it. Really glad you are ok but shame about your poor FZR. Is it repairable or will it be off to the bike shops for a test riding session?

I left the old girl with a farmer out there. I am constantly amazed at the kindness of people in rural area. The first car to stop offered me a ride and then a women with a trailer stopped and offered to get her husband to help and take the bike over to their farm. Bloody good people!

Anyway, I reckon the bike is toast. I haven't been back to have a look yet, but pretty much most of it was bust. And a full tank of petrol too!!!! Probably worth more than the bike.

[kerryg]

Come for a ride with me sometime - I will show you roads with a complete absence of road signs,I ride them fast....and safetly.All it takes is good roadcraft,using your eyes,using your brain.

Fair enough, Motu. I guess it's one of those "you say to-marto, I say to-mayto" situations. Your point is quite fair, but I beg to differ on applying it quite so literally . No signs at all might have been safer. No signs, you rely on your roadcraft etc completely. However there are many many signs before corners on that piece of road (35km,45km, 55km etc), and only a couple (of really tight and slow corners) without any warning. It is reasonable to place some (not total) reliance on signs when the road has them up on (almost) every corner; and their absence informs as much as their presence. No sign= safe at 100km.The problem is in the inconsistency.

Anyone uses it or any other piece of road as a racetrack has only themselves to blame if their riding doesn't suit the road conditions. That's a given. But someone riding sensibly can get into trouble if the road signs mislead by their absence.

Anyway my last word on this subject.

[Lou Girardin]

If you need a quote for the insurance co on your gear, give me a PM with the sizes etc and I'll mail one to you.

[Lou Girardin]

Indeed.
I could've told you that for free (i.e., without you crash-testing it).
My very first slide of about 2-3 metres at ~30km/h on smoothish road wore a hole the size of a 10c piece in the cordura, and subsequent spills weren't much better. I think only one involved the kevlar pad taking some of the brunt of the spill. That's why the arms and shoulders of my Hurricane are now mostly covered in leather...

That's why quality gear costs.

[vifferman]

That's why quality gear costs.

Yeah.
About $700 (IIRC) for the jacket, and a few hundred in repairs / improvements.
Dunno what to replace it with now. I'm not keen on paying $200/year for a jacket, $100/year for boots, $350/year for a helmet, etc. etc.

[Ixion]

Yes, there's some truth in that (riding within one's limits, reading the road and so on) but you can't mean that literally, surely, otherwise you appear to be arguing for the complete absence of warning signs. ..

Yes, actually. I'd do away with all of them. Didn't have 'em when I learned to ride/drive (damn few , anyway).But we have been through this before, amidst much heat and red-repping. Nothing makes a sprotbike rider more furious than the suggestion that he should ride to the road. But , for me, there is only one person responsible if I mess things up. The guy holding the handlebars.

[myvice]

Anything you walk away from is good!
Glad your Ok, last crash I saw out there was a helicopter job!
Denim isn’t as good as leather apparently!
Who would have thought?
Got to have leather myself, just don’t quite trust the nylon/cordura, and I’ve tested leather. Suit No3 is waiting on armour!

[Quasievil]

A good salesman never misses an opportunity!
Would you like to do a ride along with me an Riff Raff, Lou? We could split the profits at the end of the day.

Damn Right

And if you want some good quality leather give ole Quasi a yell I will do you a good deal

[N4CR]

Yeah my cordura was pretty shit in a 40k bin as well.

The cordura part got holes in it really bad, the actual kevlar/cordura weave around the shoulders was okay though (hardly wore at all).

Then I got my knees down in the shit without kneepads. BAD idea... got 40-60cm holes now fucks sake... silly me. (Wasn't thinking really).

Good to hear you didnt get to munted up, I got a twisted shoulder which hurt for a while because of the way I landed.

[Motu]

The problem is in the inconsistency.

Inconsistancy,true - you must be consistant,get it right in your own mind and stick to it.DON'T reley on signs,you are setting youself up for something,reley on yourself,consistantly.

This is not my last word,I'll go on and on and on.....

[Back Fire]

oh dear god ouch....