Riding without gloves

**Gasman** · 27th September 2004, 17:39

Easiest question of the day. NO! I never ride without gloves. Usually too damn cold here anyway! I learnt the hard way many years ago, not from an off, but from losing circulation and having claw hands for days!

I also like having skin................

**F5 Dave** · 27th September 2004, 18:04

Yeah it used to be the Ducati riders (bevel drive days) wore crap helmets as well. When I was helping instructing, we’d get outlaw wannabe guys showing up on Harleys & Triumphs who had obviously decided that they better get a licence one of these days but buggered if they would be pussies & wear gloves.

When hit up about it they claimed they needed the ‘feel’ & you can’t ride proper (like around a few cones) with gloves on. Well somehow we all managed so we’d send them home to get some gloves & they’d never return, which suited us.

Something like 90% of accidents happen on short trips. I’ve visited at least 2 friends quite cut up & with some level of long term damage doing a quick run into town in jeans, or a short test ride in overalls with no gloves.

Heck I’ve smacked my hand falling off the racebike at low speed & it really made me a believer in the recent knuckle armour protection trend. Despite minor padding on the gloves; my hand swelled up so much the knuckles weren’t discernable even when in a fist. Took ages to go down.

**Storm** · 27th September 2004, 18:15

Having worked in snow with bare hands, I am all for preaching the gospel of gloves. If anything is going to slide across the cheese grater (road) I"d rather it not be my nerve endings thanks. Call me a pansy, but I happen to like the skin on my hands, and I'm not much good as a sparky if I cant hold my tools

**Ms Piggy** · 27th September 2004, 18:17

Originally Posted by aff-man

when i had 2 of my offs the gloves got wasted. If i hadn't had them i'd hate to think what my hands would look like (and they were low speed) Also how cold would your hands get. Bad for circulation

Ditto on both counts!

When I had my binn I would have lost my little finger if I hadn't been wearing gloves and that was binning off at a snails pace. YIKES!

I always get a sick feeling in my stomach

when I see riders out without good protection.

I'm with you aff-man, I can't see how your hands wouldn't get absolutely frozen riding without gloves!

**Ghost Lemur** · 27th September 2004, 19:22

Tis funny this thread should come up today.

I was waiting at the bus stop (*mutters about having to use public transport*), and saw this scoot approaching. First thing I noticed was the huge leather jacket the guy was wearing. Thought wow, don't see a scoot paying so much attention to safety gear usually.

Then I happened to second glance and noticed that he was without glove. I have to admit I laughed. Here was a guy, big leather jacket, full face helmet with visor, and yet no gloves. Couldn't believe it, where's Darwin when you need him?

**TwoSeven** · 27th September 2004, 20:18

People perspective of safety is funny. I see people with the full kit on (full face lid, leathers etc) on a scooter doing 20mph then you get the same people strap a piece of styrene to their heads get on a push bike and ride at twice the speed. Go figure.

**k14** · 27th September 2004, 20:34

Originally Posted by Tiggerz

People perspective of safety is funny. I see people with the full kit on (full face lid, leathers etc) on a scooter doing 20mph then you get the same people strap a piece of styrene to their heads get on a push bike and ride at twice the speed. Go figure.

Very good point tiggerz. I've had first hand experience of what happens when you get introduced to the road at around about 50kph. Landed square on my helmet and smashed it into about 5 or 6 pieces. Saved my life, but I was still out cold for 5 mins or so. Probably better than nothing I suppose though.

I've never ever ridden a motorbike without gloves on. Both times I've crashed they have stopped me getting rash and the gloves have stod up quite well. I've just got some new astars ones with carbon fibre (oh yeah

) knuckle protection, haven't "tested" them yet but hopefully they do their job properly when they are required.

**Aucker** · 27th September 2004, 20:41

Originally Posted by firestormer

Saw him a couple of weeks ago on his scoot. I didn't notice what he had on his feet, but at a cursory glance, he hadn't amended his dress code at all. Too important to look the part..

what a complete knob.

**Aucker** · 27th September 2004, 20:44

Originally Posted by Gasman

.. and having claw hands for days!

cool! claw hands.

**Deano** · 27th September 2004, 21:03

Crazy not wearing gloves - hopefully the guy was on the way to the shop to get some.

No matter what the ride you should wear em - even a spill at 50kmh will rip your skin off no end.

Makes a good argument for wearing at least some type of glove on a pushbike.

**White trash** · 27th September 2004, 21:23

Only time I ever not wore gloves, I was out behind the pub practicing wheelies on my B120 (don't laugh ya pricks, we all started somewhere).

Got 'er up into a very wobbly, third gear minger (3/4s through the box), front's starting to drop, one last heave on the bars, fuck I cant save this!

Straight off the back, one fucked tail light, two skinned knees and some VERY gravel rashed palms. The missus had to do all the work for a week

**Slingshot** · 27th September 2004, 21:56

I saw a guy riding down the gorge this morning wearing a sweatshirt, shorts & running shoes.
I had to look twice cause I couldn't believe it.

Nuts.

**Blakamin** · 28th September 2004, 08:34

Originally Posted by k14

I've just got some new astars ones with carbon fibre (oh yeah

) knuckle protection, haven't "tested" them yet but hopefully they do their job properly when they are required.

Knockin the mirrors off cages??

**toads** · 28th September 2004, 08:43

we are unfortunate enough to have to have a household of idiots living just down the road from us, they have an abundance of unwarranted unregistered vehicles barely running on 3 cylinders that they hoon up and down the hill all hours of the day and night, they also have 2 old 2 stroke motorbikes which are also un road worthy, they hoon around on these no jackets, no helmets, no footware other than jandals and definately no gloves, the whole fence at the top corner of the hill is gone from where they have gone over the bank twice, a drop of 60 meters or more, how the hell noone has been killed is beyond me, the guy responsible came out of jail 4 weeks ago, and it feels like 4 years!, I hope that he continues to wear no safety gear, it will undoubtedly save this country a small fortune in the long run!