It will never happen to me attitude

[spinergy]

True, shit can and will happen. All I'm saying is that you will never find me without all my gear.

[Deano]

Part and parcel for you. I can't even list the accidents I've had whilst not wearing the gear and walked and ridden away from. My bad accidents it didn't make any difference what I was wearing, bones crush between cars and bikes nomatter what you wrap it with.

It's hard to beat experience ! You've mastered it bro.

[Drew]

It's hard to beat experience ! You've mastered it bro.

LOL, yeah mate. I should give lessons.

I'm just trying to be argumentative but no one seems to want to bite fuck it.

Wear the gear, don't wear the gear. I don't give a fuck and bet ya a hundred bucks it makes NO difference to ACC's figures and statistics.

[MSTRS:Me]

Wear the gear, don't wear the gear. I don't give a fuck and bet ya a hundred bucks it makes NO difference to ACC's figures and statistics.

That's a bet I'd be tempted to take.
Moderate to severe injuries are the ones that cost ACC the big dollars, and those injuries will be lessened by wearing good gear.
It's not mandatory on the race track for no reason, is it?

[p.dath]

Why is it that you see Motorcyclist riding their bikes in Shorts, T-Shirts and Runners with the only piece of protection they are wearing is a Helmet.
Do they not think of the concequences of what could happen to them is they got bold off their machine and what the outcome could be for themselves.
Why protect your head if the rest of your body is left unprotected.

Its a perception of acceptable risk, and that perception varies from person to person. Call it diversity.

For example, I know someone who wont go in an elevator because they consider it too risky. And just as you might call them silly for being overly cautious from your view point, a person who wears almost no protection might call you silly for being overly cautious from their own view point.

[Drew]

That's a bet I'd be tempted to take.
Moderate to severe injuries are the ones that cost ACC the big dollars, and those injuries will be lessened by wearing good gear.
It's not mandatory on the race track for no reason, is it?

And what are we doing on the race track that we are most of us, (not including me) not doing on the road?

Racing, pushing the boundaries and limits as far as we dare.

The tiny percentage of lessened injury from everyone wearing all the gear would be near impossible to measure I think.

There will no doubt be a law change in the future on minimum safety gear, and it will cost millions of dollars for a team of non motorcyclists to come up with the plan for what needs to be said new minimum. If they took those millions and trained riders to actually ride, there would be a MUCH faster and HEAPS more notable difference in injuries resulting from bike crashes.

But keep moaning about the riders you see from time to time not wearing the gear, it's wicked awesome for the cause.

[Drew]

Its a perception of acceptable risk, and that perception varies from person to person. Call it diversity.

For example, I know someone who wont go in an elevator because they consider it too risky. And just as you might call them silly for being overly cautious from your view point, a person who wears almost no protection might call you silly for being overly cautious from their own view point.

How terribly profound.

Pointing out that people are all different is frowned on round here ya know. WE MUST ALL CONFORM FUCK YA!

[MSTRS:Me]

There will no doubt be a law change in the future on minimum safety gear, and it will cost millions of dollars for a team of non motorcyclists to come up with the plan for what needs to be said new minimum. If they took those millions and trained riders to actually ride, there would be a MUCH faster and HEAPS more notable difference in injuries resulting from bike crashes.

On that score, you are 100% right.

[baptist]

...most of the things that were never going to happen to me, happened years ago...when are the fucking things I want to happen to me going to happen...

Bet you have a long wait

[PrincessBandit]

Statistically you're even more likely to get to point B in a car without crashing, but when you're in one you still wear your seatbelt don't you...

Ummmm, sometimes I break the law by not wearing mine (I love the feeling of being such a rebel, and it reminds me of the good old days when you weren't legally required to be belted in when you drove. Ah, showing my age).


As for atgatt, I am a firm believer in it; yet even I often ride - shock horror - wearing jeans instead of my leather pants. I've even ridden without my gloves! But as one never can predict when one might get up close and personal with the skin grating stuff that makes up our roads helmet jacket and boots with jeans is my bare minimum. The fact that my feet don't reach the ground on my bike when I wear sneakers has nothing to do with it... Seriously though, I like my ankles as they are - call me vain - so boots are essential to me as well.

[MSTRS:Me]

As for atgatt, I am a firm believer in it;
I've even ridden without my gloves!
But as one never can predict when one might get up close and personal with the skin grating stuff that makes up our roads
I like my ankles as they are - call me vain - so boots are essential to me as well.

The primary instinct is to put your hands out to fend off heavy landings etc. Unless one has trained oneself to not stop a fall with one's hands - gloves are the most important item after the helmet.

Seriously, gear is simply a line of defence before your skin comes into contact with the gratey bits. I saw the aftermath of a guy caught under his bike before it slid to a stop. He was wearing heavy leather shoes, which did a wonderful job of keeping his foot whole...but the ankle - that was another story . In his case, boots would have delayed bare flesh/bone being ground off and reduced the amount which was removed. But boots would not have stopped it altogether.

[FROSTY:Me]

Hypothetical situation. Mr motobycyclist has the basic gear and is given a gift of $400 to spend on his choice of EITHER atgatt riding gear or a week long rider training course. Which would serve him better??
I genuinely feel that prevention is going to save a lot more lives and injuries than all the gear in the world.

[Taz]

Hey wow! a gear thread!! I use the gear that utilises the most efficient rpm's of the motor for the task at hand.

[imdying]

Why is it that you see Motorcyclist riding their bikes in Shorts, T-Shirts and Runners with the only piece of protection they are wearing is a Helmet.
Do they not think of the concequences of what could happen to them is they got bold off their machine and what the outcome could be for themselves.
Why protect your head if the rest of your body is left unprotected.

There's another way to look at it.

If you aren't:
- wearing full leather air bag suit
- wearing motorcycle specific boots with travel limiters
- wearing a back protector with kidney belts
- wearing a glove up to the standard of say the Knox Handroid
- wearing a Sharp 5 star helmet or equivalent

on every single ride, then you're a hypocrite who needs to STFU. Why make a half arsed effort to protect yourself by wearing bullshit cordura with work boots and substandard gloves?

[MSTRS:Me]

There's another way to look at it.

If you aren't:
- wearing full leather air bag suit
- wearing motorcycle specific boots with travel limiters
- wearing a back protector with kidney belts
- wearing a glove up to the standard of say the Knox Handroid
- wearing a Sharp 5 star helmet or equivalent

on every single ride, then you're a hypocrite who needs to STFU. Why make a half arsed effort to protect yourself by wearing bullshit cordura with work boots and substandard gloves?

That's a bit harsh.
Of course you are right in saying the 'best' gear will do the best job of protecting. However, any gear that is designed for the job of giving your skin etc a chance is better than everyday clothes.
Which is the point - the attempt is being made to mitigate injury, rather than simply believing "it won't happen to me"