My son learned an important lesson at the Dragon on his second year there. This was the first trip on his own bike, a 2001 R-1. His mistake, being fearless because he had on his full leathers. A group went up to the top at night and he ended up crashing. I've rode the Dragon at night in the rain and it's no fun so I wasn't interested in going. My other son was riding my ZX-12r and I heard that pull back up to our room alone so I knew something was up. Sure enough, there's my R-1 son but he's on my bike. His older brother told him that he was going to ride back down the mountain and tell me that his brother crashed. All and all my son was ok. As anyone who's been there, you have two ways to crash, you either go off a cliff or into the face of the mountain. Luckily he hit the face, did a job on the bike. So what did he learn? Leave the full leathers at home. He wears a good jacket, gloves and helmet but he keeps things a little more real, a little bit more sane. I'm not saying that full leathers are a bad idea, at safe speeds, they aren't needed. Deal's Gap is a real rush but it is so easy to get in over your head. Take it easy and have a good ride.
"Leave the full leathers at home"....
That is the worst advice ever!
Your son was very fortunate to not have been injured.
Apparently you have never seen a "safe speed" motorcycle crash where the rider sustainted major injuries...that could have been prevented by wearing full leathers.
I wear full leathers, or a helmet, t-shirt, shorts and shoes. I am well aware of the risks.
I'm 37, and I do agree that in my early 20's full leathers made me feel invincible(aka stupidity).
To wear a helmet, jacket, and gloves is good, but it also seems that you feel that nothing below your waist is in danger or of value.
Do the speed limit and obey the law, then let some idiot cut you off and put you down hard.
Ever seen someone slide down the road without gear? Even at 60mph or less, you turn into hamburger meat.
It's a personal choice to wear or not wear whatever type of gear; but full leathers will allow you to walk away from a low impact slide, even at very high speeds. Just ask Matt Mladin, he walked away from a 164mph lowside at VIR about 10 years ago. He did bruise his elbow though
Go stand in the road, and drop hard to your knees. Aside from the pain, most of us middle aged, well used guys would get some sort of injury we didn't want. Now try it in full leathers. The knee padding and pucks will greatly reduce or eliminate any injury. Now, fast forward to 35, or 55 mph, and try again. Make sense?
Wear what you like, but advising against full leathers...
