Almost all of my rides have a purpose (riding to events, the store, dinner, class, work) and showing up at those places with leather pants is not feasible. What do you similarly situated people do? I wear good gloves, Vanson or Tekinc leather jacket, and helmet, but I won't show up at these places looking like a racer. It just isn't appropriate. Any ideas on the pants?
Yessir! The answer could be Joe Rockets Phoenix pants, OR something I have heard nothing but good things about, the Roadcrafter 1 piece suit from Aerostitch. It's designed to go over your street clothes, is easy on and off, and is good for all climates. Accept for maybe the hottest summer days...
Ideally we would all be wearing 1 piece custom leathers, Helmets From Arai, Shoei, or maybe Soumy. We would have racing boots and gloves and we would wear them every time. Anything less than what I mentioned above is sorta like only using a lap belt. It might save your life, but it is going to hurt.
The problem is that one piece leathers are good for one thing, riding a motorcycle. That’s it, no good for the Mall, No good for work, the Clubs etc...So we have to find a compromise based on our lifestyles and planned activities.
For example, If I know I am going to be in the Canyons all day playing, or if I am traveling somewhere, full leathers and all the rest would be the perfect answer. But what do I do when I am just heading across town to go to the local biker hang out and BS for awhile. Do I get all the gear on, or do I compromise based on my planned activities? I dunno about you but sitting around on a summer evening in full leathers doesn't sound like too much fun. So, even if we own the gear we may not use it all the time. The key I think is to find the right balance based on planned activities VS safety. You should absolutely be in leathers if your out in your stomping grounds, high speed, etc. (Think NICKSLICK Here) But in town, you might be able to get away with textile jackets and maybe some reinforced jeans, ICON, and Draggin jeans come to mind. Besides, leather or not isn't going to help too much if you get tagged by a Buick, it then comes down to armor and the rest of your gear.
At a minimum though regardless of planned activities, there should be a Helmet, gloves, jeans and protective footwear. No excuse not to wear this Minimum.
If it's too hot to wear the proper gear it is too hot to ride, simple and true. Cloud9 mentioned heat stroke, a serious freakin concern out there in the hot air. Full leathers or Butt Naked, it can be pretty hot, so remember that all of us here have alternate forms of transportation, USE THEM, let the other poor bastard sweat his ass off in traffic. When it is that hot out don't ride, works the same as the cold. Everyone here has no problems saying it's just too cold to ride, same should apply for heat, sometimes, it is just TOO HOT to ride. So instead of squidding up the scenery with the cheesy ass helmet and shorts look, leave your baby in the garage. Remember we ride because it is fun, not because we have too and a lot of the excuses not to gear up kinda fade away...
Man My soap box has a freakin Lazee Boy and mic on it now.... and it looks like someone left me a note...Hmm, It reads "Hey Rev, shut the F*^k up you long winded bastid."
Not exactly constructive, but point taken....
