| Author | Message | ||
     Along4theride |
As of yesterday it has become apparent that my riding abilities exceed my gear. I figured out how to get off my bike and the next step is getting my knee down. I had been practicing the one cheek at a time thing Glitch had instructed me on then all of a sudden I was off. Once I did it, it was easy to keep doing it. However I only had jeans on so I didn't push it too much. Now it is necessary for me to get some different riding pants cuz I have a feeling getting my knee down is going to be coming really soon.  I have a couple questions. Some of the pants I'm finding have Plastic Armour in the knees versus Dual Density and I found a pair of Alpinestars that have Kevlar. Is it worth the extra $50 to just go with Kevlar versus the dual density? Won't the knee pucks give me the protection I need and the rest is just 'gravy' for just in case making the dual density suitable? Also I can only find perforated leather pants by Joe Rocket. (anyone know of any other brands that offer them?) I like the perforated leather for obvious reasons and I know some of you have them and I was wondering how it worked in the cold? I'll be moving to Colorado from GA this Summer. the perf. are a must in GA heat but I need something I can also use in the Co. cold. Any opinions? Also is the Armour typically interchangeable in pants? I have several jackets that it is but I wasn't sure if pants work the same way. Can I get the perforated pants I want then replace the 'plastic armour' with Dual Density or Kevlar? Thanks so much in advance and I hope you guys all have a GREAT Easter.  | ||
| Daves |
The perf ones are not going to be warm. You can, of course, wear some long johns under them in cold weather to help but they let a lot of wind thru. I wear non perf Vansons all summer and they aren't too hot unless it's over 85 or so. In GA I would probably go with the perforated ones. I can get you whatever you decide on! I am not sure on the interchanging of the armor, I am at home and do not have my catalogs here. I "think" the Joe Rocket stuff is? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Get the perforated ones, and pick up a cheap black wal-mart pair of rain pants for like $20. Put them over the mesh when it's cool, roll them up in the tail bag the rest of the time. For winter, you can do the same with cheap ski bibs, just get them really big to go over the tight fitting armor. It's hard to think of a street riding situation that *requires* touching a knee down. It can be done, but when it is, I think it's more about showing off then getting around the corner (IMHO). | ||
| 12bolt |
That's one skill I would like to be able to show off!  | ||
| Rocketman |
Get the knee sliders with the titanium rods in them. Rocket | ||
| Along4theride |
It's hard to think of a street riding situation that *requires* touching a knee down. It can be done, but when it is, I think it's more about showing off then getting around the corner (IMHO). Ya know I used to think somewhat along those same lines. What reason would you have to drag knee just riding around??? I do a lot of riding in the N. Ga mtns and I have always gotten my bikes over pretty far. The guys that get their knee down can take the corners at ungodly speeds. Now I have no intention of going that fast at all but I have discovered that there is something to be said for leaning off your bike versus leaning your bike. There really isn't a need to drag knee but leaning off your bike does speed up your riding and I'd like to be prepared for that time when I take a corner at just the right speed with just the right lean and it does touch  I have a friend who has the titanium knee pucks and man I back wayyyy off going into a corner behind him. It's distracting and hard to watch my exit when I have sparks flying at me.  | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
If you are dragging knees on the street you are A...posing big time or B...going way too fast on public roads. | ||
| Rocketman |
C...have very long legs and a small bike! Hey Greg, you ride an 04 R1 which makes 'B' pretty rich coming from you Rocket | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
I never said I follow my own advice | ||
| Rocketman |
Silly me - I know that Rocket | ||
| Unibear12r |
Glad to see you two posting again! | ||
| Sandblast |
Yeah me too. | ||
| U4EUh (Ditch Digger) |
The mountains of N. Ga. offer the best conditions for that type of riding. A4TR-I am the unfortunate person who put a black mark on the March Badness weekend. BUT, I had the touring pants with dual density armour, and the knees were woven with Kevlar. I can say first hand that going down with that on, helped save my hide , no doubt. As far as dragging the knee, when it happens you will probably $h!t. It is exciting and scary at the same time. Getting the pants with knee sliders will also give you about 1 inch extra "FEELER" area as they are pretty thick. | ||
| Cataract2 |
I never said I follow my own advice I always knew you were a Do what I say not what I do kinda person.  | ||
| Dsergison |
I wear my leather pants riding on the street: A- when i'm being an idiot. B-when it's cold. I wear my knee pucks on them. I feel like a dork. but without them I have big fuzzy velcro patches and look like a dork without the protection. so I choose to look like a protected dork. | ||
| Fullpower |
always protect yer dork. | ||
| Rocketman |
Glad to see you two posting again! Well that's down to Blake and his loyalty to our friendship. Anyway, I'm less of a ratty bastard these days, and it's good to be back. Rocket | ||
| Phillyblast |
You lose weight? | ||
| M1combat |
LOL . | ||
| M2nc |
I wear non perf Vansons all summer and they aren't too hot unless it's over 85 or so. Sorry Dave, I have to laugh, it's going to be 80°F this week here and it ain't summer until the average temp during the day is 95°F or better. During the summer I'm going to live with you! I haven't ridden with anyone that wears their leathers during the summer here. Must of us have Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jackets. I just got some touring First Gear textile jacket & pants. In 84°F weather in Daytona it was already pretty hot. Buy the perf leathers, but I doubt you will wear them in the dead of summer. That is unless you go up in the mountains. I've also heard of an under-liner that hunters and fisherman wear. The fabric is a poly of some sort and they say it will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I plan to stop by a local Hunting shop and see if i can find it. | ||
| Road_thing |
In about a month, we'll be lucky if it cools off to 85 at night. My leathers are about to go into summer storage. rt | ||
| Loki |
unter garments? Try those not so sexy looking silk longies. Tops and bottoms under the leathers. Kind of amazing what silk does in the hot and cold. Got mine from a Bass Pro Shop. | ||
| Rocketman |
As it happens Dave I've trained hard in the gym for the past three years and everything was going bloody dandy. Weight was down some and physique looking better etc etc and things were going in the right direction. Then last sumer I was diagnosed as having an over active thyroid. This meant taking carbimazole blocker pills for several months, up until three weeks ago when they finally removed my thyroid. I've put more than 30lbs on since last October thanks to those •••••• pills but at least now I can start back at the gym and get into some serious training now I'm off them. It's not going to be easy I know but it must be done. Rocket | ||
| Ingemar |
Our summer months vary between 80 and 90F. The biggest problem is not the temp but humidity. It gets so friggin' sultry over here that it feels like it's at least 10 15 degrees hotter. Ver unpleasant. But regardless of that, I wear my leathers. It can get very uncomfortable at times but I'm sure roadrash will be seriously more uncomfortable over a much longer period over time. | ||
| Along4theride |
I think I'm going to look at the pants that aren't perforated. I won't have a humidity issue in Colorado so hopefully full leather won't be too 'sticky' in the Summer- at least I can always hope. I've also heard of an under-liner that hunters and fisherman wear. The fabric is a poly of some sort and they say it will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I plan to stop by a local Hunting shop and see if i can find it. Check out a product called Capilene made by Patagonia. It does what you're speaking of. It is used for extreme adventure sports and I swear by it. It's along the same lines as Under Armour in regards to price but you can wear it in the Summer too and you won't be all wet with sweat under you gear. www.rei.com www.patagonia.com I wear it pretty much all winter and I'm sure I'll continue it's use when I move back home and ride in the cold there. | ||
| Bomber |
armor does not equal pucks/sliders -- I've got some perf drawers from Triumph (zip to my feldsheer jacket) and they are great in the hot muggy weather -- no amount of layering stops the wind, though -- if I was going to colorado, I'd opt for non-perf, but that's just me . . .. | ||
| Phillyblast |
Sean, Sucks - coworker's wife had the same problem - the weight gain was the real kick in the pants of the whole thing. Good to hear you're on the mend and back to the gym - remember you mentioning you were working out and lookin' all sexy, hence the smarta$$ comment.  I'm joining a gym next week and getting back in shape my own self - plan on hitting a few track days this year, and need to be able to handle it physically. Maybe I'll finally learn to drag a knee, to get this back on topic | ||
| Road_thing |
Bomber--"perf drawers" conjures up a mental image I'd just as soon have by-passed...  rt | ||
| Slaughter |
Please, please, PLEASE - for half the cost of a speeding ticket, 1/4 the cost of a reckless driving violation, 2% the cost of 4 days in Intensive Care - take a track day or two!!! Now that you're talking knee-down riding, start getting ready for crashing. Well that being said - even the non-perf leathers are frightfully cold in winter. We race every month at Willow Springs regardless of weather - the one exception being rain/snow the same day and same race last November. Since 1953, that was only the second day they've ever cancelled. Most everybody uses perforated leathers and then I've seen some really creative solutions for cold weather - usually tight fitting long underwear (I also have a turtleneck that keeps the cold off my neck) When it's truly cold, I've seen a bunch of people adding variations of snowmobile suits or yachting-type foul weather gear outside of their leathers too - something just to stop the wind. Much cheaper than second set of leathers. They don't seem to affect the way your body slides and tumbles in a fall compared to the leather. When it's that cold, you don't need your knee down on the street because you'll be sliding before you know it on cold tires - and THAT's a place you don't want to be. We've measured tire temps at the track in winter with an IR thermometer when the bikes come off the track and tires really only get to about 70 degrees after 6-7 laps - normally they're 130-140. This is only a few seconds after coming around Turn 8 at 140+mph. Trust me, in the winter, your tires just will not warm up! Also, get gloves with nuckle armor. Half your crashes are going to involve your nuckles hitting the ground. You at least will need padding. One piece of advice - echoing much of the above from others - don't be in a hurry to get the knee down on the street. Armor is good - very good - think of a tumbling fall and protection for your knees, elbows and shoulders while they're slapping the ground multiple times. Visualize a football tackle - only this time at ~~ 80 mph - repeat maybe 6-8 times - that is of course unless your body hits the rail, goes into the wall or oncoming traffic. Football is for wimps. (Message edited by slaughter on March 29, 2005) | ||
| Rick_a |
I wear a non-perforated jacket all year. It's a little cold in the winter and scortching hot in the summer. I just have to get drinks along with gas on long rides. No biggie. The only benefit I'd see in getting a knee down is that theoretically you can carry more speed before you start losing traction...and I'm sure there's a sense of security in it, but... I'd agree that getting your knee down routinely is a bit extreme on the street. It would seem that it'd leave little room for error. You can hang off and keep your knee tucked in...at least there's no thrashing of the pants! |
