| Author | Message | ||
     Vampress |
Something really got under my skin today.... Maybe that's because I really value mine! This is my rant, as this has always been a little something that I hate to see, and maybe I just don't understand, why others don't feel the need to do as I do. Riding home from work, I was passed by another guy on a motorcycle (something big and chunky and very executive looking) wearing nothing but his yuppie business clothes. No gloves, no jacket, no boots...nothing, nada, zip. Now I don't know where you guys sit on this one, but I for one see my blood boiling with it. The very thought of shearing the skin from my hands (or the rest of my body for that matter) if I were to befall some nastiness, makes me shiver. Call me cautious, but I never leave the gate on a bike without the works on. Summer=summer jacket, Winter=lined jacket, but always gloves, boots etc. To see someone doing 100k along the highway in shorts and a pair of thongs(umm..jandals, flip-flops, or sandals perhaps over in us?) makes my skin crawl. And the same for seeing some guy in the right leathers, with a five year old on the back in swim shorts and a t-shirt, barefoot. Petrol prices are rising, and there seem to be more bikes on the road (and annoying little scooters). Why can't people just use some common sense? Grrr V | ||
| Spiderman |
I concur 10000% (some people over here call those sandles thongs still BTW  ) | ||
| Supafast |
Every riding season I get nervous thinking about one of my friends doing face/body plant on the pavement. I really do not care to see my friends or anyone for that matter, looking like ground beef. Gross! I cant even watch those surgery shows on TV so I sure as heck cant handle it in person, live. I too am covered from head to toe in gear when I ride. It actually has saved me once already when I did a face plant! Some of my friends though wear half helmets (only b/c its the law to wear a helmet), tank tops and no gloves.... It just takes once. "Dress for the slide, not the ride." | ||
| P_squared |
The only time my blood boils is when there is a child woefully unprotected as a passenger. That will get you followed by me until you are stopped so I can rip you a new a-hole for your selfish stupidity. Otherwise, I just shake my head. It's their choice. If they're my friend, I try to explain, NOT preach, exactly WHY I wear ATGATT based on having gone down @ 55 mph and sliding/rolling for ~100+ ft while my bike went up in flames. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. Advocate politely and realize some will choose not to do as you do. | ||
| Ulywife |
The only time my blood boils is when there is a child woefully unprotected as a passenger. Or the girlfriend perched up on the back of a bike in shorts, tank top and flipflops as they fly through traffic. My daughter (now 13) has been riding since she was 8 with her Daddy. We have spent a lot of money in gear, head to toe. At one point she decided she didn't want to wear her riding pants. I told her that was fine, but that she would not need the rest of her gear either, because she wouldn't be riding. Needless to say, she put on her riding pants and took off with Daddy. Gear is cheaper and less painful than skin graphs, or so I hear. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
My only complaint is that I hate to see unprotected riders near me (or in a riding group). If that rider had gone down and was critically injured, you would feel, as a fellow rider, compelled to assist him/her and stay with them until help arrived. Instead of it being a "damn I spilled my bike" jump up, just yourself off, kind of an event. You'd now have a bleeding rider potentially critically injured. If anything, riding "naked" is inconsiderate of others who would need to help the downed rider. | ||
| Ratbuell |
It turns my stomach to watch the large cruiser "organized rides" - the 30mph duckwalk through a parking lot, surrounded by hundreds of other bikes being "piloted" in the same manner, nearly all wearing shorts and tank tops and beanie "skid-lids". Maybe they've never been down, maybe they failed physics class as a kid...whatever. I can't watch. I always wear a fullface, gloves, boots, long pants (usually jeans - not ideal, but better than nothing) and a jacket of some sort. I was starting to ride this summer in my work shirt, so I bought a Joe Rocket mesh with armor (and wore it through my wreck in July, actually). I feel naked without any of that. The only good thing that came out of my wreck this summer (other than myself, alive and able to -eventually- walk again) was one of the respondent state troopers. He was waiting on his new bike's arrival from our store (a new HD). He apparently REFUSED to pick it up until the fullface helmet he had ordered arrived, so he could ride it home. Score one for the good guys, I guess. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Gear is cheaper and less painful than skin graphs, or so I hear. I have copies of my receipts from this summer (thank god for insurance) - YES. Gear is MUCH cheaper. My ONE stay at the recovery hospital - no surgeries involved, just a bed, 3 square, and PT each day for a month - was over $32,000. That doesn't count my SIX surgeries, a couple pounds of titanium, my 10 days in shock-trauma, or the skin graft. Ride safe. Dress for the fall, not for the ride. Having been there, done that - I would DEFINITELY rather sweat than bleed. I'll quit with the catch phrases now, lol. | ||
| Boliver |
Yes that is a problem with motorcycle safety,but irresponsible riders only risk themselves when it comes to riding gear.ie; Their organ donations are admirable you must admit. My big worry and gripe are all the alcoholic gun owners who aren't controlled as strictly as the DMV controls motor vehicles. Not to mention all the irresponsible Americans having out of wedlock kids so we(our government) can take care of them. Or how about this: I live in Tulsa,Ok and last year we(TULSA) put over 4,000 animals (cats and dogs) to sleep at the animal shelter.That is like 15 a day. And yet we have people breeding pets for money? Shit like this is what pisses me off!! | ||
| Neurorider |
I always ride with full gear too. This time of year that's a full Olympia suit, neon yellow, and insulated logger boots, full face helmet. I've explained it so many times to so many people. Around here, in Arkansas, all the cruiser folks are helmet-less, and 95% of the sportbikers are basically without shoes or pants too-just teenagers riding your basic 180mph bike with 2" chicken strips on the tires. When these folks get hurt, we all pay for it-hospital bills, insured or not, factor into costs for everyone. From health insurance rates to motorcycle insurance rates, that's your money as well as mine. Makes people think bikes are dangerous too, so they preach to me about how I shouldn't ride...as they get into their car and don't put on the seatbelt and crack open a beer and start a cell phone call (that's for real, not made up btw). | ||
| Damnut |
Not to mention all the irresponsible Americans having out of wedlock kids so we(our government) can take care of them. Calm down with that statement. I have an out of wedlock child but the Government isn't taking care of him, I am along with his mother. So am I irresponsible for having a child and not being married to my girlfriend? Should I get married to someone just for the reason that we're having a child together? I'd like to know where a statement like that comes from. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
If you get married.... you and I will be OVER!!! pollywog | ||
| Boliver |
That is all good but you two are an exception to the rule. Are you so ignorant that you do not realize the effect that society has on the working class when they are continually milking the system.Year in and year out.Anyone who is "working class" knows exactly what I am referring to. If you are a hard working person that takes care of himself you should not be offended by my comments. This thread started with a guy ranting about a bunch of organ donors riding with reckless and dangerous habits. I then posted a rant of my own. Then you made it about you. Like I said you and your girlfriend are more than likely an exception. I still say "man up" and marry her. You get better insurance rates,much easier to buy a home and you are giving her the respect I am sure she deserves. I'd like to know why you are scared to get married. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Back on topic. I hate to see people ride without gear on. BUT its freedom of choice. I just hope I don't end up seeing one of my good friends in the ditch looking like a meat lovers pizza with gravel.... | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Helmet laws, seat belt laws, and the like are all just one step closer to socialism. Not wearing the proper helmet, seat belt, riding gear, or any other type of personal protective equipment is just ignorant! IMHO we should all have the choice to be as careless as we wish as long as nobody else will be harmed by our choices. Survival of the fittest - if you don't wear the right gear you deserve the consequences and maybe your common-sense-lacking gene pool won't have the chance to reproduce further. BTW I wear helmet, jacket, gloves, sturdy boots, and reflective vest 100% of the time. | ||
| Damnut |
Not scared but when I do get married I want it to be the ONLY time I do it. Have you not noticed that the divorce rate in this country is like 50%? Sorry but I prefer to be like the other 50%. Frankly I didn't make this about myself as I know plenty of people that have out-of-wedlock children that the government doesn't take care of. I was trying to speak for everyone that is in my shoes. I was actually offended by that statement as, in your eyes, you are characterizing me to be irresponsible for not being married and having a kid. I think you should reword that statement or get out of that shell of yours see how some of us responsible non-married parents live our lives. Don't worry ATM boy, me & you will always be me & you.  Sorry for the thread jack. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I don't think anyone should be forced to wear anything. If you want to ride naked, do it. Conversely, don't force me to help scrape you off the street. Don't expect me to pay for your medical bills. Don't expect me to pay for your life flight. If you don't have insurance AND you choose not to wear protective gear, the county, ambulance company, and hospital should have the ability to require you to repay the costs you incurred. If you can't pay the costs, your wages should be garnished, you house should have liens, and asset seized to pay off the bill. Personal choice comes with personal responsibility. | ||
| Boliver |
I guess you really told me. Don't worry maybe someday she'll marry you. Have fun playing house.  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
coming from you.... that sounds like wind blowing thru a open window... ATGATT | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Ulywife-good job on keeping your child safe (that's our job right?) I rode to a union meeting about an hour away with a co-worker last night. He has a H.D. And he's got a skull cap riding down the freeway at 80 with no hands and his feet way out. It did go through my mind if he goes down I'm stuck getting him home to his wife. But this is America and if he don't want to be safe I guess that's his choice. Funny when his 12 year old rides his dirt bike-full gear. Me-always wear boots, gloves, and the armor jacket. Oh and the full face. | ||
| Greenlantern |
I don't think anyone should be forced to wear anything. If you want to ride naked, do it. Conversely, don't force me to help scrape you off the street. Don't expect me to pay for your medical bills. Don't expect me to pay for your life flight. If you don't have insurance AND you choose not to wear protective gear, the county, ambulance company, and hospital should have the ability to require you to repay the costs you incurred. If you can't pay the costs, your wages should be garnished, you house should have liens, and asset seized to pay off the bill. Personal choice comes with personal responsibility. +1 | ||
| Babired |
I'm AGATT too, and I don't like riding with riders who have brain buckets, no gloves, t shirt on. I'd rather seat than bleed! What make my blood boil is the uninsured, no gear, no M class scooter riders who are sharing our roads. K | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I've been known to develop a "headache" on rides where unknown folks show up with no gear to ride with the group. | ||
| Reepicheep |
It doesn't even make $$ sense to be that stupid. I had a lowside on my M2 at well under 15 mph (probably closer to 10mph). I was wearing armored jacket, heavy gloves, helmet, over the ankle boots. But I was also just wearing dockers. I ended up with one sliver dollar sized road rash on one knee, and one quarter sized road rash on the other. By the time they had healed up and were no longer trying to leave a trail of blood and goo on my work cloths, backs of airplane seats, cars, and anything else they might touch... I had spent $200 easy on various dressings, tape, and antibiotic creams. The armored first gear pants I bought were $125 from "newenough". They would have prevented any injury (and did exactly that for my second low speed low side ditching). Even without the pain being taken into account, and even for very minor accidents, gear is flat out cheaper... I don't get angry when I see people riding with bad gear, but I do (literally) pucker and feel my skin crawl when I see them missing something obvious and putting themselves in a potentially high risk situation (i.e. blowing quickly through a green light in the right lane when a long line of cars is stacked up in the left hand lane getting ready to turn). | ||
| Teeps |
A customer, of the bike shop where I worked, came in after being MIA for several months. He was wearing short and sandals; both his knees were bandaged and he was on crutches. Turns out, he crashed his CB750 in a construction zone, where he left a good portion of skin and both knee caps. He also left behind 6 toes... all ground off as he slid down the unpaved aggregate roadbed. I think of that PB every time I see an unprotected rider or passenger. | ||
| Acgwolfe |
i always wear my gear when riding, but will defend anyone who is 18 years of age to chose to do what ever they want as long as it hurts only them and no one else. We all know the dangers we face each day as motorcyclist and we do what we can to reduce this danger, if someone is stupid enough to not wear the proper gear then that is there choice. | ||
| Borrowedbike |
The following is long, and I re-post without permission or knowledge of who the author is, but I'm a fan and may as well share. To me, this about sums it up... Riding without boots and crashing might cost you some road rash or foot mash or even in an extreme case might lead to amputation. You might never walk without a limp. You might battle a weight and fitness problem for the rest of your life. You might never walk without pain. But it probably wouldn't kill you. Riding without gloves and crashing might cost you some road rash or a munched hand or the severe, excruciating pain of mangling a body part rich with nerve endings. Or you could lose a finger or two. It could cost you the ability to play ball with your son, or to hold a beer. But it probably wouldn't kill you. Riding without at least an armored jacket and leather trousers or full leathers or an Aerostich or even just a leather jacket and jeans and crashing might cost you serious road rash. You might grind off a nipple. You might embed gravel in your elbow. You might get beef jerky all over your back. You might grind off your kneecap or have a scar resembling Australia on you calf like a friend of mine does. You would be scarred for life and not be able to walk on a beach shirtless without feeling self-conscious. You might end up like Kevin Spacey's character in "Pay It Forward" and have to deal with the same awkward moment every time you remove your clothes with a new lover. But it probably won't kill you. Riding without a back protector and crashing in all but rare crashes would be inconsequential. However, there are so many variables out there- curbs, fenders, poles, guardrails, debris in the road- any one of these could be the golden BB that nicks your spinal cord in just the wrong way and leaves you in a wheelchair for life. Or, maybe you just have constant sciatic pain in one leg. Or you can't move your legs. Or you have to wear diapers for when you shit yourself, and/or a colostomy bag you have to pull out of your pants leg and squeeze your waste out into the toilet at a bar like a guy I know. Or you can't move from the chest down. Or from the neck down. Are you good at working joysticks with your mouth? Or maybe you might need a respirator? Or 24 hour care? Certainly, there are impacts that are completely foreseeable that would permanently injure you even with the best back protector in the world. But there are crashes and subsequent impacts that even mediocre back protectors can make that little bit of difference in- the ones you get up and walk away from, sore all over, but *walking*. Do you want the last time you walked to be when you walked out of 7-11 with a pack of smokes and then got on your bike? Those precious few steps out the door and over to the bike to be the five steps you remember the rest of your life because the next time you were off the bike you were lying strapped to a backboard staring at the headliner of an ambulance, tears running down your face because you couldn't feel the little piggies and you were almost ready to vomit at the stench of your shit because you lost control of your bowels? Riding without a back protector and crashing might not make a difference, or it might make all the difference in the world. It might not kill you, but it might make you wish it had. And, finally, helmets. Riding without a helmet and crashing might be of no consequence. You might never even touch terra firma with your head. Or you might give yourself an asphalt facelift. You might get a concussion that results in only a bad headache the next day. You might get a serious concussion that lands you in the hospital for endless CAT scans and MRIs, and for the rest of your days be plagued by migraines. You might fracture your orbital and lose your vision. You might fracture your skull and end up fully functional but with a horrible Frankenstein like scar and a metal plate that bothers you on cold days and sets of metal detectors in airports. You might have a closed head injury from which you don't awaken from for hours or days or weeks or months- all the while your mother, father, sister, brother, children, workmates, and/or riding buddies come a visit you, filling an utterly depressing hospital room into a gauche jungle of flowers and bright card saying "get well soon!" that you never see or smell. Sure, you might awaken completely normal besides the hole drilled in your head to reduce pressure. Or you might awaken a little fuzzy, unsure who these people are. Or you might awaken and have to re-learn everything it took you all your life to learn, eventually returning to normal or even better like Harrison Ford in "Regarding Henry". Or you might awaken a man-child, drooling and laughing as you try to stack blocks, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt signed by your mother, father, sister, brother, children, workmates, and/or riding buddies- which you will never read. Or you might have an open head injury, from which the "you" you know will most likely never return. The rest of your life -be it a day, a week, a month, a year- will consist of feeding tubes, the endless beep and whoosh of the heart monitor and respirator, and the drip-drip or IV fluids, catheters in your rod, and feeding tubes. Of course, you won't mind all of this; you'll be in a dreamland no one knows about. Your body will waste away and atrophy. Eventually, the shell that used to be you would give out, and your loved ones would have to make the most grueling decision of their life. Or, you might die on the road, fluffy gray brain matter mixing with blood and cerebra-spinal fluid. Perhaps your last ride would be twenty miles an hour down the street by your house combined with an impatient young driver and an ignored stop sign. Or perhaps it would be a ride on the freeway and a pothole denting your rim and popping the front tire off the bead sending you into the guardrail. Or you might go out in a blaze of glory with a 100 mph wheelie ending the wrong way. Whichever way, would make maybe a 10 second news story depending on where you live, maybe a paragraph buried on page 32B of the paper. Riding without a helmet could be of no matter- or it could mean the difference between going on as you are now, or having life taken away from you as if God flipped a switch. I can live without toes or a mangled foot- but I choose to try and prevent that. I can live with a hand that looks like a burn victim's and maybe relearn to write with my left hand- but I choose to try and prevent that. I can live with a scar in the shape of Australia on my calf- but I try and prevent that. I can live with road rash on my torso and arms- but I try to prevent that. I could live in a wheelchair, agonizing through every day, but I chose to try and prevent that. I can't live as a man-child. I've already played with blocks. I only drool when I sleep. We all make choices. Gear can't always save you. All the best leather, denim, Cordura, Kevlar, fiberglass, and plastic are useless when fate throws the Immovable Object or the Irresistible Force in your path. But I choose to stack the deck in my favor. If it all ends up for naught and the stacked deck and the cards up my sleeve end up losing to Fate's royal flush, so be it. But I'll try. -Author unknown- | ||
| Eboos |
I also find the whole line about "irresponsible American's having kids out of wedlock" offensive as well. I got my wife pregnant very early in our relationship. At that time it would have been irresponsible to rush into marring her. It wasn't until over 4 years later that I did marry her, and that was after we have had time to establish our relationship and make sure we were doing the right thing. Like damnut, I only wish to do this once. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I'm sure they meant where the RESPONSIBLE fathers aren't present and that 'family' is a drain on our Social Services. | ||
| Ulywife |
Boliver - you are out of line with your assumption that all out of wedlock children are supported by the system. This thread was started about the responsibility of wearing gear, let's stay on topic. |
