Should you ever move your bike without gear?
Should you ever move your bike without gear?
Should you ever consider moving a motorcycle without your gear?
No!
Photo of my hand WARNING: Minor gore
No, not even from one parking space to another at your apartment. Parking lots have slick oily asphalt and often lots of debris laying around. Even a very low-speed spill can do this to your skin. It took me almost five days to get up and moving about again, never mind the unpleasant sensations. I'd post a photo of the road rash on my arm and hip as well, but I think my hand makes the point well enough. If I had been wearing my gloves and jacket I would have walked away with nothing but a bruised ego.
Don't learn the way I did, and never even THINK about hopping on a bike without your gear in place; I certainly won't do so ever again. Don't let convenience or the false sense of security that comes with low speeds and zero traffic lull you into stupidity! I post this in the hope that it may help other beginners identify a very easy-to-avoid mistake and to help remind myself to think twice before doing anything with a motorcycle.
Cheers!
-Matt
No!
Photo of my hand WARNING: Minor gore
No, not even from one parking space to another at your apartment. Parking lots have slick oily asphalt and often lots of debris laying around. Even a very low-speed spill can do this to your skin. It took me almost five days to get up and moving about again, never mind the unpleasant sensations. I'd post a photo of the road rash on my arm and hip as well, but I think my hand makes the point well enough. If I had been wearing my gloves and jacket I would have walked away with nothing but a bruised ego.
Don't learn the way I did, and never even THINK about hopping on a bike without your gear in place; I certainly won't do so ever again. Don't let convenience or the false sense of security that comes with low speeds and zero traffic lull you into stupidity! I post this in the hope that it may help other beginners identify a very easy-to-avoid mistake and to help remind myself to think twice before doing anything with a motorcycle.
Cheers!
-Matt
- DieMonkeys
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+1
Great post, good example and a great picture as proof (though sorry it hurts).
I'm just going down the street and back is just asking for something worse than what happened mattb.
Whenever I ride it's ATGATT, even if I'm just taking the bike for a spin around the block to test out something.
Great post, good example and a great picture as proof (though sorry it hurts).
I'm just going down the street and back is just asking for something worse than what happened mattb.
Whenever I ride it's ATGATT, even if I'm just taking the bike for a spin around the block to test out something.
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- storysunfolding
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In answering the post's question, I'm ok with it. It's a risk I'm willing to take and I do it every week. Every one of my bikes that I ride that week gets a wash and detailing at the end of the weekend.
I can't get on the blue bike without my blue gear, or the red bike without my red gear, lord forbid I ever get on the black bike without my black leather riding jacket.
To avoid the embarrassment I wear my swim shorts in the summer and wetsuit in the winter.
I can't get on the blue bike without my blue gear, or the red bike without my red gear, lord forbid I ever get on the black bike without my black leather riding jacket.
To avoid the embarrassment I wear my swim shorts in the summer and wetsuit in the winter.
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I had to get out of the house to move my bike around the garage, and fortunately I was still wearing my gear (had just gone out for a ride). Slipped on something, oil I guess, but I was able to keep the bike up. However my shin pressed against the pipe. I didn't even feel it at the time, but when I took off my pants, I saw the textile and armor had partially melted. Good thing I didn't take off my gear before moving the bike. Just shows you how important the ATT is in ATGATT.
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I gotta admit I'm guilty of being gear-less (including helmet-less) when I move the bikes the 100 feet or so between the garage and the shed. It's dumb, and I need to stop doing it.
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There are exceptions to every rule. If the bike is in gear and running - then yes, I would say gear, although inconvenient for a quick move from one parking spot to the next, it is necessary.
Now if you are duck walking the bike or letting it roll down a small hill in neutral - you can get away without any gear.
Now if you are duck walking the bike or letting it roll down a small hill in neutral - you can get away without any gear.
- jonnythan
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I move mine without my gear. I put it on the trailer, move it to another spot in the parking lot, etc.
I'm also careful. And if I do something stupid, fall, and scrape up my arm, then I'll use it as a learning experience not to do stupid things in the future.
But I'm sure as heck not going to start wearing a helmet, gloves, and jacket to move my bike.
I'm also careful. And if I do something stupid, fall, and scrape up my arm, then I'll use it as a learning experience not to do stupid things in the future.
But I'm sure as heck not going to start wearing a helmet, gloves, and jacket to move my bike.
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2nd year rider here. . .
The other week at work big storms were coming through the area and the guys at the shop suggested I pull my bike in. From the back of the 3-bay maintenance shop around the side of the building and past bays #3 and #2 to pull into bay #1, I did it without my gear, i.e. helmet, gloves and jacket.
It felt all wrong to me and I was absolutely surprised at how anxious I was when I finally shut off the engine.
I won't be doing that again anytime soon. On the other hand, if I'm ducking walking it with the engine off, then I'm totally comfortable without the gear.
The other week at work big storms were coming through the area and the guys at the shop suggested I pull my bike in. From the back of the 3-bay maintenance shop around the side of the building and past bays #3 and #2 to pull into bay #1, I did it without my gear, i.e. helmet, gloves and jacket.
It felt all wrong to me and I was absolutely surprised at how anxious I was when I finally shut off the engine.

I won't be doing that again anytime soon. On the other hand, if I'm ducking walking it with the engine off, then I'm totally comfortable without the gear.
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ok, i'm a totally noob rider and all. I am atgatt - mostly b/c im new, old, and value all of my skin.
however, after the 3rd day with my new bike, i put it in the garage, was hot as hell in my textile pants and jacket, took them off.
put them away.
realized i needed to move the bike another 5 inches back to clear the garage door, did it, and burned myself on the leg.
no paddlewalking or ANYTHING For me without my textile pants, or in the garage, jeans.
was wearing shorts.
here's hoping not to make EVERY noob mistake possible!
-z
however, after the 3rd day with my new bike, i put it in the garage, was hot as hell in my textile pants and jacket, took them off.
put them away.
realized i needed to move the bike another 5 inches back to clear the garage door, did it, and burned myself on the leg.
no paddlewalking or ANYTHING For me without my textile pants, or in the garage, jeans.
was wearing shorts.
here's hoping not to make EVERY noob mistake possible!
-z
still recovering - back to crutches, then walking with a stick, then running - then hopefully riding again!