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Last weekend I saw one rider, here in KC, with tennis shoes, shorts, and play helmet.

No shirt, just tatoos.

Good posts. I want to be clear that I'm not criticizing anyone on what they wear on their bike. I just noticed a drastic difference between what safety gear people wear in the Pac NW and in the Southeast and thought I'd comment on it as the differences were more drastic than I would have expected. I'm sure some of it is based on the heat and some of it is cultural in that we emulate what we see to a certain extent. It occasionally gets in the 90's here in Seattle but even when that happens there's still a pretty high percentage of riders wearing their full gear.

earwig wrote:I am one of the stupid people, its too damn hot to wear a jacket and full face helmet when its in the 90s. I want to enjoy myself and I dress for comfort... if i die or get hurt at least it's doing something I love.

I know a guy that got in a wreck and lost his member. Yeah, no more doing something(/one) he loves for for him. In fact, his wife left him.

*Shrug* Food for thought.

AmericanWeiner wrote:

earwig wrote:I am one of the stupid people, its too damn hot to wear a jacket and full face helmet when its in the 90s. I want to enjoy myself and I dress for comfort... if i die or get hurt at least it's doing something I love.

I know a guy that got in a wreck and lost his member. Yeah, no more doing something(/one) he loves for for him. In fact, his wife left him.

*Shrug* Food for thought.

Was loss of member due to lack of gear? Or was it one of the no matter what gear you have on something bad is going to happen situaiton a la running into a semi head on.

I just can't imagine a pair of leather pants saving someone from that type of injury. Anyway, I am going to start riding with a cup from now on.

Probably about 90% of the people ride without gear here in Naples.

Guys who have been on bikes all their lives and females in miniskirts and High heels (Both riders and pillions). I'm used to it by now. Obviously they are ... Helmets are supposed to be mandatory here too ...

These people live on the slopes of a highly documented destructive volcano... I guess they way they see it, why worry about road rash when that thing could go off at any moment and take us all down??

England and Germany seem a lot more inclined to wear safety gear, I saw lots of leather suits. Besides being safer, they also really looked good!!!

Those countries are also typically a hell of alot colder

I live 10 minutes from the Harley factory here and that's all you see. On cruisers its jeans, T-shirt, and no helmet. Sportbikes it's shorts, T-shirts, and tennis shoes. Have to admit though, I'm not much better. I just won't ride without a helmet and gloves and, after it arrives this afternoon from UPS, a leather vest. Fullface helmet when it's below 80 degrees, half-helmet above 80 degrees.

After I bought my Buell I had to go to another Motorcycle shop to buy a full face helmet, the Harley Davidson dealership didn't have any. The owner Dave said he bought some in, but didn't even sell one, so he sent them back.


When I ride my MC I have a tendency to grin a lot, especially on winding roads, without my full face, those bugs that hit my faceshield with a loud crack would be permanently imbeded in my teeth!


I've only ever used full face, but both my brothers wear half helmets and tell me it's much more comfortable and doesn't restrict their vision. In my motorcycle course they really emphasized the use of full-face, citing statistics which show a high percentage of MC accidents involve injury to the chin area. I must admit though, we have lots of half-helmets and beanies around here, and I have yet to see a chinless rider!!!!

I don't think people who have an impact in the chin area at any speed are around to ride any more.