Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I'm riding my SV1000 down PCH in Seal Beach, when all of a sudden I'm surrounded by 5 half-naked squids doing at least 60 mph on a slow-moving highway. Thier bikes sounded like a bunch of angry bees as they weaved dangerously in and out of traffic.

I know it was hot...but tennis shoes, tee-shirts and shorts? I don't care how hot it is...I'll never saddle up without basic, proper gear. (padded leather jacket, kevlar pants, boots, gloves, helmet) Am I being to over-protective? Should I ease up on the gear when the temps reach above normal...Should I worry about looking like a fool when you can fry an egg off the pavement?

you're not being over-protective and it's good that you always wear your gear even when it's hot.

you just need to stop caring too much about other people's "riding gear."

You're my hero.

You're mine.

Why bother stating the obvious?

Wear what makes you feel safe. Ride however you feel you should. Don't endanger someone else.

Sevulturus wrote:Wear what makes you feel safe. Ride however you feel you should. Don't endanger someone else.

+1

ZooTech wrote:

Sevulturus wrote:Wear what makes you feel safe. Ride however you feel you should. Don't endanger someone else.

+1

At the same time, I heartily endorse full gear, and will continue to wear mine, even when it's really hot out.

I've had friends ride around with no jacket/skull cap before. All I said was, "I don't think it's a good idea." Then didn't say anything else. It all comes down to what you feel safe in.

At this point, I'm not even aggravated by the seeming lack of permission to make my own choice of riding gear. What bothers me most with threads like this one is getting lumped-in with people who ride dangerously and foolishly in traffic. Yes, a lot of so-called "squids" choose to wear shorts and whatnot while showing off and stunting, but there's a huge difference in risking your own skin and risking that of others. The two behaviors are not mutually inclusive. Almost every sport-bike rider I see here in Ohio is fully geared, yet plenty of them stunt in traffic and endanger others. In contrast, very few cruiser riders here wear any gear at all, but nearly all of them obey the law and ride conservatively. Essentially, by calling both groups "squids", you're saying that suicide and murder are the same thing.

Naw, to me a squid is someone who recklessly endangers both himself and others.

That covers mostly riding style.