PLEASE wear the right gear, everyone should read this!
 

Im posting this under ROAD SAFETY. It is the Touching & harrowing story of a very Pretty Girl called Brittany Morrow. A girl who wished she had worn protective gear and is now a campaigner for road safety wear.

I make no apologies for the pictures of Brittanys Injuries, the story is in her own words.

Extreme RoadRash: Cause Effect and Lesson Learned*-*SpeedFreakInc.com

or the Short version

Crusty The Biker: Courage

A few years ago in Spain, I saw a girl come off the back of a 125 wearing only a denim mini skirt and a bikini and she was a mess. Doing the same on a GSXR750 is just madness.

I'm sure there's loads of people who will own up to wearing jeans on a bike. I do if I'm just going to work and not really caning it but reading this makes me think twice. Makes no sense when you've made the effort to wear all the rest of your kit.

What gets me are kids on scooters, wearing a mix and match selection of kit. The typical look is a Rossi replica helmet, fully armoured Alpinestars textile jacket, matching Alpinestars racing gloves and then to complete the look, lightweight tracksuit trousers and bright white K-Swiss trainers. I'm not suggesting that scooter riders need to dress up like trackday heroes but should at least look as if they're taking safety seriously, not just buying kit for a fashion statement or pose value.

yes its MADNESS!
 

Craig, as you can see, I live in Spain, and I see Girls like that all the time on Scooters, Sportsbikes, Tourers in Skimpy gear..... SURE they look pretty, but the place to look pretty is on the Beach Not on the back of an R1 at 180Kmh.

It makes me go cold seeing the pictures of Brittney, but I sent that link to all my friends who have daughters, to my Daughter to send to her Friends, to the local School here In Sax & in Elda to try to get the message across to these kids that YES you look sexy in your miniskirt but you WONT look sexy with a body full of Skin Grafts, as well as the pain, the heartache to yourself/ parents/ etc. Plus the Hospital staff really don't like having to deal with this stuff either.

If just 1 person listens and takes notice than it has been worth it. Im glad it made you think twice.

Thanks for your support.

Martyn

Ditto, ditto, ditto.

It drives me mad when you hear of something like this.

I used to work for MCN and one of our staff back in 1996 was out with his mates, all two up coming back from the coast.

There was an accident and a girl pillion was killed.

WHY? She was wearing her boyfriends old helmet, X amount of sizes too big, she would still be alive if she had the correct size helmet on.

How many times do you see a pillion with a loose £50 crappy lid, jeans and shity jacket and the guy on the front has £500 lid, full leathers, boots etc, riding like twat........

Okay rant over.

I've been guilty of wearing jeans on more than a few occasions when nipping out to shops etc,But ever since comming off my sports bike last summer and breaking some bones and gashing up my legs pretty bad,It doesnt matter how short my journey is.I wear full gear. I was hit by a car and came off at about 30mph,And was wearing protective clothing everywhere apart from the legs (Jeans). I count my self lucky that it didnt happen at a higher speed. But was annoyed with myself that it happened at all.

It's a sobering read and im sure most people do at least wear a minimum amount of protection when either riding or pillion. I have a freind who's about to sit his test and he wants a sports bike. His thoughts on gear where a pair of gloves and a helmet,Due to poor funds.We managed to talk him out of buying his bike untill he has at least a decent kit to put on before riding it.

The bike dealer's arnt totaly blameless here either though,It's not the first time ive seen a guy in picking up a bike and riding out of the forcourt with jeans and a skimpy jacket on a bike that does 170mph+. I know this is a different can of worms altogether with bums on seats beeing there main priority,But surley having a return custom and a decent health and safety aproach to selling bikes has to take some blame here also.

I lived in Thailand for a year and no-one had to wear helmets. The amount of horrific facial injuries was sickening. Just as I was leaving it was becoming law but rarely inforced unless in the city.
Honda were promoting the wearing of protective equipment, a travelling roadshow went to all the small towns. A positive move we dont see in the west.

A mate of mine did the DAS test last year. He turned up in trainers, jeans, a battered old helmet and one of those crap Honda-Repsol fashion jackets, you know, the ones you see on market stalls, poorly made out of cheap leather that wouldn't pass for floor cloths.

He was told repeatedly that the examiner at this particular centre (Gateshead) deliberately marks down riders who don't take safety seriously, not to mention he looked like another boy racer / Rossi wannabe in that helmet and jacket.

As expected, he failed on something unbelievably minor and spent the next month bitching about this examiners attitude problem. Personally, I think the examiner had exactly the right attitude.

wear it!
 

when i done my test my examiner who was named bizarrely mr pass! he did comment on the fact that i was wearing full protective gear. although i made a few mistakes i still passed with him commenting on my safe approach to riding and my gear which he says people have even turned up in shorts during the summer months. strangely enough i done my truck test 7yrs later and had the same examiner!
i'm back in wales at the moment but when i was in france peolpe would ask me to take them for a ride (usually for cigarettes)to which i refused because of their inappropiate clothing.they just dont understand it! also have you seen the mess a mini-skirted girl leaves on your seat? it's like a slugs been there!
i also ride a scooter (in full gear). people at traffic lights also youngsters on other scooters laugh at the fact i'm dressed to go around the world! (i'll do it one day but not on the scooter!). many of my mates have scars from not riding in proper gear but they still take the urine out of me for it! sad but true.
lots of gear=happy and protected biker :mchappy::mchappy::mchappy::mchappy:

Yeah I can't stand the Macho types either least we know that we stand a much better chance of walking away pretty much unscathed from an off, God/Allah/Budda forbid that is.

I never ever ride without either my full HG Voyage or my full HG Taureg incluing all armour and spine protector gloves lid and motoX boots, having had an off and comming away perfectly well apart from the leg that got trapped under the bike and turned to mush, I'm glad I take pre-cautions.

The Harley crowd are the worst and perhaps could learn from her.

I quite like the idea of kevlar-lined jeans (Draggin, Icon, etc) just for riding to work in.

Anyone got a pair and able to comment on them or better still, been kind enough to test them for me? :mchappy:

Serious subject, for sure............
 

...............but each time I read another post, I can't lose the image in my mind of French police officers riding in the south of France in high summer!

So, who is going to be the first to tell this guy that he has it all wrong?:-

Bl:censored: pic attachment just doesn't want to work, so you'll have to use your imagination.

Quota exceeded
 

The picture quota is used up, and exceeded by 2.2KB, so there won't be a pic of a cop in the USA riding a BMW GS, wearing shirt sleeves and fabric pants and an open faced helmet - he does wear long, well polished, boots though.

Draggin' owner
 

I'm wearing mine now! They are comfy and look alright. I have not tested them but I've seen a video of a guy at a race meeting climbing off the pillion seat of a bike at about 125km/hr and sliding down the road on the end of a rope, on his arse. The draggin jeans were pretty chewed up but his arse was fine.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

Draggins are great, I even have a pair with armor in them. The guy that gets dragged is the owner and designer of the gear. If you go to the shop in melbourne (aus) where they are based you can talk to him..i trust them for around town riding, but dont be fooled they are almost as hot as leathers..

Allways wear protection!
 

Hi All, I always wear full kit:thumbup1: what ever the weather and time of year, it's not worth the agony and grief not only from the accident or the surgery or bike damage but also from the missus etc:nono:
Live long and prosper...use all your gear!:cool4:
TDMalcolm
* title...as the bishop said to the actress:clap:

ewwww
 

Bloody ell..... she must have gone through sum grief..:eek3:

that is horrrific.

Is that YOU Martyn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!
:nono:

Hot as Hades, but....
 

I have been travelling thru Canada, USA, Central America for the last 7 months or so and have seen the full range of kit from 3 bikini clad teenage girls on one 125cc on a gravel covered road, (the thought makes me shudder) to the business suited professional weaving through the Guatemala rush hour on his scooter.
I have watched the sweat dripping out of the bottom of my Gortex Riding Trousers while doing the ton of paperwork to cross the Hondurian border and smelled the reek coming from my boots at the end of the day. Locals think I´m mad when they feel the weight of my jacket and see the little rivers the sweat has made as it runs down my face.
On the plus side I have lost 8 inches off my waist:thumbup1:, mostly due to the mobile sweat lodge I live in.

I think it is better to sweat than bleed folks. Salutations.

Now theres a sensible chap and what words of wisdom......

Sorry to be picky, but I do pay a lot of TAX, income tax, council tax, road tax, fuel tax - unleaded nudging $10 a gallon and mostly tax, value added tax, national insurance (which is a tax) and this is only a small selection, as there are many stealth taxes too.

If I do go into the NHS I get put on a waiting list. Then they decide wether it's important enough to deal with or if they can be bothered. If so then pray I don't come out with MRSA, MSSA or something I didn't first go in, without. When you are chucked out, you are given a prescription which you have to pay for, if like me it's on going because they cannot be bothered, you keep on paying. I have been told before, "You'd be better off going private!". I now buy my medication privately because it's cheaper than through the NHS.

I just want to add, the vast majority of the staff in the NHS are heros, nothing less, it's just the systems they are forced to work with.

Sorry, rant over!

This is a very good reason to wear the correct gear. :mchappy:

What about MX gear in hot weather?
 

Didn't try it myself yet, but what about an MX harnass and protectors and over that any oversized shirt when it's hot. That's what I think everytime I'm waiting at a trafficlight with the sun burning down on me in my black Gore tex trousers, goretex jacket, gloves, boots... . Should be a whole lot cooler and still give you all the protection. Or did I get that wrong? Not as quick to take off when you are where you wanne be though... .

;-)

Personally I find all the self-righteous "I always wear full kit" statements a little bit tiresome.
Here in the UK it never really gets hot enough for it to be much of an issue, but if you do any riding on the continent then you'll soon realise that wearing full bike kit around town when it's over 35C soon loses it's appeal.
If I'm just riding around town or just cruising along the coast at 30-40mph then I'm perfectly happy in jeans and a lightweight top (to stop sunburn).
I'll wear lightweight boots to protect my ankles, gloves and a helmet to protect the most vulnerable bits.
I did some riding on one of the Greek islands last summer and the temperature was upto around 45c some days. Wearing leathers or textile kit would have been rediculous - in slow stop/start traffic it would have resulted in dehydration and heat stroke.
If I'm out on the open road and going a bit quicker then I'll put my jacket on, just in case.

To put things into perspective when I was doing a lot of mountain biking in my youth I'd regularly be getting upto 40+ mph on the downhills, wearing little more than lycra shorts, a t-shirt and a lightweight helmet. Yes it stings when you come off at that sort of speed, and it can take a while to pick out all the gravel, but I can't say it ever slowed me down.

At the end of the day it's down to the individual to make the choice. Everybody's idea of what is an acceptable risk is different. Do you suffer the discomfort of wearing loads of protective gear, or do you wear something more comfortable and accept the risk that entails??

If I'm going for a ride with the intention of being a bit of a hooligan (closed roads or track day only, officer) or riding with friends and need to keep pace, I wouldn't consider not wearing full kit.

At the other end of the scale, how does wearing full kit when you're sweating like a pig, affect your concentration and would such a situation put you at more risk of crashing in the first place.

Like you say, only the individual can make that decision.

Yes You Can
 

I ride in full gear all year round in Saudi Arabia so don't tell me you can't in the UK.
Yes, I am being self-righteous and I don't care if you find it tiresome, in the pleasantest way ofcourse.
I see riders over here in shorts "T" shirt and flip flops doing wheelies down the main road in heavy traffic.:eek3:
I like Martyn's idea of sending a copy of that story to everyone he knows so that the uninitiated don't jump on a bike without the right gear on.:cool4:
I wonder how many of the riders who don't wear any gear have actually fallen off a bike.
I have broken my wrist and both ankles and dislocated my thumb but I was riding in motocross on dirt and wearing all the gear, dirt is much softer than tarmac and you don't have as much to run into.
Being a cyclist myself I have also ridden at speed in lycra but it isn't practical to wear heavy protective clothing on a racing cycle and you are doing it for sport so you take a calculated risk.
Impact protection is a vital part of riding gear what ever you preference for leather or textile so don't skimp
Ian:thumbup1:

I cant get that story at work but im sure its a grim reminder of not being prepared.

I try to ride and dress in a manner to suit the conditions. Yes I know you cant predict whats going to happen but the same can be said for walking down the street.

If youve ever ridden without a helmet you will now the great sense of freedom it brings, or you may feel completely at risk thats because we are all different.

A while ago in Spain before the enforced helmet laws I picked up a lovely senorita and I only had the one helmet so I let her wear it as she rode pillion I thought this only fair as she was putting her life in my hands. As I was sans helmet I rode accordingly, slowed down and took even greater care than usuall. :mchappy:

summer jackets?
 

hi,

i always wear all the protective clothing including the reflective vest.

my question, i have a Frank Thomas summer jacket which i got from bmf p'boro. it is like a thick mosquitonet with some fabric on the elbows, ankels, sholders and has got all armors.

it really keeps you cool.. however, if you fall down will tear easly and cause may be skin-burn.

but if is really hot (>30 degree celcius) it is a good alternative for the thick black jacket.

Valueless posting, IMHO
 

Sorry, but I don't think this posting has any merit on this website. First, its like preaching to the choir. This story - and your post - has more relevance on general interest motorbike sites. And actually, it won't help those that never go to motorcycle sites in the first place - its about a young lady gets on the back of a crotch-rocket with some dude too stupid to think about what they are doing.

But the main reason - we're about traveling outside our countries. Who would even think of leaving the driveway headed for weeks or months without putting on suitable gear that would keep us warm, dry, AND protected?

Geez, so we all posting replies here are using 'all the gear, all the time'. So, the only ones ain't replying here are the ones ain't wearing their gear? or ain't stating the obvious.

BTW - I rode without my gear just yesterday :oops2: - the gear was at the laundry getting the rare washing - 2 months of riding around Patagonia, Ruta 40, Carretera Austral, etc., and the suit was in need of some cleaning. Living on the road, living off the bike, can't necessarily leave the bike parked just because the costume is at the cleaners.

I did wear the helmet though :innocent:

Kevin, why not a scooter? Our RTW will be done on a 650cc Suzuki Burgman and have no qualms or worries about its worthiness to do the trip. The only problem we foresaw was getting parts and tires, but that was taken care of by arranging shipments and pre-arrival orders. We ride a scooter because it is easy for the wife to mount and dismount. We took a ride to Yellowstone from Oregon last summer and did the return trip of 740 miles in 13 hours. Long lunch, breakfast and a few rest stops. It will cruise all day at 70 fully loaded and still get a bit more than 50mpg. for comfort it is all over a regular cycle.

Joe

Have to go with Quastidog on this one. Every new ezine Grant puts out has dozens of photos of long distance riders. I have not seen one (or at least I don't remember seeing one) of any of those riders wearing jeans, T-shirt, or anything less than full protective gear. The only point made here is that you can be killed or injured near home as quickly as you can in Botswana. It only takes one mistake, either on your part of another driver/rider to put down on the asphalt. The long distance riders have enough experience to know that, and to take all the precautions. The "ride around town" set either doesn't have the experience, or doesn't want to damage the image of Mr. / Ms. Cool. It is somewhat pointless to bring this up for examination on a forum dedicated to long distant riding. We all know and rude with this knowledge of protective clothing.

I'm afraid I that I can't agree with Quastdog or Hindu , the more info brought up on this subject the better IMHO .
Not everyone reading this site is a seasoned traveller ,there must be many people who happen upon it by accident and they may have no concept of world motorcycle travel.
Any bit of info or advice they can get will be worthwile to them.

If we ,as world travellers or just long distance travellers, knew everything that needed to be known , then we would all be wearing identical clothes and riding identical bikes .

But we don't and we're not !

What is your problem? Safety concerns ALL bikers!
 

Really, what is your problem?:nono:

I would have thought that this post concerns ALL of us!

Hindu 1936,
I had a Burgman 650 before I got my V-Strom, great scooter and very quick, I planned to ride it home to the UK from Saudi then the local dealer got some V-Stroms.
I think you need to push the safety message whenever and wherever you can because some experienced riders also take chances and you can't calculate for a car knocking you off your bike.
This story might just prompt an experienced rider to give a new rider some needed advice.
Cheers
Ian:thumbup1:

My problem?

I somewhat resent the implication that we're all stupid and need such reminders. This post title was "PLEASE wear the right gear, everyone should read this." Sorry, but most of us don't need to waste our time reading this tabloid fodder to know that we should be wearing our gear.

I think we forget what the purpose of the HU website is, and post too much non-relevant stuff here.

If the author had posted this same message to a dozen or more general purpose motorcycle sites in order to conduct his missionary work, then finally got around to posting it here, well, I might give him some slack. (well, not really - hate it when them evangelicals/mormons/Jehovah's witless are ringing my doorbell, but that's another story).

We're the wrong target audience - just look at the replies ("I always wear mine....even in the desert...blah, blah, blah). And yes, show me some pictures of the real riders on this site wearing t-shirts and shorts in the middle of some nasty piece of country.

Hell, I've got to wear all my gear - can't fit it on the bike any place unless I'm wearing it.

Instead of a piece about some girl getting blown off the back of some crotch-rocket going too fast, a more relevant posting would be about some overland traveler loosing skin in a fall in Morroco. Ain't seen none like that - probably for a good reason!

Quastdog,

If you feel that you're personally above spreading the safety message to inexperienced riders (those with less than 7 years riding experience) who also use this excellent forum then why don't you simply ignore this thread and go elsewhere. This thread was never aimed at "hard bitten" veteran rough road dogs like you with 7 years motorcycling experience anyway...

But what do I know, Iv'e only been riding for 30 years and I'm STILL learning ...:rolleyes2:

[quote=quastdog;171308]My problem?

"I somewhat resent the implication that we're all stupid and need such reminders. This post title was "PLEASE wear the right gear, everyone should read this." Sorry, but most of us don't need to waste our time reading this tabloid fodder to know that we should be wearing our gear."

Mate, there was no "implication" nor demand to suck eggs over this post. As you say the vast majority of the people involved on the Hubb are a bit more "clued" than the average rider,
HOWEVER, not everyone here is experienced by decades of 2-wheelin'. To read a few posts around here it wouldn't be that hard to find someone who for whatver reason discovered the joys of a bike a bit later in life ( there's plenty of young'uns around too!) So it's quite topical to mention it here (IMO).
And no matter how long you've been riding, it's good sometimes to be reminded of the risk , and not become blasé or nonchalant with such things. Even if it makes you think twice just before you swing a leg over with just a helmet to "just shoot down to the shops". Or simply give a few of the guys and girls something to show some non-Hubber's/family/friends of the risks they are taking by not wearing PPE

So Chuck please don't take it as a demand nor an insult to your experience or freedom. Meerly a topical reminder

a wee point; at 843 views and some 3 pages in only a week......that would suggest it is in fact one of the most popular theads on here and a lot of the posts have been in praise of this........

And at any rate it's good to throw a bit of discussion out there. A few guys have made comments about hot weather etc and fair enough. As long as it's a calculated/educated risk (in town / slow traffic rather than the Autobarn going 90mph maybe!) Everyone has a choice what they wear but it's not a problem to be reminded of the risks once and a while.

I did my bike test 6 1/2 years ago. In this time I've averaged 10,000 miles a year and been across Europe 6 times. I've been as far east as Croatia and Bosnia, and down to as far as southern Morocco (mostly on dirt roads).
By your twisted logic that makes me an inexperience rider in your eyes.:rofl:
I feel I've got enough common sense and experience to be able to choose the correct clothing for the occasion - if I feel comfortable wearing jeans then that's what I'll wear.

A more appropriate target for your preaching would be the 16 and 17 year olds riding around on 50's and 125's - the sort who go out in all weathers in trainers, tracksuit and no gloves.

I'm not above spreading the safety message to inexperienced riders - just that, there aren't too many of them here. Like I said, there's other places the message should be posted to first; this is more like the last place it should come to. But again, a more relevant example would be more appropriate to these pages - this example is extreme at the least.

You want to reach inexperienced guys? How about all the reports of crashing on these pages. Noticed anything about them? Seems to me, most are happening to guys in their 20's and early 30's. What's up with that? The exuberance of youth? Undeveloped lack of sense of mortality? Few complaints or reports though, that they lacked the proper safety gear.

Maybe we ought to address that instead of flogging the Riding Gear horse, again!

I give it my best shot - everyday!

Why, What·s the matter with the" human being" ?
 

This is just one of the many posts that show that we, the " human being" is out of course!!!!!
Motorbike riders are becoming the same trash as the rest!
Obviously there is nothing to do against it".
TURDS.
Dan

Does no harm to raise awareness and give people the occasional reality check, even those who have been riding for years.

I believe Greece was mentioned. Being too hot isn't really an excuse you can use in the UK.

I'll own up now that I rode to work in jeans and trainers today. :nono: My excuse? I couldn't be arsed to get changed out of my leather trousers and boots at work. I've been reading this thread so I did feel guilty about it, even before I got on the bike. People need reminding of their own mortality once in while, even if it doesn't really appear that they're heeding the advice.

I don't see why there is an objection to more general motorcycling topics here. The fact that it has provoked mostly intelligent discussion is surely a good thing, which is a lot more than you can say about some forums.

Hi Dan,
If ever you want lessons in proper written English and grammar - Don't drop me a line...
You sound a happy & delightful chap...

Crazyness!
 

Yep it is just plain silly to ride without gear! I started riding at 9 and have nver rode a bike without boots or gloves. They should make it law just like helmets and then we wouldn't have so many people hurt on bikes.

Cheers
Guys

All's forgiven....

You guys!
 

:rofl:

Just when I was about to step in and get all heavy moderator, you guys kiss and make up...:(

Where's the fun in that for me now???
:funmeterno:

Cheers!

:thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

Nigel in NZ

I've a pair which I rarely wear. The kevlar is horribly uncomfortable and itchy in hot weather, especially while walking, while the jeans provide no warmth in cool weather. Also the jeans are cut low, 'hip-hugger' style which is just stupid for protective clothing - they could easily be ripped off you as you slide down the road. Maybe the dictates of fashion have moved on and they're now available high waisted - I dunno.

Wouldn't get another pair.

Kevlar mesh which goes on and off easily is the answer for me - try Cycleport.

Thanks for that. I noticed that the Icon jeans also looked to be the loose fitting, hip hugger style and have to agree, they are ridiculous as a piece of safety clothing and would provide limited protection in the event of a spill. Incidentally, the girl who this this topic was started about, is sponsored by or is an employee of Icon and does talks for them on wearing the correct gear.

I have a high waisted pair and they are quite comfortable. I have even worn them when not on the bike, if the laundry pile has got to Everest proportions. But then again I have been accused of being thick skinned....


Regards

Nigel in NZ

Alpinestars And Church's Walking Shoes
 

I wore my ten-year-old English CHURCH's walking shoes south to Tierra del Fuego plus a riding gaiter (after falling in Guatemala) on my right leg against exhaust burns. Riding north I have worn ALPINESTARS boots. The boots saved my leg from very serous damage when the trucks ran over me in Tierra del Fuego. And have saved my legs from further damage on various falls. I had thought that I was the only one to regularly fall. However I have been meeting biker/travellers over the past weeks in Central America and falling seems a common event. At least I can get out from under my 125! I am now heading from Granada to the Rio Dulce in Guatemala to celebrate my 75th birthday on February 11.
:oops2:home

your not the only one Simon!
 

Simon, if there was a Gold medal for falling off Motorcycles I would be Representing Great Britain mate! Im an expert at it... in fact I can make it look as easy as, well, falling off a bike!:thumbup1:

Martyn

Hindu,
Your post prompted me to take a look at Ted Simons' second (motorcycling that is) book about his world travels.
He covered 123,000 miles on two RTWs over many years, as recently as 2003/4, and he wore jacket and jeans in both cases.
He took a few injuries for sure, but he survived them all and I don't recall friction injuries on his travels - the jacket did a good job on occasions.

I still "like" the way the motorcycle cops in both the States and France ride in shirt sleeves in the summer heat; you will never see that in the UK (probably because the summer heat lasts about 2 days :rolleyes2:).