Will they never learn???

[1967 R50/2]

So I am coming back from Costco this evening where I had just bought $48 of fruit. When I see this dude coming up in my rear view mirror. He is on a Buell. Funny how, thanks mostly to Ron and Lance, I can ID a bike by seeing 3 inches of the bikini fairing or less.....anyway... dude is wearing only a T-Shirt (of course)...and a toy helmet (naturally), but here is the kicker. He is wearing NO EYE PROTECTION.

No goggles, no shades, nothing. How do you ride at 75mph without your eyes tearing like crazy and scratching your corneas beyond repair with road crap???

Anyway, by the next light I stop worrying about his eyes and was checking out his bike. Those Buells really are quite compact. Very nice.

Anyone else ever see this bizarre phenomena? I mean, no shades....that phenomena?

[Tirebiter]

I was just as stooopified by the yahoo on his Harley wanna be with pretty much the same attire. He did have eye protection, but was wearin' freakin flip flops....he musta thought that would help with the 105 temp outside at the time.....

[jdlowery]

A buddy of mine just bought a Buell XB9. It's compact and seems like a fun bike. It actually made him a faster rider. He upgraded from a Bandit 600.

I don't even think about other rider's attire. Wear whatever you like. It's your body. I can only control what I wear. I do admint that on 100 plus days I tool around on my R65 without jacket, riding pants, boots, etc. It's just a choice we all must make on our own.

[VetteRacer]

As tirebiter said...
Vegas is FULL of Harley and jappers alike riding in shorts, t-shirts/tank tops, sandles, yamika helmets (if even that, seeing alot more wearing no helms lately).
The best part is. I AM THE ONE who gets the weird looks for having my joe rocket ballistic nylon gear on (yes even in 118F)... I ride to work alot of times with tennis shoes on, which still makes me alittle uncomfortable, but I have little choice there...
(tirebiter, email sent)

[RoLoo]

Originally posted by 1967 R50/2
...thanks mostly to Ron and Lance...

...your welcome !

...I think you should always wear eye protection...yes ?


...just for the records ; this is NOT me in the picture...

[on2wheels52]

I've worn hard contact lenses since '71 (only need 1 now following cataract surgery on the other) so have always needed some sort of protection if going over 40mph or so. We ride our own race out there.
Jim

[Schneller]

The riders wearing skimpy gear have never been down, so they just don't know what awaits them. Had they been down, then they'd either be dead, or had they survived, have realized the benefits of safety gear and are now wearing it.

I've been down a few times & I also race cars, so I understand what safety gear is for. I'm uncomfortable not riding w/ an armoured jacket, full face helmet, gloves and something better than sneakers. When it's over 90 degrees I choose to take the MCoupe & hit the AC button.


Schneller

[smilygo]

I enjoy girls on the back of a bike wearing skimpy clothes. With those low-rise jeans, I see many cracks. I love it.

[moto45]

Is it smarter to wear full gear, uh yes. However, many times I assume the risk. I always do wear the items I feel are most important; gloves boots and full helment. These are all the time. Yes i sometimes ride with these items and a t-shirt and yes I have crashed before.

[island_dude]

There are lots of folks out there who have crashed and still don't see the point of wearing any gear. Its not the choice I make. Once I went out with short sleaves and shorts and no jacket. I felt very vunerable while riding. I have been down and escaped road rash because I had good gear on. Just the thought of going down without gear makes me feel queasy. I don't care how hot it is out there. I'll wear as much gear as I can manage. Otherwise I'll just skip it. I won't lecture other folks about it -- they can take whatever chances they want. I reserve the judgement not to feel too badly for someone who gets a bad case of rash the second time they go down.

[Tirebiter]

Hehe.....just reminded me of my ex. She had some strange scars on the inside of one of her legs. Upon questioning, she related how she had hopped on the back of an old boyfriends motorcyle for an inagual ride....wearing shorts. He takes off from a standstill, probably goosing it a bit to impress her, she sqeezes her legs tighter to help hold on and yeeeeeeoooooooow....clamps down on a pair of red hot exhaust pipes with her bare leg.

I knew there was a good reason she is my ex.....!!

[Dan Alexander]

A friends dad who rode for over 60 years said " if it's too hot for leathers it's too hot to ride" I always remember that sage advice in his memory

[cadave]

In high school and the beginning of my stint in the Marines I didn't ever wear any eye protection. Your eyes do tear but they are dried by the wind.

Then I T-boned a car on the Marine base. I ended up face down sliding to a stop. First thought while I was sliding - what if I had been knocked out? Would I have a face left?? I bought a full face helmet and have worn one ever since.

[PFFOG]

Originally posted by Dan Alexander
A friends dad who rode for over 60 years said " if it's too hot for leathers it's too hot to ride" I always remember that sage advice in his memory

Kind of my motto as well. If I am on a trip, and it is hot, I get on the road at 6am and ride until it is uncomfortable, then call it a day, by the pool in some AC motel room, and a nice cool beverage.

[dannyleo]

After having 40% of my skin scraped away and getting pronounced 'expectant', I get preettty hot wearing all my gear all the time now. I figure I'm wearing more in gear than some guy's bikes are worth. But it only took once for me to learn my lesson! And that was to ride a BMW! Those Suzukis are just too unstable!

[Flatbutt1]

some people wont' learn nor do they wish to it seems...still it's their choice. but I do shake my head in wonder at the ppassengers of such. Just 2day I saw at least 6 bikes just on my way to do some shopping. Not one of them had on more than the typical uniform. In fact one Valkyrie rider was in a novelty helmet, wifebeater, shorts and sneakers. still its their choice

[Dan Alexander]

Still their choice, yes, but don't you sometimes wonder what the hill goes through their minds. It's bad enough for the guys riding who should know better but when I see the pasenger sitting there all casual in a tank top and shorts I cringe. The guy may be able to get away with a bad case of road rash but how will she look and feel? She's supposed to be under his care on there.

[Dan Alexander]

I bought a Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket and it's great, http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?store=Main&productId=354737&catId=&leafCatId=&ovmkt=8FM037RKKF3IT3CQJ3U452NSO4 most of the jacket is a removable panle and under that is a mesh jacket. Good for as low as 50 up to 100+ The matching pants are too short so I ride in leather overpants and when it's hot I have perforated leather overpants with shorts under .. easy to zip off and relax at appropriate Gatorade stops.

[Dan Alexander]

That's a crappy link ... if you're interested try this one

http://www.newenough.com/joe_rocket_alter_ego_jacket_page.htm

[wswartzwel]

Steve and I had this discussion the other day...
Not sure if the leather/riding gear gives a false sense of security or not... But, for me to climb on the bike without gear... Leaves me feeling very vulnerable... Naked if you will... I like leather best.. and on long rides when the temps are in the 100s I find unzipping the front a few inches causes a chilling breeze down my back. For shorter rides Mesh textiles (I don't use mesh on long rides due to dehydration).... and when the temps are 40 and below My First Gear Voyager Jacket and overpants do the job.

Don't want to tell others what to do when it comes to what they wear... But I do try to influence them to make wise choices whenever I can.