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Discussion My riding gear and how it saved my skin.

Discussion in 'Riding Gear - Accessories - Workshop Tools' started by Murdo, Dec 2, 2020.

  1. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    During my accident last October I was wearing a HJC CL-17 full face helmet, Aldi riding boots and my Bellstaff jacket and pants which I had bought in 1976. These I considered to be middle line quality pieces bought at reasonable prices.
    During the off my helmet hit the ground hard enough for the gravel of the roadside to pierce the outer layer of fiberglass. It also sustained some scratches deep enough to wear through the painted layer. The foam inside has been compacted, and I only recieved a small skull fracture near my ear.
    Accident 066.jpg
    The waxed cotton jacket had worn through on my right elbow, and that was the only skin that I lost (about the size of a finger nail) and can see my finger through the hole.
    goodbye CF650TK 009.jpg
    There are a few more other abrasion pieces but no more holes.
    My left shoulder.
    goodbye CF650TK 013.jpg
    My backside.
    goodbye CF650TK 011.jpg
    And this is what I have now after the Ambo's cut them off.
    goodbye CF650TK 015.jpg
    And even my shirt.
    goodbye CF650TK 003.jpg
    These clothes did not save me from broken bones, but did save from losing large amounts of skin. One of the young blokes in the ward with me in Newcastle hospital had come off a dirt bike at speed wearing a T shirt and 3/4 of his back was just minced meat. Near made me sick to see him in so much pain.
    I do wear a leather jacket when weather is fine, but this day was drizzling rain so hence the waxed cottons.
    What protective clothes do you wear when riding and do you ever think about what might happen to you if it is your turn?
     
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  2. 2valve

    2valve Well-Known Member

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    Ouch :oops:. Wow , you did say you made a mess of the helmet and your gear show's it.
    I was lead to believe that Bellstaff jacket's where pretty tough back in the day's , and what the pictures show's they are. I think the Bellstaff jacket did very well considering how much damage was done to the helmet , as in sliding down the road as such.

    So you purchased a Bellstaff jacket in 1976 and it still fitted you in 2020 :bowdown:. Steve , that's 44 year's , you must have great genes or you don't eat much takeaway food :lolsign:.

    As for what i usually wear , is leather jean's that attaches to the leather jacket. The jacket is around 36 year's old and the leather pant's are over 20 year's old.
    Have a Dri-rider jacket also which will be used as it's a lot better fit and i don't look like the Michelin man like the leather jacket is on me. I also wear leather bike boot's , which again are so old , but they still fit very well.

    I try not to think about coming off the bike , but i've been so close to it many times though , especially on my old BM , over thirty odd year's on the road , so a lot of k's have been done.
    I'm aware some might not agree with this statement , everyone to there own , but i think everyone out there especially car driver's are out there to kill me , simple as that , so i ride as they are trying too !:minigun:.
     
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  3. Zippy

    Zippy Active Member

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    I'm glad your gear did its job Murdo.

    When I was getting into riding, a wise man told me: "Dress for the slide, not for the ride".

    When I came off a few years later without a scratch (other than a broken collarbone from the impact), I was glad I had my full gear on!
     
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  4. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    I have been down twice, dropped my cbr600 on gravel many years ago, I had helmet jacket and gloves , I wearing corporate attire underneath and my injuries were all around My legs and bum because I didn’t have riding pants on .

    The second was a stationary drop on polished concrete, I was backing out of a park and the bike slipped, I tried to grab it and hold it, my hammy tore and the laid the bike down on top of me, that was the longest and most painful ride home with a torn hammy. Pride was. definitely dented with that drop.

    I will admit that I do the odd run with just my helmet , all other rides are jeans, armoured riding jacket, gloves and helmet, I used to wear joggers, but now I rode with leather rm Williams or my leather Nike basketball boots , while the are not bike specific, they are better than runners.

    The instructor who I did both my licences through does live nearby, she has come up to me at our local shopping centre car park shaking her head at me when she has caught me without my gear, conversely she has also seen me in full gear and still comes over and gives me praise for suiting up.

    After hearing about Steve’s accident , I think I will think twice before riding without my gear, after it cost me heaps so I might as well wear it.
     
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  5. jmw76

    jmw76 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I must admit, I shake my head in disgust when I come across learner riders on the road wearing shorts, tee shirt and sneakers. I suppose they were wearing a high vis vest.
    Weren't these guys paying attention when during their learner training.
    I guess they might learn the hard way.

    How do we convince these guys to do the sensible thing?

    Maybe the laws need to be stricter with respect to minimum apparel for motorcyclists.
    I know it adds to the cost of riding but it just may save your skin, literally.

    Peter.
     
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  6. XCite Bikes

    XCite Bikes Parts and Accessories Staff Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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    Riding gear is so important, hard to watch people riding in short sleeves and shorts.
    Helmet_01.jpg Helmet_02.jpg
     
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  7. James Mclaren

    James Mclaren Active Member Contributing Member

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    Riding jeans always at a minimum for me, helmet and gloves go without saying.

    Astar riding sneakers which I wear just as much off the bike as on

    sometimes I also admit I skimp on the jacket if it’s hot

    But riding gear has come a long way, you don’t need two outfits so much anymore , a lot of the casual gear is pretty comfy just about the place.

    then there is “spirited “ riding, full leather no questions
     
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  8. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    I see so many commuting squids in their shorts and tshirts around town here
    I always wear the full gear even if its a zillion degrees but I guess im lucky being a pure social rider , if its too hot , too cold or raining I can stay home

    One thing I hate about riding is having to put all the gear on , helmet and gloves off /on/off etc ... but I like my skin

    Nice to see the mid range HJC helmet doing its job as I have one also
    Interesting the inside padding "collapsed" on the side that took the hit ... I havnt read up on it but I wonder if they are designed to do that to help take the impact in a crash

    Many years ago I rode alot in the Philippines and rules and common sense is lacking in most aspects of life there .... but wearing a cap, sunnys, sandals and a shirt was usually a step up from the locals attire whilst riding
    Over the last few years it seems its become law to wear a helmet in the big cities .... but they are mostly cheap Chinese rubbish

    Filo biking.jpg
     
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  9. jmw76

    jmw76 Well-Known Member

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    As a minimum when riding, I wear decent riding boots, leather jacket with ce2 elbow, shoulder and back armour + double layer kevlar jeans. For decent rides and track days I add full leather pants (zip fully to my jacket) with ce2 armour + back protector. My jacket and pants are multicoloured (black & white) and incorporate 3M reflective piping for improved visibility. My helmet is a full face fibreglass unit which I am about to replace with a carbon/kevlar composite version ( currently looking for recommendations).
     
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  10. Suzukititan

    Suzukititan Active Member

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    First, glad you have now recovered. Good to know that your gear protected you from even more serious injury.
    Fortunately, only one "off" on the road (GS1000G) in more than 50 years and some 400,000 km of riding, which thankfully did not involve hitting anything solid other than the bitumen. Just a cracked kneecap and bruising. Minor scrapes to the leather jacket I was wearing. These days ABS would have probably prevented it. Plenty of step offs on trail bikes off road, but no real harm done.
    In early days, helmets were not compulsory, and as a young teacher, I wore shorts, a short sleeved shirt complete with tie, and shoes with long socks- classic Queensland teacher of the 70's ha ha. In winter, an old WW11 American service jacket to keep out the cold. Graduated to a Bell open face helmet, then a series of good quality full face helmets about every 10 years, Never actually tested one in anger. Somewhere in the 80s I started taking a bit more notice of safety, and warmth, as I was doing longer colder and more night rides. Had a set of lined Custom 2 piece leathers made by Jack White which unfortunately no longer go anywhere near fitting. These days, being retired, most of my rides are midweek leisure stuff. I now always wear Draggin Jeans, a Dainese leather jacket with armour, and short boots plus my Arai RX-Q and leather gloves. Hot when stopped, but okay when moving.
    Accidents on my mountain bikes in recent years have proved what I tell my young grandson- little boys heal quickly, Grandpas don't.
    Yesterday, while out on a ride on a public road at the speed limit, 2 teenagers in minimal gear wheelied past me on their unregistered enduro bikes. I admired their skills, but shook my head at their foolhardiness. That's youth, and I don't think we will ever change that. Most of us would happily go back to that age, especially with today's bikes.
    Accept the risks, enjoy the ride, and as 2valve said, treat drivers as if they are out to kill you.
     
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  11. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well-Known Member

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    I'll admit that I'm not great with gear. I high-sided an R1 a few years ago wearing a polo shirt, jeans, helmet and a backpack with a Bible in it - a decent, thick Bible. Scraped elbows, knuckles, shoulders, hip and sides (the Bible saved my back, it seems), and strained my back and neck. Learnt my lesson: rode that bike at 3km/h through corners after I repaired it, again. As for gear, I'm a bad boy. My helmet is not great (I don't use my good one in case I have an accident and damage it - how's that for logic?), I wear a decent jacket (most times), though the shoulder inserts are breaking apart, I bought gloves this week for sun protection (I don't like gloves, I don't feel safe in them, I want my hands uninhabited), and leather work boots. Omit the bit about shorts. If I'm leisure riding, I have one-piece leather suit, but most of my riding is transport/commute, and I don't want to spend more time dressing/undressing than riding. Even 2 recent crashes on mountain bike have only gotten me to the point of thinking about a decent helmet. Clearly, I don't learn my lesson... If it were law, I would wear it, but I am against over-legisalation, too. I've seen a few people pick up or drop off bikes in thongs lately! Yes, the traffic, and wildlife, are out to kill bikers, the bitumen is a cheese grater, and gear works, so I just need to make myself do it. Murdo didn't plan to crash, but he planned in case of a crash.

    On helmets, I was told that the cheap ones are plastic and bounce, whereas the more expensive ones are composites and fracture to disappate energy - does that mean they only protect you for the first bounce? What happens if you tumble? I guess the race guys put them to the test on the track and in the field, literally!
     
  12. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    I know u dont drink but have u been on the crack lately ?

    I read some very dumb things from people sometimes but these take the cake

    :commando:
     
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  13. flea

    flea Well-Known Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS ,jeans, leather or heavy textile jacket, helmet ,might skimp a bit but growing up in the no helmet times is my excuse , but learnt the hard way the value of a good set of boots (how many times has putting a foot down has saved your bacon) .. its yrs old and dont know how to find it but was a series of tests done at a uni in aust testing out bike clothing for durability and heat retention .. tested out jean , textile and leather .. was amazed at how quick the textile material wore through was almost as quick as the jean material .. hopefully has improved since then .. also its not just the kids .. how many older harley riders do you see riding in long sleeve tee shirts and a leather vest (though most have heavy boots on as part of their uniform)
     
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  14. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Always plan not to crash, but be ready because you never know what the other dickheads are going to do.
    That is what helmets are supposed to do. The foam lining compresses slowing the rate of deceleration of your brain to protect from sudden impact.
     
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  15. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    My motto has always been "dress for the slide and not for the ride". I think we're all guilty of occasionally doing something stupid on a motorcycle. Having the right gear on will always help when things go tits up. I've fallen off more times than I care to mention. Last big one I had was on a fire trail near Licola. Drop kick in a 4WD came out of a side track and stopped in the middle of the road in front of me. Evasive action meant a trip into the shrubbery at a moderate clip. Unfortunately, the shrubbery was on a downhill section, so in an effort to save the bike I departed from it, but face planted a granite bolder. It hurt, but I still have all my teeth thanks to my full face motocross helmet. I wear all the MX Armour no matter how hot it is.

    My wife thinks bike insurance should have a clause saying "no gear, no pay" to discourage nupties from thongs and tanktop riding.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 4, 2020
  16. Oigy

    Oigy Owner of many bikes, keeper of few :(

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    I bought this Bellstaff Jacket back in 1980 and still wear it on occasion today, still in as good shape as when I bought it :) I used to wear it all the time when I worked shift work and road to work so its had A LOT of use. Fortunately, I have not had to test ist abrasion resistance to date :) As an aside,
    the guy with me in this photo, part of a group of "Old Fellows" I ride regularly with, is 83, so doing ok :)

    IMG_20201202_082624.jpg
     
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  17. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Kabuto Helmet. Most comfortable and quiet helmet I've had and honestly better value for money IMHO than Shoei or Arai that are over double the price. But each to their own. That said, in Japan, Kabuto is a bigger name brand than either of the other 2 and the other 2 brands use Kabuto's research data when designing their helmets..

    Jacket is a DriRider EXO 3. Highly recommend this jacket. Truly is an all weather jacket - that said I don't ride in temps lower than 10 degrees - at least not deliberately. But the jacket with the inserts keeps me warm in winter, dry in the rain and with the inserts removed - is very cool in summer. Comes with all the body armour and back protection and I like the fact that all the possible impact areas are re-informed with leather as well as the armour.

    Or my other jacket which is a full leather IXON jacket with vented areas and full padding and body armour on the inside.

    Jeans are proper Kevlar impregnated denim riding jeans with armour inserts.
    Proper riding boots.

    Five Brand gloves - highly recommend these as well. no break-in period and armour in the right places - super comfortable.

    Wear this gear all the time. Like others on the forum who live in Tamworth, I regularly see other riders wearing thongs shorts and a t-shirt and think - "you're gonna know it when you fall off".

    No matter the weather, I wear the gear.

    I had several accidents in Sydney (3) in my younger days back in the 80's. None were my fault - but I ended up down the road and my gear saved me each time.
     
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  18. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well-Known Member

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    I work in the right neighbourhood for it, but no, I'm not on crack, either. Not promoting my behaviour, just demonstrating some of the (poor) reasoning that leads to poor decisions. I'm clearly aware of the backwards logic, but now that I'm not as broke I might be able to make some changes. I have a good helmet for track use, but my daily user is not as good, I can't afford a new helmet every month because I dropped it again! Can you get like a phone protector for your helmet? A silicone skin to stop it chipping or cracking from minor bumps and being dropped? @maelstrom , you're into the polymers, I think this could be worthwhile. I'll order 2, please!

    I must have bought the wrong one, or got the wrong head. At higher speeds the helmet pushes on to my nose (I do have a big nose) and I can kiss the front inner panel. But I did want a snug helmet. Maybe they could do like Athletes Foot and go a scan technology for better fitting? That's 2 winning ideas in one post! Still got ground to make up for after my "don't want damage my protection gear in crash" statement...
     
  19. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    @ShaneP

    I know that different manufacturers make different shaped helmets. As in head shape.

    I have a round shaped head. So in the past I always bought Arai helmets. But now they are just unaffordable. Kabuto fits me just as well as Arai. My previous helmet to the Kabuto was a Shark S600 or 700, it was the Carl Fogerty helmet. I liked it, but the padding when new was seriously tight, then once broke in, it was too loose and very noisy. So bought the Kabuto and have had it for many months not and the fit is the same as it was on day 1.

    Shoei tend to make oval shaped helmets - as do I think HJC, I can't stand HJC helmets. puts to much pressure on the sides of my head no matter what the size. Same for Shoei helmets - but I don't think the oval shape is as pronounced. Whilst I don't find the Shoei uncomfortable, its not as good a fit as the Arai or Kabuto.
     
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