Atgatt

Forum Sponsor
Ah, the endless debate. Although I'm not sure *why* it's such a debate, considering it's a personal decision. Everyone determines their own risk threshold and dresses accordingly based on THEIR comfort level. Why be sanctimonious about it? If a total stranger wants to wear nothing but a helmet and a speedo, who bloody cares?

I ride in a t-shirt, jeans and a beanie sometimes. Other times, I wear my leather jacket and full-face. I'm not making lame safety excuses, instead I just do what I want.
 
ATGATT seriously?

I love being on my bike, so much that I hop on it every chance I get. One of the reasons I love it so much is to break free from that bloody cage and feel the open air. I wouldnt recommend anyone doing a 3 hour ride on some beautiful twisties out in the country without ATG, but wrapping myself up in full body armor just to ride to a friends place for a BBQ is ridicules!

For the people who suit up in their race suits to go grab a carton of milk... Stop racing from light to light to get to the store!!

Take off your suit, put on a pair of comfy jeans, a T and keep it under 6000rpm.
 
Mostly been riding around dusk to avoid the heat. I'm broke so I can't afford some light armored mesh jacket. Last time I rode was with my jean jacket (with jeans, boots, gloves, helmet) instead of my rather warm leathers. Was a lil nervous. I started thinking about how back in the day people didn't wear body armor to ride but then they didn't have to contend with modern cars, heavy traffic and douchebage car drivers on cellphones not looking where they are going.

Worth noting, it seems the faster the bike is the less clothes people wear to ride them. Litre sport bikes with guys wearing nothing but a t-shirt, shorts and sandals.
 
Here in Calgary been getting weird looks lately as everyone rides in a t-shirt, shoes and sometimes shorts while I'm basking in a leather jacket, boots and big leather gloves. I tried riding in a t-shirt and next day got the sniffle hence why I'm wearing ATGATT for now until my sniffle goes away. Miss those 30+ degree celsius heat in Toronto but drivers are a lot crazier in Toronto hence why I can see people wearing ATGATT in Toronto and not here.
 
MacDoc said:
dumbfounded......wonderful....I'd say that's accurate
are you wearing your gear walking a too. ?

careful don't skin your knee - watch those trap doors - careful that kid on the skateboard might knock you over

the way you guys talk about falling off your bike you'd think training wheels would be a good solution.....oh yeah that's a cage isn't it. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

If you can truly equate the damage done falling off a step at 3 kph to that falling off a bike at 120 kph, then I don't think that you belong anywhere near the controls of any vehicle.
I can't think of anything else to say that isn't an insult, so I won't.
 
Wow, interesting thread. Must say though that on days like today for most people ATGATT is thrown out the window. I myself am an ATGATT type of guy. Today I saw at least 10 motorcyclists. Only 2 were geared up. To each their own. For me, when it's this hot I don't ride as having on all the gear would be unbearable. Those dudes who had on all the gear today really looked like they were suffering. Tomorrow will be HOTTER!
 
Paul said:
Riding comes with risk...you have to be able to accept that. The best way (and easiest) to protect yourself from the consequences of riding is motorcycle is to...well..not ride a motorcycle! (Cheapest way too!)

And I guarantee you'd walk around that construction site with alot more care if you were doing it in bare feet! :)
Click to expand...

Well, the thing is I love riding so why would I give it up when I can simply put on some gear? I don't see why making it more risky is the right conclusion to draw here. And walking around a construction site in bare feet is just plain stupid. Hmm, and getting on a motorcycle without gear is.....:D
 
carboncat said:
my worry is not for people like you who dont wear gear.
its for the newbs who read posts like yours and think, ahhh **** im not a pussy i dont need gear.
THAT is not something who truly loves to ride should be preaching. we should be teaching them how to be safe, and stay alive on the road, while still having fun on the bike.
Click to expand...

Yet if you were to take so many of the posts here at face value, a new rider would think that doing multiples of the speed limit while dragging a knee around corners with trees and rock right beside the road is a cool and fun thing to do, that doing mile-long stand-up wheelies in traffic is to be applauded and cheered on, that running from the cops is smart, that weaving and lane-splitting through heavy traffic is somehow good just because you can, and more.

It's all good, just as long as you play safe and wear your gear. Sure.
 
Griffin said:
Except that changing the way you ride only reducing part of the risk.
Click to expand...

Changing the way you ride is a HUGE part of reducing risk. There is a reason why some riders go down over and over again, while others manage to avoid it altogether throughout a lifelong street-riding career.
 
turbodish said:
Yet if you were to take so many of the posts here at face value, a new rider would think that doing multiples of the speed limit while dragging a knee around corners with trees and rock right beside the road is a cool and fun thing to do, that doing mile-long stand-up wheelies in traffic is to be applauded and cheered on, that running from the cops is smart, that weaving and lane-splitting through heavy traffic is somehow good just because you can, and more.

It's all good, just as long as you play safe and wear your gear. Sure.
Click to expand...
Do you have a defined "grey area" between insane and safe? You make it sound like everyone out there that is not on a Piaggio MP3 is a Toecutter from Mad Max.
 
Changing the way you ride is a HUGE part of reducing risk. There is a reason why some riders go down over and over again, while others manage to avoid it altogether throughout a lifelong street-riding career.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

Ratio of no gear to gear today - rough guess 30 to 1. People out enjoying their ride in weather appropriate clothing including me.
I did wear boots as hot pavement can be slippery when putting a foot down at a stop.
Otherwise short sleeve shirt and convertibles with the knees open for cooling.....( even I draw the line at shorts and calf high riding boots ). :confused1:
 
All geared up on a 4hr highway ride across the province - It was still cool enough due to the speed :) Even the hard ass Harley guys gave me waves :) - must have been cos I had my bags on the back ;)
Had stones and large bugs hit me. Glad I had my gear on.

Not sure why others care if someone wears gear or not.
 
Weather appropriate clothing isn't necessarily activity appropriate clothing, but it is totally your choice to wear inappropriate clothing for the activity at hand. I choose to wear perforated leather gear because I'm planning on riding down the highway at 100 kph.
If you choose to wear clothing appropriate for falling off of your step, while going 100 kph, you're free to do that.
I also choose to ride defensively and avoid situations that I know can lead to accidents. That being said there is no guarantee, that either of us won't go down at some point, but I believe that if we were to have the same type of accident, I would be back on my bike enjoying it sooner.
Ride safe, but be aware of your choices.
 
turbodish said:
Yet if you were to take so many of the posts here at face value, a new rider would think that doing multiples of the speed limit while dragging a knee around corners with trees and rock right beside the road is a cool and fun thing to do, that doing mile-long stand-up wheelies in traffic is to be applauded and cheered on, that running from the cops is smart, that weaving and lane-splitting through heavy traffic is somehow good just because you can, and more.

It's all good, just as long as you play safe and wear your gear. Sure.
Click to expand...
you missed what i said about riding safe. all of that is included with the word safe.
would you take home a chick and bang her with no rubber on? the risk is there but the odds of catching something arent that high, right?
just cause you might not knock her up today , doesnt meen it wont happen next time.
same with riding, just cause you didnt crash today, that means you wont crash tomorrow right?
all im saying is its a choise, a personal one. lets help the newbs make an educated one.

a guy on a harley said, "i dont need a helmet."
i said " your probably right"
the ones who need the helmet get the joke. lol
 
Last edited:
MacDoc said:
dumbfounded......wonderful....I'd say that's accurate
are you wearing your gear walking a too. ?

careful don't skin your knee - watch those trap doors - careful that kid on the skateboard might knock you over

the way you guys talk about falling off your bike you'd think training wheels would be a good solution.....oh yeah that's a cage isn't it. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

carboncat said:
how can u compare wearing gear walking, to riding a motorcycle on the highway?
are you for real? did you read my post on my crash?
do you even own a bike?
Click to expand...

He rides an automatic scooter with a 100+ L of storage... wait... He might as well drive a cage... :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
I have a three part plan.

A) Strategic - This is the overall plan of not riding like maniac at multiples of the speed limit and anticipating and neutralizing issues before they appear.

B) Tactical - Plan B if an issue refuses to be neutralized, I preplan escape routes, and what I will do if the situation deteriorates.

C) Automatic - This is planning for a crash by wearing gear appropriate to motorcycling, something that I never wish to use, but have just in case.

p.s. It`s rare that I ever have to resort to plan B anymore, but I have 35 years driving experience.
Forum Sponsor
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom