Full leather for street riding stupid?

my perfed stuff breathes great while i ride even in the heat, its just when im stopped it gets hot in there. personally ive ended rides early and stayed home if i felt it was too hot, the few days we've had where it damn near kissed 40, i just avoided the bike, id rather not ride then go and squid it up
 
I just bought my first bike and want to spare no expense when it comes to good gear. I'm considering just riding in full leathers on the street, is that a stupid idea?

RIding is a pure hobby thing, not a transportation thing for me.

Thoughts?

Unless pottering around town in 50kph traffic I was always in full leather. If you're concerned about getting too hot, there's no reason you can't unzip your jacket when stuck in traffic for a few minutes. Otherwise, with decent perfed leathers, you won't get too hot.
 
Either you're clueless or you can't fit in a one piece. It's not about being a gear nazi. It's called peace of mind for some people. If it's overkill, go take some lessons on how to actually ride your bike.


My, my, Mister angry bunny. Don't take your manly insecurities out on me, please.
:alien: :snorting:

Have a happy Monday, and be a nice pussy cat! :)
 
My, my, Mister angry bunny. Don't take your manly insecurities out on me, please.
:alien: :snorting:

Have a happy Monday, and be a nice pussy cat! :)


I miss the old days of troll free internet. I'm not angry nor insecure. You're clearly out of your league if your advice is save the one piece for the track. What is it you ride? I'd love to hear your tales of experience that say leathers are too much for the street.

colbert-3d-popcorn.gif
 
I miss the old days of troll free internet. I'm not angry nor insecure. You're clearly out of your league if your advice is save the one piece for the track. What is it you ride? I'd love to hear your tales of experience that say leathers are too much for the street.


Let's just be friends!:toothy6: Aww...now, doesn't that feel nice inside?
 
I miss the old days of troll free internet.

When were these days? A myth. I remember back to the days when there were no forums and motorcyclists discussed things in newsgroups like rec.motorcycles, and even then there were flame wars, and trolls. They were even dealt with in the same way; the ban hammer ;)
 
I miss the old days of troll free internet. I'm not angry nor insecure. You're clearly out of your league if your advice is save the one piece for the track. What is it you ride? I'd love to hear your tales of experience that say leathers are too much for the street.

I don't wear leathers on the streets, but i also know the risks.

Chances of me crashing on the track are far greater than the street. Adding * a one piece or two piece suit* is just a band-aid solution, if you were really concerned about your well being you would sell the bike and drive a Volvo. Leathers won't do anything if you hit something solid, or if something solid hits you.
 
I don't wear leathers on the streets, but i also know the risks.

Chances of me crashing on the track are far greater than the street. Adding * a one piece or two piece suit* is just a band-aid solution, if you were really concerned about your well being you would sell the bike and drive a Volvo. Leathers won't do anything if you hit something solid, or if something solid hits you.

I fully agree with you about hitting things. My point was simply that wearing leathers doesn't constitue overkill. A slide is still a slide and a one piece will almost certainly help you more every time than not. I don't wear full leathers on the street either.
 
I fully agree with you about hitting things. My point was simply that wearing leathers doesn't constitue overkill. A slide is still a slide and a one piece will almost certainly help you more every time than not. I don't wear full leathers on the street either.

It's funny how a piece of cow can change riders mindsets. It used to be full suits on for the hooligan rides, and jeans for cruising.

Guess which type of riding is far safer, the slow and easy ride in the jeans.
 
So who rode in leather today?

29C humidex 36C, feeling more like Hong Kong than Toronto! My mesh was toasty but bearable.
 
So who rode in leather today?

29C humidex 36C, feeling more like Hong Kong than Toronto! My mesh was toasty but bearable.

Perforated 2-piece, I was cooking at stops though
 
So who rode in leather today?

29C humidex 36C, feeling more like Hong Kong than Toronto! My mesh was toasty but bearable.

Rode squid first time time going to work. Didn't feel like getting dehydrated on the DVP today. Kinda keeping me on point too that it doesn't give me a false sense of security like my leathers would.
 
Road in my leather jacket today. Not bad
 
I did 300kms in Central Frontenac around Mazinaw Lake and the 506, 509 today in my perforated leather two piece and it was glorious. Had a climacool compression top on and a wicking T shirt over that too. Bit warm at stops but I didn't stop long. Not many bugs either, it was brill.
 
textile jacket today with jeans (unfortunately i cant wear my bottom half of the suit since my class room is on the 5th floor...navigating through that building is hard enough in the full-length sidi boots lol)

i think even tonight i will be wearing my 2 piece textile suit, was considering leather, but im heading to bloor street in about 40 mins and stop and go in leathers 35C+ = death
 
So who rode in leather today?

29C humidex 36C, feeling more like Hong Kong than Toronto! My mesh was toasty but bearable.

I did, was stuck in traffic this morning and only now got home after the gym. Putting leathers on post work out suck but not as much as trying to wiggle your way out of them. Got to remember to wear underarmour tomorrow
 
There's a MASSIVE difference between lightweight gear (such as a quality mesh/textile jacket) compared to leathers. The former still provides great protection if its quality gear and not some cheap $50 Teknic crap. Being in a sauna and dehydrated while riding a motorcycle in 100% humidity and 35C sunshine is a recipe for disaster. Just sayin'.

When it's hot out, you most definitely WILL escape much of the heat in lighter gear. I didn't think it was possible not to know this?

Sure about that? Experienced riders won't ride in the deserts of the US midwest in mesh. The hot wind over your body dehydrates you in minutes with very severe repercussions. There's also a reason Beduin don't wear wife beaters and shorts.

And too, those that ride in t-shirts and shorts in hot weather think they're doing themselves a favour. They're actually getting fried by the sun and are probably hotter than if they were covered. Not that I'll ever convince them of that but I do enjoy chuckling at their beet red shoulders and necks while I ride comfortably by (albeit a little sweaty) in full leathers.

It's funny how a piece of cow can change riders mindsets. It used to be full suits on for the hooligan rides, and jeans for cruising.

Guess which type of riding is far safer, the slow and easy ride in the jeans.

It has to be one or the other? How about slow and easy in full leathers? My bet would be that is safest.
 
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Sure about that? Experienced riders won't ride in the deserts of the US midwest in mesh. The hot wind over your body dehydrates you in minutes with very severe repercussions. There's also a reason Beduin don't wear wife beaters and shorts.

And too, those that ride in t-shirts and shorts in hot weather think they're doing themselves a favour. They're actually getting fried by the sun and are probably hotter than if they were covered. Not that I'll ever convince them of that but I do enjoy chuckling at their beet red shoulders and necks while I ride comfortably by (albeit a little sweaty) in full leathers.

Constant movement and dry desert air might have something to do with that. It's a bit different when you're largely static, in downtown rush hour traffic, and dealing with 80%+ humidity. Clothing has to match conditions and, where riding is concerned, it's also a balancing act with safety. If you pass out in traffic, from heat exhaustion, you'll be just as dead when that following car runs you over.

Everyone has to decide for themselves. For years I swore that I'd never wear mesh. Now it's my normal commuting wear because sitting on top of an unmoving 100C bike, in 30C weather, could well result in me passing out. If you've ever suffered from heat exhaustion then you know that the impairment you suffer is very similar to that from alcohol. Not bright to ride that way, if you can do something about it.
 
In seriously hot weather I soak a buff (like a helmet liner thing) in water at every stop and put it round my neck. Cools the blood flowing through the carotid a little and generally helps with the discomfort of wearing gear. I also have some super duper space-age cooling towel thing that you soak too but I haven't tried that on my bike...I did try it in 40+ degrees on the side of a costa rican volcano though and it worked a treat.

I've never ridden squid on my bike and not really felt the need to. Sure sweat is a little uncomfortable at times but that's it, just a little uncomfortable and that's only at stops or in traffic jams.
 
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