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Full leather for street riding stupid?

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Griffin said:
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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Selling the bike and taking transit would be the safest.

Perhaps *safer* riding slow and easy in full leathers.....but regardless of how well you are dressed lady luck plays a key part.
 
jc100 said:
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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Come hang out on the DVP on a daily basis in the summer, i don't see any riders in this heat wearing a one or two piece suit, just some guys posting about it on this forum, never seen only heard.

It's actually far more dangerous wrapping yourself in an extra skin, Dehydration not so good when riding.
 
Jayv said:
Come hang out on the DVP on a daily basis in the summer, i don't see any riders in this heat wearing a one or two piece suit, just some guys posting about it on this forum, never seen only heard.

It's actually far more dangerous wrapping yourself in an extra skin, Dehydration not so good when riding.
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Enter the Camelbak, or reasonable facsimile.
 
Jayv said:
Come hang out on the DVP on a daily basis in the summer, i don't see any riders in this heat wearing a one or two piece suit, just some guys posting about it on this forum, never seen only heard.

It's actually far more dangerous wrapping yourself in an extra skin, Dehydration not so good when riding.
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I would agree with this post. Due to the early very humid temps outside most people I see are not wearing full leathers. I've seen a lot of t-shirts and jeans. The gear guys are wearing their textile jacket and jeans, hardly see leather pants.


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perforated.... just sayin
 
Hey,

It's not stupid at all if you are into it, but crashes on the street result in impact injuries from hitting stuff like cars and poles, the type of stuff that breaks bones.

IMO moto cross gear is best suited for street riding and it's hazards because it distributes impact much better than road racing leathers.


Any armored jacket, jeans, good gloves and shoes that cover your ankles are adequate for the street.

At the very least gloves, denim jacket and jeans. Anything less than that and you are just plain stupid.

Street wear should have a different type of protection IMO, Impact protection.

Leather was pretty hot today, got to get a mesh soooon!

Ooops this has been mentioned, I'll leave it here anyway.
 
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Princess's Man said:
Most of GTAMers are gear-nazis, so beware their advice! :evil1:

It's your choice, but full race leathers on the street is overkill, IMO. I would save your 1-piece for the track.
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I would feel safer riding on track in shorts than on the street. I Wear full gear all the time. Including back protector. Only takes one idiot to cause you major skin loss. Or rear end you and break your back.
 
gsxr guy said:
I would feel safer riding on track in shorts than on the street. I Wear full gear all the time. Including back protector. Only takes one idiot to cause you major skin loss. Or rear end you and break your back.
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This from a gsxr guy? I am humbled and my prejudices have been challenged. ;)

For the record, 10 minute commute, textile. Everything else, 1 piece.
 
redridernl said:
This from a gsxr guy? I am humbled and my prejudices have been challenged. ;)

For the record, 10 minute commute, textile. Everything else, 1 piece.
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Not all of us ride in a wife beater just because we ride a gsxr. I'm with you on the short vs long ride though. If it's quick I'll just throw on a jacket. If I'm going any distance it's gear.
 
Bike: DR650 SM
Purpose #1: 80% of my riding will be in backroads going 60-80. Highway only if necessary, DR's not built for it. 10% riding around town.
Purpose #2: Off-road. My bike came with separate wheels with knobbies - i have yet to try, but i really want to ride off-road. Places such as Ganny.

Gear:
New Icon high leather boots (higher than ankle boots but lower than full Sidi boots)
Joe Rocket Full leather gloves - 4 years old, fingers starting to rip through.
New Icon Leather/Textile jacket
Frank Thomas Cordura pants (with Kevlar & padding on knees and thighs). Waterproof, but no ventilation.

Question:

For long rides i plan on wearing the Frank Thomas Cordura pants, do you think these will save my skin in a crash? Or should i spring for leathers? Some people mentioned that leathers are best for long slides, how would the compare to my pants? I'm considering a nice pair of Dianese leathers for sale by one of the members. I'd rather not spend $300 if the Frank Thomas pants are good, but i also don't want to curse that cash while changing my bandages.

For short rides i would like to buy Kevlar jeans. I checked out dragginjeans.com, the prices are quite expensive. Are there other brands that make quality jeans available at local stores? Anyone have a spare pair size 32 they want to sell?

Some of you mention Under Armour, can you elaborate? What are the advantages? I was riding today in a sweater and textile/leather jacket and found that i would get very hot in slow speeds/stopped, but then get cold with some speed. Would Under Armour help me out with this?

Lastly, why do jackets not cover the neck? I was out last night in Vaughan and it was a bit rainy and chilly, and my neck was freezing. I ended up coming home and getting a scarf! How do you solve this issue - if its an issue for you.
 
If you're going into the woods, get a pair of MX boots. The first time the bike falls on you, you'll be glad you're wearing them.
 
Some great thoughts here. This is why I am adding Icon Stryker Armour to my gear. I wear the knee guards on every ride now under my jeans. And once I get my kevlar jeans and Olympia Airglide pants I will continue to wear the knee guards under these armoured pants as well. I have the Icon Elbow Stryker guards on order and I will be picking up the armoured vest as well. The impact protection is there and it will be a backup just in case something were to go awry with my gear and a rip developed or something.

I get bugged a bit by some co-workers who choose to ride with nothing more than a helmet. Their choice. Wait until they see me with the elbow pads and chest protector!

krrakt said:
Hey,

It's not stupid at all if you are into it, but crashes on the street result in impact injuries from hitting stuff like cars and poles, the type of stuff that breaks bones.

IMO moto cross gear is best suited for street riding and it's hazards because it distributes impact much better than road racing leathers.


Any armored jacket, jeans, good gloves and shoes that cover your ankles are adequate for the street.

At the very least gloves, denim jacket and jeans. Anything less than that and you are just plain stupid.

Street wear should have a different type of protection IMO, Impact protection.

Leather was pretty hot today, got to get a mesh soooon!

Ooops this has been mentioned, I'll leave it here anyway.
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Street gear generally has no chest armor, it seems you need to look at MX stuff for chest protection, I don't like the storm trooper look but would like to find a jacket with hidden chest protection.
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Most of the newer upper-range Alpinestars jackets come with foam chest inserts that can be swapped out for proper CE-rated pads.
 
krrakt said:
Hey,

It's not stupid at all if you are into it, but crashes on the street result in impact injuries from hitting stuff like cars and poles, the type of stuff that breaks bones.

IMO moto cross gear is best suited for street riding and it's hazards because it distributes impact much better than road racing leathers.


Any armored jacket, jeans, good gloves and shoes that cover your ankles are adequate for the street.

At the very least gloves, denim jacket and jeans. Anything less than that and you are just plain stupid.

Street wear should have a different type of protection IMO, Impact protection.

Leather was pretty hot today, got to get a mesh soooon!

Ooops this has been mentioned, I'll leave it here anyway.
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My laguna seca is preforated and has armor in it cant beat that
 
yammyr6 said:
My laguna seca is preforated and has armor in it cant beat that
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Does it have chest armor?

I have broken my entire ribcage twice, and is what I want to try and avoid in the future.

I would hope a Dianese 1 piece leather suit costing 1500 bucks is perforated and has armor!
 
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Jayv said:
Come hang out on the DVP on a daily basis in the summer, i don't see any riders in this heat wearing a one or two piece suit, just some guys posting about it on this forum, never seen only heard.

It's actually far more dangerous wrapping yourself in an extra skin, Dehydration not so good when riding.
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This is a dumb post.

So youre saying wearing leather in the summer is more dangerous than in a t shirt because of dehydration??? LOL

I dunno about you but how out of shape are you if youre getting dehydrated wearing leather......
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