Motorcycle Protective Gear

[Badot]

I'm not sure who here rides a motorcycle, but I was wondering -- what's your opinion on actual protective/armored pants vs. jeans, motorcycle specific gloves vs. work gloves (which I've been using), motorcycle boots vs normal boots, etc.

I'll probably end up getting a pair of pants at least just for riding because I'm really tall and skinny... I'd want something tighter fitting than what I'd normally wear for aerodynamics since my bike only makes about 19hp new. But as far as gloves and boots go, should I spend the money?

I've already ordered a protective jacket, and I got the only reasonably priced one with straps on the side to tighten it around the waist because I'm so skinny... I'm prepared to do some additional sewing though.

As a side note, I'd really love to boost the top speed by about 5-10 mph to feel comfortable on those 65 mph roads between here and western PA... if anyone has much experience with bikes I'd like to ask a few questions. Googling gives rather mixed results... i.e. the same brand and size of non o-ring chains lasting anywhere between 4,000 and 40,000 miles, and how much less resistance they actually have over a good o-ring chain.

 

[HellSpawn]

My main advice is, NEVER wear shorts. Always keep your limbs covered up as they are usually what get injured in an accident. (Arms/legs). A good pair of jeans my helmet, and a full protective jacket has always been my bare minimum. Gloves are obviously a good choice aswell, but I tend to not wear them because of how hot and sweaty my hands tend to get.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Don't skimp on safety equipment. Ask any experienced rider (not some noob crotch rocket jockey who was born knowing it all). Sooner or later, you will lay 'er down. Bad time to get a case of hindsight.

 

[sexyvicta]

jeans don't do anything. I've crashed at like 25kmph(on the road) and they ripped up. Wouldn't do anything at all at higher speed. After that i bought some armored pants which fit over my other pants. Good for comuting aswel as they are waterproof. Ride to work in the rain but don't have to sit around all day with a wet bum.

get armored gloves. Your hands wont last long slidding down the road and gloves are cheap.

edit: i would just go for a normal cheap chain for a small bike. O-ring chains are quite expensive and i was told that they do rob you of a little power compared to a normal chain. not a problem on a big bike but with only 19hp you don't want to waste any power haha. Altho i did fit one to my nsr125. Didn't feel any different to the old standard chain

 

[Badot]

Alright, so I'll definitely be getting a pair of armored pants when I can. Gonna be fun getting them to fit me right

A few months ago I saw someone go down on a new temp tagged harley that probably cost $20k+ because he locked up the front brake when he got cut off, probably at around 35mph. His jeans had a huge new air flap in them but his leg seemed okay, just a few scratches on his knee. Funny thing was, my bike is beat up enough that the medics and firemen were asking if my bike was the one that went down

Any verdict on purpose made boots vs general purpose work boots though?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

The only only problem I had riding my steel-toe work boots was the thickness of the toe. It make it a little more difficult to get my toe in there to upshift. But the boots themselves are plenty safe.

 

[sexyvicta]

proper bike boots are alot nicer to ride in tho and some do have the reinforcement in them kind of like ski boots so you dont brake your ankle...also waterproofing is nice.

I got some puma ones are the are awesome. Could wear them all day. More comfortable than any shoes i own haha

 

[sexyvicta]

probably at around 35mph. His jeans had a huge new air flap in them but his leg seemed okay,

yeh all depends on how you fall and what you hit before you stop. I knew a guy who hit a bus at fairly low speed, wearing all the gear money can buy. You can buy as much safety gear as you want and still loose a leg or die its just about minimising the risk. Obviously if you wanted to eliminate the risks involved in motorcycling you'd drive a car

 

[landuse]

Sooner or later, you will lay 'er down. Bad time to get a case of hindsight.

X2

I was turning a corner at maybe 4mph in wet conditions and my back wheel slid out from under me and the bike went down. I scratched my elbow up pretty good, even though I had a thick jacket on. The jacket sleeve just got pushed up my arm to lay my elbow bare.

So no matter how careful and slow you may be riding, you will put your bike down at some stage