Commuting to work with a bike

Draeger said:
Did you read Scorts thread on his "off" on his R1?. :confused:
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Yes I did, it was one of the things that ticked me off. Everybody was lovey-dovey about him being ok because of his leathers. Not ONE person commented on his pilot error or the fact that his back tyre was bald.

I exaggerate re: my attire. Most of the time I'm in a traditional biker's jacket and jeans with proper boots. Never go out without the boots. But on hot days I just ride with a jumper under my cut-off.

I had an accident back in 1993. I was riding the KR-1 when a woman pulled out on me. Bike went one way, I went the other. Snapped my femur on a kerb. I was wearing jeans and a green nylon MA1 jacket. Bit of gravel rash on the knees but the thin nylon jacket was unmarked.

Well, I say unmarked. There was a bit of red paint from her car on one sleeve.
 
Nah mate, it was in Staveley, near Chesterfield. What colour was your bike?

Mine was Red/White/Black, with gold pinstriping.
 
ElvisFan said:
Nah mate, it was in Staveley, near Chesterfield. What colour was your bike?

Mine was Red/White/Black, with gold pinstriping.
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Kawasaki Green white and yellow with a hint of blue on the black.. fugly by today's standards.. I suppose thinking back, there wasn't much race rep around back in those days.. It was this or the RGV250, which was a lot sexier, but a little more expensive. Nothing quite matched the Aprillia RS250 that followed not long afterwards though.. Heart still melts for one of those when ever I see one.. Pure race bred. Still holds well in style by today's standards. Back then i would have killed for one !

Do miss the two strokes.. Glad i was part of the era.
 
thedoc46 said:
In truth, (coming from someone who has a full one piece, and a full two piece) Leathers don't help you all that much.. It's the impact that's going to kill you, not the burns on your butt.
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In a major "off" yes, but typically smaller spills are much more common. I'd far rather wear decent protective gear and get away with bruises and perhaps a broken arm/leg than have the kind of suffering you go through when large patches of your skin are literally scraped off your body.
 
Dogbreath said:
In a major "off" yes, but typically smaller spills are much more common. I'd far rather wear decent protective gear and get away with bruises and perhaps a broken arm/leg than have the kind of suffering you go through when large patches of your skin are literally scraped off your body.
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I agree with you, I'm not trying to say leathers are a waste of time.. but to some, they're putting to much faith into them.. Leathers come into their own on race track when you come off at 100mph plus, you typically don't hit anything.. Just slide.. On the road, its less of the slide and more of the impact.. Leathers do not save you that much.. Yes the armor does absorb part of the impact, but if you are about to slam into something and you are at the stage where the amor is going to assist, well then your pretty screwed already.. Decent Helmet, good boots, jeans, gloves and a good back protector under a regular paddock jacket is as good as leathers, since its unlikely you are going to be sliding down the road for all that long. Unlike the track..

Wear them by all means, especially since they do add protection but don't think you are any less likely to die as a result of wearing them.
 
thedoc46 said:
I agree with you, I'm not trying to say leathers are a waste of time.. but to some, they're putting to much faith into them..
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Actually I didn't read your post properly and realise you were talking specifically about leathers rather than protective equipment in general; I fully agree with you.
 
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