Prompted from Chris's post on boots, and the movement off-topic, just thought I'd kick off a thread about the use of protective equipment, why you pay $$$ for it, or why you don't.

Do you wear it?

What do you wear?

Is there a reason ? Had an 'off', just chicken in case you do? can't afford time off work? some other reason?

Do you pay lots for it, would you pay more if you had the cash?

It's a personal choice, but come on, share your thoughts, reasons or decisions so that others can make an informed choice.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Yes..for both forms of rideing.. .:shsgging:

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Harley Davidson..
The easyest way to turn gasoline into noise with out the side efect of horse power...

Me, I would never ride off on the bike without everything on (lid, gloves, boots, protective clothing). Why ??

Most accidents happen within 5 minutes of your home, so this is the highest risk, so therefore the best protection is needed. I've been doing it so long it's habit and riding the bike without full gear feels wrong, uncomfortable even.

Boots.
I have two pairs, a pair of TRG Mx boots that are very stiff, the bike has landed on these many times and never so much as a bruise to show for it. I wouldn't venture off the tarmac very far without these on. I also have a pair of TCX Infinity boots, these are the same as the HEIN GERICKE RALLYE III boots, I've had a pair of each, they are really comfortable and you can walk in them all day. They are not as protective or as stiff as the TRG's.

Gloves.
Essential, more important than a lid in my mind. Why? think about it, what is the first thing you do when you fall. For this reason palm protection is the first criteria, if it won't survive a slide down the road then they are no good. secondary is water protection, then warmth. I use HEIN GERICKE ECO II GORE-TEX� GLOVE, at �60 they are expensive, however the pair I have now (the second pair) are the only gloves that are truly waterproof, paired up with the labyrinth cuff on the HG Master jacket (for winter) there is no water ingress down the sleeve as I have experienced in every other glove/jacket combo.

Lid.
For years I was a walking advert for Aria, since moving to the Shoei I don't think I'll go back. The Shoei is lighter, quieter and more comfortable. These days most lids, whether you spend �100 or �1000 will do much the same job in a crash, so choice comes down to longevity and comfort. But there is another reason I like Shoei, it's because they make an effort to get out there to the emergency services and show them how the helmets can be taken apart while still on the head (removable cheek pads etc) making it safer to remove the lid from an accident victim. This I learned form the guys at the air ambulance, who commented on my lid when I last met them.

Jacket/Pants
Again, personal choice and down to what you do on your bike. I have always been an advocate of 'buy the best', a suit for all seasons so to speak. Now, I think it's better to dress for the warm days, these are the days that will sap your energy if you can't keep cool. If it's wet a �10 waterproof will be far more effective than most XXX-tex clothing and it doesn't need to hang over the bath for a day to dry after..... Armour always, and I like the Hi-Protect stuff from HG, soft as cotton but if you punch it it's as hard as steel, and it has saved me many times in a fall. If I'm venturing off-tarmac alone then a full body suit (Knox) is the order of the day.

I've had many falls, always away from tarmac, but the most suffering I've had has been some stiffness for a day or so after. I put this down to the protective gear I wear. At 17 I had a slow speed spill on a MTX125, wearing jeans and to this day I have a patch on the side of my knee with no feeling - never again, skin is delicate and easily removed.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

I solved that problem. After being hit by a lorry less than a mile from home I moved somewhere else.

Feel naked without the propper gear on. I made the mistake one day of jumping on the XT when I had it in bike jacket jeans and trainers only to find as I arrived at a rounderbout that my lace had hooked over and tangled on the gear shift and I could'nt put my foot down NEVER AGAIN

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nice.

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Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard, grow big an wear glasses if you need em.

minimum kit for even getting near to my X:
Lid (I now have a super light Marushin carbon lid - feels like its not there!)
Gloves (Alpinestars wind stoppers for temps over 15 C)
Kevlar jeans (dry over 15 C)
Jacket
CE armour to knees, hips, back, elbows, shoulders
Army boots

NOTHING LESS - SKIN IS TOO PRECIOUS!!!!

Cotton paddock jacket, jeans, TT Leathers gloves, DMs and a Bell Super Star helmet 




…in 1986.




Young and invincible, or perhaps just stupid? We didn’t know any better. I took up smoking that year too!




In 2012...

I try and wear fully armoured two piece leathers (Richa) as much as I can when out on the road and use two-piece Alpinestars RP5 waterproofs to go over in the rain. When it’s hot or I’m doing trails of short journeys I’ll wear textiles, usually the HG desert TRG set up (but I do have an Akito Desert outfit too). I have a pair of Hood Kevlar lined combat trousers (with Knox knee and hip protection) to for times when a more casual look is required! They are hand made in Norfolk and bloody good compared with other well-known brands of Kevlar jeans and trousers. Don’t wear any additional armour, but I always use gear with all available/optional armour fitted.

I have a pair of Held Enduro boots, a pair of Hebo Hebo TR3 boots and a pair of period old school buckle-up Frank Thomas boots for riding the BSA (good boots when FT were made in Britain and done me 25 years!) On the XTZ I use the Held almost all the time. Never use footwear not specifically designed for motorcycle use.

For gloves I use either heated Gerbing T5, or one of the two pairs of HG gloves I have, one summer one winter (can’t remember what model they are?)

As for helmets; Arai Tour X (old and knackered), Airoh Rock trials helmet (for trials and trails), Davida Jet (for the 1960s look – mind you it’s a bloody comfortable and well-made lid for all round use) and a HJC HQ-1 full face (long distance/road). I use Oakley and Halcyon (for BSA) googles as required. I’ve just bitten the bullet and bought a lovely white and black Shoei Hornet to replace the Arai (now I’ve found someone who can adapt the liner to fit my head without causing pressure points).

Lastly an often overlooked piece of safety equipment – good ear plugs. Wish I’d thought about using them 25 years ago!

What was that, pardon, sorry I didn’t quite catch that, you’ll have to speak up…

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Full armoured leathers, mx boots, good gloves and as stated earlier, shoei for the win. I also use a knox gilet style back protector. Good protection always is a no brainer, go and look for the squid spotting thread on supermotojunkie and u will see what I mean

Specsavers do moulded ones now. I personally dont use plugs, i find they alienate me from the surrounding environment too much. When i do wear my fox mx lid things get loud!