It isn't uncommon to hear someone say "If there wasn't a helmet law, I wouldn't wear one" but I heard the strangest thing the other day. I was talking with another female rider and she said "If you have to wear a jacket, you don't need to be riding". That kinda caught me off guard.

I have been riding motorcycles nearly all my life. Dirt bikes as a child and street bikes when I got older. I have always worn protective gear but I know that many people don't. Having been in several situations where my skills as a rider have kept me from being injured or killed, I know that clear head and a watchful eye will help keep you out of many problems. But let's face it, no amount of skill or vigilance will protect you from every situation. Accidents happen to even the most skilled riders. Gearing up is my insurance policy. If something happens and I do go down (God forbid), I want to increase my odds of getting up and walking away from it.

I guess many people view motorcycle riding as more of a fashion statement than I do. I ride for pleasure and the love of riding, many others (and I know several of them) ride because it makes them look cool. A novelty helmet and a pair of sunglasses is all they need. Of course, many of these riders judge a ride in the mountains by the quality of the beer served at the bar/restaurant and not the time they spent on the bike.

I just don't get it and maybe I never will but "All the gear, all the time" is a motto I like to live by.

Thanks for letting me vent ;)

What kind of Harley does she ride??? NO offense but I notice that if I see a cruiser going down the road and they have nothing more than a black tupperware bowl strapped(Not all the time) to their head. They probably are on a Harley. If I see a Cruiser going down the road with a full face and jacket most of the time they are on a Import cruiser. Which makes me think a lot of people ride for the fashion statement and to be cool(Much cooler to be on a Harley than a Yamaha).

Or if you see a sportbike rider wearing nothing but a Dome helmet and a shortsleeve you can bet yourself it's a stretched Hayabusa with chrome all around it.

I always wear a leather jacket(Thick $500 race approved), leather race gloves, and a Snell approved Full face at the least. I almost never ride in shorts.

As for the girl who said "If you need a jacket you can't ride". Tell her if she could really ride she'd need a jacket because she could Elbow drag like this guy...
http://a373.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/77/l_9632c71c4f93e19796929cd2aae4ee4c.jpg

Just joined to club and I was curious if anyone lives in midtown Atlanta? I am looking for people to ride with. especially on Sunday's. I can be found at the vortex on most Thursday nights.:firedevil: :firedevil:

theres more to wearing a jacket than fashion, protection and warmth come to mind. protection from pavement as well as weather, rocks, and critters. a june bug at 60 miles an hour will tear thru a t-shir, and burry in the skin.
ridding in to work monday, i wore my bomber jacket, and was stil cool. i came to a red light and another guy pulls up beside me in a t-shirt and shorts. this guy either has a really short ride or is alot tougher than me. it made me feel a little over dressed. but a few miles later another rider pulled up beside me with his jacket on. so i had to ask myself, who was the real moron? i will never appologize for being over protected.

I wear a jacket to stay warm, but will ride without it if it is a nice day. I wear a half-helmet too. Oh, and I ride a Harley :D. There isn't a helmet law where I grew up, so I got used to that as a kid.

As for a june bug embedding into your skin at 60 mph, if that was the case, the grasshopper that hit me on the forehead at 90mph should have killed me. I've been cut by a few rocks and hit by thousands of bugs.

Wear want you want to wear. I don't think that most folks care one way or the other as long as you are on two wheels.

Willy

I'm proud of all of you that wear what you want to to feel better.I'm happy with wearing little to no protective garments.I don't want to be the prettiest quadraplegigick(SP) in the nursing home. If it's that bad of a wreck I don't want to survive.

Hello.
I wear a jacket to stay warm, if it is a good day then I will ride without it . I wear a half-helmet too.
Thanks.

I wear full face and thick leather even in the heat, I really don't feel comfortable without it even though I've riddin all my life...

I ride a Harley and a Kawasaki.
I wear a 3/4 helmet, a 1/2 helmet, sometimes no helmet..jackets chaps, boots, and sometimes just a vest with jeans. I always ride with my gloves on.
Fashion goes out the window below 30 degrees and in the rain. I wear what works on those days.

I'm confused about the rules :rulez: ...

Can I still ride ? :moto: :moto:


Cujo