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Post by russjac2000 on Jun 15, 2008 18:14:22 GMT -5
Hiya,
I see a lot of posts about the gear people say you need for scooting( gloves, boots, armored pants and jacket). But what do you really need?
I live in Vegas and I commonly see police on bikes. They wear
3/4 Helmets, and police uniforms, sunglasses, gloves and boots. They ride more powerful bikes that I aspire to and are in position to be in dangerous situations much more than I am.
So, if the police don't need the Jacket, pants or chaps, Full-face
helmets on their beasts, why would I on my current 50cc scooter or the 250-400 I plan to buy when I get my M-licensce. I wear a scooter helm on my bike now, always. But I wonder if I need to spend another $500+ on gear to wear. Obviously I understand the idea of buying all the protection you can afford, but isn't some of this overkill?
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Post by WarrenS on Jun 15, 2008 21:22:13 GMT -5
It is hard to say what someone should wear. There are motorcycle racers who have get offs at nearly 200 mph and they get right up. Then there was a guy here who hit a median strip and flew through the air hitting a sign and had both legs amputated. He was not licensed and wasn't wearing a helmet.
I would say dress for the ride. That means you decide how much protection you need for the riding conditions and your skill level. Also consider the amount of risk you want to take.
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Post by benrama on Jun 15, 2008 22:58:25 GMT -5
Don't make the mistake of forgetting that the police officers you see would be covered by Worker's Comp. if injured in the line of duty. Everyone has their own risks that they're willing to take when balanced against their own experiences. Make sure to make your own decision regarding your safety attire and not rely on others; it could be the most important decision you ever make. Also I've heard to dress for the slide. Consider a worst-case event and think of the gear you'd like to be wearing when it happens. Too much gear can feel like overkill, but I've never, ever heard someone say, "Wow, I wish I wasn't wearing that ____!" after an accident.  |
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Post by mortar235 on Jun 16, 2008 0:54:01 GMT -5
just because the cop doesn't wear it doesn't mean he doesn't need it. (doesn't it? ;D) . Seeing as you are in Vegas my guess would be the cop thought the extreme heat he'd get from the gear was not worth the extra protection. Its impossible to say what kind of gear you need seeing as you don't know what kind of crash you will get into. If you drop the bike at 5mph you can probably just have jeans and a shirt.. 55 is another story. Its also possible to get decked out for less that 500. Motodirect.com has a lot of reasonably priced gear (they have mostly good feedback, some negative but those customers usually got refunds).
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Post by newc77 on Jun 18, 2008 9:18:13 GMT -5
Don't base your decision on what seems to be in fashion. If you read any safety book or take a riders course the facts are clear: you need riding gear to protect yourself. Who knows what kind of crash you might get involved in, where, when or at what speed? Safety gear is generally recommended as: at least a 3/4 helmet, riding gloves, riding jacket with pads/armour, long pants (at least jeans but padded/armoured riding pants recommended), riding boots, eye protection of a face shield or riding glasses or goggles (shield is recommended). Bargains on decent gear can be found. MotoDirect is one place most people like. There are many more your can google. For hot climates there are air jackets and mesh pants that are cool for riding but still have protection built in. You want to live to ride another day if anything happens, and things unexpected DO happen. Protect yourself and don't worry about what others are wearing Tom |
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Post by scooterollie on Jun 18, 2008 9:51:20 GMT -5
The first year with my 50 cc and 150 cc scoots I rode in s.s. shirt and shorts on local roads (next to no traffic). The next year I only went out in jeans, gloves (when cool or cold) and a regular jacket. This year I have upgraded to a Joe Rocket Summer mesh jacket and mesh Hugger Summer gloves and am planning to add better pants. As I have wised up and get more serious about riding and being in traffic I feel I need the better gear. Many years ago the only thing I used was a Snell approved helmet. My bones and tissues aren't as flexible as they once were and don't heal as fast, either! LOL
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Post by gy6rocket on Jul 6, 2008 22:29:19 GMT -5
Just try to picture yourself skidding across the pavement at 40-50mph. No imagine what gear you would choose to wear in such a situation. That is your answer. Don't worry about other people, everyone makes their won decision. Yeah, if i'm going to the corner store and putting at 25 i'm not getting all geared up. If i'm riding over a mile with traffic you better believe I'm gearing up.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2008 0:07:19 GMT -5
Just try to picture yourself skidding across the pavement at 40-50mph. Not pretty... Yeah, if i'm going to the corner store and putting at 25 i'm not getting all geared up. Now picture yourself skidding across the pavement at 25MPH. Still not pretty. Last time I checked, I still had zero control over the morons I have to share the road with. |
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Post by griff10 on Jul 7, 2008 3:51:31 GMT -5
Motorcycle cops wear a uniform, they don't always get to pick what they wear, their bosses do.
You likely are not riding for a job so you do get to pick. The best is only barely good enough, unless you don't really put much value on your life or your skin. You can die falling off in traffic at 30 mph just as easily as you can out in the country at 70 mph.
Bill H.
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Post by bike4miles on Jul 8, 2008 14:00:52 GMT -5
Choosing gear baised on the ride you are going to do sounds like good advice to me. The only time I lave my helmet at home if for a test drive down the street and back. For my commute to work in trafic I have a full face helmet and armored jacket. For a longer ride, I also put on some boots and roller blade style knee pads over my pants. Might sound silly but the one time I dumped my scoot the knee pads prevented injury.
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Post by hydrophoid on Jul 9, 2008 4:48:01 GMT -5
Theese cops in vegas, Do they wear any high visability belts or vests? Long sleves or short? They probaly use boots with their uniform. US Army helth insurance will pay for my injurys so long as I am wearing the following: Dot approved helmet Long sleeves up top and bottom (not really a big deal since my uniform is long sleeve anyhow, unless on weekend  ) Reflective bell or vest Boots and gloves Eye protection (I roll full face so no worry there) someone from a different post said they would get police colors to be seen better cause ppl are always looking for cops, maybe this is true, I know once people see the cops they will drive much more polite, so you may want to go at least one step up from the cops hehe |
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Post by isawhim on Jul 9, 2008 5:32:29 GMT -5
Better yet...
Most accidents, related to non-drunk drivers, involving two-wheeled vehicles, are not the fault of the two-wheeled driver. EG, if you have an accident, there is a superb chance that it will be from the impact of another vehicle hitting you.
Since cops are rarely drunk on duty, and rarely speed... (Chuckle)... That leaves two reasons why they would be in an accident. They were not seen, or they were ignored. Cops are RARELY "Not seen". The big bulky bikes, with scattered lights and unique colors, trigger a subconscious paranoia that draws attention. They are both hard to ignore, or be unseen. However, a vehicle flying through a red light that they "Did not see", while being distracted, can and will put that cop in real danger.
You, on the other hand... drive a scooter, with a small body, with a non-unique look, and will be easily ignored, or not seen. (You may be noticed... but not seen.)
I blame that on schools and parents and the DMV driver manual.
QUOTE: "Look both ways before crossing the road for CARS."
QUOTE: "Before you proceed into an intersection, check for oncoming CARS."
QUOTE: "Be sure that no other CARS can be seen in your mirrors, and check your blind-spot for other CARS that may not show in your mirrors."
Some manuals say "Vehicles", but that still flip-flops, and people do not think of "Cycles", as a "Vehicle"... They are still "Bikes", and "Vehicles" are things with four or more wheels, that have a cage of protection.
People, naturally, also have little fear of things that are smaller than they are. They don't "Panic" when they see a two-wheeled vehicle... However, they sort-of panic when they see another car, or a larger truck... Human subconscious instinct says not to fear the mouse on skates, but beware of the elephant with 18 wheels. (Thus the statement... "They may see you, they are just not aware that you are there.")
Minimum riding gear... drive naked...
Maximum riding gear... Full helmet, leather gloves, armored jacket, armored pants, and high-top boots.
Your call...
After your first three "Near accidents"... (Hopefully you will be that lucky.)... You will realize that gear is required, even if not needed.
Required = Must have...
Needed = Desire to obtain...
Oxygen is required for life.
I needed a hug.
You will not understand what we say... when we say... "He looked right at me, was completely stopped, and still launched right at me, almost killing me!"
It will happen... then you will realize how blind people can be. (They do it to people in cars too... but they realize it faster, and stop sooner. Not to mention, you feel more secure in a car, so you don't say, "...and they almost killed me!", when you tell the story.)
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Post by frankj3 on Jul 11, 2008 23:18:52 GMT -5
The MC cops around here were matching uniforms of the cage cops.
But their uniforms are thicker than the cager's uniforms.
The boots, gloves, helmets, etc. make up the rest of their safety gear.
The one exception is thei gloves......they wear shooting gloves for obvious reasons.
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