Author Topic: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?  (Read 6201 times)

StartingEarly

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For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« on: October 26, 2015, 01:52:17 PM »
I ride a cbr600 and my gear is getting old. My suit is from 2001 and though it was high quality I am sure there are a lot of improvements out there. The newest thing out now is having an air bag system inside of a leather suit. Unfortunately it costs about 2500. My thoughts are that even a clavicle injury would exceed that price and they're a very likely injury that a suit like that would easily prevent. It keeps the helmet from contacting that clavicle which is what usually breaks it. I'm just wondering where everyone else draws the line on motorcycle safety and when it's just throwing too much money at the problem.

HipGnosis

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2015, 02:48:30 PM »
I've been riding for ohh...  40+ years.
For many years my gear was just a fullface helmet, gloves and boots, and the boots were engineering boots.
I knew they were needed from a few spills on my cousins dirt bikes as a teen.
I wore a jacket for cold or rain, but it wasn't a 'motorcycle' jacket. 
Then I got a Gpz750 - it was fast enough to concern me, so I got a leather motorcycle jacket.  But it wasn't very versatile.
Then I got a sport-touring bike, and couldn't take all the jackets I might need for varying conditions.  I discovered textile M/C jackets with safety padding, liners and multiple vents with zippers. I also got 'overpants' with safety padding, a liner and a couple vents...
Virtually all of my gear was bought on sale, which means last years model, so surely NOT "the best".  I look for the best value.
But I've never bought a new motorcycle either.
I'm mature and experienced enough not to ride at 'the best' my bike or I can do, as that leaves no margin for error or surprise.
FWIW; I've ridden my Ninja on a race track.  For education, not competition.  I had on my jacket and overpants with safety padding.  I went faster and leaned farther than I ever did and probably ever will.
The race track event was a birthday present  (I was waffling on the cost).  It was a GREAT experience.
Best in safety gear is VERY subjective.  I've read articles that say the SNELL helmet test really doesn't apply to street accidents. You can only get the best if you can know exactly how you will use it...  that is, how you will crash.
Also, new does not equal best.  $2,500 is more than I've spent my whole life on M/C gear. 
Have you taken M/C safety classes?  Or a rider skills class on a track or similar controlled environment?

StartingEarly

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2015, 02:59:50 PM »
Well, I currently wear a full racing suit, but it's over a decade old 01. The current outgoing suits that are CE2 are about 900. The're the best rated standard protection you can get. The new technology with airbags is rated at having about a quarter of the impact transfer as the highest rated conventional suits. However it costs about 2500. At the minimum I would be looking at a CE2 rated suit. I am guessing with your gear in most highway accidents you would burn through your outer layers and have exposed skin since the textiles don't protect like top grain leather.

Glenstache

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2015, 03:49:02 PM »
Having taken the ambulance option home from a ride, I am an advocate for good gear... and for not getting a false sense of security. Look at crash statistics and see what you need based on where you actually ride. Most happen in the 25 to 45 mph range on surface streets (this shouldn't be a surprise). 

There is a lot to be learned about helmets: short version is that SNELL is good for high speed and DOT is better for low speed, good helmets are often good for both. Acceleration data for helmets can be found if you look for it.

Built in padding and armor is highly recommended. leather is good for abrasion, but a good textile suit should last through at least one accident (replacing even a really nice jacket is cheap compared to medical bills). Leather is more abrasion resistant, but not as good as synthetics if you spend time in foul weather. Buy gear that you can comfortably wear in the weather you will be riding in. I was able to find a lot of good textile stuff cheap with a bit of digging. Once I had it, I never regretted putting on good gear.

Practicing emergency braking and cornering skills will pay huge dividends at some point in the future. It is not if but when you will need those skills. It is also if, not when you will hit the pavement unless you are a statistical anomaly and plan on riding for a long time.

There are a lot of great discussions of this and related topics on ADVrider.com. They also have a good discussion forum where they respectfully dissect accidents that happened. They also have a lot of great trip reports that will inspire some good adventures.

sol

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2015, 03:59:23 PM »
Having taken the ambulance option home from a ride, I am an advocate for good gear... and for not getting a false sense of security.

Count me as a second member of that club.  Gear saved my life.

But I met a guy at PT during my recovery who had an almost identical accident, and has his arm severed by sliding into a guard rail.  Even the best motorcycle gear is woefully inadequate in a real street crash, though it is infinitely better than no gear, as my continued existence proves.

birdman2003

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2015, 04:09:35 PM »
Last year I had an accident on pavement where my left leg was pinned between the bike and road, sliding at 45 mph.  Then I hit a curb with my left knee and head.

My head was okay (helmet got cracked) and my left arm was only slightly burned (textile jacket with elbow insert burned through) but my left leg got split open.  I rode the remaining 6 miles home (friend followed to make sure I made it safely) and then saw the damage that had been done to my leg (wearing khakis on my way home from work).  Then I had family take me to the hospital for stitches.

I haven't ridden since the accident but when I am ready to ride again I'll probably get a full rider suit ($1000) or at least some pants with protection.

Glenstache

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2015, 04:12:55 PM »
Last year I had an accident on pavement where my left leg was pinned between the bike and road, sliding at 45 mph.  Then I hit a curb with my left knee and head.

My head was okay (helmet got cracked) and my left arm was only slightly burned (textile jacket with elbow insert burned through) but my left leg got split open.  I rode the remaining 6 miles home (friend followed to make sure I made it safely) and then saw the damage that had been done to my leg (wearing khakis on my way home from work).  Then I had family take me to the hospital for stitches.

I haven't ridden since the accident but when I am ready to ride again I'll probably get a full rider suit ($1000) or at least some pants with protection.

+1    Good pants and boots are super important, and based on what I see out on the road, often overlooked. I had a $200 fieldsheer full body suit that I got on closeout and I loved it. It made riding way more comfortable in addition to the safety benefits.

Syonyk

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #7 on: October 27, 2015, 12:00:20 PM »
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/ has great prices on closeout items - I've purchased a good bit from there, as has my wife (we both ride).  Last year's fashions at a deep discount! :)

I generally go for "decent gear" - not top of the line, not the cheapest I can find.  Most crashes are lower speed.  Also, a brightly colored helmet (or a solid helmet with reflective tape on it) helps a lot.

big_owl

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2015, 07:03:55 PM »
My Aerostitch hi-viz Roadcrafter suit has about 10yrs and 100k miles on it and I still wear it daily to commute.  Crashed in it once but no damage to me or the suit.  New ones are about $1300 now and I'll definitely buy another one.  I used to wear dark leathers and then I was rear-ended twice in broad daylight and both times the people told me they didn't see me.  Knock on wood but I haven't even had a close call that wasn't my own fault since getting the hi-viz suit.  It's ugly and wherever I wear it people assume I'm a firefighter...and half the county recognizes me from the suit when I go into a store or get my haircut with it.  "Oh you're the guy we see every day on the motorcycle in the yellow suit!!!"

I also have a $600 Shoei helmet, $200 BMW gloves, and $300 Sidi boots.  Not so much for the safety aspect as the comfort and quality, especially in inclement weather - since I commute most of the year by motorcycle. 

I have a cheap-o V-strom for a bike but am planning on getting a Ducati this winter.  You only live once...

KarefulKactus15

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2015, 08:15:26 PM »
Ill be that guy....

When I rode I preferred the textile jackets with vents. Having an awesome jacket is no good if your too hot and take it off when its hot out....

Anyway I dont ride any more, I only have 1 life and don't want to spend it with a life changing injury. Maybe its not as dangerous as I feel,  but to each their own.

I miss the sound of a 1000cc race bike pretty bad, not much else.  Maybe I can get a smartuki lol. 

cavewoman

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #10 on: October 27, 2015, 08:25:45 PM »
I bought my gear before I bought my bike because I didn't want to feel too flush and overspend on the bike because I had the money.
I'm glad the guy at the shop talked me into a full face helmet.
Also, did you know about the superstition that says you shouldn't ride your bike after your decide to sell it? I didn't, until I took one last ride before buyers were coming to look at it, and had my first wreck. The roll I took unbuttoned my pants.

StartingEarly

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2015, 08:39:11 PM »
I try to get discount stuff when I can, but I am wondering in this case with how much of a difference there is between "last year's" and "this year's" models if that really makes sense. It seems like if I got a broken neck vertebrae or something like that I would always blame myself for not spending the extra money.

Right now my riding gear is a little better than before but still woefully bad. The full riding suit doesn't have knee armor and no forseeable way to upgrade that with it being a 2001 model. The helmet is good though now, got a Schuberth on closeout for 375 which normally runs over 600. It's hi viz and low noise so it should save what hearing I have left. I need some boots though, I just wear Keen steel toes and my gloves are $80 sp8 Alpinestars that are about 6 years old already.

From what I've read the new suits are designed to slide more instead of roll by having plastic/aluminum/titanium bits in strategic places to prevent ragdoll effect from breaking a lot of bones and for the initial impact they have much better armor. I doubt my armor would pass CE1 and the current CE2 has half the energy transfer. At this point I think riding in the old suit is penny wise and point foolish from a risk standpoint and the hospital bills I would incur.

Glenstache

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #12 on: October 28, 2015, 12:36:04 AM »
Ill be that guy....

When I rode I preferred the textile jackets with vents. Having an awesome jacket is no good if your too hot and take it off when its hot out....

Anyway I dont ride any more, I only have 1 life and don't want to spend it with a life changing injury. Maybe its not as dangerous as I feel,  but to each their own.

I miss the sound of a 1000cc race bike pretty bad, not much else.  Maybe I can get a smartuki lol.

You're not alone in that. I also liked textile gear, and used the vents to ride in hot weather. ATGATT was the rule for me.

I got off easy when I crashed with a crushed foot and separated shoulder. The foot changed my life a bit in that I stopped doing other things I loved for quite a while because it hurt to do them. I still feel it every single morning, running is no longer a realistic option, and I will likely have a follow up surgery at some point to fuse the bones according to the orthopedic surgeon. After that accident I got another bike. I was in a long left 40mph sweeper when the front tire blew on it. Time spent working on emergency skills paid off and I managed to keep it up (followed by walking around for a few minutes to bleed off the adrenaline). I sold that bike a month later and have not owned a bike since. It was something I enjoyed, but it was just one of many things so i let it go. Other things I enjoy I would (and do) accept that level of risk for. Recognizing that it was risky, I always rode with full gear. Full gear does not have to mean spending the most, but making intelligent decisions about how the gear works... in addition to trying to be smart about riding and skills.

b4u2

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2015, 09:02:17 AM »
I've been riding for about ten years now. I don't always wear my gear, personal choice, but the gear I do have is half helmet with detachable shield, leather jacket, leather chaps, various gloves. It all depends on what you are comfortable with. I have been down a few times with and without gear and injuries were minor. Gear only protects so much though. I have a friend who was basically ran over two years ago, no gear, and spent 6+ months in the hospital. Gear on him would not have made a difference except for maybe the broken jaw. He's "recovered" thankfully but not 100%.

Syonyk

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2015, 09:09:53 AM »
My Aerostitch hi-viz Roadcrafter suit has about 10yrs and 100k miles on it and I still wear it daily to commute.

Minionwear! :D

I usually figure that the old guys on BMWs with 300k miles on the odometer are good ideas to emulate, and an awful lot of them wear day-glo colors.

I've been told that with my dayglo jacket, I stand out miles away, far beyond where you can see the motorcycle.  I'm the spec of "WTF is THAT?"

An interesting thing I discovered on multiple bikes is that a tail light flasher makes a huge difference.  I really didn't think it would, but I upgraded two motorcycles from stock tail lights to bright LED tail lights with a flasher (so it flashes a few times then goes solid), and it radically reduced tailgating.  The yellow & white chevrons on my helmet also apparently make me look "like a cop" or something, since people drive differently around me when I'm wearing that helmet.  Despite looking nothing like a cop.

And full face helmets are totally needed.  Look at the percentage of accidents that involve a chin strike.  I like my chin.

MrMoogle

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #15 on: October 28, 2015, 12:58:28 PM »
I got my first bike in April.  I went with the bring yellow jacket, and have gotten plenty of comments on it.  People I work with seeing me driving the other direction on the interstate.  So I feel like I'm very visible.  I got overpants too, that are nice and cool in the summer with just shorts underneath.  Alabama summers get a little hot and humid...

The thing I haven't bought is a pair of bike boots.  I'm wearing an old pair of snow boots.  They're waterproof, and have been completely dry riding in the rain.  My concern is the laces go through metal holes.  Which would spark, and heat in an accident.  Should I upgrade to biker boots?

enigmaT120

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #16 on: October 28, 2015, 01:02:57 PM »
I like Olympia stuff.  I started with their Phantom 1 piece, as it was reportedly more waterproof (note my location) than the Aerostitch.  It's not perfect in very heavy rain with a strong side wind though.  I did get the high-vis.  I have Langletz pants and a first gear black leather jacket and I think it's pretty stupid to wear them at night or in the fog, even if it's not raining. 

My boots are pretty expensive -- Sidi waterproof boots.  I can't remember the model.  They work.  They will last for many more years.  When the shifter pad nearly wears through I'll put another one on somehow. 

I also have Olympia mesh pants and jacket for really hot weather.  The Phantom has really good venting but when it's in the high 90s, it's not enough.  It doesn't help that I have a Windjammer on my '81 BMW R65, sigh.  The above mark about old guys on old BMWs stung a little.  Hey I'm only 52!

I'm not in the habit of wrecking and try very hard to not outrun my sight-line on curves, and dress more for riding conditions rather than worrying about the latest ultimate in safety. 

StartingEarly

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #17 on: October 28, 2015, 01:10:20 PM »
MrMoogle, I think a quick google search of foot injuries will show that you need real biker boots. I wouldn't get some kind of Harley boots or anything that looks like them, they won't offer much protection. I would look at getting something like a race boot that will keep your ankles from twisting and can help prevent a crush injury like Glenstache had. Good protective boots tend to run over 200 to up to 500, but deals can be found on lightly used boots depending on your size.

Glenstache

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #18 on: October 28, 2015, 01:33:14 PM »
MrMoogle, I think a quick google search of foot injuries will show that you need real biker boots. I wouldn't get some kind of Harley boots or anything that looks like them, they won't offer much protection. I would look at getting something like a race boot that will keep your ankles from twisting and can help prevent a crush injury like Glenstache had. Good protective boots tend to run over 200 to up to 500, but deals can be found on lightly used boots depending on your size.

I'll simply add that you should be very careful about tucking in those laces in the meantime. It is embarrassing and potentially painful to snag a lace on your bike and topple over at a stop. It happens. Good boots made for less injury for me. I was sad to see my Sidi boot get cut off of my foot.

Syonyk

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #19 on: October 28, 2015, 01:55:41 PM »
Should I upgrade to biker boots?

Do you like your feet?  If so, then, yes.  Motorcycle boots (especially ones that go a good bit up your leg) offer radically better protection for your ankles and feet than just about anything else out there.  They're worth the money.  They're also insanely comfortable if you get the right ones. :)

MrMoogle

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #20 on: October 28, 2015, 02:00:15 PM »
Now that I've hijacked this thread...

What should I look for in boots?  I do ride all weather (so far, not sure how cold I will go), do I need to get waterproof, or are the water resistant ones good enough?

big_owl

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #21 on: October 28, 2015, 06:35:42 PM »
Now that I've hijacked this thread...

What should I look for in boots?  I do ride all weather (so far, not sure how cold I will go), do I need to get waterproof, or are the water resistant ones good enough?

1. Get Gore-Tex boots.  Wet feet are miserable on any ride.

2. I'm a Sidi fan and only get them, no problem for me to spend $300 on Sidi Gore-Tex boots that will last 5 years easy.  They fit my narrow feet very well.  YMMV.

3. There are basically three options: zipper, Velcro, buckles....or some combination of the three.  My current Sidis actually employ all three and I hate dealing with the buckle after I zip and Velcro, it's a PITA and takes an extra 20 seconds per boot which really annoys me in my daily commuting.  I prefer the combination of just Velcro and zipper because they're really easy.... just zipper up and Velcro the flap over in one quick stroke.  Don't even think about getting lace-only... as someone earlier mentioned, nothing worse that getting a lace snagged on the foot peg as you try to lower the foot and fall over right at the stoplight.  Been there.

4. Get Gore-Tex boots... because I said so.

5. I ride down into the single digits and even below zero on some mornings and all I ever wear are ankle-high running socks under my boots.  Never once in my riding career have I ever thought about my feet being cold.  Again, YMMV, but it's not something I've ever encountered (Gore-tex helps as well).  My hands however... yeah there have been some tough rides.

MrMoogle

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #22 on: October 28, 2015, 08:15:53 PM »
Thanks for the advice :)

mankyle

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #23 on: October 29, 2015, 11:00:09 AM »
I would second the recommendation for Sidi boots.  I had a pair for years and loved them.  When the finally wore out I replaced them with TCX and have not been as happy (although I just looked at the boots to get the brand and realize they are water "resistant" not "proof" and that is my major complaint).

I got the boots, and almost all of my gear exclusively through motorcyclegear.com.  If you watch their clearance items you can get last years models for very cheap sometimes (I paid $69 for a Scorpion 1000 helmet and I think the boots were $89).  I go with well-known names (Tourmaster, FirstGear, JoeRocket, Olympia) that have good reputations.  It is not always top of the line but I feel that it will protect me in a crash.

The one time I crashed (many years ago now) I was wearing jeans, leather engineer boots, Joe Rocket textile jacket, thin summer leather gloves, and a full face helmet.  The boots did nothing for me and I wore a hole through them and road rashed the side of my foot.  The jeans were useless and I also wore a hole through my knee to the kneecap!!  The helmet and jacket were trashed but my upper body sustained no injuries whatsoever.  Now I don't climb on the bike without proper boots, motorcycle pants, jacket, gloves, and helmet.  I commute to work every day on my MC and so I do have a bunch of gear.  Mesh jacket and pants for the summer and heavier textile gear for the winter with thermal liners.  Again, I think everything in my closet is from motorcyclegear.com except for my summer gloves which I got at the local dealer while waiting for my bike to be inspected.

Ride Safe!

enigmaT120

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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #24 on: October 29, 2015, 01:41:17 PM »
That's a pretty good site, mankyle.  These are the boots (but not the size) I have:

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/closeouts/last_chance_bargains/sidi/on_road_gore_tex_motorcycle_boots.html

My feet got really sweaty in the summer so I  bought a pair of Sidi mesh boots.  But in the On Road my feet don't get wet or cold.  Of course, most of my miles are on a BMW airhead so cold feet are rare.


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Re: For motorcycle riders, do you buy the best safety gear?
« Reply #25 on: October 29, 2015, 02:04:15 PM »
If you don't mind a bit of a style hit, you could consider going straight to off road bike boots. I dual sported and spent time on dirt too, so I had a pair of dirt-oriented boots and thought they offered much more robust protection than the boots like the ones in the post above which are more stylish and probably easier to walk around in. I liked the dirt boots quite a bit once I broke them in (the specific pair I bought were quite stiff on arrival and I spend some time working the leather with a tool to help with articulation).