Something to consider: I hit a deer at 65 and slid & tumbled to a stop on the pavement while wearing JR mesh jacket & pants. The only injury I got was due to one sleeve on my jacket riding up and exposing my arm/elbow. I'm tall & skinny and the jacket was way too loose fitting. I've since bought some mesh gear that fits better. From my experience (I have crash tested a lot of gear while riding off road), if your gear stays in place, it usually works pretty well. Look for gear that fits well and/or has straps you can tighten down to hold everything in place.
Last weekend my wife and I went scooter shopping. We wore jeans and hiking boots and Brought along Helmets, mesh jackets, and gloves. The sales manager at the Piaggio dealer was really impressed. He said most people show up and want to do a test ride but have no helmets or riding gear of any kind with them:huh
Full face HJC CL-16 Vulcan Textile Armored Jacket Vulcan Armored Gauntlets Bilt Leather TrackStar Pants I bought a pair of Bilt Trackstar boots, but the shift plate placement is cutting off the circulation on my feet. I usually wear a pair of steel-toed workboots. Fully geared even if I am just going the 1 mile to the Publix.
I agree. While scooters are truly awesome, if its really screwing up your life so bad then why not just get a motorcycle? I know your not doing it to impress anyone or anything like that, but if its having a negative impact why not get bike or something? But then again, why should you have to do this just for them? Moving is an extreme, but I think its a reasonable idea. In my town I do get decent respect most of the time, there are more and more scoots on the road especially with the gas prices, and most people wave and like it! however, I do notice I get far more respect when I'm on my Shadow than I do on my scoot. I'd just say screw them and enjoy it!
I get some good natured teasing occasionally but rarely anything serious. Those folks I tend to ignore as ignorant. I've also seen serious riders step in and tell the weekend fair weather trash talking rider to shut the f-up. It usually takes little to shut up the blowhearts. A couple weekends ago there were some Harley Ultra riders (from Midland) staying at the same B&B. They were trash talking the Triump (really sweet bike) in the parking lot or rather one was. I was up on the balcony and could hear them without their being aware I was listening. Later that night when folks were sitting around the firepit another Harley rider in from Houston was doing good natured harrassment of the "euro" bikes (owner of the B&B rode a BMW). Between our Aprillia, Burgman, the Triump & the BMW the non-Harley riders were the same number. The ass who was trash talking in the morning was amazingly quiet when Harley guy from Houston was getting ribbed back and jokingly said - hey, you ride a Harley why aren't you helping me defend them? Upshot was an invitation from the B&B owner for the rest of us w/o the Midland group to come back the following year for the same crawfish festival for an "invitatational ride". I ride with folks who ride everything scooters, bikes from little Ninjas to Ultra Glides, trikes to spiders. The only rule is that you ride and don't dish other's choice and that includes the Harley riders who actually tend to be less of an issue than some of the sports bike riders who are way too macho for their own good.
So Today I got my package from www.Newenough.com and I gotta say that I am impressed. I should have (and probably would have) paid 3 times what I did if I had bought from anywhere else. Also, I found that their sizing charts and advice to be very helpful and accurate. of the three items I purchased (gloves, jacket, pants) everything fits well. Highly recommended seller for all those looking for good deals on riding gear.
JFC. SHRUB - congrats! I've had great service from New Enough and their prices enable a poor schmuck like me to get good gear.
I ride 12.5 miles each way to work, in town. Maximum speed limit is 40. I wear Firstgear mesh overpants (they have liners for colder weather), and a mesh jacket when it's warm or a textile when it's cold. I have 3 sets of gloves for different temps. Last winter I found some gauntlets made for scooters, that made a huge different in keeping my hands warm. About half my ride is 40 mph and I have to go through one of the busiest intersections in town. I ride past a large factory where they turn into idiots when they are trying to leave the job. I'm not really afraid of falling down, but 4 wheelers keep trying to make a hood ornament out of me. I wear bright yellow jackets and a white helmet. I wired my scooter to run both headlights all the time. I wear all the gear because I'm too old to bounce and I like the skin I have, even though it's not wrinkle free anymore. I tell people who ask about my gear (usually when it's hot outside) I'd rather sweat than bleed.
It's an inescapable fact that the most common motorcycle injuries occur during journeys at or below 30 mph. So just because you are riding a scooter does not protect you. The idea that because it's "only" a scooter somehow guards you against injury has been overturned by stark statistics. If you are on motorised two wheels you need protection and that matters whether you are on a 150 hp superbike or a 50cc scooter. Make it your daily habit to protect your shoulders, hips, knees, shins, head, elbows, hands and feet, EVERY time you ride, whether you are off to the local store to buy a pint of milk or whether you are going long distance. Some of the most horrific accidents have been during short, urban journeys. In most European countries protection is compulsory. In some places there is no compulsion. Look at the stats and they do not lie. Protect your body.
UK requirements: helmet & vision protection only http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/DG_4022434 Summary of EU regulations: only a helmet is required http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq/europe.html I have to admit that I love this quote from the link above: Apparel Aside from common decency rules only a helmet is required. So theoretically you can ride wearing nothing but a helmet, and youll only get ticketed for indecent exposure. Most states require helmets and eye protection or like Texas requires medical as well as liability insurance. Other than the limited exemptions from wearning helmets I see no requirement for more protective gear. Yes, most accidents happen within a short distance of home but that's true for bicycles, cars, even pedestrians. Sorry but while I choose never to ride without a helmet if someone else wants to be a SQUID and is over the legal age of consent then it is their choice even if it is their funeral. If I choose to ride without an armored jacket when I'm going 3 miles over to Starbucks when it is 95f and 90% humidity I know the risks. I take the same risks if I ride my bicycle to that same Starbucks (something I will not do when the temperture or humidity are over 85%) yet nobody ever suggest wearing armored pants on a bicycle or even an armored jacket. Heck, even the bicycle helmet hanging in my garage is lighter weight and has better ventilation than any of the motorcycle helmets.
As I wrote when I started this thread, I'm not trying to start another ATGATT debate. For those of you who want to ride ATGATT, fine. Preaching ATGATT to those who choose not to always wear all their gear is the same as those who preach at you not to ride at all because it's "too dangerous". If you want to make a usefull contribution to this thread then post an evaluation of the gear that works for you.
I like riding with no helmet. There, I've exposed my dark little secret! However, I also like stopping large cockatoo's from embedding themselves in my skull while riding the highway. If you have to wear a helmet, nobody says they have to be dull...... http://www.bikersden.com/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=1
Sure, that's your choice and I sympathise with the temperature problem. I get hot and sweaty at much lower temps. However my post was merely to emphasise that since the most common accident is not that fast, but considerably faster than the average bicycle goes, and the fact that a scooter often approaches the weight of a light motorcycle (or more if a maxi scooter), you are still going to fly through the air and hit something solid if anyone pulls out on you, or you are going to drop the scooter on your legs unless you are lucky enough to throw yourself sideways and clear. See Youtube for quite awful skin/leg/hand/back injuries on those who hit the tarmac in shorts or tee shirts, or bare-armed and then scrape along. Rather like the average pilot who knows a gear up landing is not an "if" but "when", unless you are very lucky, and of course extremely cautious, one day you'll need those cumbersome pieces of protection.
Just recently got a new piece of gear that makes a huge difference riding in the heat here in the southeast. It's a Cooling Vest I picked up at Cycle Gear for 10 bucks. Soak it in water and wear it under a mesh jacket and it's like having air conditioning. It's just like having a wet T-shirt but lasts much longer. The $10 vests are probably all sold but they have the same vest with a different brand name (bilt) for $40. I'm sure there are also other brands out there. It's definately worth it if the heat bothers you, It made a huge difference on a 650+ mile trip I just took in some really hot weather.
MOVED FROM THE STAYING WARM ON A SCOOTER THREAD : http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756150&page=3 Look hard enough and you can find statistics to support just about anything. Here's one showing that helmet use decreases fatalities: http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/helmet_use.html And here's one by the NHTSA showing the same thing: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pubs/809861.pdf And one more: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/n...yclehelmet.pdf How anyone can think otherwise just boggles my mind. Despite this, I don't support helmet laws (for adults) since I believe everyone should have the right to decide how much risk they are willing to take for themselves Want a few more links? http://www.saferoads.org/issues/fs-helmets.htm http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/crash.htm And here's an article on riding gear in general: http://www.soundrider.com/archive/sa...adding-pt1.htm
MOVED FROM THE STAYING WARM ON A SCOOTER THREAD : http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...=756150&page=3 Quote: <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="dg-bbcode dg-bbcode-quote"> Originally Posted by alicethomas Sorry klaviator, but your links provide claims, no statistical raw data. I'm looking for something like milres driven helmetet/unhelmetet accidents helmetet/unhelmetet injuries helmetet/unhelmetet fatalities helmetet/unhelmetet and in case of injuries and fatalities a comparison which parts of the body suffered helmetet/unhelmetet. There is no doubt that a helmet _can_ be helpful! And there is little doubt that a helmet _can_ be disadvantageous (seeing, hearing, weight, neck influence - there might be a reason why there is a HANS device). If it is very obvious, that a helmet is always useful, there should be no need to hide the data. </td></tr></tbody></table> I don't know if there has been a comprehensive study done in the U.S. showing everything you want. If there was, I'd like to see the data too. mrnoitall claimed to have seen the data showing how it is more dangerous to wear a helmet. He has yet to provide a link. I did a quick Google search and came up with the links in my last post.
Since I resurrected this thread I thought I'd post some new gear I picked up lately. I frequently stop by the local Cycle Gear to see if they have any bargains. This has to be one of the best I have found so far: These boots were last years model and were on sale for $24.95. I spent another $5 replacing the cheap insole and now have a lightweight boot that is comfortable on and off the scooter. It offers better protection than hightop sneakers and all for only $30 plus tax Since I don't stop riding when it gets cold, 26*F has been my coldest ride so far this year, I'm always looking for better ways to stay warm. I found these gloves at Cycle gear for $40. They are Insulated, waterproof, and appear that they would do a good job in a crash. Unfortunately they are only slightly warmer than the gloves I had been wearing. Keeping my hands warm is still my biggest challenge when riding in the cold.
I had the good fortune to cash in on Frank Thomas's bad fortune when they went out of business (or at least, Cycle Gear quit carrying them). Picked up a pair of "Storm" waterproof insulated gloves for $25 and a pair of their riding shoes (can't remember the name) for $29. The gloves are warm as toast at 29F@60MPH, and have some discrete armor as well. The shoes look like they are made out of black denim with ankle protection and are pretty comfy, even off the scoot.
It amazes me how many variations there are, I am a big guy so ordering off the internet (for the great deals) and know that it will fit is something that worries me. I want something cool for summer and to look and stick out (be seen) also looked at the Home Depot mesh skin thing to but I still have to have a jacket that fits great. Has anyone had issues with fit after they went by their size chart and then hey it did not fit right still? What a dilemma.