07-05-13, 04:21 PM
(07-05-13, 03:05 PM)Streetbudgie link Wrote: [quote author=Tiberius Onklevaart link=topic=7663.msg74295#msg74295 date=1367929319]
Budgie, I don't disagree I really don't but at the same time, would you enforce that someone wear the leathers etc if given the chance?
What next?
"No Sir, motorcycles cost the state far too much in healthcare and paperwork so we are outlawing them altogether for the safety of everyone. In the back of the van please Sir."
We are known as organ donors by default in many hospitals no matter what gear you wear. All these people are still affected. Death is death whether you are a power ranger *ahem* or not and even the best leathers won't avoid a broken limb in many cases.
If it keeps one biker out of A&E then yes, protective clothing must be compulsory, it's subsidized anyway. The truth is that a small off will put you in the hospital if you have no protective clothing, why wouldn't you wear it?
If you really want to avoid the banning or over restricting of bikes in any way then you should be advocating the compulsory use of protective clothing, more bikers in hospital = more reason to ban bikes.
Some bikers are known as organ donors, most are not as they wear the right gear and minimize their risk, a broken leg isn't always avoidable, but the queue of morons in front of you in A&E waiting for skin abrasions to be patched up is.
What about back protectors? Can't fit one of them under a t shirt, or elbow protectors, or knee protectors - they all can and do prevent broken bones.
Why does everyone keep going on about leather, all my gear is textile and CE approved as good as leather or better, none of it cost a fortune.
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Personally when I'm out on the bike I have one of two clothing sets:
For long journeys, times when I'll be at high speeds, or times when I know I'm going to want to piss around, I'm in a two piece leathers set, proper gloves and boots and of course a helmet.
If however, I'm going for a bimble, either just to visit mates, or around town, then I tend to wear the boots, gloves and helmet, but then a much thinner fashion type leather jacket, and a pair of jeans. I'm very well aware that if I come off at 30mph wearing that then yes it's going to hurt like hell, I've come off at similar speeds on my pushbike and that hurt bad enough. However, I judge the risk to be an acceptable one,and I can't be dealing with the hassle of wearing all the gear! Personally, there's no way I'd go out on my bike without at least gloves and boots on, and some kind of coverings (dependent on the speed I know I'll be at), but if other people want to ride about like that then that is entirely up to them, they'll be the ones in serious pain if they do come off!
It's like drinking, should that be made entirely illegal to do just because some people can't cope with it and use it sensibly? Pretty certain alcohol costs the NHS more money each year than a few bikers short of skin!
I'm totally against the restriction on our freedoms for pretty much anything, particularly when it comes to motorcycles -it would start with being forced to wear all the gear all the time, then high viz all the time, then we wouldn't be able to modify our bikes, and then they'd probably just ban bikes altogether and we'd have to live in tin boxes.
What I am thinking of doing is potentially getting a set of kevlar jeans, but that's because I want to, not because I'm being told to! I'm also looking into buying a jacket similar to one that my dad has - it's essentially kevlar mesh with armour inside, so no wind protection at all but its got the slide and impact protection - just right for summer.
On that note though, textiles and leathe are so far apart in terms of protection it's almost not even right to compare them - there's bloody good reasons why textiles aren't allowed on track and why racers don't wear them, whereas leather slides, and can wear through (or more likely the stitching splits) textiles can not only do the same but in a much quicker manner, but they can rip outright! Personally I won't wear textiles any more, if I'm wearing a full set of gear it tends to change my mindset and I certainly ride faster, and with textiles you don't get the proper protection that leather offers!