OK, what the hell do people wear in temperatures like this?

[dazza]

Wheeled the bike out , so I could look at it.
Donned a pair of shorts
Jumped in the swimming pool all afternoon
Brother came round, jumped in the swimming pool with me
Called a couple of bitches to come round with some food and bikinis
Cracked open some ciders and ate the food
Decided it was too hot for the bike
Bitches went home
Got out my pre-exam learning materials
Done a bit of revision
Got chainsaw out of shed
Syphoned petrol out of bike and lawnmower
Couldn't start chainsaw
Brother went home
Storm started  closing in
Went down pub to see a ska band
Found myself surrounded by more bitches
Morale of the story is.....
Sometimes, there's a lot more going on and  it's just too hot to even think about riding the bike, let alone what you're going to wear  8)

[Grahamm]

Shoei XR-1000 Lid
Hein Gericke Air Jacket
Alpine Stars summer gloves
Leather trousers
Puma Boots

Works for me.

[darrsi]

Mankini and a turban, cool as you like.  8)

[Dead Eye]

I've tried kevlar jeans but haven't found any I think look like a normal pair, both fit and colour-wise, of regular jeans.

I have a pair of Sartso Kevlar Jeans and I think they look more or less like regular jeans - the only real difference is that they are a bit too big for me

[Arfa]

Always wear protection when having a ride, or risk a nasty rash.

[bigralphie]

Or ride on the grass 

[peterjca]

Alpinestars side-vented leather jacket
Alpinestars leather jeans
Sidi waterproof boots
Vented Alpinestars summer gloves (made the mistake of buying a cheap Alpinestars pair with suede/felt type fingers which soon wore through)
Freeby Shoei lid

I bought all this gear with the FZ1 in the hot summer of 2006. I've always found that I'm oblivious to the heat when I'm on the move (apart from my thighs getting toasted by the engine). It's when stopped, or when changing out of the gear at work that it becomes uncomfortable.

I remember that 2006 summer, bimbling around on the FZ1 and getting used to it's character. I got caught in a major traffic jam on narrow roads with absolutely no opportunity for filtering. I was stuck. At that moment, the heavens opened and I was deluged with torrential rain and hailstones.

The novelty of rivers of cold rain flowing down the insides of the vented jacket and to my crotch remain with me to this day lol

Christmas present for me this year will be renewing all my gear.

[ogri48]

back in 1990, wouldnt wear anything except a dodgy green meanie paint job. them were the days..

[Deefer666]

Rode the FJ Rat fighter at the weekend in trainers, cut off jeans, hoodie, lid, & MX gloves. Didn't ride any different to how I normally ride (like a loon). Don't give a stuff whether people approve or not.

[ogri48]

Gotta love that attitude....


Bikes are about freedom of choice I reckon, every individuals got a  right to choose what they wear to ride, it's their life, their skin, their choice.
I ride more and more these days in a piss pot, to me for the pleasure I get from feeling the elements on my face on a warm day it's worlds better than being cocooned in a full face

[Skippernick]

Gotta love that attitude....


Bikes are about freedom of choice I reckon, every individuals got a  right to choose what they wear to ride, it's their life, their skin, their choice.
I ride more and more these days in a piss pot, to me for the pleasure I get from feeling the elements on my face on a warm day it's worlds better than being cocooned in a full face

True.
Apart from those who have to help clear up the mess if it goes wrong, or passersby/witnesses who may well be children.
So don't be naive enough to think it is only going to affect you.

[nick crisp]

[quote author=ogri48 link=topic=14054.msg159329#msg159329 date=1405985222]
Gotta love that attitude....


Bikes are about freedom of choice I reckon, every individuals got a  right to choose what they wear to ride, it's their life, their skin, their choice.
I ride more and more these days in a piss pot, to me for the pleasure I get from feeling the elements on my face on a warm day it's worlds better than being cocooned in a full face

True.
Apart from those who have to help clear up the mess if it goes wrong, or passersby/witnesses who may well be children.
So don't be naive enough to think it is only going to affect you.
[/quote]

But that's a dangerous road to take Nick. If it's that much of a burden on others, perhaps none of us should ride at all. Perhaps people shouldn't do other dangerous sports - rock climbing, sailing the oceans in a small boat, mountaineering, hang-gliding, parachuting, white-water rafting......all have the potential to kill you, and not everyone always wears the full safety kit doing them.

Yes, I know you are arguing that you can do these things and reduce the risk by wearing good gear, but you can never eliminate the risk entirely, and as I have found out first hand, you can have all the gear and still get pretty mashed up - you are still putting yourself at risk in a way that may affect others should the worst happen.

Lately, I've been wearing some fairly lightweight cargo-style trousers and my hiking boots on the bike - with a proper jacket, gloves, lid - but some would say I should have protective trousers and boots. I'll always recommend to others that they wear full kit if they ask me, but I'm not preaching. The choice has to be down to the individual in the end.

My mate killed himself on my bike wearing leather jacket and jeans, plus lid and gloves of course. Family and friends were devastated. But NO ONE said he shouldn't have ever ridden motorcycles. Everyone accepted that he died doing what he loved best. Better that than a long painful illness stuck in a chair or bed where you can do nothing but suffer the pain and indignity. That can be much harder on that individual's loved ones, and can be a greater burden on the caring professions that look after us when our health fails.

Well, we all know the usual arguments, blah, blah. But as long as it remains the individual's choice, that's what is important. I bet there are as many doctors, paramedics etc who argue about this as well - I doubt they all see it the same way.

LIFE is a risk, and whilst we try to mitigate some of that risk in various ways, we all have to make our own choices how far we take the risk-reduction thing. Or hand all those choices over to a babying, nannying state - which most of us spend plenty of time complaining about cos it removes our freedoms.

Death, illness and injury happen  :eek Part of life is to learn to come to terms with that, in whatever way it happens.

[VNA]

True.
Apart from those who have to help clear up the mess if it goes wrong, or passersby/witnesses who may well be children.
So don't be naive enough to think it is only going to affect you.

You know what happens if you go down that route.  Well before you know it folks will be talking about banning motorbikes, or making em pay for their treatment if they have a spill and so on.

There's other things to consider as well, the dudes who ride like they are on a race track sporting their multi-coloured romper suits and body armour etc.  Perhaps they should try riding in their boxer shorts, they might be safer that way.

I could go on about the go faster knee down wheelie culture promoted by certain bike mags. 

I rode to work today in full leathers.  I rode home with all my kit sticking to me, thank god I don't live that far from my workplace.  Being too hot for too long you become an accident waiting to happen.  I'll be riding to work 70's style tomorrow, bike jacket, jeans, boots, gloves and hat.  It's too darn hot fae me.

As for popping across toon tae see friends or pop to the shops, it's jeans and a T shirt for me, I only stick the hat on cos the law says I must and I don't give a shit what the gear police think.

[Skippernick]

Hence the reason why i started my comment with the TRUE

I agree with all the comments, i wish i was naked  :eek [size=78%] riding back from work today, but put my lid, jacket, gloves, armoured jeans and boots on, like a good boy, but i also think about my children.[/size]


So was merely pointing out that YES it is your choice and a free country etc, but your decision affects others too. As i get older with 2 young daughters my attitudes are changing and i try to think about others thats all.


Don't want to start an argument at all.

[chris.biker]

As I watched some of the Tour De France tonight this topic came to my mind. They reach speeds of up to 60 Mph on their bike in just shorts and tee shirt.

[ogri48]

[quote author=ogri48 link=topic=14054.msg159329#msg159329 date=1405985222]
Gotta love that attitude....


Bikes are about freedom of choice I reckon, every individuals got a  right to choose what they wear to ride, it's their life, their skin, their choice.
I ride more and more these days in a piss pot, to me for the pleasure I get from feeling the elements on my face on a warm day it's worlds better than being cocooned in a full face

True.
Apart from those who have to help clear up the mess if it goes wrong, or passersby/witnesses who may well be children.
So don't be naive enough to think it is only going to affect you.
[/quote]
Mate...I never said owt about it not affecting passers by should I have a mishap wearing my piss pot and take a chunk out of my mush. The truth is I don't care how it affects passers by should that happen, if I start thinking along those lines or like that I'd have to live at home in an induced coma..

[Andy FZS]

For me it's atgatt and others in shorts and trainers make me cringe but its their choice. I try to persuade others to my mind set as the risks do genuinely frighten me but everyone has their idea of acceptable risk and it's each do their own. I'm just thankful that my eldest wears his gear most of the time. As an aside my youngest (15) informed me the other day that he apparently intends to get a yammy 125 when he's 17 which worries me but I did the same so I'll try and guide him to my way of thinking as he already has all the gear but ultimately it is personal choice even if I'm right

[Dave48]

Had to ride with "young" lady friend in yesterdays heat from Brum to the other side of Kidderminster. We ALWAYS wear full gear-because shes a nurse & one of mysons is a fireman who sometimes has to deal with the aftermath of RTAs.
We suffered when we got stuck in roadworks. The only relief was obtained by raising flip top section of helmet. On the return journey I found my riding was "ragged" and  was fantasising about air conditioned cages at one stage.
Saw a guy on a big Triumph cruiser-waistcoat top-no sleeves or gloves-looked on with envy for a split second-then remembered all those spills I had in my cycling youth and the gravel rash that resulted from sliding along the road.
So I will continue to wear ATGATT-the HG jacket has got air vents & I have never needed to use the liner. Similarly with the matching trousers,light weight summer gloves, ankle length boots & the Shoei.
Felt sorry for riders who are stuck in cities like London. At least I can usually choose whether to ride or not.

[Robbie8666]

as one or two have mentioned its all about risk assesment (as well as personal choice!!!)
if popping to get fuel / shop / etc where i know speed limits are max 40mph then its jeans, trainers, belstaff, if its the ride to work / home to cornwall then its leathers & boots. ( i actually dont have proper bike boots but prefer pair of combat boots, but thats another topic lol)
helmet & gloves 100% of the time, when doing CBT years ago instructor (good mate of mine) aske me to punch brick wall and then drag hand down 3 bricks in my bike gloves , which i duly did, he then asked lad next to me to do it with his bare hands,, surprisingly he refused... as instructor explained natural reaction is to put your hand out to break a fall, even at 10mph you can rip your hand open on tarmac!!
yeah I got gravel rash scar on my hip from when I was 17 & had a spill (virtually faded now but still have the memory!)  so never skimp on my safety...

[VNA]

On the return journey I found my riding was "ragged" and  was fantasising about air conditioned cages at one stage.

Which is exactly my point.  Being uncomfortable on the bike can turn you into an accident waiting to happen.