Topic: What "Biker Look" are you?

[Gordon]

I hate to talk about the topic too....but I'm 53 and have never had an accident ( car or bike )...O.K., call me conceited but how I ride is based on the decision I made a long time ago that I am INVISABLE to all other traffic...if there is a car at a T junction...it will come out because it does not see me...does this make for a 'slow, brake-twitching' ride..not at all..but it's just practice.

+1

Most motorcycle wrecks I hear of, even when technically caused by a car driver, could have been avoided by the biker had he been riding with that thought in mind. 

[Frankenkit]

See, that's why I wear chaps.  I figure a cop could be making a right turn with lights and sirens etc, and still get hit but when I'm wearing chaps, I'll put money on people noticing me.   Maybe the accident there will become target fixation, but at least I'll be seen.

...yes, I'm joking.

[charlevoix418]

To me, safety is more important that look.  I resume riding a bike in summer 2008 after 33 years.  Helmet is mandatory in Canada, a Sikh fight in court in Ontario, wanting to wear his turban instead of helmet for religious reason and he lost.  I bought a full face helmet that you can open (we say Modulaire in french...) because I wear glasses, Harley brand boots, a padded Cordura suit (pants & coat) and a pair of padded leather gloves.

My only problem was riding in slow traffic when it was very hot, other bikers were riding with Tshirt, shorts, open helmet, no gloves and Flip Flops...  I felt like coming from another planet!  Safety has a price when its hot.

The only thing I did about the look is that everything was black.  I put the old HM Wings logo on the helmet and the SOHC4 patch & pin on my jacket.

Raynald

[jaknight]

From my prior posting:

Less than 200 yards from my home a woman pulled out from a STOP sign and did a left turn in front of me (so what if I had the right of way on a straight road?).

Yes, I agree about the distance area of the majority of accidents.

While everyone must drive defensively and safely (my accident happened at about 35 MPH), ..........in relation to the causes and reasons, to me the bottom line is there are 2 kinds of motorcycle riders.

Those who have gone down and those who will go down.

I started riding when I was 12 years old.  Got my first ticket when I was 13 because I didn't have a driver's license.  I am now approaching 70.  The accident from the woman at the STOP sign happened 3 years ago.  First one that ended up with me being taken to a hospital.

Yes, Drive Safe........ but .......... Mike Hailwood, one of, if not the, best motorcycle racers in history died in a 25 MPH car accident.

~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[Frankenkit]

one thing about the heat-  mesh jackets can be pretty cool if you wear one of those cooler-vests underneath.  You soak them down first,then put them on, and from what I gather they work with evaporation.  I'd assume you'd have to go change and put on whatever clothes you were going to wear for work, but after a hot ride you'd have to wipe down/clean up anyway. 

Not a big deal for someone who used to be a bicyclist and have to shower before work, but it's osmething to get used to.

[Sporkfly]

Either a full face flat black Fulmer or my 1975 Arai full face, black with red pin stripes and corduroy lining. Vintage Hondaline black vinyl jacket with large Honda patch down the sleeve or my brown leather jacket (which I use for welding as well). Heavy jeans or black Dickies and steel toe work boots. Armored black leather gloves.

I like wearing the Arai with the Hondaline jacket, they go together really well as they are both from the 70s and fit with the era of the bike. Both black, red and silver; however, I generally feel more at ease wearing the Fulmer as it seems like the safer choice in helmet.

[eldar]

Kit, chaps only have one use. To make a persons butt look good. This of course relies on the basis that they have a nice butt to start with! So make sure you have a nice one before you get them chaps!

[Frankenkit]

Kit, chaps only have one use. To make a persons butt look good. This of course relies on the basis that they have a nice butt to start with! So make sure you have a nice one before you get them chaps!

I have a FANTASTIC butt, thank you.

Butt back to the main subject,

has anyone seen any real benefit to having the gloves with carbon knuckles over regular plain-leather gloves, besides the tough-as-nails aesthetic? 
Also, I'm looking for a leather jacket like the Joe Rocket Alter-Ego.  That's what I have for late spring/summer/early fall, and it's good with both mesh and full textile, padding etc, but on cold days the wind goes RIGHT through it.  I like the way it snaps at the neck and fits, the sort of retro-race look to it, but I'm not finding anything that's a) for women or b) has CE armor in it.

[cafe750]

Kit, chaps only have one use. To make a persons butt look good. This of course relies on the basis that they have a nice butt to start with! So make sure you have a nice one before you get them chaps!

I have a FANTASTIC butt, thank you.

Butt back to the main subject,

has anyone seen any real benefit to having the gloves with carbon knuckles over regular plain-leather gloves, besides the tough-as-nails aesthetic? 
Also, I'm looking for a leather jacket like the Joe Rocket Alter-Ego.  That's what I have for late spring/summer/early fall, and it's good with both mesh and full textile, padding etc, but on cold days the wind goes RIGHT through it.  I like the way it snaps at the neck and fits, the sort of retro-race look to it, but I'm not finding anything that's a) for women or b) has CE armor in it.

I personally prefer hard armor on the knuckles of my gloves, for I have seen leather knuckles ground through. It takes a helluva lot longer to grind through a hard knuckled glove, than a standard leather one....

[MosquitoJones]

has anyone seen any real benefit to having the gloves with carbon knuckles over regular plain-leather gloves, besides the tough-as-nails aesthetic? 

Like Cafe750 said, to protect the hand from abrasion, also impact protection.  Them tiny bones in your hand are quite a bit softer than the pavement at 30mph.

I gave up on buying women's gear a long time ago, as it seems much more concerned with appearance than protection.  I just buy men's stuff in small sizes and find that I have a much bigger (not to mention cheaper) selection.

[Frankenkit]

has anyone seen any real benefit to having the gloves with carbon knuckles over regular plain-leather gloves, besides the tough-as-nails aesthetic? 

Like Cafe750 said, to protect the hand from abrasion, also impact protection.  Them tiny bones in your hand are quite a bit softer than the pavement at 30mph.

I gave up on buying women's gear a long time ago, as it seems much more concerned with appearance than protection.  I just buy men's stuff in small sizes and find that I have a much bigger (not to mention cheaper) selection.

I would, and gloves are sometimes ok, but I have the problem tall lanky guys have.  If I get a guy's small or xs, it might fit my torso but the arms will be way too short.   If the arms are ok, the torso's like a parachute.  Men's gloves anticipate way thicker, shorter fingers.   Someone needs to make performance-oriented bike gear that doesn't look like it came out of a pink-and-frilly boutique.
"Do these rhinestones make my gloves look fat?"

[fuzzybutt]

this is my winter outfit, once it hits 70 i have a joe rocket mesh jacket. those and jeans and joe rocket boots.

[Sparked]

I have a black and red Icon Alliance full face helmet, and a heavy leather Honda jacket.  I still need gloves and boots but a running bike is slightly more important. I defiantly think it is important to dress for the crash, especially in a town where bikes are only on the road 6-7 months of the year and car people arn't used to sharing road space.

[billybobobrain]

has anyone seen any real benefit to having the gloves with carbon knuckles over regular plain-leather gloves, besides the tough-as-nails aesthetic? 

I used to race pocket bikes with some buddies. I Have the knuckle protection on my Joe Rocket gloves, I went down in a corner at about 20 mph and the knuckle gloves have about 1/8 of an inch shaved off were they hit the ground. The knuckles on these gloves are covered in leather. the asphalt cut through like it was nothing. If I had not been wearing the gloves it probably would have made it to the bone.

[snowfighter2]

I wear a "vintage" looking dark brown leather jacket I found  at a department store. I plan on sewing some Honda patches on. Jeans and
thermal underwear when weather dictates. I have a pair of Harley boots, but you cant see the logo under the pants legs. I am currently borrowing a friend's full-face Shoei 700. When the weather gets warmer, I have an old Army Tankers Helmet (CVC) that I am rewiring to accommodate some MP3 speakers. Colorado doesn't have a helmet law, so my CVC helmet does not meet snell, dot or anybody Else's acronym for safety. It just looks different. Complete with Army issue sun,wind and dust goggles, and an Army issue arctic face mask, yeah it's not pretty, but it works

[Hush]

Love them reinforced knuckles on the gloves, but you gotta get a size bigger than you usually wear as they tend to constrict clutch/brake finger movement.

[Jakoba]

I ride with a full face helmet, cordura armored jacket, cordura padded pants, Road River Boulevard Boots(Long and Waterproof) and gauntlet style gloves and Bobster goggle/glasses.

Jako

[Caaveman82]

I've got my river road leather jacket, with the euro style "collar", it's just a little strap that goes across the top and snaps on. I've got some leather gloves with the carbon fiber knuckle guards, because honestly without my hands i'm screwed. Full face, plain black helmet that has been pin stripped by my buddies wife. Jeans, of course, and what ever pair of boots I choose to wear. Usually the combat boots, look and feel more comfortable. All that "armor" is cool, but to be honest if you are hitting hard enough even the armor will not save you from a break.

[Frankenkit]

I figure breaks are gonna be unavoidable- I just want to preserve the best skin graft sites.

[OakBehringer]

This thread inspired me to upgrade my helmet.

I had a cheap half helmet that was uncomfortable so I had gotten really lazy about wearing it. I also stored it in a big c-clamp between rides to make it narrower to fit my alien skull. Two days ago I started doing a lot of research and was surprised to learn that so much as dropping a helmet qualifies it as unsafe to wear (damage to the hard form lining the shell). I can't imagine how unsafe my helmet was- when I was even wearing it.

I read that Arai supposedly makes the longest/narrowest helmet so I decided to find a dealer and try some on. It's true. The Arai Profile is actually what I would regard as "comfortable" on my head. I've never in my life put on a comfortable helmet. So nice for me. The dealer had all Arai Helmets on sale for $100 off so I splurged and got it. Luckily they had one left in black, seems like most Arai helmets have "awesome" Monster Energy Drink (, etc) graphics on them.

I now have a full face helmet. I don't look as cool and retro, but I feel safer already.

[charlevoix418]

Thats funny:  I was reading a trip report on a Quebec web site about bikers that went to Bar Harbor Maine, it was wonderful, they were able to ride without helmet because it is not mandatory in that state...

Raynald

[turin39789]

I rock the gear

[low550]

man, go to a couple of biker rallys, or hard core biker runs as a spectator and see what suits you best. it's a little coolness+ safety that works for me.

[Ryan 550k]

I rock the gear

[tinyrobot]

I read that Arai supposedly makes the longest/narrowest helmet so I decided to find a dealer and try some on. It's true. The Arai Profile is actually what I would regard as "comfortable" on my head. I've never in my life put on a comfortable helmet. So nice for me. The dealer had all Arai Helmets on sale for $100 off so I splurged and got it. Luckily they had one left in black, seems like most Arai helmets have "awesome" Monster Energy Drink (, etc) graphics on them.

I now have a full face helmet. I don't look as cool and retro, but I feel safer already.

I love my profile as well, you will be very very happy with it.

I wear the same gear almost all the time: full face, jacket (full leather or vented joe rocket fabric) leather gloves with knuckle protection, boots, and jeans.  I really have been meaning to find some good leather pants, but being 6'3" and only 180lbs. they are a bit tricky to find one that fit.