Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > I don't believe it.......

[Red Wogger]

See Real Rescues 2nite? bet that youth wish he'd worn leather, ouch where's me knee caps?


Wogger

[Paul James]

Guess you have to try it to get a proper feel for the freedom it gives?

Anybody else had the following:

Bike decides it doesn't like my ar$e on its seat but chooses to make the decision coming out of a really fast corner. Doesn't bother to give me any warning so next thing is earth, sky, earth, sky, ouch, ouch, OUCH!! Body stops rolling down the track/road/hedge/ditch (delete as appropriate) and the next phase is to assess the damage.

Tentatively move each limb one at a time hoping the movement will be in the directions as originally designed. On a good day its now time to see if standing back up is an option. If that works and the limb movements aren't too bad its a bit of a result innit?

Next take a look at the riding gear. Arai has saved Mr. Bonce from a good old grinding on the road and Mr. Dainese has to be congratulated for his input to the reduction of soft tissue loss.

Shorts, tee shirt and flip flops....yeah right....you've got enough going against you wearing proper gear so afraid I'll be leaving that clothing option to the "braver" individuals out there

PJ

[couchcommando]

freedom of choice winds you up ! ? LOL

As for medical staff having to dress those that fall off in this attire we had better not go down that route as bikes would be banned altogether as there are much safer forms of transport regardless of what safety gear we wear !

I wouldn't ride in flip flops but I couldn't care less what others want to do

[Jools]

I'll put my hands up and admit that I've often ridden in jeans and trainers.

I used to do it more often a few years back, when I used to take a 10 minute ride to my office on bright sunny mornings. Getting togged up in full leathers and out of them again when I arrived, plus carrying a back pack with jeans or trousers and shoes to change into was too much hassle, much easier to throw on my Belstaff leather jacket, gloves and lid and be ready for work as soon as I'd taken them off again at the other end.

I had a few ground rules in that I wouldn't go hooning about, just trundle along with the flow of traffic and use the bike just for the joy of riding it rather than using it to carve through traffic.

Was I taking an extra risk? Yes of course. If I had an accident I stood a bigger risk of injury, but that was only an incremental risk compared to riding the bike at all and it was a calculated risk...the type of calculated risk that we all take every time we sling a leg over a motorcycle. Yes, the risks are marginally bigger, but is that going to stop me? Clearly not.

I could also argue the other way. I don't know about anyone else, but when I climb into full leathers with all the built in armour, knee sliders, protective boots and everything else, of course I feel much more protected. It makes me feel more 'invincible' and I'm encouraged to ride much faster. Riding faster increases the risk greater injury if I have an accident and the type of injury I am likely to receive changes with greater speed from the abrasion injuries you are likely to receive in a 30mph spill to the broken bones and internal injuries in a 60mph spill.

It would be interesting to find out where the tipping point is between the risk of riding relatively slowly and relatively unprotected and the risk of being armour plated and riding faster (of course I could ride slower fully clad but not much point in having a motorcycle if you climb into one piece racing leathers to pootle around at 30-40mph).

So what risk do you want to take? The self inflicted injuries through not being protected or the self inflicted injuries through twisting the throttle harder? It's all a calculated risk, that we all take every time we throw a leg over a motorcycle

[WeeJohnyB]

I'm in the Couch, Bradders, Ray etc group. Personal choice, nanny state etc. Otherwise where do you stop? I've ridden a ped on hols in flip flops, but a geared bike is going to hurt your little tootsies, even in softer trainers its hard to change gear effectively.

We decide to ride bikes that are (you can't get away from it) a more dangerous mode of transport, maybe we should have legislation that says full leathers, max 100cc bikes only, airbags, leg protectors, etc etc....there's a case for banning open face helmets for example. What about a back protector, or proper boots with ankle protection. Where do you stop/start?

Do you have to have legislation to make helmets compulsary? If you lived in the country and were popping into the village on a beautiful day, would you like to have the choice to not wear a helmet? I don't always on my pushbike. Cyclists go around in packs in lycra at up to 50mph, I did it myself last year on my Lands End ride - was it dangerous doing 48.5 mph down a hill in the Lakes, sure, would I do it again, oh yes. Irresponsible? Would I do the same bit of road on a motorbike at same speed with no helmet, gloves, boots in a pair of lycra shorts.....hmmm...not sure I would actually, feels too dangerous yet it's perfectly acceptable on a push bike

Freedom of choice for me, less legislation.

eg street furniture, some tests showing remove it all and the roads are safer. Do you think you would ride better if you were naked with no helmet? (albeit some accidents are as a result of cars etc, but we mostly ride sports bikes and I would guess, with noproof whatsoever, that most sports bike accidents are as a result of going too fast for the conditions and skill level)

Take this luvverly sunny weather and London is full of girls in vest tops and shorts going to work (with the bloikes all still in grey suits and tie - what's that all about?). Skin cancer is a major problem. Should we be banned from showing skin in temps above 20 degrees? Compulsary factor 30. Police stop and search checks if your cream is not CE approved?

Rant over

WeeJohnyB

[John W]

This always gets the blood boiling for some

okay hands up, I have ridden in shorts & flipflops.
this was back in the 80s, and I was flat out racing another guy in exactly the same attire. We got up to 90mph (road registered enduro bikes).
Was it fun ? you bet !
would I do it now ? no way, I've seen the injuries others have received.

We also rode a gold wing in California for a week last year, and succumbed to only wearing a T shirt, but still kept gloves, helmet, jeans and boots on too. For one, the sodding thing was too hot to sit on in shorts !
We were riding in temps of ~97 degrees, and were melting with the jackets on. I wouldn't have done it on a sports bike though. Not sure why, as the result would be the same (or worse) falling off the wing.

I feel vulnerable riding my bike down to the dealers 2 miles away in shoes and jeans rather than boots & leathers. As Jools says, I too consequently ride slower and more cautious.

For me, the answer is education, not legislation.
Inform the riders the risk they are taking, and the likely consequences. If they still choose to take the risk at least it is an informed decision.

A guy on a trike followed by another guy on a quad overtook me up the A3 last week. Neither had helmets on. They were both doing 80+.
so why is it okay for them to not wear helmets or protective clothing, but not okay for someone on 2 wheels.
and just how many kids on scoots ride around with their lids undone anyway (or not even on their heads properly).

I'd prefer to see the helmet law removed, Give people the choice.
I bet that most people would still wear one anyway, just the same as most people now wear a seatbelt, and would likely do so regardless of whether its the law or not.

As for nurses & doctors not treating people due to a lack of protective clothing, that really would be a minefield, where do you stop ?

wogger, that program last night showed that he didn't have to slide very far to sustain quite serious injuries. Perfect timing too, I was in the middle of my dinner

Now when are we going to discuss gun laws...

[Chris Wood]

Darwin was right.....

Naked scooter races around Cadwell? Whats the worst that could happen?

[moozaad]

In Leicester you'll see people of Indian origin riding super sports (ninjas etc) in just a turban, well and jeans and t-shirt, they're not naked or anything...
It always freaks me out, they're not just a danger to themselves but even a knat to the eye (no goggles) could cause them to crash and kill a pedestrian even at urban speeds.
Crazy times and really demonstrates their ability to not give a **** about anyone, even themselves.


PS. not being racist, I find people of english origin just as offensive to my sense of self preservation and concern for others. And don't get me started on people that wheelie on public roads!

[nelly]

Originally Posted by WeeJohnyB

Take this luvverly sunny weather and London is full of girls in vest tops and shorts going to work (with the bloikes all still in grey suits and tie - what's that all about?).
WeeJohnyB

What's wrong with that Bring it on, hope it gets hotter

[Scooter916]

Well today I have been the baddest I have ever been.
We have Just taken delivery of our new demo MP3 400 LT (Google it)
T shirt, shorts, Crocks, and No Helmet, Boy did it feel good, But bad at the same time, Would I do it frequently, I doubt it, But for one moment today it all made sence. For nothing more than Baiting a traffic cop.......