Who rides motorcycles?

[Darth_DMack]

I am a 60 mile round trip from work. I have also tagged a few deer, one on the bike, killed the bike and the deer. Left me with three broken ribs, two busted thumbs, but no road rash....that gear again.

That is why all the lights on the bike that will destroy the planet and make me public enemy #1, I want to see those forest rats every chance I can get.

I am on the road at 4am for work every morning. I think mother nature has it out for me for all the creatures I have hit over the years.

I am a true believer in protective gear. I dress for the SLIDE, not for the RIDE. I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

I had one of my Soldiers come up to me as I was getting on my bike one day after work. He was a Harley rider, and wore the bare minimum for Army standards (his duty uniform, gloves and half helmet). He asked me... "Chief, why do you wear all that stuff? Don't you get hot?"

I answered: "Well, it's like this. There are two types of riders. Those who have gone down, and those who WILL go down. I dress for the slide, not the ride."

He went on to say... "Yeah, but I don't ride a crotch rocket, I'm on a cruiser."

I responded: "The asphalt does not care. 55 mph is the same on a Street Glide as it is on a GSXR. I tell you what... you go run that way as fast as you can sprint, I'll do the same. When I say go, dive face first into the pavement... let's see who fares better!"

Bottom line... I respect the right to ride your ride, and wear whatever gear or no gear as your acceptable risk allows. I do me, they do them. No judgement on my part.

Heck, I even wear a Helite Turtle Vest (Airbag) every time I ride!

 

[Darth_DMack]

I am a 60 mile round trip from work. I have also tagged a few deer, one on the bike, killed the bike and the deer. Left me with three broken ribs, two busted thumbs, but no road rash....that gear again.

That is why all the lights on the bike that will destroy the planet and make me public enemy #1, I want to see those forest rats every chance I can get.

I am on the road at 4am for work every morning. I think mother nature has it out for me for all the creatures I have hit over the years.

I hear ya on the nature stuff... I'm in a very rural area... if it's not cows or deer in the road, it's tractors!

If it's gonna be a traffic jam, it better be a tractor, man! (Lyrics)

 

[Milo]

I found his take on armor in MC gear to be interesting.

 

[Darth_DMack]

I found his take on armor in MC gear to be interesting.

I watch a lot of Ryan's stuff on YT... some I agree with, others not so much. I take YT "Influencers" with a grain of salt. I've had some crashes on the track, and my armor did what it's supposed to do. However, anything is better than bare skin in my mind. I hope to never have to test it.

I'm pretty active on several motorcycle forums, both Track Riding and Adventure Riding. That video has been discussed ad nauseum... some side with him, others don't.

My take is... ride in whatever you choose, and your risk acceptance allows. There are times I want to ride in a Tee Shirt and Jeans, but I don't. I'd rather sweat a lot than bleed a little. I don't push my thoughts on others though.

I'm very active in CVMA, and I'm of the HUGE minority, as I don't ride a Harley and I dress in full gear. In the end, it's all about the ride.

 

[Milo]

I guess I fall somewhere in-between ATGATT and t-shirt. In the upper 70's and below I'm generally in a 1-piece Roadcrafter and leather boots. Mid 80's and up I generally wear riding pants or heavy jeans, a vented jacket and gloves, and vented over ankle hiking boots. Always a helmet.
The times I've gone down, even when a truck T-boned me totaling a brand new BMW, there was little impact other than my helmet absorbing minor bumps (which would have been major w/o the helmet). I think abrasion protection is what helped most.

 

[Darth_DMack]

I guess I fall somewhere in-between ATGATT and t-shirt. In the upper 70's and below I'm generally in a 1-piece Roadcrafter and leather boots. Mid 80's and up I generally wear riding pants or heavy jeans, a vented jacket and gloves, and vented over ankle hiking boots. Always a helmet.
The times I've gone down, even when a truck T-boned me totaling a brand new BMW, there was little impact other than my helmet absorbing minor bumps (which would have been major w/o the helmet). I think abrasion protection is what helped most.

And I support you 100% and then some.

I try to set the example for the younger riders on base. Good or bad, I try to be consistent.

Glad you were not critically injured... that's for sure. I have thought about an Aerostitch Suit, but have not taken that plunge yet. My Shoei Hornet X2 (ADV Helmet) is 5 years old now, never been down. But, I replace my lids every 5 years... I'm looking for the replacement now. My Klim gear has held up to lots of rides... my 2019 BMW R1250GSA has 87k (+) on her now, climbing. Been a bulletproof bike! Bought brand new in January 2019.

 

[Milo]

Thanks Darth. Yeah the policeman said "I've never seen a motorcycle destroyed like yours that the rider wasn't killed, much less up and walking around!". It did take me about 5 minutes before I was able to get up on my feet and I was bruised but nothing broken. The BMW's right cylinder with header still attached was 100' down the road. Everything was in pieces, there was nothing on that bike that wasn't broken off or bent.

Speaking of Roadcrafters you wouldn't happen to be fairly tall say 6'-2"+?

 

[Darth_DMack]

Thanks Darth. Yeah the policeman said "I've never seen a motorcycle destroyed like yours that the rider wasn't killed, much less up and walking around!". It did take me about 5 minutes before I was able to get up on my feet and I was bruised but nothing broken. The BMW's right cylinder with header still attached was 100' down the road. Everything was in pieces, there was nothing on that bike that wasn't broken off or bent.

Speaking of Roadcrafters you wouldn't happen to be fairly tall say 6'-2"+?

Yes Sir, I'm 6'3 and about 250.

I love my Boxer Engine.. what guy doesn't like big jugs, right?

 

[Milo]

Reason I ask is I have a 1-piece Roadcrafter that I've been meaning to sell and being 48L it fits someone your size. If you'd happen to be interested just pm me.

Yeah I like BMW R bikes and have been riding them for years. I sold my more modern ones which were a 14 R1200GSA and 16 R1200RS a few years ago but still have a R100R.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

When I was younger I had a rule about riding, as long as it was above 40F and not raining I would take the bike to work. Now knocking on the door of 60 it has changed a bit. 55F and no rain for today.

I have been stuck in rain and hail before. Geared up and looking like they typical ADV rider, so I looked like a rolling traffic cone. When the hail came the only part that hurt was the top of my feet. There was no armor on the top of my feet and I sure did feel it.

Those are games for the young.

Bad T-storms are to be here today by noon, tornado, hail all that mess, but after that Wed and Thurs are to be nice before the rain starts up again for the weekend. I hope to be on the bike for those two days. I have 11 days left till retirement, I would like to ride to work at least a couple of those days.

And don't forget, if you still do have to work, June 11 is national ride to work day.

A real biker.
Congrats on your retirement. How is your commute, is it backroads?