Riding without gear

[SoND]

Whenever you go out without wearing your gear does it make you ride any differently to when you're fully kitted up?
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[GearboxGeezer]

Yes. I still open it up but not nearly as much or as long as I would do with leathers, and I dont really push it in courners, just down straights every now and again.

[NickD]

For about the first 10 minutes yes, then I sort of forget. When I had my last chop, and used to go out in an open face lid I'd spend the first few minutes painfully aware that I may as well be wearing a rubber swimming cap......... Then after that first overtake........ well, y'know.
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[mark83]

I only go out without gear if I'm going to local Tesco or the Gym or something.

I wouldn't dream of going on a long trip without the full padding.
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[Rookie]

Went out in t shirt, shorts and flip flops once. Was absolutely terrified, I went the speed limit all the way and didn't dare tilt the bike over at all. Luckily it was only a 10 minute trip to go and get fish and chips for la famille.

[Whosthedaddy]

The first time last I rode without gloves felt so strange and yet so tactile. I must admit that I rode quite differently, almost caustious as not too come off and get a nice gravel rash

Could nt give a toss now
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[Dazbo666]

It's very rare that I ride without full kit... in fact, thinking about it I've never ridden without helmet, jacket, boots and gloves.
I've occasionally gone with unpadded waterproof trousers over my jeans or work clothes etc, but I tend to ride a lot more carefully.

If I'm going for a long ride or weekend blast etc I ALWAYS wear full kit
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[GearboxGeezer]

[Whosthedaddy]

[DEN MONKEY]

WAY SLOWER .

I live literally around the corner from the local servo (Takes me longer to put my gear on then it would to walk ) and have only ridden around 3 times without jacket and gloves.

I was packin my dax the whole way.

I really have to stop it though because it kinda feels nice and I dont want to get used to it.

The fear factor when doing it is a good thing.
Might make me think about doin it next time.

I try and rationalise it by thinking I wont go fast and its hardly any distance at all, but then I realise that I dropped the bitch at a stand still.
If I can manage that, I can fuck anything up.
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meh

[Finglonga]

I never go out without my gear on, no matter how short the trip.

Heard far to many times "i was just nipping around the corner so no need to put my gear on and a car pulled out on me".
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[Dazbo666]

[feef]

don't see an option for 'I don't ride without gear'

cos I don't.. ever..

even a short trip to the shops, if I'm in jeans and leather jacket, it'll be kevlar lined jeans..

a
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[akaDAVE]

The only times I've ridden without full gear is to go and meet the GF for lunch in town. I've swapped the leather bottoms for jeans.
I would never go anwhere without gloves or boots as my hands and feet are relatively delicate things that I really don't want to loose the use of, for any period of time.
I've come of mountain bikes at 15mph without gloves and that's bad enough.
I like to think that 20-30mph in town I won't be sliding on my arse for long.
My knees could take a knock but I have to weigh that up with the fact I'd be sitting in a cafe sweating my balls of in leather trousers.
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[Finglonga]

[chris-red]

I always wear a jacket, and lid gloves, I went out onch with out gloves (I forgot) 80% of the time I wear boots, and if I'm covering any distance I'll put leather bottoms on if it's just round town I won't.
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[deeley]

I thought that just popping around the corner to the shop made the tarmac softer, so when you have a fall it dosen't hurt so much, so why wear protective gear!

[imabikr]

Add me to the list of folk who never go out without gear. sod's law that'll be the day someone else does something stupid, regardless of how slow and cautious id be riding.

[ram_doom]

Believe me, you do NOT want to do your knees in.

This can be hard to avoid as along with your hands, their the first things to hit the floor usually, and they need protecting
I've got ligament damage that's getting worse and no amount of physio will help. Makes the knee prone to giving way at random and can become very stiff on the bike.

If I'd worn trousers with at least a bit of knee protection at the time, it could have been a bruise instead. So I wear my gear from now on as I want the rest of me to work fine
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[Sephiroth]

[palmer]

when i was in full kit, i used to push alot harder than in just a jacket. (as Method well knows )


I used to like wearing full kit though, made the experience better.

[Edicap]

I did it once or twice when I made the four mile commute to see my parents but since then I've thought better of it. To be honest, I actually feel better inside when I've got my leathers on, its one less thing I've got to worry about. Somehow I feel that little bit safer?

The one thing I always remember before getting on my bike was the words my mum first spoke to me when I passed my test...

"Remember you've got a family at home that love you"

That goes through my head everytime I swing my leg over the bike. Doesnt stop me going fast though
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[Visitor Q]

Some of the best rides ive ever had have been in just a t-shirt and jeans with gloves and boots.

When you're pissed off late on a summer day, or just hooning over to your mates, or coming out of work. Right hand = Cooler.

Its beautiful.

I dont do it for longer rides, but i dont overly fuss if im not wearing my jacket.

Did love the thought of people taking complaints for the nutter on a loud sportsbike whos overtook them in a tesco shirt

Im better now tho.
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[Paivi]

When on the Ducati, I wear leathers, except if I'm just moving it from one bay to another.

When commuting on the scooter, FT jacket and Draggin' Jeans, bike boots and gloves.

Weekend riding about town on the scooter, it's civvies. It feels very liberating! Speed and care don't tend to vary, I think the only thing I change is that I don't filter that much.
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[Method]

Seriously slower, and its a very very rare that i ever go out without kit in one way or another now-a-days. Be it draggin jeans or full textiles, im always kitted up.

Put it this way, im one of the lucky ones that have seen what kit can do, and what happens when you disreguard the importance of correct protection, and been able to change their ways before its too late.

Ive learnt the Semi-Easy way, i mean its never "easy" seeing someone come down in front of you and then proceed to be ridden over by a following bike directly on their back is it...
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