Ever crashed without leathers on?

[stinkwheel]

There seem to be quite a few oppinions of the dire consequences of not wearing leathers and stories about how you are going to lose yards of skin of you come off at say 30mph without protective bike gear on.

Mostly on This thread.

Now I think there are some fair old exaggerations going on so I'd like to inject some reality rather than conjecture.

So. Ever crashed your bike without proper bike gear on? What were you wearing? How fast were you going? What was the extent of your injuries?

Please only post about your own personal experience, not a mate, a bloke down the pub or some video/photo you saw on rotten.com. I don't want to hear about how your leathers saved your life, I want to hear about how badly you were injured when NOT wearing leathers.

I'll start the ball rolling:

I came off my moped at 30mph (it was flat out) when a pedestrian ran out in front of me. I went over the handlebars and 'supermanned' down the road face down.

I was wearing a pair of denim jeans, a combat jacket, boots, army issue leather gloves and an open face helmet.

I sustained a couple of minor but nippy grazes to both knees through the material (they didn't rip). I got a nippy bruise and a small patch of road rash on my hip where my keys were in my pocket. My gloves burst the stitching but I didn't damage my hands.

Walked home pushing the bike.

I actually still wear the clothes I had on at the time.

[Ariel Badger]

With leathers less than 10mph, no exageration.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[St0rmer66]

Came off at about 5-10mph in the wet going round a left corner out of a junction (thankfully a quiet one). Was wearing a Textile Jacket, full face helmet, bike gloves, normal black trousers and shoes.

Lowsided the bike and the trousers lasted all of 0.5seconds on the ground. Ripped right through the knee and cut my knee up pretty bad (with bits of the trouser leg stuck to the cuts). Also my heel was cut in a similar manner. Both my knee and heel bruised pretty badly and took a long time to heal due to the scabs constantly getting moved as I walked and breaking open. Still got minor scarring on the knee and well over a year later hairs are only just growing back there. Could have been MUCH worse if I had been going fast.

I now wear some proper bike boots (after hearing bad stories about broken ankles) but still only wear Jeans due to practicality even though I know it's a bad idea .
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:: Honda XR 125 L ('53) => Kawasaki GPZ 500S ('02) => Suzuki SV650S ('00) => Aprilia RSV-R ('51) ::

[Whosthedaddy]

40mph lowside in the Dartford tunnel

https://www.dartfordarchive.org.uk/20th_century/magnified/tunnel.jpg

Jeans and trainers (sustained little damage)

[Barker-CBR 600]

Didnt happen to fall under a moving lawnmower did you Ariel... ouch!

Care to elaborate or was that just the road?

For me - crashed my 50 when i was sixteen. Leather jacket boots and gloves took most of it but regular levi's totally shredded from sliding down the road. Bout 11-12 inch patch on both knee's was totally skinned, was weeping wounds (puss + blood ewww! ) for weeks meaning i was in shorts unable to walk properly for ages. Bandages stuck to it and clothes over it were a NO NO, so just lots of sitting around in shorts looking angry. Pain was constant more than it was harsh.
Bike was long fixed before i was able to bend in such a way could sit on it again before it absolutly destorying me. Scars still there now which go an odd shade of purple when i get cold
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Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[The View Askew]

[_Will_]

20mph , Helmet buggered, jacket pulled up by backpack, backpack roayally screwed, zip pull broken on boots gloves not a sratch.
Slid down road, bike slid about 30mtrs

Jeans - one thread came out hardly noticable, still wear em.

Injuries, Gravel rash up side where jacket came up, sore wrist and hand.

Jeans probably least affected
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[cokker]

Low sided on my old TZR125 after a new front brake was fitted (by me lol), slipped on some really crap tarmac at 15Mph.

Wearing black jeans and a leather jacket with trainers.

My knee was filled up with gravel that took over an hour of painful picking to get rid of (i had a pillow in my mouth to chew on lol).

No other injury's apart from bruises etc.
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No longer have a bike due to a DVLA/Court royal f**k up.

[Nath]

Got chucked off going over a speedbump at 60mph up a hill. Was wearing leather jacket, gloves and helmet, but only shorts and Vans trainers on the lower half.

Got a bloody knee, and a big patch of road rash on one arse cheek, took about a month to fully heal up but wasn't a problem during that time. No ankle damage and my trainers miraculously didn't even sustain any scuffing, my shorts are ripped on the backside but I still wear them. If you think this sounds unlikely for a 60mph off, then I would agree, but all the same it is the truth. My jacket got pretty scuffed so I think I slid with all my weight on my back/arms. The bike suffered a snapped handlebar purely from the slide (it didn't hit anything solid other than the ground).


I continue to ride in shorts and trainers when commuting to work, though I'm now more careful going over the speedbumps. The kind I came off on I won't go above 50mph over but I'm very careful to be travelling in a straight line as I think that's what resulted in meing being thrown off. Normally go over them at 40mph.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[McGee]

Twice:

Once at 80 in a corner. Came off on gravel ended up on grass/gravel No damage apart from a limp and a scuff on my textile jacket and gloves.

Second one being a bit more serious, I may remove this but here goes:

The main reason I'm back out here is because I got hit head on by a mitsubishi evo. I was wearing jeans, boots (teknik), Joe rocket summer gloves, my Gixxer textile jacket and shark lid.

I was mid corner on my side of the road and as I exited I started to feel that evil feel of the petrol running out I waved my mates on. I started slowing down to about 10mph, still way over the center of lane heading towards the curb in my lane. I twisted to change to reserve and as I did I saw the xenon lights and that was it. The evo crested the bridge and had overshot the corner and come into my lane. I got hit head on at an estimated 30mph flew over the car and the front of the rf was nicely smashed. I got up unhurt and nothing but bruises manged with a friend to straiten the front enough to ride the rf the 3 miles home no lights etc.

People you can judge me how you want but I was uninsured. I was picking the bike up from a mates house who was leaving for the army and couldn't store it any longer.

At the end of the day I was stupid to ride uninsured but hey I'm not gonna do that again am I . The police were not called to the seen etc no crime thing logged. I think she wasn't insured to drive it my self as she wouldn't answer the phone with the contact details I was given.

I never admitted fault and the police said there was nothing that could be done about it. But the guy (not even the driver at the time) was claiming his car as a write off the next day (his mum was driving it) if I would of wrote it off I would of been dead the damage they where claiming and they would'nt let me view the damage. He found out where I worked and even started to kick off in there and even brought some friends along. He found where I lived all though he never saw me there my mum caught him looking threw the windows etc. So thats why I'm back in the states

Still got a bit of a limp but its getting alot better.


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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[Rookie]

Once on the putt-putt at about 15mph, wearing gloves, textile jacket and helmet. Landed on my shoulder quite heavily - still can't hold it above my head for long, but then again that's impact damage, so with leathers on it would probably be worse. I got a moderately sized gash in my knee because I was wearing thin combat style trousers. Nothing big enough to need stitches, just hurt for a week or two.

[tatters]

I went into the back of a volvo on my moped at 30mph when l was 16 wearing just a helemet and my sainburrys uniform (school trosers/shoes + polo top). no damaged to me but the moped was a rightoff.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Bru]

Long time ago, brain shut down from riding on the freeway in the drizzle. Came off the slip road, but ignored the long line of cars at the lights until I was on top of them. Handful of brake put the bike on its side, and I bounced and rolled to a stop. I think that rolling saved me from a painful rash (no bike gear whatsoever, apart from helmet and gloves). Burst my shoe open, and a few scuffs on shoulders and elbow of my Big Star denim jacket (what a cool jacket). Walked away from that one.

Crashing is a lottery, and for every 30mph get-off without serious injury, there is probably another with death or serious impairment. That's the nature of sitting in the wind, on top of an engine. I had a later slow-speed prang in full leathers, and although cosmetically undamaged, had ripped my knee joint up pretty badly. That put me out of action for months, and still plagues me.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Crashed my H100 at 40~45mph, basically going straight on at a corner. Wearing a full face lid, leather gloves, boots, but a lightly padded waterproof jacket and some very light weight cotton trousers. Last thing I remember thinking was "I am not going to make it round this corner", next thing "whats this black stuff - smack - oh tarmac" as I headbutted the ground. Bike landed up in a ditch. I landed up with a tiny (1~2mm) hole in my trousers and an even smaller cut on my knee.

Same bike 6 months later, in the rain, same jacket but with matching trousers. Hit by a car. Bounced across the road, views of sky and ground. No cuts. Pushed the bike 1~2 miles to the local Honda dealer for an insurance quote then found I could not walk without a bike to lean on (tendons in my ankle all tightened up).

Dropped my 400 Superdream at walking pace. Normal padded waterproofs. On a bit of unopened road, I managed to ride along the join between a section that had been surfaced and a section that hadn't so there was a 2" vertical rise which caught the side of the tyre and flicked the bike over. Despite walking pace I landed a fair distance from the bike. No cuts, but VERY sore wrist for a week or 2 afterwards.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[john2]

Jeans, textile jacket, trainers, lid and gloves.

40 MPH lowside, slid for a good 10-20 foot maybe more.


1 inch cut on my knee, and ripped cartilidge in my ribcage.

[NickD]

Obviously disasters can happen, but I always regard the 'Wear full kit or die horribly' threads with some suspicion, wondering how much is hearsay and conjecture, and how much is actual first hand experience.

I reckon I must have been around 24 before I bought my first leather trousers, and up until that point all my riding/ crashing was in jeans/combats and para boots. In various crashes at various speeds the most I got was cuts and bruises, and the decision to buy leathers was based more upon warmth than protection.

I still go out in half kit in the summer, and while I guess it is a risk, it's a calculated risk based on 16 years of experience. If you want to be safe, stay home.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[moonym20]

I had a slight nasty about 3 or 4 years ago. Was on my way home from work down the back lanes. it was the heat of summer so the weather was great. was wearing my normal biker jacket summer gloves skanky tracksuit bottoms and my new trainers

was in a line of cars stuck behind a slow driver, i inteded to overtake. as the car in front was a 4x4 i had little view of the road ahead so i just popped out a little to see what the road was like... then hit a car head on

I came away with a busted hand (would have got that anyway) nerve damage down one side of my back (would have got that too) really awsome bruising down my right leg (got that too lol) however i lost all the skin on my knee which needed 14 stitches and lost a line of skin all the way down my leg and on my toes (very little scarring left now) and i managed to wreck my trainer... a car ran onver it lol

will get some pics of my gear at some point.. it was a real mess...

lesson learned
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A scientist crossed a skunk with an owl. He's got a bird that smells but doesn't give a hoot

[hmmmnz]

i once t boned a car that thought that red lights didnt apply to him, was doing about 40, probably about 30 at impact, i flipped over the carand sort of landed feet first then over forward onto my knees and then stomach
no major damage done sore knees and a cracked chine peice on the helmet,
was wearing jeans, army boots, and just a normal non armoured jacket,
fairly lucky.
bike was fuct
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Weedy]

Came off my moped a week before Christmas 2004, wearing a textile jacket, summer gloves ( ) jeans, vans trainers and a Shark lid.

Was going about 40mph and an un-insured, un-licenced, un-taxed driver/car swerved into my lane for no apparent reason. I tried to brake and swerve but ended up going into the kerb.

Remember looking down and seeing the kerb, then rolling a few times thinking "Oh sh*t this is going to hurt" Then out of no-where there was a couple of coppers who wouldn't let me take my helmet off, despite the fact the chin-bar was pushed into my mouth and hurting like hell. Tried to get up and smack the bloke, but turns out I chipped bone off my ankle and my hip! Had road rash all down my legs, bruised face, hurt my neck and was just really achey all over for a week.

Was at work the next day with strapping on my ankle, a limp and lots of cuts/bruises.
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<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[Walloper]

I once stood on a Nail. That hurt. You can get work boots with Steel plates in the sole to protect against that.

I came off three times (un-intentionally).

Three times the gear prevented more aggravated injury.
All low speed 20MPH (I canny go the b4stard OK )
1st off: Shoulder melted, press studs 'grindeded' down, zippers burst, leather scuffed through and underwear ruined.
2nd off: Troos Burst, Alloy Clips ripped/ground off Boots, Gloves buffed and red neck.
3rd off: Knees oot troos, Gloves burst at wrist. Helmet Scratched, No Claims Hammered.

Would not use a bike whilst wearing Shorts, Jeans, Slacks or espadrilles.

I am a firm believer in personal Protective Equipment. (PPE)

I am also well aware of the incidents where injury for some folks was minimal. This may only be luck.

Even 2mm of anything between you and an abrasive black Bast$rt is efficacious.

You never know when you will come off or at what speed.
The clever folk wear PPE and have learned to rely on it.

MotoGP in Thongs and Clogs?
F1 in t shirt and Trainers?

If you choose not to use then fair enough.
You may wish you'd been wearing it one day when you're picking scabs off your knee/s, elbow/s and shoulder/s

We could have a section for 'Gear Gubbed in Spills' as a reference.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Mister James]

I smashed into the side of an Alfa Romeo Spider at around 40mph, was thrown up in the air and over the bonnet, landing around 30 feet down the road. I was wearing a tracksuit, with Magnum patrol boots and my work fleece/raincoat over the top.

While I suffered a pelvis broken in four places, I don't think that any combination of leathers or armour would have avoided that. From the point of view of dragging injuries, I sustained a 6 inch graze to my left leg, and the worlds biggest bruise on my left elbow/arm.

My bike didn't do quite as well:

https://www.beerbadger.f9.co.uk/bike%20wreck/bike%20wreck%201%20net.jpg
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[Scouse]

Came of my nsr with jeans jumper and fleece, going at a fairly high speed. Front end went from under me (bald front tyre and winter time). The bike bounced off the kerb and smacked my chest on my left side and then I slid down the road on my right side.
The damage - Cracked and broke most of my left side ribs, took lots of skin off my hip, knee, ankle, shoulder and broke my big toe. Oh and my hand wrecked for weeks (grazed the palm). Bike had a few scratches and a cracked headlight.

A car went into the side of me on the R6, I was on my way home from work and only had jeans, hooded jumper, gloves and my sidi's on. I flew off the bike in whatever direction and landed on my back, can't remember skidding or rolling.
The damage - Broken leg just above my ankle where the car hit, and a tiny scratch on my back that I didn't even notice.
Bike was a bit broke to say the least.

[firefox]

i came off my scooter in tracksuit and a fleece with trainers, was only doing about 40 mph when the bike lost grip due to an oil leak, i went sliding down the road for about 20 ft, got road rash down my whole left side, knee was to the bone and has a funny shape in it now and all funny shaped and coloured now, right hand was down to the bone also, and trainers just slipped off and happily removed some skin off my feet,
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bye bye gti <^>( ' . ' )<^>
*officer* what caused the crash ? *firefox* you see that wall up there sir ?
*officer* yes what about it *firefox* i tooted my horn but it refused to move i had to teach it a lesson.

[NSR Mick]

About 40mph, lowsided my cb 125 wearing oily overalls and slid gracefully down the road.

No injuries at all and the overalls were fine to wear afterwards.

Lowsided at about 15mph on cold yres on the FZR400

Ripped work trousers and cut my knee quite bad but not enough to need stirches.

Lost the front on ice and slid down the road in 1 piece FT Textiles.

No injuries.

I've had a fair few more too but cant remember the details.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Villers]

Normally wear leathers but was wearing textiles during my big crash.

Went over highside at 60, burned my leg despite no marks on the cordura, melted the fleece I was wearing underneath the jacket on my shoulders and again no damage to my jacket.

decided not to wear them again. Crashed in leathers at about 25-30 without a scratch.
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS