Barcelona - many bikes & scooters, no gloves & boots

[Khanivore]

I just spent the last week in Barcelona. There is a tremendous amount of bikes and scooters on the road there. in that lot there are many big bikes too, it's definitely not just scooters.

What surprised me on my daily 30 min drive from my hotel to the conference hall is that in the 4 days i was there I think I only saw 2 people wearing protective gloves. I don't think I saw a single person wearing sturdy boots. I definitely didn't see anyone wearing motorcycling clothing.

This was on people riding R1, R6, Blades as well as scooters that were whizzing around at a pretty good rate of knots! I was really surprised. I know it gets hot but still..

[J.M.]

So they're not safety Nazis over there.

I spent almost 2 weeks over there doing exactly the same thing. Felt brilliant and nobody gave me the slightest strange look.

I came back to the UK and rode home 180 miles in the same attire and oh boy did I get some very displeased looks...
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[TheSmiler]

I've ridden plenty of times with no gloves on, personally I find them restrictive and harder to operate the controls. That's why I only wear thin gloves.

Regarding boots I prefer to use just toe caps now mainly or (long touring boots). Did ride around with trainers a few times but the gearing up can get a bit uncomfortable.

As long as they aren't hurting anyone don't see any problem.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
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[esullivan]

There was a column about this in MCN a while back, discussing the high safety culture in the U.K. Journalists from other countries show up at bike launches in light trousers and regular shoes, possibly a leather jacket, but they'll even ditch that if the weather is warm. In the states, too, it's very unusual to see people fully kitted out -- mostly that's because people there consider motorcycling a sunny-day pursuit, but still. Many U.S. states don't even require a helmet. Gloves are a fashion accessory, considered very optional. They're riding Harleys, though, so not going fast enough to get really hurt.

I like my kit. I've been commuting to work now for two years, in any weather but fresh snow, and I arrive warmer and drier than I ever did on the tube (where i have a 20 minute walk to the station on my home end and 10 minutes on the work end).

But this summer I discovered that my line in the sand is 30 degrees. Above that, and I'll ride in a t-shirt. You just ride differently, a bit more cautious.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Clutchy]

So what?



Would you like the EU to pass a law that means we HAVE to do more things by what they say is safe rather than being old enough to make our own decisions?
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Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[Mario_Kempes]

I live in Barcelona. Summer sees most people commuting in t shirts etc. Me included.

But when you go out for a blast on a sat/sun morning (early because it's impossible after about 12) then people are still geared up.

The analyse-and-judge-what-people-are-wearing-from-a-safety-perspective thing only happens in countries where biking is a sub culture. In Spain it's mainstream. 7 out of 10 people could name half a dozen Moto GP riders, most car drivers either have, or have had, a bike etc.*

I'm on a couple of Spanish forums and you'll never get the whole "I was out the other day and I saw a guy riding with a T shirt on! What an idiot!" type thread.

*source - my dirty rectum

[_Iain_]

Personal choice innit.

JM & Paddy did all of spain in no gear. Belive at one point paddy hit 190mph in tshirt,jeans, broken ass converse things and a lid. He ain't dead, however I stuck to kevlars, mesh jackets, gloves & boots all the way. Nobody got killed, however i felt happier knowing if the worst did happen i'd not have the rest of my holiday ruined by road rash.

As it goes I diddn't need to worry due to the insane sunburn on the last few days anyway.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Don't do it much but riding without clobber feels ace.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Khanivore]

[Khanivore]

[hmmmnz]

Most of the world you can wear what you like, with out any one looking at you funny,
id say new zealand, uk, sweden and norway are the most likely countries to see every one geared up 99% of the time,
i think its a weather based thing, unpredictable so best wear the gear for it
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Khanivore]

Hmm the above comments have certainly made me reconsider how much i am going to spend on my motorcycle gear, considering on the whole i plan to be a fair weather rider. I was thinking I absolutely must invest in high end clobber with loads of armour etc. Seems not?

[J.M.]

I wear gear that is around 9 years old. RST. It's holding up well but a few zips are starting to break.

Its main usage is to keep me warm and dry in the miserable weather that we tend to have here.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[esullivan]

[Whosthedaddy]

[P.addy]

[tbourner]

[Joncrete Cungle]

When I was in Barcelona I found the drivers to be a LOT more aware of bikes and peds than the dozy cagers in the UK. There are a lot more bikes and peds on the roads and probably a lot of the drivers started out on a ped or have family and friends on bikes and peds = more aware car drivers?

Anyway it was sunny, I was on holiday and I left tha bike safety Pohleece brigade in the UK.

[Rogerborg]

Plus we have those potholed diesel slicked patchwork quilts masquerading as roads. My only spill so far was a hundred yards from my front door on some iced over piece of glass smooth tarmac that had been slopped over last winter's potholes.

Mind you, I've become less inclined to armour up on my ped and may even have gone out without gloves a few times. It just feels like a different mode of transport to a bike.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
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[nathan k]

[J.M.]

[fozzym]

There's no problem with riding naked, its the falling off that causes the problems

I'm a live and let live type and really couldn't give a hoot what people wear however we do have some of the safest roads in the world and have some of the best statistics in terms of fatalities and live changing accidents. Its not a coincidence that we tend to put a high regard on safety, whether that be gear or saftey tech ie; seat belts, abs ect.

Our road rules and attutude to safety gear has a direct influence on our reputation as having safe roads.

I always think back to being about 11 or 12 and comming off my mates pw50 on his drive, I must have been doing about 15/20 mph when I grabbed the front brake. I went flying and ended up in hospital, no serious injuries but god the road rash was terrible, I got bandaged up and had to have the nurse come to the house for a couple of weeks to change my dressings. It really was horrible and I still have some scars.
I'd hate to think what would happen at 50, 60 or more mph.

So I'll stick to wearing my gear regardless of whether it's PC or not.

[P.addy]

[nathan k]

[beardface]