What do you wear?

[annndy]

Just thought it'd be interesting to find out what people wear on their bikes and the reasons why they've chosen to wear what they do.

I've just done the list of the top of my head so sorry if I've missed anything out

Happy voting!
____________________
1991 Suzuki GSF 250 Bandit - 2001 Yamaha YZF R6 - 1998 Suzuki GSF 600 Bandit N

[izzi81]

ooh first to vote. 2 piece leathers. For 3 reasons:

1. I like wearing leather!
2. I couldn't imagine finding a 1-piece that fitted (or that I could afford).
3. 2-piece just seems more practical than 1.
____________________
"The problem with the French is they have no word for 'entrepreneur' " George W Bush
Age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese
https://www.bikepics.com/members/izzi81

[ProXimaCore]

[annndy]

Ah bugger I missed out just a leather jacket it on its own, i knew they'd be something!
____________________
1991 Suzuki GSF 250 Bandit - 2001 Yamaha YZF R6 - 1998 Suzuki GSF 600 Bandit N

[TheShaggyDA]

Combination. Previously it's been leather jacket and jeans, occasionally swapping the denim for leather jeans. Waterproof oversuit for when it's torrential.

Now I've gone for textile jacket and jeans, but will be getting textile bottoms in the near future.
____________________
Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[r1_lad]

Leather jacket and jeans normally
Have been known to ride in a tshirt in very hot weather

[iCraig]

Well It depends on the weather or where I'm going.

If its nice out and I'm going for a leisurely ride I will were my 2 Piece J&S Leathers.
If Its nice out and I'm going to work I ride in a Textile Jact and leather jeans from the 2 piece above or if its raining I were said textile jacket and padded waterproof trousers.

That said I will never ride without any form of "proper" motorcycle gear on my top half .

[nc30 chick]

2 piece leathers, they are more practical than 1 piece and i wouldnt wear anything less than leathers.

[sv_cath]

I wear textile jacket and trousers for riding to work and 2 piece leathers when going out for rides for fun.

[Keith]

Just a textile (but with lots of armour) jacket at the moment, and thick jeans with my trainers if i'm going to college or boots if i'm going for a ride out.

May seem daft but I need to be comfortable when at college.
____________________
Aprilia RSV Mille R Edwards Replica - Aprilia RS250 - Suzuki GSXR600 Supersport Race Bike

[Jaz]

[Git]

1 piece leather for me, and a gimp mask

[T.C]

I voted 2 piece, but you may be interested in the following which I wrote as part of the report I did on protective clothing and is a follow on to the helmet piece in the New rider section>

Head injuries, although often the most serious, are not the only injuries motorcyclists suffer. Leg and arm injuries are common, and leg injuries in particular can be serious often causing permanent disability.

Under the EC personal protective equipment directive, a series of European standards are being developed for motorcyclist protective clothing that will be designed to.

1. Prevent or reduce laceration and abrasion injuries.

2. Prevent or reduce impact injuries such as fractures, broken bones and joint damage.

These standards marked with a CE mark are essentially to help riders distinguish between clothing that offers a minimal level of protection, and garments that may look similar but offers very little if any protection at all.

Unfortunately for many riders, the buying of new leathers is often no more than a fashion statement as opposed to a desire to maximise their protection, but, contrary to popular believe you can be fashionable and protected.

As with helmets, there are accidents and injuries from which even the best or most expensive clothing will not protect the rider for various reasons. It is therefore important not only to try and reduce the severity of the injury as best as you can, but also ensure that the garment is comfortable, does not impede the movement of the rider and will reduce the affects of fatigue thereby aiding concentration.

Leather is still regarded as the best form of protection against injury when riding a motorcycle. They are made from a natural material, which is breathable, abrasion resistant and supple. Like a crash helmet, they cannot offer total protection from injury, but they can reduce the severity and long term affects if they fit correctly.

Leather garments can be made from 4 different animals, Cow, which is the most commonly used, Goatskin, Buffalo or kangaroo skin.

Cowhide is the preferred choice of most manufacturers. It is heavy duty (compared with the others). It is hard wearing, and in the main the manufacturers use 1.4mm thick hides, which means that in the summer weather with the thickness and all the padding they can get hot inside.

Buffalo hide is often used on cheaper garments and this can be felt in the overall quality when compared to other leather products. Buffalo is tough, will last well but it tends to be a very stiff leather and can take some time to bed in and soften up.

Goatskin although worth considering as an alternative for summer use is very difficult to find in the UK. It is considerably lighter and more flexible than Cowhide, and many consider the goatskin to be stronger than cowhide due to the fibres being more closely knit together than cow skin. The downside is that goatskin stretches a lot quicker than cow so it may require specialist tailoring on an annual basis.

Kangaroo is probably the least known of the hides used although they are being used more regularly in very hot climates. The hides are supple, light and quite tough, but it has been found that they can react with sweat particularly when worn by riders who perspire freely. If this were the case then you would probably be well advised to look elsewhere as you may find your suit literally coming apart at the seams.

For those considering purchasing leathers for the first time, the question often asked is whether to purchase a suit/jacket combination, two piece suit or a 1 piece racing suit. The choice comes down to individual preference, but here are a few points that you may find useful to consider.

1. A jacket and trouser combination is probably the most popular choice for the majority of riders, and, they can be worn singularly or in combination. However, many jackets (not all) have a Thinsulate lining for warmth retention together with a quilted lining. Many riders to complain that they overheat in warm weather which can ultimately affect concentration. However, this combination is ideal if you are an awkward size or on a limited budget.

2. A two piece zip together suit can be a good choice for a number of reasons.

• They can normally only be worn as a complete garment thereby maintaining your crash protection.

• They come in a number of colour choices therefore conspicuity can be enhanced.

• They are normally lighter than jacket/trouser combinations which for some means they will be more comfortable for summer or warm weather use.

• When stopping for a break, the jacket can be unzipped from the trousers thereby enhancing comfort when away from the bike.

• They maintain their shape and size better.

• They often have features such as perforated leather to allow air to pass through in warm weather, stretch fabric panels behind the knees, waist and inner thighs which again can enhance warm weather comfort.

On the downside, riders may also wish to consider that:

• They can normally only be worn as a complete suit.

• They can take a while to break in and mould to your shape.

• They are not particularly warm in the colder weather.

• There are not as many pockets as in a jacket/trouser combination, which for some may be a good thing.

• The colours tend to be more flamboyant than jacket/trouser combinations.

1 Piece suits are the other alternative often favoured by those who ride Supersports or participate in track days. Whilst offering a fair degree of protection, for road use they have often been deemed impractical as you cannot separate them when away from the motorcycle, but more importantly in serious accident situations, the emergency services have occasionally experienced difficulty in rendering an effective diagnosis or treatment simply because they cannot cut through the leather to tend to the riders injuries, or they cannot risk removing the garment without fear of causing further injury. This of course comes down to a matter of preference.

Leather is abrasion resistant, and its main function is allow you to slide, thereby reducing friction. From new, leathers should fit as tightly as possible to allow for stretching and moulding to the wearer’s shape. If the leather is a poor fit then there is the possibility that as the rider slides down the road, the friction caused by the road surface will cause the leather to snag. This could cause a flailing limb to snag and whilst the torso is still travelling at speed, the flailing limb will slow down too quickly and can result in severe injury. On the plus side, a good fitting leather can slow down any potential blood loss, particularly internal blood loss, or it can at least stem the flow until medical help arrives on the scene.

If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident as a result of which you are injured (and we all hope that it doesn’t happen), at least you can be comforted that the severity will be less than if you were wearing non protective clothing, and the sympathy you receive from the emergency services and Hospital will be far more favourable than your compatriot wearing his jeans and trainers.
____________________
It is better to arrive 30 seconds late in this world, than 30 years early in the next

[T.C]

And this is the piece on man made materials.

Non Leather Protective Motorcycle Clothing

For some motorcyclists wearing leather is not an option for whatever reason, and which a few years ago may have been a problem in terms of protective clothing on a motorcycle. About the only choice available was waxed cotton or heavy quilted nylon, neither of which really offered much in the way of real protection.

These days however things are much different. New manufacturing techniques have helped the development of some of today’s modern materials, and are in some cases more popular than leather.

Cordura as a material is often confused with materials such as Goretex, Aquatex and others of a similar name. These materials are simply a waterproof membrane that is sandwiched between the outer material (Cordura) and the lining, which afford the garment its waterproofing and breathable qualities.

Cordura is an outer man made material which has found a great deal of favour with touring riders for a whole number of reasons, and whilst it cannot protect the rider in the same way as a good fitting leather it can be considered as a good compromise.

Like leather, the quality can vary, but in general the material has been found to be:

• Five times more abrasion resistant than leather.
• Waterproof and breathable.
• Warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The advantages of Cordura are:

• It can be worn over normal clothing, particularly important for those people who use a motorcycle for commuting, but perhaps still need to wear smart clothes.
• Ideal for the touring motorcyclist, where the rider can easily store money, credit cards, phone and passports in pockets.
• It can be used both summer and winter.
• It more importantly avoids the need to stop should it suddenly start raining or turn cold.
• It is sufficiently flexible that it can be used as a casual garment as well as a weatherproof protective garment on the bike.

The downside is:

• They cannot be close fitting like leathers, as the material does not stretch.
• Once damaged it is difficult to repair, therefore consideration has to be given to replacing it.
• It can flap about, particularly at the cheaper end of the market where the attention to detail may not be as thorough as at the more expensive end.

Wax Cotton still finds favour with some riders, particularly those who ride classic machines as it is often in keeping with the era from which their bike originated.

For many though, the fact that this material requires regular re proofing, is messy and does not have much to offer in the way of warmth or protection it has for many years been very low down the pecking order of preferred materials although there are still one or two specialist manufacturers, who produce wax cotton in small numbers.
____________________
It is better to arrive 30 seconds late in this world, than 30 years early in the next

[stinkwheel]

Two piece leathers most of the time, leather jeans and Zip together textile jacket if I am going razzing the arse off it (for the armour).

Combat trousers, leather jacket and Bunderspolizie riot helmet (open face, big huge polycarbonate brick-deflecting visor) if on a small bike or my rat.

Two piece leathers with textile jacket over the top if it is bloody cold and wet.

Army issue combat hi-leg boots, the dogs danglies.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Ste]

Combination of the above.

Always wear Sidi boots, gloves and helmet. Then either wear jeans if I'm riding somewhere like work or round to someone house. Wear either leather or textiles if I'm going out for a ride somewhere.

[Annabella]

I always wear two piece leathers.

I'm with Izzi, so much more practical than a one piece (going to the toilet would be a nightmare in a one piece). Also, they fit an awful lot better, I don't think protective clothing manufacturers have 'quite' mastered the female shape with one pieces yet

I keep mine nikwaxed up, so it keeps me pretty dry, and if it's cold, I wear my thermals underneath Good stuff.

If I am going to work then I simply carry my change of clothes in a rucksack and get changed there. I find I'm normally quite a bit earlier if I go by bike than car anyway
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[Git]

[aqualung1]

depends what fits at time,
i can do most combinations of denim, textile and leather
all with combats.. best biking footwear ever
____________________
"still no idea where poohsticks bridge is"
www.bosunsbikes.com

[Ste]

[Git]

I would have to agree with ste on this, some steel toe boots just ask for trouble!

[Andy99]

For blasts it's a 1-piece,but it's a nightmare so i'll go for a 2-piece next time.
For work i wear a textile jacket and jeans,i know i should get some new leather trousers. I kid myself at the moment that i only live 5 miles from work and if i'm involved in an accident it will be at slow speed so leathers or jeans wouldn't make loads of difference.I know....
I always wear my sidi vertebra boots.

[Minky_monkey]

A thong and carpet slippers.

[Ste]

Just because its only a short trip doesn't mean to say it's less risky. Both my crashes have been less than 2 minutes away from home.

[stinkwheel]