Don't forget the legs.

[eye.surgeon]

Interesting LA Times article on motorcycle safety gear. Quotes a study that shows, not surprisingly, that 90% of motorcycle accidents result in injury, and that the legs are the most common area to sustain injury, followed by the arms. The head is third. They quote another study that showed jeans take half a second to be compromised in a 30 MPH crash. I'm surprised at how many serious riders I know that ride with an expensive helmet and leather jacket along with jeans. Well-protected in the unlikely event of a header into a retaining wall but might as well be naked from the waist down in case of a common low-side. Food for thought.

[Matty40000]

I recently bought some Tourmaster riding pants with some built in knee protectors. I wouldn't call them armor, but it's better than using your leg bones as armor. Also have padding in the hips to help keep you together.

So far, I like them... Wore them on the big SoCal ride all day and was comfortable. The next night we went to a local bike get together 5 minutes away and I wore jeans and I felt naked... and cold. haha.

One of my favorite images...



Amen to that.

[half_a_tiger]

I know very well it should be ATGATT but wearing armour all over on city rides in our traffic-infested metro roads kinda' makes you look "weird".... I make it a point, though, to be fully armoured on out-of-city jaunts!!

[alii1959]

I commute everyday, in traffic. ATGATT! Yeah, I look like a PowerRanger. Yeah, my students laugh. But, like the poster I think I would look much sillier in the back of an ambulance. I feel everyone should make their own choices, but for me, I couldn't look my wife in the eye if I didn't gear up.

[planeoldguy]

The article isnt entirely accurate, In the '80's I went down more than a few times at speeds well over 30 wearing Jeans, Leather Jacket, Gloves , and Helmet, The most damage to my jeans was a torn rear pocket during a 50= lowside above the Rock Store.
I've slid all the way across PCH (making a left from Topanga) on my butt with no damage at all.
The only time I've injured my legs was when I went through a green light and a VW Bus driver got impatient, Blew the Red left turn arrow, hitting me head on, Multiple compound fractures to the left leg and torn everything in my right knee, No amount of gear would have saved me then, These days I do wear the gear just because it definitely doesnt hurt to have all the protection that I can.
Articles like that seem to be more scare tactics than honesty, If it saves someone from some pain, Fantastic!
But I have never seen a road that would shred my Levis the way that they describe, Aside from roads in the process of repaving.
Sorry, It just bothers me when studies exagerate the facts.

[flying_hun]

Originally Posted by half_a_tiger

but wearing armour all over on city rides in our traffic-infested metro roads kinda' makes you look "weird"....

Okay, I'll say/write it. How weird will you look with legs covered in road rash?

[brandx73]

if anything i would suggest knee and shin pads. they are like 12 bucks made by shift. very sturdy. i can attest to the above statement. crashed at about 30 mph, knee hitting first made contact for about .5 sec. had jeans on. jeans held fine, only two very minor slits which later gapped open after washing a few times. in that split second my knee was ground to the fascia just before the bone. not fun at all. if you must ride in jeans wear the pads and save a patella!!!

[OldPete]

At the very least, I need some kevlar patched jeans with some good closed cell foam padding.

[Megan]

Originally Posted by half_a_tiger

I know very well it should be ATGATT but wearing armour all over on city rides in our traffic-infested metro roads kinda' makes you look "weird".... I make it a point, though, to be fully armoured on out-of-city jaunts!!

And just how "weird" would you look with skin grafts done one side of a leg? I have seen it. It is not pretty

[Twisted Trader]

I guess that this is all about sliding. Ya got to remember that the real injuries are from the impact ( crushing ) and sudden stops that cause the brain to separate from the spinal column.

Perhaps VFRPILOT can shed a little more light upon the crushing aspect of Moto vs cage.

Hyper vigiligance while piloting our bikes, along with not pushing the envelope is the best preventative measure to prevent road rash. Responsible riding may not always be the most fun, but a few of us gotta set examples. JMHO