What does the well dressed commando rider wear

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I read somewhere that most m/c accidents occur within five miles of home.

I live in a small (13,000) town in Florida. I used to ride to the convenience store, about three blocks, without a helmet. Since I read that statistic about m/c accidents I have the lid on whenever I swing a leg over. Armored textile jacket, armored textile pants, leather gloves and riding boots are de rigueur. Close to home is no less dangerous than that 1500 mile trip.
 
I'll play this one straight.

I bought a denim mc jacket (discreet), fully armored, that I just love. I really got it for protection in summer, but have been using it for the past month when it’s been dry. It’s supremely comfortable and looks great. The sites selling it have some amazing testimonials from riders who walked away from 50 mph crashes with their skin and bones intact (they were also wearing ff helmets). The armor adds a couple of pounds to the jacket weight, although it is not noticeable while riding. LOTS of ventilation. Just slip it over a t-shirt in summer. Two side pockets, two interior pockets, and a discreet butt-bag, all zippered.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... acket.aspx

I also bought a pair of kevlar-reinforced jeans to replace my chaps for summer riding. Likewise a pair of heavy-soled boots that cover the ankle. Likewise a pair (several, in fact) of elkskin gloves, via Aerostitch and one of several cowboy gear places that cater to goat-ropers (they're half the price of those sold by mc shops).

Oh yeah, and a Shoei full-face helmet that fits very well and circulates a lot of air. Its SIGNAL YELLOW, and every normally clueless driver that pulls up next to me now stares at the helmet. I feel that I'm no longer invisible.

When summer comes, its essential to change the gear, not do without it. I'm an old codger with young kids, and I want them to remember me with my skin, brain, and teeth intact.
 
I really like the scarf over the face, goggles, jeans look. Maybe alittle too retro?
What does the well dressed commando rider wear
 
....it's not that I don't like protection, just wish manufacturers made more normal looking jackets. The look just makes me disinterested.
 
not being funny but would you prefer the look of a amputation or wheelchair or skingrafts. do what you want, i'm prepared to sacrifice the "look" so i know i'm protected as much as i can be. i was wearing a hi vis vest and still was not seen, but without the protective gear i'd have been in a lot worse position. shit happens, be prepared for the worst and when it happens, i think you'll feel better knowing that you've done your best to prevent serious injury rather than looking like the biggest poser knobend on an old brittish bike.
 
ATGATT...

You can't argue with such sterling logic or such great preparedness, stupid to do so...

I rode with a bunch of people to Americade one June when the temp was 95+F, they had on their leathers/balistic suits, I should have opted out, but I rode with as little clothing as I could to avoid sun burn... I arrived ready to stand cocktails the others were done (well)..common sense seemed to melt somewhere.

Wear what you feel comfortable with, life is too short. There is nothing like blasting through the country side with shorts, "T" shirt on a well sorted Commando when the temp is 75-81 F and the sun is shining.

I keep looking on E-bay for one of those David Clarke astronaut suits with the A/C units, now that's my idea of ATGATT

RS
 
I try to dress for protection rather than a "look".

Summer - Joe Rocket armored mesh jacket with perforated leather sleeves and shoulders. I have crash tested this :oops: and won't wear a fully textile mesh jacket after seeing some of these after a crash.
TCX airtech ventilated boots (excellent!). Olympia perforated leather gloves. I have a Shoei shaped head, so I use a Shoei full face.

Late fall and winter - Alpinestar armored leather jacket. TCX X-five Goretex boots . Olympia full gauntlet gloves. For colder days, add an Aerostitch Kanetsu electric liner (for the BMW or the Interstate with 3-phase alternator).

Regular jeans (or khaki's when riding to work). I have a pair of TourMaster overpants that I wear on very cold days or long tours in moderate weather. I know leather pants would be more protection and I have the scars on my knee to prove that jeans don't supply much. However, I haven't found a satisfactory solution here.
 
Aerostich has some great jackets. I have a 'Falstaff' that suits an old bike. It's waxed cotton with all the details of their Roadcrafter and Darien jackets but it's also lined. It has armour in the elbows and shoulders and zippered vents all over so it's cool enough, if you're moving. Vanson made a race type jacket that is great, but no armour, just reinforcement at the elbows and shoulders. The thing I like about it is that it's perforated in the chest with zippered flaps in the liner to seal it off. Great for the sleek look.

Scarves are a useful idea because they help reduce chaffing around your neck. That's why WWI fliers liked'em.
I too went through a big accident, spent ten days in intensive care and about a year in rehab. It was mainly a matter of luck, but without proper gear it would have been over. I just wish that they hadn't CUT all my stuff off of me.:x But they actually made a big deal about giving me back all the pieces. :roll:

http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suits
 
I had a leather jacket made to measure for me in the early 1980s in the style of a Barbour jacket, all black of course. I still wear this to this day, and not just because I am a Yorkshireman, but it does add pleasure that I am getting maximum value, although it is slightly tighter than it used to be. It is very functional as it has four nice sized pockets.

It doesn't have armour, but I try and look at the probability of if I come off, how likely is it that armour will make that difference? Hitting a truck coming the other way....I dont think so, but it's a personal choice and I realise that you are rolling the dice a bit. I usually wear leather trousers but again without armour. For me the most improved bit of kit since I first started riding is my 100% waterproof boots. No more wet squelching feet when you dismount. Deep joy.

In other words usually black from head to foot, although I do have a dark blue Gortex waterproof jacket for the cold and / or wet days. I must say I can never see myself in multi coloured one pieces with the aerodynamic hump stitched in to sit behind my helmet :? :? :?
 
rick in seattle said:
Oh yeah, and a Shoei full-face helmet that fits very well and circulates a lot of air. Its SIGNAL YELLOW, and every normally clueless driver that pulls up next to me now stares at the helmet. I feel that I'm no longer invisible.
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I read someplace that the truly stupid don't recognize complex shapes and patterns. But at the same time you don't want to present something to them that might interest them, they're so distractable. I think a nice Roadcrafter one piece that looks like a Lawyer or Wall Street Banker would just about do it. It says, "Hit me at your peril. I'll take everything you own." :D
What does the well dressed commando rider wear
 
Keith, What a great picture! Bob I think you have your bases covered with the bikes you own, Nice selection. As far as gear goes I think we all have have tastes that can be satisfied with the tons of gear out there, Remember there are two kinds on riders; Those that have gone down and those that will. Ride safe guys, All the cars are out to kill you.
 
crazychester said:
Thinking about scoring some Schott leather pants (jeans style) for a long trip I have planned in May.
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I thought about those. Let us know how they fit.
 
Fullauto said:
Hey Coco, a WHOLE 33 degrees C. We'd be pulling our jackets on here. It was 47C here a couple of Sundays ago. Not nice.
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:shock: That is hot hot hot. I start to get cranky at around +25 C. I think I'd lose my mind if I were in Australia during your summer.
 
Last fall I got rear ended while sitting at a light. On my BMW not the Norton. I was wearing a Fieldsheer coat, leather gloves, HJC carbon full face, jeans, and 8 inch steel toe construction boots. Walked away from it with only a bruse on my leg from hiting the handle bar as I was flung up in the air. Became a big fan of body armour that day. Not much is going to help you if you hit a wall or head on with a truck at full chat but for most incidents good protection is a must. After wathcing Masa take second place last weekend in the F1 race after talking a spring to the head last year I know the value of a good lid. I believe all the F1 guys wear carbon.
 
Blimey what a can of worms I've opened. from "wear every piece of armour you can" to the more care free outlook. I guess I'll go somewhere down the middle road, I know one shouldn't be concerned with style/fashion, but at 54 I don't want to end up looking like a more colourful version of some kind of army bomb disposal expert.
I've been convincing myself by asking, would I drive an old performance car with no airbag, & no crumple zone & so on.
I hope I don't come across as rude to those that support the maximum protection view (and you do have good reason) but I have never had a hospital type spill, & as they say there's "no fool like an old fool".
Anyway I've just dropped the head off to have the exhaust helicoiled & a fin repaired, so should be up & running in a week or two.
Terry
 
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