HOT weather - your gear solution - comfort, protection, or skip the ride?

[Ponitail]

As someone else previously stated, I would rather die than be a vegetable. When I'm on the bike I'm in it for the fun of riding. If I die riding I'll die doing my second favorite thing in life, the first being my wife.

That being said, my normal riding gear is boots, jeans, t-shirt, & bandana. If it's a pretty toasty day I'll wear a long sleeved t-shirt or denim shirt as I burn easily and sunscreen is a PITA. At periodic stops I soak my bandana in cold water and put it back on. I do carry chaps, jacket, and a full-face in the trunk at all times. I only wear them in cold weather or when it's raining.

[dshelly]

Originally Posted by Ponitail

If I die riding I'll die doing my second favorite thing in life, the first being my wife.

A little TMI there Ponitail.....

[schoeney]

Actually my mesh armored pants are cooler than jeans. Lots of airflow.

[waterman]

Here is a picture of the West Coast contingent of the people who ride Victory Motorcycles wear in hot weather.

http://www.motorcycle.com/blog/wp-co...yson-Perry.jpg

[dshelly]

Originally Posted by waterman

Here is a picture of the West Coast contingent of the people who ride Victory Motorcycles wear in hot weather.

http://www.motorcycle.com/blog/wp-co...yson-Perry.jpg

That's one of the new 2015 Victory gay pride models..... (California Edition)

[wolf1]

I am a crash investigator and have investigated my fair share of motorcycle fatalities. None of them were wearing helmets. I too love to ride and want to live to ride tomorrow. No one ever thinks the crash is going to happen until it does. I as well as you have heard them all...it's too hot, I want to feel the wind in my hair, it's my choice, freedom baby!!! and the list goes on. I ask you this, would you let your son or grandson play football and tell him not to wear his helmet? Of course not, you know he is going to get hit. But like I said, you don't know when the crash is going to happen. So next time you go for a ride, think about your family and the ones who count on you. If for some reason you can't wear your helmet for yourself at least wear it for your loved ones. They really do want you to be around for as long as possible.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by wolf1

I am a crash investigator and have investigated my fair share of motorcycle fatalities. None of them were wearing helmets. I too love to ride and want to live to ride tomorrow. No one ever thinks the crash is going to happen until it does. I as well as you have heard them all...it's too hot, I want to feel the wind in my hair, it's my choice, freedom baby!!! and the list goes on. I ask you this, would you let your son or grandson play football and tell him not to wear his helmet? Of course not, you know he is going to get hit. But like I said, you don't know when the crash is going to happen. So next time you go for a ride, think about your family and the ones who count on you. If for some reason you can't wear your helmet for yourself at least wear it for your loved ones. They really do want you to be around for as long as possible.

I grew up in a helmet mandatory state, so I am accustomed to it. In fact I feel naked without one. It's a lot noisier and I feel like I am going faster, if that makes sense.

That said, I hate the people that say they had to lay it down. There was a motorcycle accident in my town last weekend, an HD and I don't think he was wearing a helmet, but a discussion on a FB page got into laying it down. IMO, only an idiot does that. It's worse than not wearing a helmet, although the two seem to go together. Usually the truth is that they laid on the rear brake too much and slid out losing control. Something that can't really happen easily with ABS, but that's another story. May be we can have a post about helmets, laying it down, car tires and ABS and watch Tim and I explode.

[wolf1]

Laying it down to avoid the crash has always killed me. Hello! that's called a crash! There is no replacement for continuing rider education and practicing emergency braking and cornering skills. These skills applied properly will save your life. I mean if you're going to hit something, wouldn't you rather hit it at the slowest speed possible? A sliding motorcycle moves faster than one using proper braking techniques still upright.

[ponch]

Not to mention the loss of control of being on the ground and being on the same level with tires that can run you over.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by ponch

Not to mention the loss of control of being on the ground and being on the same level with tires that can run you over.

No kidding. When I went down, the driver in the pickup truck ahead of me turned and blocked the oncoming traffic from running me over. He happened to be an off-duty Mesa police officer on his way home.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

No kidding. When I went down, the driver in the pickup truck ahead of me turned and blocked the oncoming traffic from running me over. He happened to be an off-duty Mesa police officer on his way home.

That was quick thinking on his part.

Saw a lot of motorcops at ASU this week. They were escorting the seahawks to practice. More Honda ST1300s than I could count. They gave me funny looks too. They must miss their beemers.

[schoeney]

ST1300's are the only bikes allowed to escort World Champions... they didn't want your BMW near them. Bad luck

[ponch]

Originally Posted by schoeney

ST1300's are the only bikes allowed to escort World Champions... they didn't want your BMW near them. Bad luck

It could be of late.

[glwilson]

Prior to my accident a few years ago, I was a hit and miss on wearing a helmet. Mostly wore it, but occasionally would not.

Was wearing it the day of my crash, as well as chaps and a heavy coat. If I had not been dressed as I was, I am not sure I would have survived. A head hits the ground extremely hard, and several times in a crash. There is absolutely no controlling your body when you are moving 50mph+ and crashing other than trying to curl-up into a ball and tucking your head-in. Other than that, you are nothing more than dead weight thrown forward and downward to the pavement.

Accident was a solo bike accident on blacktop covered with herbicide overspray from a farmer. Slick as ice, and undetectable. Caused negative wheel traction. I compare it to a flat-spin in an airplane. There simply is no recovery possible. The only advantage I had was knowing a crash was inevitable, so I was able to determine which side of the bike I was going to be ejected from -- if you want to call that an advantage.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Prior to my accident a few years ago, I was a hit and miss on wearing a helmet. Mostly wore it, but occasionally would not.

Was wearing it the day of my crash, as well as chaps and a heavy coat. If I had not been dressed as I was, I am not sure I would have survived. A head hits the ground extremely hard, and several times in a crash. There is absolutely no controlling your body when you are moving 50mph+ and crashing other than trying to curl-up into a ball and tucking your head-in. Other than that, you are nothing more than dead weight thrown forward and downward to the pavement.

Accident was a solo bike accident on blacktop covered with herbicide overspray from a farmer. Slick as ice, and undetectable. Caused negative wheel traction. I compare it to a flat-spin in an airplane. There simply is no recovery possible. The only advantage I had was knowing a crash was inevitable, so I was able to determine which side of the bike I was going to be ejected from -- if you want to call that an advantage.

Was the farmer liable?