Default Things That motorcycle Riders Should Have ?

1. helmet
2. jacket
3. chaps
4. gloves
5. pants
6. boots

Are these list enough? Please add if not.

 

7. back protection (if not sown in to the jacket, altouh a separate one is a better choice)

 

bright colored helmet and jacket. id rather look goofy than look at the celing of a hospital .. ya dig?

 

White helmet and white jacket doesn't look goofy at all

 

cell phone
credit card
ear plugs

 

+1 on the EAR PLUGS; please wear ear plugs.

 

Know your bike, what it can do and what it can't do. A Fullface helmet for me ( i'm still good lookin' because of one ) ATGATT And stay alert when needed, relax when the terrain suits.

 

A hot pillion passenger

 

Breakdown recovery and at least third party insurance.

 

Something waterproof. Riding completely soaked is never fun

 

How about start off with the single MOST important item; without which everything else is...

A SAFE, RELIABLE motorcycle. Fighting with, or "riding around" a mechanical issue while trying to survive in traffic is counter-productive at best, and downright dangerous as well.

 

Yep!

 

Definitely this too!!

 

All the above and a snack. some water, a small towel, an emergency flare, some matches or a lighter, and a tiny flashlight-cash ain't bad either.

 

A clear head.

 

My night helmet is a G Max 68s, it has a built in flashing LED "tail light" on the back of the helmet...............love it almost as much as my Shoei X-11

 

An eye in the back of your head and a peep-hole cut in of your SNELL AND DOT approved helmet! Also, what about safe riding knowledge?

Here's a fact:

Popular Mechanics ran a test about the abrasion resistance between good ol' leather and Kevlar. Guess what? Leather may not stop a bullet but Kevlar proved to "wear thin" when it came to sliding across the black top. Leather beat the pants off of Kevlar by offering at least four times the abrasion protection. Of course that all depends on the quality and thickness of your cow hide. You can read the article here:

http://www.gwrra-txh.net/education/may_2003.htm

 

Right! :lol:

 

Most of it is mentioned. Chaps, however, are very gay. So that should on the list 'what motorcycle riders shouldn't have.

 

Not particulalry suprising. One, the bullet, is blunt force in a pointed load the other is spread across a wider surface area. I'd be more surprised if one material did well at both.

I saw no mention of tools and basic mechanical knowledge on the list so far. I thought this was a yamaha forum and not an HD forum where the dealer services all the bikes..... :roll:

 

haha. why is that so? So, let's eliminate the chaps. Replace it with a rain gear?

 

If you ride near freezing temps you'll be glad to have some chaps.

 

Magnets under the lower frame to trip stoplights?

 

Go tell a bull rider that his chaps are gay and see what happens. :twisted:

 

0% Blood alcohol.

And I've never once used ear plugs.

Reducers I could see using, but plugs could make you NOT hear that car honking at you cause he's going to crush you.

 

I've never used ear plugs either; it comes down to a good fitting helmet (and a stock exhaust.)

Gay or not, chaps are basically useless to a motorcycle rider unless you're THAT concerned about getting hit on the shin with a rock. The body parts a motorcyclist needs to protect in a crash aren't covered by chaps.

A couple of my weekend-warrior Harley-riding friends have them; they're more part of their "Harley Biker Costume" than anything else. Hilarious in the rain, too.

To elaborate on my initial answer: whether it's your bike or your gear, it has to be in good repair, work correctly and fit properly. You need to be able to devote 110% concentration to the task at hand (staying alive in traffic) and cannot afford to be distracted by bike issues or "obtrusive" riding gear, like a pair of riding gloves with seams in the wrong places or an ill-fitting helmet.

Speaking of hilarious in the rain; ever see what a fringed leather jacket acts like at 60mph in a downpour?

 

I Concur... I wont ride if I haven't had enough sleep or can't focus.
Every accident I've had could have been prevented, by me.

 

Not wearing them will see you go deaf anyway so you still wont hear that car

I'd rather freeze

If you have decent gear you wouldn't need them anyway

 

They are attracted to other chaps? Man, you better not leave them unattended...

 

No way I need ear plugs! Several times I have saved myself because I barely heard what I needed to hear to react. I would never ride with straight pipes for this very reason and they are annoying to everyone anyway. Normal mufflers and a good helmet and the dB's are not dangerous at all. You will go deaf quicker in a movie theater.

I do like music and I wouldn't mind having some in my helmet, but I know I wouldn't be as safe.

Layers beat freezing temps, and manly chaps aren't attracted to feminine chaps so you're safe there.

 

You're wrong, and it's wind noise that is the problem not normally the exhaust

 

What Kickaha said is exactly right.
Earplugs dont prevent you from hearing other traffic around you.
And they reduce fatigue to an amazing degree on a long run.

 

Can't stand earplugs myself. Although, I have worn my phone headphones for tunes I have to admit. I've never noticed wind noise in my helmet, even with the chin bar up, but I have a good windshield.

 

Well you learn something new everyday if you pay attention.

I had never seriously considered ear protection, mostly because I thought it would limit my ability to be safe but also because I never thought I needed it. So after your posts I called a friend who happens to be an ear, nose, and throat surgeon-you can guess what he told me. It is indeed the wind noise that is above safe levels at speed, and he strongly encouraged me to get some plugs.

So I looked them up and there are several 'good' ones that primarily attenuate the particular frequencies most at fault for hearing damage and attenuate less the other frequencies making them 'safe' plugs.

Kickaha and gunabuild1 thanks for educating me! I always thought Aussies were the wild ones who drove hardcore hotrods like in MadMax, but clearly you guys are refined as well. I will be picking up a decent pair ASAP especially for long commutes.

 

i've used all the ones they get at work and a few assortment packs
these are the ones i like

 

Who are you calling an Aussie? they're our poor cousins who live far to the west of me :lol:

A motorcycle magazine back in the nineties measured 100+ decibels at highway speeds, that was about the time I started using them

 

FOUND THIS:

Cyber Monday 3 Super Sale !
AT
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---just sharing..^-^

 

My bad Kickaha! You are most correct, I just lumped you in, but you're from that enchanted island so well featured in the Tolkien movies.

So out of curiosity what is the equivocal term for a New Zealander??

 

what are some good gear brand names? and what should i expect to pay for decent set of gear? what a bout helmets.. imah noob. lol ALSO never wouldve thought about the wind. im exposed to it alot being a boat mechanic. kinda makes me want to wear a pair on the lake now..

 

While noise levels can vary from helmet to helmet, whether your helmet is good fitting, high quality, Schuberth or Bell, as Kickaha notes, riding a motorcycle without earplugs exposes your ears to excessive noise levels, primarily from wind noise.

Years of riding a motorcycle without ear plugs WILL result in some level of hearing loss. In a car, a driver can hear horns, sirens, etc. just fine with windows rolled up; similarly on a bike, a rider will hear these traffic noises just fine with ear plugs. "ATGATT" should absolutely include earplugs.

On a forum with so many younger/newer riders, I am shocked to hear respected site Elders recommend otherwise.

 

WebBikeWorld has been a great source for me.

 

Thanks rick.

 

I believe they are kiwis named for the bird not the fruit.

 

They aren't the same thing?

 

Interesting. My hearing is fine (better than my eyesight I hate to admit) and I've been riding street bikes for coming up on 45 years now. And I've never worn earplugs except when racing (loud bikes/snowmobiles.) (And when working at/attending races featuring loud equipment.)

I'm thinking the degree of hearing damage may be a bit overstated somewhere...

I never "recommended otherwise" just said that I've never felt a need for them for street riding. I'll do some testing next season. Interesting point, truly.

 

I think the comments were more of a personal preference type approach rather than a strict recommendation not to wear plugs, although I did think they decreased my ability to hear ambient noise-I see now that wasn't correct. I do think some people are more likely than others to suffer hearing loss, but who knows how you would know if you are susceptible or not. Better safe than sorry.

I tried out some inexpensive throw-away plugs today while I wait for some better ones. I didn't notice any real issues, I could still hear the bike, and traffic, but it was all slightly attenuated. The wind noise was considerably less noticeable. I expect the more expensive plugs will work better.

FYI I have scheduled a visit with the E, N, & Throat Doc to test out my hearing-it's been a few years ago that I had that checked. I will keep you all posted on the results, I don't feel like I've lost anything since I was young but we will see.

 

Kiwi is correct, we don't like to be called Aussies as that is an ex english penal colony so they are all descended from convicts :wink:

I use a custom made earplug, the only problem I had when I first started using them was I'd end up riding a lot faster as I couldn't hear the usual engine noise

 

Yep proud descendant of a second fleet convict,transported to Oz for stealing a hogshead of yeast.Came to a relatively empty land and helped build a country.
Would point out that the crimes that the convicts were transported for tended to be fairly small as they hung the bad guys without a qualm.
Kickaha are you one of the maintenance crew ? For the East Island's, cause I'm pretty sure everybody else is over here.
I use the disposable type of earplug like these,
http://www.seton.net.au/work-wear-ppe-f ... 3177w.html

 

I find sunglasses are a big safety advantage on bright days.

I've been playing drum set for over twenty years semi professionally and can attest to the value of earplugs, I wish I'd have worn then more often. Hearing loss is not 'noticeable' in most instances, not until it's too late. I'm noticing now that impact noises (hammering, pneumatic tools) cause me physical pain, and when I finally turn off everything to go to sleep my ears ring, even if it's not after a show. Not to mention having to say "pardon?" a lot. Young guys especially, just do it, wear them earplugs!

 

Good list so far. I'd add:

The firm knowledge that everything else on the road is absolutely trying to kill you.