Do you wear a helmet, leathers, & other protective gear?

When i had a bike i wore the gear even in hot weather

Reasons i feel off on a wet day (not my fault mind you)and my clothes and gloves where in pieces a bloke helping whom picked me up said be thankful you had these clothes on.

Other reason i rode by a teenage girl whom had fell off her scooter,only a little engine one,she was wearing normal trousers and a t shirt. As i fulled over i saw a lady trying to hold her skin against her arm.It was all the way off from her shoulder to her elbow and was a peel like a banana.

I think they've never fallen off. At any speed; because when you aren't wearing protective gear you will shred your clothes, then your skin, on the tarmac in less time than it takes you to say 'ouch.' The size of the bike doesn't really matter; a fifty cc scooter goes fast enough to do that if you come off. Anyone who doubts it, I'm sure there's plenty of pictures in a Google image search. It's not like it's an uncommon event to see some chav sliding around a corner closely followed by the scooter AND the helmet; you ever see a chav actually wearing a helmet properly? Put it this way. I've spilled off my bike a few times. Wrecked two helmets, got that characteristic 'you've been for a slide' scuffing on my leathers, and bruised my ribs a bit. If I'd done any of that in jeans, I'd have spent a lot of very painful time getting denim fibres pulled from the abrasion injuries. Then I'd be having skin grafts. Because tarmac does really rub off a lot of skin. So I spend a lot of money on the kind of kit that's a one shot and replaced variety. I like my skin. I like it attached to me, and not attached to the road. And whilst skin grafts might be cheaper, good kit hurts less. I've got enough scars already from youthful incidents involving alcohol and pushbikes (landing on your face hurts, even after nine pints and four double vodkas) and none of them are badges of honour; they're evidence of something I did that was stupid and I will not be repeating. And a little final point. You know what hospitals call bikers? Organ donors. Not wearing protective kit does not make that assessment get better.

I always wear a helmet and gloves but I have been getting slack about wearing a jacket since the weather has been in the 90's. Usually when it gets this hot if I'm not wearing my denim jean jacket I wear some kind of long sleeved heavy duty shirt to protect my skin against the sun and possible road rash. Although denim isn't as good as leather it's better than nothing. I'm planning on buying a new heavy denim jacket with armor in the sleeves shoulders and back. I wish they had that stuff when I was a kid. Ride protected, you'll be so glad you did when you get older.

I always wear boots and jeans no matter what the weather. In addition I wear a leather jacket and leather gloves, but only when the weather starts to cool off. I don't wear a helmet. That's what works for me. Don't really care if everyone likes it or not.

In the summer about the most I wear in the line of protective gear is a pair of shorty gloves. If it's going to be about 60 degrees through the night I choose not to wear a leather jacket and only bring one if I plan to go over a pass where the weather is unpredictable. I always wear Levi's and boots riding or not. I do what I do because it is right for me. I dictate to no one and have no intention of being dictated to. I make my own decisions and am willing to suffer and accept the consequences of them. And yes in the many years I have been riding $*** has happened to me.

And the helmet, I wear a beanie just because it's the law and I want to enjoy my rides without being rousted every twenty miles by the law. I take exception to those who would say anyone who doesn't wear one is as good as dead. When they can prove to me there is no possibility of HELMET RELATED INJURY I could be swayed.....maybe! No chance I will be bed ridden, wheel chaired, comatose or any other life altering condition that I feel would leave me a burden on my family and wishing I were dead, which I would rather be. And it is my feeling that those that do dictate suffer from insecurity problems which makes them advocate so strongly that EVERYONE must conform to their way of thinking feel alienated and need for others justification.

I'm an American and feel you "have the right to pursuit of happiness as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others". Helmet laws, my pet peev....can you tell???

What it boils down to is you should do what feels comfortable for you and what the law dictates.

Always. Full-face helmet, leather jacket or textile jacket with shoulder/elbow/spine armor, kevlar & leather gloves. Denim jeans and over-the-ankle leather boots.

If you have ever gotten road rash you will NEVER skimp on protective gear again. It makes me sick when I see a guy and his girl on a bike wearing nothing but sandals, shorts, and tank tops. I guess that's the reason I donate blood.

Sometimes I wear a helmet,depending how far i'm riding and the weather..Gloves always..always wear long jeans,and at least a t-shirt..lets face it I live in central florida and I ride 365 days a year..Rain or shine,hot or cold..I have no use for chaps here but i do wear my leather jacket and or vest weather permitting,,Oh and lets not forget my rain suit I always have in my saddle bags LOL..and in florida eye protection is the law

I wear a helmet (not required), boots, gloves, eye protection every time I ride. I usually wear either a long sleeve T or a denim riding jacket in the summer.

I never wear shorts, flip flops or talk on a cell phone while I'm riding.

I wear a helmet(mandatory in Michigan), mesh Joe Rocket riding jacket when it's hot, and a regular Joe Rocket jacket on the cooler days, leather riding gloves, heavy blue jeans, and of course over the ankle work boots.

Ride Safe

Just a helmet. I sometimes wear gloves. I high-sided my CBR900 about ten years ago and vowed to always wear gloves too!

My Dockers Khakis were torn to shreds and I had no skin on both legs for 2 months. My helmet was bashed in from the chin area!

I was okay in 2 wks and tons of road rash.