nabobblaster,

(not trying to argue, just continue the debate).....

when i bought my bike, i was required to have a helmet to ride it. when i planned on getting the bike and had my eyes set on one, i made sure i had the jacket/gloves/helmet so when i got the bike i'd be ready to roll.

i do understand gear is expensive, all my gear together cost me $1800+. obviously everyone cant get head to toe gear.

 

Ah the circular debate thread raises it*s ugly head again.

Here*s a synopsis of how it always goes .. the role of Freedom Guy will be played by "FG" .. the role of All The Gear All The Time Guy will be played by "AG":

FG: Wuts with all the gear *****s
AG: trying to prevent them from themselves
FG: I*ll do what I want when I want
AG: I got to pay for your healthcare when u bust ur ***
FG: Bought my bike can*t afford gear right now, so suck it.
AG: Shouldn*t have bought a bike if u can*t afford gear.
FG: Tell me you ride with full gear all the time and I*ll tell u ur full of sheit.
AG: I do ride with most gear 95% of the time but I*m not going to tell people to stop preaching safety for my stupidity on the other 5%.
FG: Quit preaching about it though, you ain*t my daddy.
AG: Just trying to fill in where ur daddy lacked.
FG: It ain*t even the law here so wuts it to u?
AG: All M/C riders are my friends and the law doesn*t stop me from trying to help them when I can.

I miss anything?

Seriously .. both sides have fault in this imo .. the FG could chill a bit and admit a little sense pounded into the skull once in a while can*t be a bad thing .. the AG could chill with the holier than thou attitude. I tell friends AS WELL AS THOSE I DON*T KNOW to gear up but after that I leave it alone ... but everyone*s entitled to their opinion.

p.s. I*m not faulting you for bringing up the topic RedRider, just pointing out that this topic comes up often and the end result is always a bunch of bickering with no one budging an inch from their stance.

 

^No offense taken. I actually didn't mean for it to steer towards a should you wear gear or not argument, but more towards lets take it easy on some of the new guys. They'll realize this forum is big on gear after viewing posts within a few weeks without even being told like I did.

 

Here it is the law to wear a helmet.I ALWAYS wear a helmet.But if I bought the bike before the gear why do you think that was?My daddy didn't teach me well enough?NO.I was stupid?NO.Was it because the gear cost more than the bike hmmm yes it was.Now I have the scoot I will work on the gear.I have one more thing to add.I was in Kentucky 2 months ago for hazmat training and a bunch of sportbikes pulled up(I mean a pile)only one guy had a helmet on.I had a few beers and decided what the hell.I asked the guy whyhe's the only one with a helmet on when his friends were so COOL.He said the greatest words ever spoken. He said(I am one of the ones that's been down,those idiots are the ones who's going down)smartest guy of the pile.(Then half of us go to jail over that statement.I had his back)

 

If your main point is mainly regarding noobs then I fully agree .. point well made. Of course you do realize that opens it up to the response some will give that new riders are exactly the ones that should be told and would benefit the most, right? But in their first few posts here, I fully agree with you that everyone should be more welcoming ... and even when you do bring it up, bring it up with some civility please. Some will get it some won*t but no one responds well to abrasiveness.

Edit: nabob, my post was not aimed at you or anyone in particular .. I was just basing it on the typical comments that come up on both sides.

 

All i'm saying is if you can afford anything get a good helmet.If not we'll be buying your busted up bike off Ebay.

 

gear **** here an proud of it. I have no problem tell anyone they should gear up, as many times as it takes. Also if the squids do not like getting called a squid then they should wise up an stop acting like one. I wear my gear no matter how hot or how cold 100% of the time. An the excuse of not being able to afford it is bull **** you can get very nice used leathers for cheap.

 

My wearing gear doesn't make me better than anybody. You don't want to wear it, so be it. I'm still going to tell you you should. All you have is a helmet, gloves and jacket? Fine, wear them all the time. Buy some steel toed work boots from Wal-mart. Hell,I wear work boots since I'm riding to work. Doesn't make me better than the guy blasting around with a beater and flip-flops...just a bit more aware that pavement hurts and rash sucks. And again, when you guys have held your friends mother while she cries about him never coming back from his bike ride, you preach to me about how no gear is smarter. I've seen too many injuries and deaths, firsthand, to ever think that no gear is a good idea. You don't like my opinion, don't take it.
Agree to disagree, I'm getting a beer and spending time w/ the wife.

 

I think a lot of the "gear or no gear' debate depends on how long you've been riding, and how often you've seen the advantages/disadvantages - I've been riding now over 40 years, and have seen the advantages/etc first hand on many occasions. I agree, it's the rider's choice, but would we be responsible members of this community if we didn't clearly state our position on the gear/no gear issue to new young riders ? It's not something you can only do once, as new riders are joining our happy band all the time. Perhaps we could have a sticky somewhere that all new members are required to read when joining ? At least then we'd know the message has been sent - after that, it's your choice.
I'm also guilty of not going ATTGATT - I sometimes wear only jacket, helmet and gloves, but it's because I'm attending a meeting etc and full leathers aren't feasible. I am, however, VERY aware of how vulnerable I am and ride with more caution, and slower.And to those who say they can't afford full gear, but spend plenty on extras for the bike..well, you know where the monet should have gone, don't you.......?