I always have gear on. Most of what I get is second hand. Ebay Ive gotten some great deals. New helmets and new gloves otherwise the rest can be second hand if only used "a few times". It is your experience. I have gear on for the way crazy people drive; always on those dang smart phones. The only time you need gear is when you go down but you will never know when that will be.

 

Necessary? Other than a helmet, no. Wise? Absolutely.

I once crashed my CB750F in the middle of the summer. I was riding in a t-shirt and jeans and lost the front end on an exit from the PA turnpike. I got thrown over the bars and slid to the bottom of an embankment where there was a guard rail. I went under it but got my arm hooked around one of the stamped-steel posts which left me with a forearm laceration that went right to the bone. I looked into the hole and I could see muscles moving when I wiggled my fingers.

If I had been wearing the denim jacket that was bungeed to the passenger seat It would have made an enormous difference. With a leather jacket I'd likely have been bruised, but not cut.

So it's up to you. With armored, ballistic textile jackets available for only a little more than a regular winter coat it's certainly affordable and since nearly all of them have zipper vents built in, summer comfort isn't an issue. Leave your jacket home if you want but don't whine when the nurse is using a stiff bristle brush to clean the dirt out of your road rash.

 

you should wear everything that need while riding to save yourself.

 

I have always worn gear and never needed it until I did. Saved my head and road rash on my shoulder/arm. Still torn all the ligements in my shoulder.
Helmet doesn't look like much but if it was a head it would have been a low more than I would care to have!

I won't even ride with people that don't wear gear.

 

so sad to hear about it. must use precautionary measures while riding