I still stand by my putting jacket higher than gloves.

The upper torso has more surface area in danger to rash, which can be life threatening or seriously extend your recovery time (infection). My coworker spent a month in the hospital because they couldn't even begin the surgery for his broken arm and legs due to the rash.

 

If the rash kept him in the hospital for a month, I expect it was responsible for a good chunk of that humongous bill(?), which I think is why/how so many of us come to the conclusion of ATGATT.

If one likes to play the odds then lower extremities should be protected second (helmet is always first), according to the only crash research I know of. However, I see trying to pretend I (we) can out-guess which kind of crash I'll have as a sucker's game.
Now, I'm not big on insurance, so I only insure that which I cannot afford to lose. I cannot think of any major organ (including skin), extremity, or bone that I can afford to lose, so I 'insure' them all by wearing ATGATT. If I didn't/don't have the ability to protect everything, it means I didn't/don't have the resources it takes to ride.

For me, then, the question is about where to buy more or better protection, rather than where to buy it and where to not.

IMO

 

MZ I completely agree with you. Absolutely on the money there matey.

I have wanted to add a bit of an eye opener to this thread since coming back from a holiday in Spain last week.
I don't know what it is about spanish motorcyclists but pretty much all (and there are a lot of bikes on the roads there) of the riders I saw were wearing next to nothing.
Pretty much all the bikers I saw there who were riding with gear were foreigners. What is it with those guys?

The best example I saw was a guy on an R1 hurtling along the motorway, really gunning it, wearing shorts and flip flops. No gloves even. He did have a helmet on. The girls on the back had a bikini on, NO shoes but stupendous jugs at least.
I believe the Italians are not far behind in their lack of regard for gear but the Spanish really blew me away.

Do we have any Spanish members who'd be prepared to explain the crazy attitude that Spanish riders seem to have towards protection? I love to hear it. "It's hot" will not do!!