I've been riding for 40+ years. I own a leather vest and chaps, and do wear them occasionally. The point of wearing these kinds of protective clothing is that they really do provide usable protection against wind, bugs, etc. Especially when the weather is chilly, and I'm wearing a riding jacket, the chaps come in very handy. Sure, I could buy Kevlar riding pants, or other plastic, wind resistant pants that I wear all the time, but with chaps, I can wear them in the morning when it's cold, then take them off when I get off my bike and go into a store or restaurant, or when it warms up and I am wearing normal street clothes when I'm not on my bike. The leather vest does a good job at containing "loose fitting shirts" so that they don't flap about in the wind. When I'm off the bike for a a bit, I can take the vest off, or just loosen it, and I'm more comfortable. Sure, I could wear a complete, tight fitting, race inspired plastic riding jacket if I wanted to look like I was racing around on the street, but I'm not particularly interested in emulating race car or racing bike clothing while I ride my cruiser around at sane speeds. To each his own, I suppose. If it's cold, I forgo the vest and wear a warmer jacket that covers my arms and does a more complete job of sealing me off from the wind. During warmer times, I LIKE the wind cooling my arms, so a full padded leather or plastic jacket is not what I need. You asked why, that's why. Since I don't ride my bike like an idiot, I don't feel quite the need to protect myself from crashing and sliding that younger, more "adventurous" riders do, so I don't cover myself from head to toe in Kevlar while I ride. Mostly, I'm just out enjoying the wind and feel of being on a bike. If I wanted to be insulated 100% from the wind, I'd be in a car. If I were afraid of going down because I race around at the most extreme angles I can manage, I'd own a different kind of bike, I guess. Then, I suppose I'd wear a race suit, too.
Well said David. The chaps also take the sting out of kicked up road debris and gravel, the engine heat, and are much easier to take off at the destination. The face bandanna helps the adults who have retained the "dive reflex" that all infants have. That thing where blowing on an infants face keeps them from breathing. The best safety gear is between your ears.. Ride slower and more carefully and your bike will stay up longer.
almost forgot the obvious on the face bandanna thing. same as the dew rag, it prevents sunburn, wind burn, and keeps road grime out of mustache and beard
A mate of mine wears one of those thin vests. it is to tell people what club you're with, it has all the patches and pins on it, but he wears it over his bike jacket. Because he likes having skin on his upper body.
If you go down at age 70 on a 'Wing with no riding gear, you're doing yourself a favor. It's the 30 and 40-something guys in mesh tanks and cargo shorts that should know better.
Hey, fellow V-Strom rider! I agree with your points here, all very well said. I liked your Moto Guzzi video, would be great to see more reviews. What camera setup are you using?
Thanks, Renato. I probably ticked off more people with this video but that's OK--we don't all have to always agree. Working on a couple of other videos but it's so hard to find the time. I have a GoPro 4 Silver mounted on the chin with an external mic. Seems to be the most popular set-up.
I've been riding for 40+ years. I own a leather vest and chaps, and do wear them occasionally. The point of wearing these kinds of protective clothing is that they really do provide usable protection against wind, bugs, etc. Especially when the weather is chilly, and I'm wearing a riding jacket, the chaps come in very handy. Sure, I could buy Kevlar riding pants, or other plastic, wind resistant pants that I wear all the time, but with chaps, I can wear them in the morning when it's cold, then take them off when I get off my bike and go into a store or restaurant, or when it warms up and I am wearing normal street clothes when I'm not on my bike.
The leather vest does a good job at containing "loose fitting shirts" so that they don't flap about in the wind. When I'm off the bike for a a bit, I can take the vest off, or just loosen it, and I'm more comfortable. Sure, I could wear a complete, tight fitting, race inspired plastic riding jacket if I wanted to look like I was racing around on the street, but I'm not particularly interested in emulating race car or racing bike clothing while I ride my cruiser around at sane speeds. To each his own, I suppose.
If it's cold, I forgo the vest and wear a warmer jacket that covers my arms and does a more complete job of sealing me off from the wind. During warmer times, I LIKE the wind cooling my arms, so a full padded leather or plastic jacket is not what I need.
You asked why, that's why. Since I don't ride my bike like an idiot, I don't feel quite the need to protect myself from crashing and sliding that younger, more "adventurous" riders do, so I don't cover myself from head to toe in Kevlar while I ride. Mostly, I'm just out enjoying the wind and feel of being on a bike. If I wanted to be insulated 100% from the wind, I'd be in a car. If I were afraid of going down because I race around at the most extreme angles I can manage, I'd own a different kind of bike, I guess. Then, I suppose I'd wear a race suit, too.
Well said David. The chaps also take the sting out of kicked up road debris and gravel, the engine heat, and are much easier to take off at the destination. The face bandanna helps the adults who have retained the "dive reflex" that all infants have. That thing where blowing on an infants face keeps them from breathing. The best safety gear is between your ears.. Ride slower and more carefully and your bike will stay up longer.
Bradycardic Reflex. That's actually pretty interesting.
almost forgot the obvious on the face bandanna thing. same as the dew rag, it prevents sunburn, wind burn, and keeps road grime out of mustache and beard
A mate of mine wears one of those thin vests. it is to tell people what club you're with, it has all the patches and pins on it, but he wears it over his bike jacket. Because he likes having skin on his upper body.
If you go down at age 70 on a 'Wing with no riding gear, you're doing yourself a favor. It's the 30 and 40-something guys in mesh tanks and cargo shorts that should know better.
Hey, fellow V-Strom rider! I agree with your points here, all very well said. I liked your Moto Guzzi video, would be great to see more reviews. What camera setup are you using?
Thanks, Renato. I probably ticked off more people with this video but that's OK--we don't all have to always agree. Working on a couple of other videos but it's so hard to find the time. I have a GoPro 4 Silver mounted on the chin with an external mic. Seems to be the most popular set-up.
Agree with you you!