🚀 go-pugleaf

"Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote

> Excellent point.  One of the reasons I wear slip-on boots, in
fact.

Hell - leather motorcycle boots are the ultimate in stylish
footwear.  I wear mine all the time - they're the only footwear I
have.  Sometimes as much as 18 hours a day.

--
Matt Chapter           "the less I have the more I gain...
DoD # 2225             off the beaten path I reign"
'82 CM 250 '76 CB 400F

Cam Penner <Cam.Penner@PLEASEDONTSPAMgoldmedalsystems.com> wrote in message news:<MPG.15f041281a3da5379898c8@news.vc.shawcable.net>...
> In article <6aee72f3.0108241015.45d8864@posting.google.com>,
> fourth_quartz@yahoo.com says...
> > SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
> > and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
> > into accidents.  Of course I realize they do, but of all the folks
> > I've talked to so far, the crotch-rockets and other
> > upright-but-not-cruisers are losing parts of their bodys, getting
> > killed, etc while none of the cruisers have similar stories.  And even
> > MORE interesting is that most of the cruisers are virtual
> > "squids"...wearing only top-hat style helmits, tee shirts and jeans,
>
> There are 2 factors here, which are often equated but are really
> independent.
>
> 1)  Riding style
> 2)  Safety style
>
> 1)  Riding style is largely determined by your personality.  Some people
> ride because of the interaction with the bike and the road.  They ride
> for the pleasure of making the bike dance through the roads.  These same
> people tend to be mogul skiers.  They also tend to buy sportbikes
> because they are the better tool for the job.
>
> Some people ride because of the interaction with the world around them
> through the bike.  They ride for the pleasure of experiencing the world
> on 2 wheels.  These people tend to be cross country, or alpine ridge
> type skiers.  They also tend to buy touring/cruisers because they are
> the better tool for the job.
>
> In general, you get into more accidents pushing the limits.  This is
> true for most things.  The fact is that the people who push the limits
> are more likely to crash.  Since most of these riders are on sportbikes,
> there is a higher representation of them in the accidents.
>
> This is why in spite of (generally) being better handling machines,
> sport bikes tend to get crashed more.  Rider tendency, not equipment.
>
> 2)  In the same vien, personality also determines how much gear gets
> worn.  Briefly:
>
> - younger riders - I'm invincible - little gear
> - older riders - I've never crashed yet - little gear
> - aggressive riders - I'm pushing the envelope - lots of gear
> - mature riders - Gear is cheaper and less painful than skin grafts -
> lots of gear

You have this nailed down perfectly...it's exactly what I witness
every day.

> Get gear that you will wear EVERYTIME you ride, no matter how short.  In
> some cases that means trading off some protection for convinience.  The
> best pair of boots/pants/gloves/jacket in the world does you no good if
> they are sitting in the closet.  I had a one-pice set of "race"
> leathers.  I wore them for the first few years, and then I started
> slipping into doing all my short trips in jeans.  I bought a more
> appropriate set of gear, and now wear it everywhere.

Can you offer suggestions in this regard...this was the trap I was
fearing I'd get myself into; get great gear that I don't wear after a
while.

If you have any links to gear/apparel sites that offer stuff I'd
likely wear all the time, please let me know, thanks.

"Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote

> On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 15:50:14 -0400, "Matt Chapter"
> </\/\gc2n@virginia.edu> wrote:

> >Hell - leather motorcycle boots are the ultimate in stylish
> >footwear.  I wear mine all the time - they're the only footwear I
> >have.  Sometimes as much as 18 hours a day.

> <high-five>

Back atcha.  My only concern is the rate at which these are wearing
out.  Hopefully they'll last another 8 months or so, that'd give me
a total life of 1 1/2 years.

> Yup.  In fact, my motorcycle boots are the only pair of footwear I
> have.  Really.

> I have a pretty small wardrobe in general too.  Drives my wife
nuts.

I assume you've heard this conversation before, then:

"Isn't there another color other than black?"

"Color?  There is only *one* color."

I get it from my mom, girlfriend, other relatives...  I went so far
as to get a Metallica T-shirt - "Ride the Lighting"  It's got blue
lightning bolts on it.. [1]  That's about as far as I go.

--
Matt Chapter           "the less I have the more I gain...
DoD # 2225             off the beaten path I reign"
'82 CM 250 '76 CB 400F

"Matt Chapter" </\/\gc2n@virginia.edu> wrote

> lightning bolts on it.. [1]  That's about as far as I go.

Derf.  Forgot my footnote...

--
Matt Chapter           "the less I have the more I gain...
DoD # 2225             off the beaten path I reign"
'82 CM 250 '76 CB 400F

[1]http://metallicadirect.com/product_information.asp?PRODUCT­MJAJ
ASB&TYPE

On 24 Aug 2001 11:15:54 -0700, fourth_quartz@yahoo.com (Event Horizon)
wrote:

>SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
>and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
>into accidents.  Of course I realize they do, but of all the folks
>I've talked to so far, the crotch-rockets and other
>upright-but-not-cruisers are losing parts of their bodys,

I think safety tends to be more determined by the average age of the
riders involved than the bike itself.  As it is, owners of cruisers
tend to be older.

There have been reports of a recent rise in accidents among the older,
cruiser-riding crowd lately.  Probably a combination of mid-life
crisis and first bike (and a big one at that).  If you put those two
factors aside, then I think it's still generally true what you've
said.

--
Work to ride.  Ride to work.
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

Home page:   http://members.home.net/langkd
Alaska trip: http://members.home.net/langkd/Alaska/

In article <6aee72f3.0108241015.45d8864@posting.google.com>,
fourth_quartz@yahoo.com says...
> SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
> and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
> into accidents.  Of course I realize they do, but of all the folks
> I've talked to so far, the crotch-rockets and other
> upright-but-not-cruisers are losing parts of their bodys, getting
> killed, etc while none of the cruisers have similar stories.  And even
> MORE interesting is that most of the cruisers are virtual
> "squids"...wearing only top-hat style helmits, tee shirts and jeans,

There are 2 factors here, which are often equated but are really
independent.

1)  Riding style
2)  Safety style

1)  Riding style is largely determined by your personality.  Some people
ride because of the interaction with the bike and the road.  They ride
for the pleasure of making the bike dance through the roads.  These same
people tend to be mogul skiers.  They also tend to buy sportbikes
because they are the better tool for the job.

Some people ride because of the interaction with the world around them
through the bike.  They ride for the pleasure of experiencing the world
on 2 wheels.  These people tend to be cross country, or alpine ridge
type skiers.  They also tend to buy touring/cruisers because they are
the better tool for the job.

In general, you get into more accidents pushing the limits.  This is
true for most things.  The fact is that the people who push the limits
are more likely to crash.  Since most of these riders are on sportbikes,
there is a higher representation of them in the accidents.

This is why in spite of (generally) being better handling machines,
sport bikes tend to get crashed more.  Rider tendency, not equipment.

2)  In the same vien, personality also determines how much gear gets
worn.  Briefly:

- younger riders - I'm invincible - little gear
- older riders - I've never crashed yet - little gear
- aggressive riders - I'm pushing the envelope - lots of gear
- mature riders - Gear is cheaper and less painful than skin grafts -
lots of gear

You get the picture?  It's not the bike that choses the gear and the
style, it's the personality of the rider.


> occasionally only sneakers as well (and by the way, you folks DID
> convince me on that issue...I won't be wearing my sneaks riding, I
> think it's neat to have two feet).  But while these cruiser-squids
> ride, I'm here researching every kind of helmit, jacket, pant and
> footwear I can find!

Get gear that you will wear EVERYTIME you ride, no matter how short.  In
some cases that means trading off some protection for convinience.  The
best pair of boots/pants/gloves/jacket in the world does you no good if
they are sitting in the closet.  I had a one-pice set of "race"
leathers.  I wore them for the first few years, and then I started
slipping into doing all my short trips in jeans.  I bought a more
appropriate set of gear, and now wear it everywhere.

>
> At first I only wanted a cruiser-style bike.  But I realized that I'm
> really after part-time light off-roading so I've found a duel that I'm
> happy with (that hopefully I can hook up with next spring).  But
> damn...it's sure making a case for me to consider more strongly those
> nice, inexpensive Yamaha cruisers and the like!  (No, I couldn't ever
> afford a Harley).

Dual purpose bikes are great for learning.  Keep looking.

---
Cam
'89 RZ 350

Road Glidin' Don scribed in news:3b8d9bf9.5831435@news:

> On 24 Aug 2001 11:15:54 -0700, fourth_quartz@yahoo.com (Event
> Horizon) wrote:
>
>>SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
>>and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
>>into accidents.  Of course I realize they do, but of all the folks
>>I've talked to so far, the crotch-rockets and other
>>upright-but-not-cruisers are losing parts of their bodys,
>
> I think safety tends to be more determined by the average age of the
> riders involved than the bike itself.  As it is, owners of cruisers
> tend to be older.

Tend to be older, or tend to have been riding longer?

I had a boss who rode a HD something or other, and he had a few "going
down" stories, but they all took place back when he rode a "Yammi" many
years before.

> There have been reports of a recent rise in accidents among the
> older, cruiser-riding crowd lately.  Probably a combination of
> mid-life crisis and first bike (and a big one at that).  If you put
> those two factors aside, then I think it's still generally true what
> you've said.

So, again, it's not really the age of the rider, it's the years of
riding.


'85 VF700S
--
Michael J. Freeman                       (a.k.a., Pi)
mike_freeman@mac.com_noSpam            Cincinnati, OH
"Insanity runs in the family; it practically gallops"
Ellison, H. Thompson, D. Parker, Prince, SRV, Led Zep

On 24 Aug 2001 18:56:59 GMT, mike_freeman@mac.com_noSpam (M. J.
Freeman) wrote:

>Road Glidin' Don scribed in news:3b8d9bf9.5831435@news:
>
>> I think safety tends to be more determined by the average age of the
>> riders involved than the bike itself.  As it is, owners of cruisers
>> tend to be older.
>
>Tend to be older, or tend to have been riding longer?

But I wasn't really getting into that, with the above statement,
Michael.  The original question regarded the different statistics in
terms of the style of bikes.

My reply was that age is a bigger factor than the type of bike is.  As
far as distinguishing the 2 groups, there are going to be plenty of
new riders in both, so that's not as relevant to the question at hand.
It may be more relevant for a different question, of course.

But still, given 2 new (inexperienced) riders, one in his teens or
20's and one in his 40's, I still suspect the older rider will be
safer - no matter what difference there is in safety gear worn.

So, of course - although there's anecdotes to be found for everything
- the balance shifts in favour of age because sane,
non-testosterone-driven judgement tends to become more common with it.
And it's the mental aspect that is more important than the physical,
IMO.  Lack of physical skill can be compensated for while a rider is
learning.  No amount of physical skill will make up for a rider that
exercises poor judgement.

--
Work to ride.  Ride to work.
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

Home page:   http://members.home.net/langkd
Alaska trip: http://members.home.net/langkd/Alaska/

"Event Horizon" <fourth_quartz@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6aee72f3.0108241015.45d8864@posting.google.com...
<<Snip>>
> PS...if anyone has a dirt cheap bike to sell me to hold me over so I
> can re-learn riding, PLEASE let me know.  I'm desparate.
> Anything...dirt bike, street bike, whatever!

I've got a P.O.S. moped in my shed- how desperate are you?

On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 18:47:53 GMT, Cam Penner
<Cam.Penner@PLEASEDONTSPAMgoldmedalsystems.com> wrote:

>Get gear that you will wear EVERYTIME you ride, no matter how short.  In
>some cases that means trading off some protection for convinience.

Excellent point.  One of the reasons I wear slip-on boots, in fact.

--
Work to ride.  Ride to work.
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

Home page:   http://members.home.net/langkd
Alaska trip: http://members.home.net/langkd/Alaska/

In article <9m6b7l$dfi$1@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, "Matt Chapter" </\/
\gc2n@virginia.edu> says...
> "Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote
>
> > Excellent point.  One of the reasons I wear slip-on boots, in
> fact.
>
> Hell - leather motorcycle boots are the ultimate in stylish
> footwear.  I wear mine all the time - they're the only footwear I
> have.  Sometimes as much as 18 hours a day.

Of course, if you got some race quality boots, you probably would need
something else.  You've made the same trade off, only at a different
level.  We all do.  The trick is to set that line as high as you can and
still wear the gear everytime.

---
Cam
'89 RZ 350

On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 15:50:14 -0400, "Matt Chapter"
</\/\gc2n@virginia.edu> wrote:

>"Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote
>
>> Excellent point.  One of the reasons I wear slip-on boots, in
>fact.
>
>Hell - leather motorcycle boots are the ultimate in stylish
>footwear.  I wear mine all the time - they're the only footwear I
>have.  Sometimes as much as 18 hours a day.

<high-five>

Yup.  In fact, my motorcycle boots are the only pair of footwear I
have.  Really.

I have a pretty small wardrobe in general too.  Drives my wife nuts.

--
Work to ride.  Ride to work.
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

Home page:   http://members.home.net/langkd
Alaska trip: http://members.home.net/langkd/Alaska/

In article <3b86b90d.13275449@news>, langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com says...
> On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 15:50:14 -0400, "Matt Chapter"
> </\/\gc2n@virginia.edu> wrote:
>
> >"Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote
> >
> >> Excellent point.  One of the reasons I wear slip-on boots, in
> >fact.
> >
> >Hell - leather motorcycle boots are the ultimate in stylish
> >footwear.  I wear mine all the time - they're the only footwear I
> >have.  Sometimes as much as 18 hours a day.
>
> <high-five>
>
> Yup.  In fact, my motorcycle boots are the only pair of footwear I
> have.  Really.
>
> I have a pretty small wardrobe in general too.  Drives my wife nuts.

Your first clue your wardrobe is too small is that you have to walk
around naked on laundry day.

---
Cam
'89 RZ 350

On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 20:35:20 GMT, Cam Penner
<Cam.Penner@PLEASEDONTSPAMgoldmedalsystems.com> wrote:

>In article <3b86b90d.13275449@news>, langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com says...
>> On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 15:50:14 -0400, "Matt Chapter"
>> </\/\gc2n@virginia.edu> wrote:
>>
>> >"Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote
>> >
>> >> Excellent point.  One of the reasons I wear slip-on boots, in
>> >fact.
>> >
>> >Hell - leather motorcycle boots are the ultimate in stylish
>> >footwear.  I wear mine all the time - they're the only footwear I
>> >have.  Sometimes as much as 18 hours a day.
>>
>> <high-five>
>>
>> Yup.  In fact, my motorcycle boots are the only pair of footwear I
>> have.  Really.
>>
>> I have a pretty small wardrobe in general too.  Drives my wife nuts.
>
>Your first clue your wardrobe is too small is that you have to walk
>around naked on laundry day.

As amply evidenced by my Anniversary Night photo.  ;)

--
Work to ride.  Ride to work.
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

Home page:   http://members.home.net/langkd
Alaska trip: http://members.home.net/langkd/Alaska/

On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 16:56:07 -0400, "Matt Chapter"
</\/\gc2n@virginia.edu> wrote:

>"Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote
>
>> I have a pretty small wardrobe in general too.  Drives my wife
>>nuts.
>
>I assume you've heard this conversation before, then:
>
>"Isn't there another color other than black?"

Yep.  Black is always good.  Goes with everything and you don't have
to worry about what matches with what ('cause everything's black).

Heh, heh.  Life is so simple for us guys.

--
Work to ride.  Ride to work.
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

Home page:   http://members.home.net/langkd
Alaska trip: http://members.home.net/langkd/Alaska/

"Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote in message
news:3b86b90d.13275449@news...

motorcycle boots are the only pair of footwear I
> have.  Really.

> I have a pretty small wardrobe in general too.  Drives my wife nuts.

Yeah, I know what you guys mean.  I HAVE the shoes, but never wear the
hooker boots (as my daughter calls them) or stylish sandals anymore,
'cause I'm always on my bike.  Got those nasty little "gear shift"
grooves in my leftie though. Oh well, there are those that look good,
and those of us who have a life.
Maggie

I thought that the groove behind the left big toe was a requirement for a
good boot.  I mean, all of my boots have them!

Margaret Modisette <smodisette@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:CCzh7.499823$lq1.97969765@typhoon.austin.rr.com...
>
> "Road Glidin' Don" <langkd_NO_SPAM_@home.com> wrote in message
> news:3b86b90d.13275449@news...
>
> motorcycle boots are the only pair of footwear I
> > have.  Really.
>
> > I have a pretty small wardrobe in general too.  Drives my wife nuts.
>
> Yeah, I know what you guys mean.  I HAVE the shoes, but never wear the
> hooker boots (as my daughter calls them) or stylish sandals anymore,
> 'cause I'm always on my bike.  Got those nasty little "gear shift"
> grooves in my leftie though. Oh well, there are those that look good,
> and those of us who have a life.
> Maggie
>
>
>

On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 21:24:50 GMT, "Margaret Modisette"
<smodisette@houston.rr.com> wrote:

>Got those nasty little "gear shift"
>grooves in my leftie though.

A heel shifter will fix that, Margaret.  You might even be able to
wear the 'hooker boots' again.  <g>

>Oh well, there are those that look good,
>and those of us who have a life.

Definitely.  After a few beers, we all look good anyway.

--
Work to ride.  Ride to work.
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

Home page:   http://members.home.net/langkd
Alaska trip: http://members.home.net/langkd/Alaska/

In article <6aee72f3.0108241542.1c9e8465@posting.google.com>,
fourth_quartz@yahoo.com says...
> > slipping into doing all my short trips in jeans.  I bought a more
> > appropriate set of gear, and now wear it everywhere.
>
> Can you offer suggestions in this regard...this was the trap I was
> fearing I'd get myself into; get great gear that I don't wear after a
> while.

Here's my advice.  I ride where it seldom gets scorching hot, and am
fequently subjected to rain (vancouver BC).  I do mostly "city style"
riding, with only the occasional trip out for specific "twistie" riding.
IE:  most of my riding is as a method to get from A to B.  I need to be
dressed appropriately when I get to B.

In no particular order:

1)  Helmet.  Full face.

2)  Gloves.  Leather.
	- I treat them periodically with mink oil, but don't fool
yourself.  In the rain your hands will still get soaked.

3)  Jacket.  Leather.  Armored.
	- I have a Teknic jacket.  It weighs about 12 pounds (dry) and has
soft foam armor in the back, shoulder and elbows.  It works well.
(crash tested at about 15mph)  It fits OVER my clothes well.

4)  Pants.  Cordura.  Armored.
	- I've got Teknic pants too.  (brands match by blind luck).  They
are fairly waterproof.  It has to be raining pretty hard for more than
an hour or two before they start to leak through.  Even then, I'm not
sure it wasn't me forgetting to zip or tuck something.  The pants fit
OVER jeans/suit pants just fine.  When it's hot, I wear shorts under.
When I'm out to just carve some twisties and it's really hot, then the
shorts are optional too.  It takes literally 15 seconds to put the pants
on.  When I go to a client's site, I just leave them on a pile with my
jacket.

5)  Boots.  Leather.  Motorcycle function, NOT just fashion.
	- these are Styl Martin boots.  Not a lot of hard armor in them,
but good thick leather.  They also haven't let water in on me, but my
fairing protects my feet fairly well.  I'd suspect the mink oil keeps
much of the water out, but they're not 100% waterproof.

I carry (in my tankbag):
1) Rain gear.  PVC.  Cheap.
	- just the jacket.  My leather isn't waterproof, and is only good
enough for a sustained light drizzle.  Anything longer in duration and
the rain jacket goes on.
2)  Street shoes
	- my boots are uncomfortable for a lot of walking.

What would I do differently?

- a new pair of boots.  Either with more armor/waterproofness than I
have, or in a style more readily worn off the bike.  I'm not really
getting the best of either world.

- jacket.  I love the protection my jacket gives, but I'm toying with
some of the cordura products given my somewhat wet climate.  My brother-
in-law picked up one of the cordura jackets so we'll see how that lasts
over the next few years.

Warnings?

The biggest temptation to skip are the pants and boots.  They are also
arguably more important than the jacket.

I found the 2-piece setup was less tempting to skip wearing for short
distances than the 1 piece.

I really like the weatherproof pants, but they get hot on hot days in
stopped traffic.

> If you have any links to gear/apparel sites that offer stuff I'd
> likely wear all the time, please let me know, thanks.

Some people swear by Aerostich.  Personally, I'd probably only regularly
wear the 2 peice.  I want a jacket I can keep on when I get to where I'm
going.  (www.aerostich.com)

Other than that, wear clothes you want to fit under the stuff when you
try it on, and spend a few hours getting into and out of jackets and
pants.

---
Cam
'89 RZ 350

Your logic is wazzed. A drunk, inexperienced 17 year old on a cruiser is
no safer than the same rider on a GSXR.

The only safety device you have is permanently mounted between your
ears.

Jeff

Event Horizon wrote:
>
> I'm getting my bike next spring which is becoming torturous to wait
> for.
>
> In the meantime, I'm researching and talking to everyone I can.  The
> cool thing is that cyclists are always more than happy to share info;
> it's becoming obvious that people who ride are a different breed from
> cagers...how many cagers are eager to discuss their car compared to a
> rider discussing his ride?  It's pretty cool in that regard.  :D
>
> SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
> and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
> into accidents.  Of course I realize they do, but of all the folks
> I've talked to so far, the crotch-rockets and other
> upright-but-not-cruisers are losing parts of their bodys, getting
> killed, etc while none of the cruisers have similar stories.  And even
> MORE interesting is that most of the cruisers are virtual
> "squids"...wearing only top-hat style helmits, tee shirts and jeans,
> occasionally only sneakers as well (and by the way, you folks DID
> convince me on that issue...I won't be wearing my sneaks riding, I
> think it's neat to have two feet).  But while these cruiser-squids
> ride, I'm here researching every kind of helmit, jacket, pant and
> footwear I can find!
>
> At first I only wanted a cruiser-style bike.  But I realized that I'm
> really after part-time light off-roading so I've found a duel that I'm
> happy with (that hopefully I can hook up with next spring).  But
> damn...it's sure making a case for me to consider more strongly those
> nice, inexpensive Yamaha cruisers and the like!  (No, I couldn't ever
> afford a Harley).
>
> Input/comments welcome and looked forward to, you guys are great. ;D
>
> PS...if anyone has a dirt cheap bike to sell me to hold me over so I
> can re-learn riding, PLEASE let me know.  I'm desparate.
> Anything...dirt bike, street bike, whatever!

>Here's my advice.  I ride where it seldom gets scorching hot, and am
>fequently subjected to rain (vancouver BC).  I do mostly "city style"
>riding, with only the occasional trip out for specific "twistie" riding.
>IE:  most of my riding is as a method to get from A to B.  I need to be
>dressed appropriately when I get to B.

Ditto all that, substituting Seattle for Vancouver.


>Some people swear by Aerostich.

I'm one of those.  Comfortable + easy and quick to don and doff + can
wear it over clothing suitable for my destination, be it shorts or a
suit (pushing it, but not unreasonable) = very easy to wear Every
Single Time I ride.

I'm told other brands are quite good though, so YMMV.  I bought the
suit used locally, thus was able to try it on first.  Aerostich
typically sells only by mail order unless you live down the street
from the factory.

I might have preferred a two-piece, if only because the suit is pretty
bulky to try to store or stuff into something to secure or carry once
at the destination.  I figure a two-pice would be easier to pack into
panniers, but I don't have 'em anyway so that hasn't been much of an
issue yet.  But I think more importantly, the one-piece keeps me from
getting lazy and going without leg protection EVER.  (Right Beth?)

Good luck.

Steve


1999 Bandit 1200S
1975 CB400F

> Some people swear by Aerostich.  Personally, I'd probably only regularly
> wear the 2 peice.  I want a jacket I can keep on when I get to where I'm
> going.  (www.aerostich.com)

Great site, thanks...has everything I've been looking for and in the
size/styles/colors I've wanted.

fourth_quartz@yahoo.com (Event Horizon) wrote in message news:<6aee72f3.0108241015.45d8864@posting.google.com>...
> I'm getting my bike next spring which is becoming torturous to wait
> for.
>
> In the meantime, I'm researching and talking to everyone I can.  The
> cool thing is that cyclists are always more than happy to share info;
> it's becoming obvious that people who ride are a different breed from
> cagers...how many cagers are eager to discuss their car compared to a
> rider discussing his ride?  It's pretty cool in that regard.  :D
>
> SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
> and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
> into accidents.

this is pure and utter bullshit. They get in just as many accidents
per mile traveled, problem is "ride a mile, stay a while". If you only
ride 1,200 miles a year and I ride that many a WEEK! Who is a better
target for cagers.

Most likely your weekend cruiser types won't ADMIT to dropping bikes
or crashing out unless they have to.

> Of course I realize they do, but of all the folks
> I've talked to so far, the crotch-rockets and other
> upright-but-not-cruisers

these are typically refered to as Standards.

> are losing parts of their bodys, getting
> killed, etc while none of the cruisers have similar stories.  And even
> MORE interesting is that most of the cruisers are virtual
> "squids"...wearing only top-hat style helmits, tee shirts and jeans,
> occasionally only sneakers as well (and by the way, you folks DID
> convince me on that issue...I won't be wearing my sneaks riding, I
> think it's neat to have two feet).  But while these cruiser-squids
> ride, I'm here researching every kind of helmit, jacket, pant and
> footwear I can find!

good, even though sometimes expensive real purpose built and designed
motorcycle boots will be cheaper than a pair of work boots AND a trip
to a foot and ankle doctor!

> At first I only wanted a cruiser-style bike.  But I realized that I'm
> really after part-time light off-roading so I've found a duel that I'm
> happy with (that hopefully I can hook up with next spring).  But
> damn...it's sure making a case for me to consider more strongly those
> nice, inexpensive Yamaha cruisers and the like!  (No, I couldn't ever
> afford a Harley).

Just search groups.google.com for all the crash stories.
especially search for "Downed rider needs help" and other bs like
that.

Most of the rider down/cager ran over me stories are CRUISER rider
stories.
Most of the I wiped out on the track/mountain/canyon roads are
sportbikers.
The I hit an animal stories are everyone.

> Input/comments welcome and looked forward to, you guys are great. ;D
>
> PS...if anyone has a dirt cheap bike to sell me to hold me over so I
> can re-learn riding, PLEASE let me know.  I'm desparate.
> Anything...dirt bike, street bike, whatever!

Don Fearn wrote:
>
> Y2KYZFR1 wrote:
>
> > this is pure and utter bullshit. They get in just as many accidents
>
> Actually, no one will get into accidents anymore when this idea is
> implemented world-wide:
>
> http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/00000002D206.htm

Good idea. We always thrash out every crash, every collision, and most
of the near misses that get mentioned here, hoping to find the secret
formula that will prevent a repetition, or at least improve our chances
of avoiding one like it, and of mitigating the effects should our
avoidance strategies fail[1]. That sounds a bit like what the article is
suggesting.
>
> -pooder was here on purpose

Is that what you're calling your bike now?

Al Moore
DoD 734

[1] Actually we often do it just to justify ourselves after having
screwed up. Or even just had an accident. :-)

Y2KYZFR1 wrote:

> this is pure and utter bullshit. They get in just as many accidents

Actually, no one will get into accidents anymore when this idea is
implemented world-wide:

http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/00000002D206.htm

-pooder was here on purpose

On 27 Aug 2001 11:21:42 -0700, jarrodhroberson@yahoo.com (Y2KYZFR1)
wrote:

>> SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
>> and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
>> into accidents.
>
>this is pure and utter bullshit. They get in just as many accidents
>per mile traveled, problem is "ride a mile, stay a while". If you only
>ride 1,200 miles a year and I ride that many a WEEK! Who is a better
>target for cagers.
>
>Most likely your weekend cruiser types won't ADMIT to dropping bikes
>or crashing out unless they have to.

Okay.  Let's hear it then.  How many times have you crashed, when and
in how many miles?

You're words hint at a weasel clause on account of your riding many
miles.

--
Work to ride.  Ride to work.
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

Home page:   http://members.home.net/langkd
Alaska trip: http://members.home.net/langkd/Alaska/

On 27 Aug 2001 11:21:42 -0700, jarrodhroberson@yahoo.com (Y2KYZFR1)
wrote:

<snip>

>> SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
>> and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
>> into accidents.
>
>this is pure and utter bullshit. They get in just as many accidents
>per mile traveled, problem is "ride a mile, stay a while". If you only
>ride 1,200 miles a year and I ride that many a WEEK! Who is a better
>target for cagers.

Actually, I'd bet it is true. The insurance companies charge more for
sportbikes based on statistics, not prejudice. Also, I know lots of
sportbike owners who put very few miles on their bikes - just look in
the classifieds. Motorcycle owners who rarely ride are common around
here (eastern Long Island), whether sportbike or cruiser.

DaveW
R1
Mille R

>> SO!  I'm always asking about drops/spills.  And what I'm finding over
>> and over again is that cruiser-style riders (so far) just don't get
>> into accidents.  Of course I realize they do, but of all the folks
>> I've talked to so far, the crotch-rockets and other
>> upright-but-not-cruisers are losing parts of their bodys, getting
>> killed, etc while none of the cruisers have similar stories.  And even
>> MORE interesting is that most of the cruisers are virtual
>> "squids"...wearing only top-hat style helmits, tee shirts and jeans,

Tjis is lartely market profile. Folk who want to buy a bike so tehy
can Go Fast naturally gravitate towards track inspired equipment.
Their lust fro speed is what makes em both buy psortbikes and be
dangerous. They'd be dangerous on a Schwinn too. But tehy buy
sportbikes

Cruisers are seen as more sedate transport for folk who, for whatever
reason, dont see Going Fast as tehir amin priority. So tehir mindset
makes em crash less. They woukld crash less if tehy were borroing a
crotchrocket too.

The irony is that posession of a sportbike usually denotes a rider
with insufficient experience to realise that on hte street, the bike
makes very little difference to how fast an experienced rider can go.
So not all that infrequently you'll see an old grizzled cruuiser rider
wafting dwon a road deceptively easily on his street-reading, leaving
a trail of destroyed crotchrockets that tried to keep up with
him......

"Its the rider not the bike".

>1)  Riding style is largely determined by your personality.  Some people
>ride because of the interaction with the bike and the road.  They ride
>for the pleasure of making the bike dance through the roads.  These same
>people tend to be mogul skiers.  They also tend to buy sportbikes
>because they are the better tool for the job.

Actgually tehy arent hte best tool for teh job - for a real
canyon-dancer, a smallish trailbike on street tyres is better. But teh
market perception amopng those with more money than experience or
talent is that sportbikes are best.

>> > slipping into doing all my short trips in jeans.  I bought a more
>> > appropriate set of gear, and now wear it everywhere.
>>
>> Can you offer suggestions in this regard...this was the trap I was
>> fearing I'd get myself into; get great gear that I don't wear after a
>> while.
>
>Here's my advice.  I ride where it seldom gets scorching hot, and am

Draggin Jeans have brought out a knitted kevlar Swartwhirt that is THE
ideal tool for very hot weather. They are also going to production
iwth similar longjohns. Guess who' got teh shirt and is on hte list
for teh longjohns.....Very sensible kit if you are riding to somewhere
that is a pain in the arse to leave all hte motorycle gear......

>The biggest temptation to skip are the pants and boots.  They are also
>arguably more important than the jacket.

The accident states show hte jacket is teh LEAST important bit of gear
to buy.

On Tue, 28 Aug 2001 10:51:36 GMT, azw@aber.ac.uk (Andy Woodward) wrote:

[...]

>The irony is that posession of a sportbike usually denotes a rider
>with insufficient experience to realise that on hte street, the bike
>makes very little difference to how fast an experienced rider can go.
>So not all that infrequently you'll see an old grizzled cruuiser rider
>wafting dwon a road deceptively easily on his street-reading, leaving
>a trail of destroyed crotchrockets that tried to keep up with
>him......
>
>"Its the rider not the bike".
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Right you are Andy BUT ain't no cruiser, especially those with
floorboards, gonna hang with a half decent SB rider, cause he can't get
it leaned over far enough, without crashing. Hint: cruiser MFG's
typically spec their maximum lean angles and this is seldom >30 degrees.
Get my point?

[...]
      01 Sprint ST "RED"
          Bob Nixon
http://members.home.net/bigrex/

>Right you are Andy BUT ain't no cruiser, especially those with
>floorboards, gonna hang with a half decent SB rider, cause he can't get
>it leaned over far enough, without crashing. Hint: cruiser MFG's

So? The speed you goruond a corner is determined by ho far you can
see, noth e traction of hte bike. You're a newbiem, arent you -
probably own a crotchrocket too,,,,#

>typically spec their maximum lean angles and this is seldom >30 degrees.
>Get my point?


Ironically, cruiisers are the only street bikes you need to hang off
occasionally......It creased me up to folllow a Ducati down into
Dollygaloo. He was climbingaround all over it. I was just sitting
there like a sackj of spuds on a Vespa Scooter wwtching as he tried to
get away. Eventuallly the road straightend and he did.......

Sportbikers are as a generalisation, hte worst riders on hte road.