when i ride


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leprecaun jon

ESTABLISHED RESIDENT
Elite Member
when i ride a gear up....each and every time....110 degrees outside -10 degrees outside.....im geared up. what i have noticed when i ride a good upper percentile of people dont "get" the logic....why is my helmet so boring (plain white other than reflective stickers on the back) why do i wear an armored high viz vest.... most of all why im wearing "all that heavy gear"....those who have riden responsibly or been down support me... others mock me.

what i have also noticed when i ride is that people see me...thats not enough to make me comfortable though because....well cagers will be cagers... and shit happens.... but i notice that my gear... and the precautions i take every day... are working...like ATGATT...like my choice in gear... and using the highbeam during the day...but what i have noticed to be odd is other bikes dont wave back....??? i have been riding my bike every day that the sun has been out and no rain has poured this/last week... and have only gotten 1 nod and 1 wave....and a few scooters wave by lol.... whats with that?

sorry if this isnt "thread worthy" i and may be repetitive but i thought i would share and didnt exactly know where to put this.... maybe in my blog? :-/ i dont even know to many people that read my blog...
 
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Synyster

New Member
I need to get gear. I am a new rider go eight miles to work and eight back backroads. Just a helmet although I did order a new pair of gloves. I ride within my means but can't control what others do. Thankfully so far in the three weeks I've been riding I have been relatively lucky.
 
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dart1963

Super Moderator
Elite Member
Synyster said:
I need to get gear. I am a new rider go eight miles to work and eight back backroads. Just a helmet although I did order a new pair of gloves. I ride within my means but can't control what others do. Thankfully so far in the three weeks I've been riding I have been relatively lucky.
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I highly recommend you check out MotorcycleGear.com (the new name of New Enough) :: Motorcycle Jackets, Helmets, Gloves, Boots, Luggage, Parts and More!

closeout gear will protect just as good as the newest, latest, greatest stuff, at up to 1/2 or more off of the "New" price.... it is a great way to get protection on a budget.
 
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leprecaun jon

ESTABLISHED RESIDENT
Elite Member
Synyster said:
I need to get gear. I am a new rider go eight miles to work and eight back backroads. Just a helmet although I did order a new pair of gloves. I ride within my means but can't control what others do. Thankfully so far in the three weeks I've been riding I have been relatively lucky.
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yes get geared up..... just remember luck runs out...the only true way to ride safely is to eliminate risk factors.... by gearing up, doing daily inspections before each ride....buying and wearing gear that helps you be seen and using that high beam all eliminate risk factors..... in fact white helmets increase your chances of being seen by 20% ( that was a fact given to us in MSF)

edit: i still need riding boots but for now i have some old leather hiking boots that will do..i paid $60 for my jacket $75 for my pants $20 for gloves 150 for my stryker field armor and got my arai vector 2 for $350....so you dont have to spend a billion dollars on gear to get good gear.
 
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Michael Wilson

New Member
I need riding pants. My last pants got torn when I wrecked my buddies gsxr600 track bike. Oops!
 
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leprecaun jon

ESTABLISHED RESIDENT
Elite Member
Michael Wilson said:
I need riding pants. My last pants got torn when I wrecked my buddies gsxr600 track bike. Oops!
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i got the tour master quest pants from motorcycle superstore for a good price and they are great pants.... not super breathable but they are water resistant and do the job

@ michael and synyster if you NEED gear i have a few 10% off coupons for motorcycle super store...PM me
 
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dart1963

Super Moderator
Elite Member
like this killer deal:

Joe Rocket Fallout Jacket :: MotorcycleGear.com

AND FYI:

make sure... (I found out the hard way), you get at a minimum the 8" zipper attachment when setting up a two piece jacket / pants.... if only one side has it on, you can usually get someone to sew the other half on (my experience). My jacket didn't have it, but my pants did.

You want to jacket and your pants to stay together if you go down.
 
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Invader Jim

New Member
I have never been mocked for wearing gear with the exception of once on a forum. The guy was a troll though.

As far as high beams during the day, people who do that whether they are in a car or motorcycle piss me off. I find the brights create too much glare even during the day. Wear neon if you want to be seen. It is far more effective than high beams in my opinion. High beams wash out motorcycle and rider detail on my old eyes and makes it more difficult to judge distance and speed of the on coming motorcycle. Sure you are more obnoxious/visible with the high beam but you are also much harder to focus on and assess your intentions.
 
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danieljardim

New Member
Synyster said:
I need to get gear. I am a new rider go eight miles to work and eight back backroads. Just a helmet although I did order a new pair of gloves. I ride within my means but can't control what others do. Thankfully so far in the three weeks I've been riding I have been relatively lucky.
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leatherup.com is a pretty good site too.
 
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Detrich

New Member
My bike has ordinary halogen headlights and -not- the crazy, blinding HID's that most riders mod their headlights into. With regular halogens, the high beam is honestly not that bright, and u can't even tell its a high beam during the daytime.

I've been riding with my high beams on since I got my bike. And, I always will, because I feel that the safety outweighs the negatives. I pass by cops all the time and not a single time have they said anything or pulled me over for it either.

Like I said. Non-HIDs are not blinding at all.
 
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nismos14

I'm movin on
Elite Member
This thread is hilarious. It's like totally different things in one.

You've been riding for what? 1 week? Give it some time bro!
 
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oldtouring b

New Member
Jon..

Don't worry about what others say or think. Your decisions are the most important. Keeping your skin on is a meaningful game plan;)

Focus all your attention on where you are headed and take a quick glance at all intersections. Good habits will keep you safe and smiling in that Arai helmet!

Next time you wave drop your left arm near your knee and make a V with the first 2 fingers. You should get the reaction you are looking for. For the next few months DON'T look to see if they wave back.

Ride safe..
 
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CDN6R

New Member
Jon,,, I am very glad to hear that you are wearing gear. In 1982 (yes 30 years ago) I bought my 1st Sport Bike and I was the only person around here that wore leather jacket,leather pants,gloves,helmet, and a pair of Yamaha leather motocross boots. I took alot of flack from alot of people for wearing "gear". No matter what the temp I always wore it. Some motorcyclists just do not get the idea of ATGATT and have the "ain't going to happen to me attitude". Well accidents can happen to everyone. Ignore those idiots who mock you..hopefully they will never have a spill and find out why you keep geared up. Safe riding my friend.:Sport:

Laurie
 
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lwclancers

New Member
Jon, you've lived in NOVA long enough to know there are 2 reasons why you wont get waved back: 1) in this traffic, if you take a hand off the bar, you might eat it. 2) It's NOVA, people are dicks! Get out in to the country and people will wave across a 15 yard wide median...so basically, dont ride in Fairfax, PWC, or Loudoun, and people will wave.
 
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dart1963

Super Moderator
Elite Member
lwclancers said:
Jon, you've lived in NOVA long enough to know there are 2 reasons why you wont get waved back: 1) in this traffic, if you take a hand off the bar, you might eat it. 2) It's NOVA, people are dicks! Get out in to the country and people will wave across a 15 yard wide median...so basically, dont ride in Fairfax, PWC, or Loudoun, and people will wave.
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yep... though I can say, it's a mixed bag on 7... I see the same few bikes every day, a KLR and an old vfr almost every day, both of them wave most of the time (when traffic isn't bad)... but usually, in traffic, a quick glance and a nod is all we can do safely

so, when are we all getting together? everyone keeping the Skyline Drive ride open?
 

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