BoxHill.co.uk

[The Teacher]

Ive been around bike for to many years to mention. There are 2 main things that cheese me of in the bike world.

1 The lack of protective clothing on people riding motorbikes.

2 People riding around without there saftey helmet not done up.

So as the weather warms up the silly season starts and all the idiots will ride around with no cloaths on again.

The point that i want to make is.

If the goverment wont change the law to make people ride with the correct clothing, Should insurance companys refuse cover unless rider and pillion have suitable clothing on.
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You make something idiotproof, they'll make a better idiot

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

It`s All in the wrist.

[Flipper]

Cant understand why what other people wear would piss you off?

Seen loads of French Police riders in shirts, freedom of choice is a wonderful thing!!
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If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

[boudicas]

[GSEX-SLAPPY]

rode today with what i consider less than the bare minimal and that was only as time was of the essence ....had to squeeze in a new front tyre ( remove the wheek to reduce the cost ) and then an MOT which involved changing the can and aquiring new and replacing the Horns ( they wouldnt work every time and when they did only one would sound) so the run to a local Mot tester ( 4 miles ) was made in Helmet , Textile jacket, jeans and trainers ....probably the first time ive worn trainers on a bike since i was a teenager ...felt naked tbh and very very exposed but as said ...it was freedom of choice

[biggus]

Interesting topic. There would be benefit to protective clothing being legislated in, namely, given time, clothing quality should improve if minimum standards were legislated in. However, i do believe in freedom of choice... But one thing that really hacks me off is 'johnny knee down' taking his bint about on the back of his cock rocket wearing an ill fitting lid, slip on shoes, pedal pushers, and flimsy jacket while he's in his one piece leather and 400 quid arai etc.

Interestingly enough... There are different attitudes from different factions - cruiser riders often wear bike jackets but remove the armour for instance.

I wear jeans on occasions, i know the risks etc. My choice etc..
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www.bigguspicus.co.uk

There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand Binary and those who don't

There are II types of people in the world: those who understand Roman numerals and those who don't.

98% of all Harleys ever sold are still on the road. The other 2% made it home

[The Teacher]

[quote="boudicas"]
The only reasonable thing I can think of cant be applied in the UK as refusing to pay out on medical insurance for injuries / treatment that could have been avoided / mitigated by wearing full leathers / textiles and body armor. There is the possibility that the NHS could bill people for the treatment of injuries that could have been mitigated by wearing the proper gear but again this is something would be extremely hard and complex to police and enforce.

Good point its one thats been batted about the training industry for a while now.
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You make something idiotproof, they'll make a better idiot

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

It`s All in the wrist.

[The Teacher]

I fully respect the fredom of choice. How many people would ride without a saftey helmet on. That change in the law saved thousands of lives over the years. Its also the same with the seat belt law.
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You make something idiotproof, they'll make a better idiot

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

It`s All in the wrist.

[Phoenix]

Informed choice is the thing ...
i DO wear armoured kevlar jeans, boots, textile jacket etc,
but i HAVE paid my insurance company in good faith, knowing
that they have a certain obligation. I know with certainty that they
view that money as theirs and will do anything to avoid giving a penny
of it back, why give them more loopholes.

the stupidity involves in not wearing the correct gear will result in lots
and lots of very very hurty painful ouchy pain in the event of an accident,
is it fair that you will ALSO have the insurance company refusing to fight in
your corner against the Audi driver that pulled out in front of you while
using a cellphone? because for that day only you were on your way to
a bike gear shop to buy new boots ?

freedom of choice ! but Informed choice !
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[img]http://www.boxhill.co.uk/forum/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=9446[/img]
Semper in merda; sola altitudo variat
Phoenix/Phenis/Treenix/MoP/Kent Trash/David NOT Dave

[Flintstone]

I would rather do things by choice rather than be forced to do them, as I feel you need to educate people as to why we do things as opposed to saying you have to.
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It's all down to quality of life !

[Athos]

[Flintstone]

[GSEX-SLAPPY]

[Tango]

[quote="The Teacher"]

[Flipper]

[Jay1]

See what you're saying but I think it has to be freedom of choice. The most important and obvious piece of safety equipment is already legislated, being the helmet.

As for the insurance companies refusing to pay out I don't see how this could work. It would not be your own insurance company paying you, as you can't claim injury against yourself and also, the amount that "correct clothing" would reduce injury is very subjective. It is agreed that wearing leathers will reduce the risk of injury, but how could you possibly prove that a failure to wear, say an armoured jacket, would have contributed to a broken arm having been knocked off your bike.

I think the only real injuries you could say with any certainty would be reduced by wearing protecive clothing are abbrasion type injuries, and again it is impossible to say that you wouldn't get some road rash in the bargain basement protective gear that would be the bear minimum legal requirement.

If they made the regulations too stiff then the cost of the protective gear would be completely prohibitive to a lot of people, as good quality gear cetainly don't come cheap, particularly if you are having to buy for yourself and a "very occasional" pillion.

Not sure this is a law that could ever realistically be enforced either. Would you want plod pulling every rider they see in jeans over, to check that they are armoured, or kevlar enforced, or whatever the regulations would insist upon?

I don't really understand why anyone would go out on a bike in shorts and t-shirt, and certainly never would myself. But at the end of the day I think that should remain their choice to do so.

[Baloo]

[quote="tango"]

[southernspeed]

[crazy horse]

Although Freedom of choice is great, can I have the freedom of choice as to wheather treatment for injury caused by taking a slow speed tumble in shorts and trainers gets paid for out of my NI contributions?

I disagree that kit should be legislated, as when you start that ball rolling who knows where It'll end up. As most of us know motorcycling in itself is considered Dangerous by many so would it not eventually become a case that bikes are banned from the public highway for our own safety.
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That'll be Mr Horse to you http://www.wmmcc.co.uk/home/index.php/content/view/1/1/1/1/

[boudicas]

[Suzibabe]

When I first started riding bikes, it was very rare to see anyone in full leathers. Helmet, gloves, boots, leather jacket and jeans was the norm.

My husband rides a Supermoto and wears jeans with a textile jacket. When he had his GSXR750 he wore full leathers.

If I'm going to work I wear leather jeans (non-armoured) and a textile jacket with armour. If I'm out on a ride, I'll wear full leathers.

Freedom of choice!
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We are all born mad. Some remain so. ~ Samuel Beckett 1906-1989

[reddragon]

[moriwaki]

Funny how ones mind works....
I'm heading out on the ZRX, so, wear leather jeans and jacket, gloves, boots and full face helmet. Reason....because it's what i wear on the bike ! On second thoughts, think i'll go cycling instead. On go shorts, short sleeved top, finger-less track mitts, light weight cycle shoes and cycle helmet.....because it's what i feel comfortable wearing when cycling. More than happy with both.
BUT....falling from a push bike at 40mph is no different to falling from a motorbike at the same speed. Yet, apart from looking stupid, i'd feel naked riding the ZRX in my cycle kit !
If people feel ok riding in jeans, tee-shirts etc then so be it. Not right for most but it's their choice, at a time when we're forever being told what to do and what not to do for our own well being.
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Just call me Waki.

[wivvy's dad]

JRTFT

[pgtips72]

Legislation would also have the effect of aiding the powers that be in further reducing motorcyclists - more expense & compliction etc = fewer new motorcyclists = easier to legislate against- ad infinitum.

I've got all of the gear, I also do instructing now & again. I dont always wear all of the gear when I'm riding for myself tho, that's my choice & I dont have to justify it to anyone.
Decent bike gear has always been expensive (barring the odd amazing bargain here & there), when I started out I knew I couldnt afford top notch stuff so made do with jeans, second hand leather jackets, putting on layers etc & eventually as I got older my ability to buy stuff grew & so did my bike wardrobe.
You've also got to take style (as in type, not fashion) into account to some degree - a lot of my gear is restrictive - great if you're on a sports bike kinda thing but do you really want to be wearing sidi vertigo corsa's on a harley with forward controls? - personally I think the square toed 'biker' boot would be a better option there, helmet wise, if you're sitting a little more laid back then perhaps a full face shoei wont give you as good visibilty as an open face - less protection but it is a trade off for visibility. Would this mean that the cruiser rider wasnt wearing all of the approved gear?
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Nope. it's not me, I'm in disguise....

[Lil Mush]

My answer is (in answer to more than this topic):

ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS! instead of adding policing yet again...

as Mori said: "at a time when we're forever being told what to do and what not to do for our own well being ".
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