What riding gear when it:s hot?

[adst]

All the armour all the time ! YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE


sometimes ...

[Sea-Strom]

Interestingly I saw two riders on sports bikes this morning - one wearing a t shirt and riding like an arsehole and one with proper jacket riding 'normally'. It's not just a question of what you wear but matching riding style to available protection. Cruiser riders often dress down when riding probably because mostly they ride more sedately. When I rode my VN900 I usually wore an open faced helmet, jeans and thin jacket. On the Daytona and Gixxer it was always full leather with max armour. The V-Strom usually sees me with reasonably protective gear. I'm not duly influenced by scaremongers. I am fully aware of the risks but avoid spoiling my ride by looking at horror pics. Instead I use risk assessment in what I wear and how I ride. If it's hot and I prefer to dress down then I will take less risks. Motorcycling is risky but also enjoyable. Striking a balance is important. If I'm just too hot to enjoy the ride, there doesn't seem a lot of point. Similarly in winter, if I'm so cold I can't concentrate, I am at more risk of something going wrong. We each need to find our compromise but let's face it, in life, we all have different thresholds......from the overcautious to the downright foolish. I'm probably somewhere in between but each to their own.

[Sea-Strom]

Went out yesterday wearing my open faced helmet with a visor. Have this from my cruiser days. Safety apart, the experience was amazing! I could actually see the traffic all around me and in a funny way felt much safer. Just used in town and not particularly fast - I suppose scooter riders do this all the time. Kevlars and jacket open half way down. Wore my thin summer sports gloves ( no armour). Not the safest combination but I did a risk assessment and rode accordingly. I was relaxed, not sweaty and very aware of drivers in my space. Not saying I would ride like this unless it was hot but I felt it was a fair compromise. When I think how we rode in the 60's with no helmet and ordinary stuff, my outfit yesterday was super sensible. Back to full leathers today for a motorway blast. My Shoei XR1100 is a brilliant helmet but I do struggle seeing out of the corners of the visor. Still at least my face might stand a chance if I come off! I suppose Harley riders worry more about how they look than if the worst happens - I know I did when I was one!

[greywolf]

I don't get it. I have ridden with full face helmets since 1975 and have never had the helmet get in the way of my vision. Of course I'm not trying to look at the helmet.

[Sea-Strom]

Between 1966 and 1984 I only ever had open face helmets and a mixture since. Now when I look out of the corner of my 300 quid lid     I have to peer with one eye to see down the side of my specs. With the open face yesterday I could see without the squinting. It's the plastic at the sides that is just not there with open face.  That's how it is for me anyway.

[ProfG]

Get a fliptop with a sunvisor. Best of both worlds

[greywolf]

I have to look past my glasses to see the helmet.

[Sea-Strom]

Get a fliptop with a sunvisor. Best of both worlds

Fliptops are a good compromise if you need to change your environment with the least effort. The downside is they can  look a bit naff open perched on top of your head and closed at speed can be noisy. Like most things, you can't please all of the people all of the time...but I think an American with a beard already said that!

[Sea-Strom]

I have to look past my glasses to see the helmet.

...and me. But with the open face I can see the muppet that might turn into me instead. Mind you, if he did turn into me, I'd rather not be wearing an open face in the first place!

[SimonW]

Hein Gericke Air 3 sound interesting - much cheaper than ventilator I've (after all, what's the point of the waterproof and quilted layers? That's what normal gear is for) - and good review on visordown. Where can I find them? Can't find any stockist on the interweb.

Just seen this, which might be of interest: http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/bullson-breeze-jacke-grau.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=cyberweekend&I=4

Bullson Breeze Mesh Summer Jacket grey £53 (was £107).

[obalanga]

I am looking out the window and this thread should be deleted

[SimonW]

Ha!

But, when the world goes around again and it's roasting out there and you can't find <the opposite of hot> riding gear and/or it's all £200 you'll wish you'd bought some cheap in the sale in the winter...

[Coval]

+1
This Bullson looks good and is priced very keenly.
I have a similar jacket by Rev'it, has lots of mesh panels, which give you a pleasant feeling as long as you are moving. 'coz it's black, you still suffer while stationary so, if I was to buy one again I would go for a lighter colour, however impractical it might be (getting dirty easily).