Riding Gear for the Streets

[ttakata]

That's a great video they should play on the video boards at some BKK intersections.

I've seen 1 or 2 fully geared up scooter guys in the last 20,000 kilos.

If I do long trips I will gear up because I know I will be cruising at 80-90kmh.

I even wore my Leatt neck brace on my Tricity riding from BKK to Prachuap Khiri Khan.

People must have thought I was crazy when I was going slow or stopped, but I did manage to get up to 100kmh which felt fast on a bike with lawn chair ergonomics.

[wantan]

Funnily enough, I saw one a few months back. With elbow and knee protectors and all the bells and whistles from gear heaven. He was riding a Fino.

I thought he must have lost his marbles.

For me its opposite. Everytime i see guys on scooters going at 80kmh or more without any protection gear i think they lost their marbles

If you come down at 80kmh the street will be the same, it doesnt matter if scooter or big bike. I often wear an armored jacket with back protector insert on my scooter. Since a guy on a Airblade crashed into my back with 50-60kmh i feel uncomfortable without back protector in the city.

[submaniac]

My additional thoughts are: while riding gear such as leather or mesh jacket, gloves, boots, and the such will protect you from road rash should you take your bike or scooter down, my main concern are blunt object obstacles like a post, a pole, and those high curbs they have in Thailand. A good jacket won't protect you from blunt force trauma if you hit a pole, and even the best possible helmet will only protect you slightly. Like if you get thrown and end up going head first into a pole at 80 km/h that Shoei/Arai/AGV/Etc. helmet isn't going to miraculously save you.

[rambling]

I think hitting a pole at 80 km/h can be lethal even in a car.

As for the helmets hitting curbs and other objects that's indeed a concern and one reason why I think ratings such as UK's Sharp are relevant, even though some manufacturers say they don't mimic the real world. They probably mean not the real world of track racing.