Gearing Up - Are you ATGATT, MOTGATT or something else?

[SparkerS1]

Do you sweat much under the jacket and FF?

 

Shoes - above or below ankle?

 

sweated alot, but no choice, safety first, be equipped n prepared for the ride.

For nothing also can skid no matter how safe u are.

The least riders can do is gear up, its ur skin n blood.

 

Shoes both type i also have, a decent pair of shoes will do

[Dnish]

Full leathers. OMG. I briefly considered a vented leather jacket like the Dainese Laguna Seca and RS Taichi GMX Motion Vented, but quickly gave up that idea after wearing them. But obviously your post is proof that it can be done.

 

Is your work shirt crinkly when you get to work? Or maybe you've got shirts that don't crinkle easily? As for your American colleague, how does he deal with the sweat? Are there showers at work? Or does he just rely on natural drycleaning?

 

I wear the non iron shirts you can get at Brooks Brothers or Marks & Spencer. If folded nicely, they wont wrinkle too much. I also keep an extra pair of shoes in the office. so just change out of my boots. As for the other guy, think he just wipes down in the mensroom. He is the boss so no one would question him.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Okay lol Vyruz and I appear to be hell bent on discussing culture, not gear. Here's me on topic for once:

 

- Background.

 

I used to be a school kid (who also works as a restaurant manager) who rides a 2 stroke pocket rocket (Yamaha 125Z). I learned very early on in class 2B P plate stage that many road users do not care at all for the welfare of small bike riders. Especially stock, worn looking small bikes like mine (before I did a custom paint job).

 

Thus it was mandatory for me to wear the following in addition to basic protective gear:

 

'03 to '09

ATGATT:

 

- Industrial-strength faux-leather gloves

- Safety shoes (steel toe)

- '80s vintage Army winter jacket

 

I am thankful not to have had any incidents in that stage of fast-paced "Malaysian style" riding; it was better for me as a lone cub rider to make use of that horsepower and good traction than get sandwiched in lane 3 and forced off the road eventually.

 

I had a quite serious high speed accident in riding school (BBDC) but thanks to gloves and that thick jacket I actually had fun flying off the bike and sliding gracefully across a grass field without a scratch! I cannot understand why on public roads there are riders (especially my "rempit" fast cub riders) who scrape their pegs in shorts and sandals.

 

--

 

I'm at work so, you'll get to hear the 2010 story later

[lutein]

I don't know why there's so much issue about sweat from wearing FF and jacket. I'm a lady rider and I wear a flip-up and mesh jacket, with FULL MAKEUP ON. Sometimes I arrive sweaty but just a bit of clean-up will do. And no I don't stink.

 

Anyway here's my gear:

 

Bike: Naked - Class 2

 

Purpose: Commuting

 

Gear ATT (all the time):

1. Flipup Helmet

2. Gloves with carbon fibre reinforced knuckles

 

Gear SOTT (some of the time):

1. Mesh jacket with proper back protector (bought separately)

2. Riding boots

3. Kevlar riding jeans

 

SOTT only when I ride pillion on weekends, and for once in the blue moon things when I found myself having to ride my bike without my gear. Otherwise for daily commute, I wear the jacket and riding boots.

[ahcaibiker]

Bike: Naked/Cruiser - Class 2b

 

Purpose: Commuting, leisure.

 

ATGATT

Not at the moment, not enough $$$ to invest in good armored pants and high cut touring/riding boots.

 

MOTGATT

1. FF with balaclava

2. Gloves with carbon fibre knuckle protection/over the wrist semi-racing gloves from Komine

3. Mesh jacket with shoulders, elbows and back armour.

4. Long pants/jeans

5. Riding shoes/covered shoes.

 

Very very short trips like shifting bike from mscp to my flat downstairs will wear open face, t-shirt, shorts and slippers.

 

Very short trip just to pump petrol/ pump air, will wear just open face, t-shirt, shorts and covered shoes.

 

there you go, my current practice.

Edited September 30, 2010 by ahcaibiker

[dotless]

need advice on this. what do u wear when you are going for....a game of soccer?

[lutein]

Take bus

[unhomer]

Bike: Streetbike (i think >_>, cbr150 is which subcategory?) - Class 2B

 

Purpose: Transport / Leisure

 

Gear ATT (all the time):

1. Flip up Helmet with Balaclava

2. Gloves with knuckle armour

3. Mesh Jacket with CE Shoulder and elbow armour + soft foam back padding

 

4. Jean (also considered gear?) / Dress pants (when riding to work)

5. Normal shoes / Dress shoes (work)

 

Would like riding shoes and pants, slowly saving lar, after BMT get perhaps.

 

Not sure how i'll ride to work with riding bottoms though, box is not that big to fit spare clothing & laptop bag. Though that's a problem for another year since I'll be entering NS soon.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Reputed in Australia and Thailand to be powerful, with great handling and comfort thrown in. Some Australian junior racers have made their CBR150Rs faster than their RS125s. How!?

 

Although, we just use them as commuter bikes here lol!!

 

I kid you not, it's the same CBR150!

 

----

 

 

On topic:

 

New safety weapon in my arsenal is a high visibility jacket. It just costs $3.90 at Mustafa but it made a lot of drivers yield to my right of way this evening... just because the bike and biker is much more, well, visible. There are cars who stop at junctions 100m in front of me because they saw "something" and "someone" coming, not just a dot of a single headlamp.

 

I also spent a couple of dollars on some reflective stickers and the brighter the car's headlights, the further they stay back! (basic version of Ahcaibiker's awesome solar array)

 

I also put the "construction stripe" on the helmet so drivers notice I am watching the mirrors frequently. Makes them think twice.

 

ps. I know I'm wearing a lot of reflective stuff but please do not high beam me to see more reflections

 

See the difference in visibility:

 

Before

 

After

 

If you're on a small bike like a SP or CBR150, a hi visibility garment can make your life much easier in traffic.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Pandora's Kitten :3

[haoKR]

brighter dan our new sbf layout

haha

 

u put those reflcetive thing on ur jacket ?

[vyruz]

on the hi-vis vest. I have a yellow one with reflective strips but didn't wear it over my jacket the other day. Now that I'm rocking inner armour without a full textile jacket, might go back to putting it on.

 

For those with armoured jackets, do you care if the armour is CE certified? When I bought my first ever jacket (RS Taichi mesh), I wasn't really aware of CE certification. Now that I've read a study that showed a cheese sandwich had better armour properties than some standard armour in jackets, I've been a bit more discerning and now look for at least CE Level 1 certified. Not hard to find, and not expensive for piece of mind. My $200 Komine inner wear has CE Level 1 on elbows and shoulders, and my $250 Forcefield back protector is CE Level 2. If you guys have spare cash to upgrade to CE certified armour, I recommend doing so. You can try getting Knox armour from the Jurong distributor or ask Wildroses if they sell standalone Forcefield elbow/shoulder armour.

[ProFatSir]

well done Pandora's Kitten for the write up..

[unhomer]

haha where did you get those stickers from Pandora's Kitten?

 

Mod liao need to rejet right?

[contrarian]

Bike: Scooter - Class 2A

 

Purpose: Commuting

 

Gear ATT (all the time):

1. Full face helmet

2. Leather gloves

3. Riding jacket with elbow and shoulder inserts

4. Ankle boots or covered shoes

5. Trousers

 

Gear SOTT (some of the time):

1. Riding trousers

[hachi]

Bike: Scooter - Class 2

 

Purpose: Commuting

 

Gear ATT (all the time):

1. Full face helmet

2. Leather gloves

3. Riding jacket with elbow,back and shoulder inserts

4. Froma riding boots

5. Kevlar Jeans

 

Gear SOTT (90% of the time):

1. Full face helmet

2. Denim jacket

3. Froma riding boots

[DeusExMachina]

CL2

 

Track: The full works.

 

Touring : All of the gear

FFH, gloves, riding jackets and pants, boots, back prots, stuff.

 

2nd link trips: SOTG

FFH, gloves, jeans, boots

Jacket... sometimes. Depends on what speed I plan to go.

 

Commuting in SG or JB town: (LOL wut gear?)

Jeans/Pants, covered shoes/boots, FF

That's it. No jacket or gloves most... no... nearly all of the time.

I'm complacent abt that, so sue me. But that's up to me anyway.

I accept the consequences.

[kmax]

ATGATT is good practise... but it does not deter death

 

RIP malaysian biker.

 

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php/303172-Fatal-Accident-at-Ulu-Yam-%28-1-more-rider-down

[vyruz]

Wow. Some disturbing images in the Malaysian report.

 

I agree kmax. Shoya's demise at Moto2 was ample evidence that having all the very best gear on won't avoid death if the circumstances are bad enough. This is yet another example.

 

Ride safe fellas.

[Aurium]

i guess i`m slack...

just open face and berms and flip flop all the time...

 

only gear up when gg up north...

however, i`ve rode w ppl gg past 250 kmph with openface helmet, shorts and flipflops.. not even gloves..

it`s his life anyway.. ya... tt`s it..

[mmkbad]

Agreed, the gears wont deter death, but at least they'll help to reduce the seriousness in our injuries should we unfortunately take a spill.

 

Few of my friends have got into an accident recently, and survived; fortunately, even though they are wearing flip flops and open face helmets. But the injuries they sustained include cut lips and scrapped palms and ankles.

 

I believe if they were wearing protective gears; FF helmet and gloves at least, and shoes; it might save them a whole lot of pain, and also cut down the cost of medical treatment for their scrapes and wounds. The same friends i mentioned above even remarked to me that if i were in their position that day, i might stand back up on my feet to work on the very same day.

 

We might try our very best to ride safe, but we never know if the other users that are sharing the road with us have that same mentality. Like how some young ******* ignorant BMW driver was tailgating me at the middle lane even though i was already at 120km. KNNCCB.

[vyruz]

i guess i`m slack...

just open face and berms and flip flop all the time...

 

Takes some courage to admit that in a thread full of ppl who gear up at least partially. Well done on that. But do try gearing up bro. Take small steps like maybe get a pair of gloves or wear covered shoes. I don't like repeating cliche statements, but I'm sure you've heard that 'There are only two types of riders - those who have crashed, and those who are going to crash'. Maximize your chances of getting up and walking away when your time comes.

[vyruz]

*double post*

[crankcase]

Fascinating discussion! Especially since my biking buddies needle me a lot about the amount of gear I tend to wear

 

Ride:

Class 2 street-sport

 

Usage:

Pretty much everywhere & every time except when

- going out with a group of friends (none of my other friends ride)

- alcohol is on the menu

 

MOTGATT

- full-face (flip up) helmet

- mesh jacket with hard armour on shoulders/elbows/back

- long cuff leather gloves with carbon fibre knuckles

- high cut riding boots

 

ATT here really does me all the time - I never ever get on my bike without these. Since I need formal attire at work, my dress shoes are left in office and I change when I get here. But it excludes moving the bike around the car park - I've done that even in shorts & flip-flops But I have to say, it tends to scare my pillions sometimes when they see me all geared up - they're all like, "What about me?!"

 

The glaring omission here is any form of knee protection, which is a problem I'm still trying to solve. I have a pair of fairly good knee pads, but they look ugly and are quite bulky to lug around.

 

I also have a super protective full suit (fully armoured jacket & pants that join together at the waist with a zip) but I hardly get to use that any more. Of course, the price of all this protection is that it's extremely bulky and impossible to carry around - I either find a place to keep it or I have to keep it on. My friends have variously described it as my hulk/robocop/stormtrooper suit It's made of kevlar mesh, so it's not too uncomfortable on the move. I used to be able to wear it to work at my last job because there was place to keep it in the store room, but my new job doesn't offer such conveniences so I'm down to my MOTG set, and the big suit is relegated to my extremely-infrequent touring.

 

Despite this MOTGATT/ATGATT mentality, I try not to preach too much because when I started out I didn't think twice about riding my SuperFour in shorts & sandals... and I would have dismissed any suggestions to gear up as an 'overly protective' mentality. I learnt my lesson the hard way, adding gear one at a time - gloves, armoured jacket, FF helmet, boots. But even I have to acknowledge the added inconvenience & discomfort, so I guess it's down to each individual's appetite for risk

[kinwei]

Ahhh, I worn T-shirt, berms, open face, no glove and racer slipper most of the time. Even on makan trip in Malaysia. Yes, sometimes I speed above 250kph in it. And did someone mentioned about busa rider wearing slipper? I guess, I'm guilty of it all. I used it to wear at least a full face, jeans and at least a sneaker but then laziness and heat slowly transformed me. I personally had fallen many times. Road rashes and broken bone didn't deter me. But as I'm getting older and got a commitment coming up, I tried to more safe. Nowadays I tried to wear at least a full face. Not much of a protection but then, I hope to slowly go toward MOTGATT.

[rhema83]

Ride:

Class 2 sport-standard (FZ6S2)

 

Usage:

Daily commute

 

GATT:

Full face helmet (OGK FF5)

Short mesh gloves with hard plastic knuckle protectors (Alpinestar Atlas)

 

I wear long pants or jeans, and proper shoes. I also used to wear my armored leather / mesh jacket to work, but the heat and inconvenience got to me. But I've slacked off recently. The worst I've done is to ride wearing t-shirt, berms and slippers. Fortunately I am still using my FF all the time, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've not worn my gloves.