Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Love my safety gear!

Hi all---and I am VERY HAPPY to be able to say that! I don't post alot, but what happened to me recently is worth a write up.

I just want to tell everyone about my new found respect for safty gear and give a very special thanks to Chy for talking me into getting and wearing it.

On the morning of June 29th. I was on my way to work on Hwy 115 in eastern Lumpkin Cty, Ga. I had just gone through a four way stop and had excelerated to about 50-55 mph. I guess I briefly looked at something on the side of the road cuz when I looked back a pickup truck had come to a dead stop directly in front of me. I was close enough that I knew I could not stop in time, so I hit the brakes, and somehow (luck, skill? I will never know), I missed the truck but felt the bike starting to go down.

The next thing I remembered was some wonderful lady opening my visor and asking my name. About the same time I saw the Paramedics pull up. I thought, "Wow, they got here quick". Little did I know----I was out for about 20 minutes!

Well, I must of had a guardian Angel riding with me that day, and I KNOW I was wearing some great equipment. I had a full face helmet, Triumph Rochester Jacket with all the pads, short fingered gloves, jeans, and steel toed boots.

The damage----dislocated thumb, 7 stiches and a small scrape on my left hand, bruises to my right chest, and small scrapes to my right knee, and elbow! That's it!

The helmet was damaged (appears I went in face first), jacket was slightly damaged and my right boot had the leather pealed off down to the steel protection.

So all I want to say is---Please, everyone, respect your gear, and WEAR IT! Please don't be one of those folks that ride in shorts, tank tops and flip flops! If I had been I may not be here right now!

Thanks Chy! Don, "aka" Pawdiddle.

I'm really sorry to hear about your accident. It sounds like it was a pretty rough landing and I'm glad your gear held up and did it's job for you.
I agree about the shorts, tank, and flip-flops. A few guys in my neighborhood are always leaving on their bikes dressed like that and I think, "wow, really?"

I ride jeans, T shirt, no helmet all the time.

Glad you are OK, how did the bike fare?

glad to hear you're basically o.k. except for the scrapes and bruises. your gear is very important if you wish to come out of one of those without a long hospital stay. thanks for sharing.

mike

Wow man... glad you're okay! A good pitch for gear all right!

I second the love of gear. I wear gloves, boots and a half helmet. I went down on the 17th and only received bumps and a little road rash on my knee. If I hadn't been wearing gloves both my hands would of been hamburger. My gloves were shredded but not a scratch on em!

Really glad to hear you didn't have any major injuries. Is the bike salvageable?
All the best and remember to get back on the horse....

ouch! dangitman... glad you're okay. And I'm glad you listened..

Glad to hear you're pretty much okay after all this, Don.

Yep, I almost always, at the minimum, wear my 3/4 helmet, my FirstGear mesh jacket, boots, jeans and gloves whenever I ride.

(sooooo...how did the bike come through all this, anyway?)

I rode to a client meeting last night without a jacket, helmet or gloves. I guess I'm not officially ATGATT.

It's .75mi from my house. (local volunteer fire dept.)

Glad your OK....

Full Face, Jacket, Armored Gloves and Boots all the time!!!!

Glad you survived

If I'm just bumbling around town on a nice day, I'll just wear jeans, boots, t-shirt and helmet, helmets being compulsory here and boots are the only type of footwear I've got, apart from posh shoes (weddings and funerals for the use of).

Anywhere where I'm likely to go above 30mph for long periods and the jacket and gloves go on

How bad is the bike?

Thanks all. To answer those of you that asked about the bike---All damage was to the right side. Need to replace the mirror, chrome brake res. cover, the pumpkin, brake lever on handlebars, and foot brake pedal. saddlebag, and Bub pipe. Tank and paint had no damage at all other than a 50 cent pc. size spot on the front fender.

Like I stated earlier----I had a Guardian Angel with me that day----there is no way I did not!

Paw

Ouch! Glad you're o.k. And the bike can be fixed. I wear gear most of the time, and the rest of the time I let my evil alter ego,Ian, go the rebel route. I channel his comfort and attitude on the off days!

I took a longish ride Saturday of over 100 miles. Then I rode the bike Monday and Tuesday for errands and just wore a Tee Shirt, full helmet. gloves and boots etc. Having just worn a Tee shirt on Saturday also I developed a nasty red rash on my forarms. Sun poisioning. Just to much sunlight on my dainty white Irish skin.

Rode the bike today with the mesh jacket on. Keeps the sun offa me and is actually cooler with the protection from the sun etc. It also is fully armored and will protect me a lot more than a tee shirt.

Thanks for posting, and I am glad you are OK.

I have been thinking, thinking, thinking of additional gear, and I am glad I finally bought a pair of Draggin Jeans - every bit helps!

I'm glad you are alright Pawdiddle. It never ceases to amaze me how quick something like this happens when it takes place. Good on you for having the gear as well...there simply is no substitute. I have spent many years as a youngster on the moto track...you can't substitute having the right equipment. Ride like heck but have the gear on when you do it. I thought about getting the draggin' jeans but went instead with the leather pants by Triumph. They have the cups to cover the knees and a pretty thick slab of leather. It gets hot in the summer but just one of the things about biking you have to put up with.

As a Mortician, I am an ATGATT guy, but that being said, my co-worker (also a Mortician), is a half helmet, leather vest and t-shirt guy. His feeling is,"I hope they hit me hard", where as I feel let's lessen the risk a bit.
I can tell you I have seen guys come through, that wore nothing and guys come through that were wearing all the right gear.
All the gear in the world ain't gonna help when you hit a tree at 75+ miles an hour.
I'd like to say I don't judge, but I am amazed all of time at the people out there with nothing on but their skin for protection.
Anyway, I feel people ride in what they are most comfortable in, and I'm most comfortable in a nice armored jacket, leather pants, boots and a full face helmet.
All I see when I look at folks with no protection on is what they will look like when they get to me.

~Brent

I'm glad you are relatively okay, Don. Good mc safety equipment does make a difference. I say that after finishing a ride today with just a t-shirt, helmet, jeans and running shoes. Hey come on it was 100 heat index even my summer gloves were too hot.