Testimony for ATGATT

[Trekker]

Had a riding friend experience a get off recently. He hit some gravel, slid onto a shoulder with more deep gravel, ended up running off the road as he avoided an impending guard rail. Down a nasty ditch, thrown off the bike, which is a twisted mess (ST1100). Says he was a rag doll and tumbled quite a bit. "Poop" happens.

The good news- No major injuries. A few cracked ribs, very sore, and he is wearing a neck brace for a while. Was wearing a FF Shoei helmet, Motoport Kevlar jacket & pants, leather gloves, and boots.

No gravel or other debris had to be picked out of his skin. The helmet saved his face. The armor in the jacket & pants saved him major boo boos.

Does All The Gear All The Time keep a rider from major injury during a get off? No.... but no one can deny the results crash after crash.

The myths & truths- FF helmets save your hearing & face and do not decrease vision as much as some argue. No stinging bug hits to the face as well. Riding gear is not too hot. In fact it has been proved it can be cooler with venting and certain wicking synthetics worn underneath. Full jackets (including mesh) also save skin from sun & wind burn. Many textile jackets are also water proof, saving time & effort pulling on a sweaty rain suit.

I have yet to see a law or rule that restricts a rider from looking like a Power Ranger other than tradition. My tradition continues to be ATGATT to save my butt from injury that could be avoided.

This post is not intended to criticize any one's choice of riding gear, or to criticize state helmet laws. The only intention is to inform.

[Zippo]

My wife and I are also ATGATTers. For those 100 plus degree days we wear the Colorado Coolvests under our mesh jackets. With the mesh riding pants it makes for a reasonably cool ride.

[Trailace]

ATGATT all the time for me. P^

[Whosoever]

It's not an honor that I like to bragg about but when I was rear ended by a truck and launched like a toy I recall a rough landing with my face hitting the asphalt. The FF helmet didn't even show a mark, the Joe Rocket Jacket was a little scruft up but nothing major, the full fingered gloves started to tear but saved my hands. "All The Gear All The Time" really makes sense. The only body part that still hurts, 3 years later, is the hip I landed on. Now that hip hides behind padded mesh overpants! P^

[Motocentaur]

I'm ATGATT when on two wheels. Last week, I was motocamping in VT and NH during a heat wave, but I still kept the gear on the whole time.

On the Ural rig, I'll cheat and doff the riding pants for jeans, but I keep everything else on.

[Indianscout]

This week one of the sales people from the local HD shop was side-swiped by a car who ran an intersection. Hit the rear wheel and launched the rider who was not wearing anything other than the usual t-shirt and vest. Was very fortunate as he walked away with nasty road rash on his shoulder, a nasty bump on his head and a twisted knee. He was heard telling his buddies that he is going to be wearing a helmet from now on. My thought is what about the rest of your gear?!?!?:ph1:

[Mr. Guy]

I have heard of 2 cases here in OKC where riders have fallen over while stopped, hit their head on the pavement and died from their injuries. I don't get people who ride without at least a helmet, but hey, it's not my head.

Guy

[ErikR]

I have first hand knowledge of what happens when you meet the pavement when you're not prepaired... I hit an antelope in '06. I was riding with a group of cruiser riders that didn't believe in ATGATT, (they all said they'll wear helmets after that crash). We stopped for gas and during the stop I put my helmet and over pants in the trailer. What could go wrong now? We were 600 miles from home and only 30 miles from where we were going to stay. I'm lucky to be here. I spent the next 19 days of my 3 week vacation at home healing up. My firstgear mesh jacket hangs in the garage to remind me how well it works. Not a scratch or bruise where the jacket covered me. Jeans offer about 1/4 of a seconds protection.

Gross pics below....




http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/erikramsted/PICT0007Standarde-mailview.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/erikramsted/PICT0018Standarde-mailview.jpg

[Trailace]

I have first hand knowledge of what happens when you meet the pavement when you're not prepaired... I hit an antelope in '06. I was riding with a group of cruiser riders that didn't believe in ATGATT, (they all said they'll wear helmets after that crash). We stopped for gas and during the stop I put my helmet and over pants in the trailer. What could go wrong now? We were 600 miles from home and only 30 miles from where we were going to stay. I'm lucky to be here. I spent the next 19 days of my 3 week vacation at home healing up. My firstgear mesh jacket hangs in the garage to remind me how well it works. Not a scratch or bruise where the jacket covered me. Jeans offer about 1/4 of a seconds protection.


It looks really bad but I would say you are lucky. :eek: Thanks for sharing maybe someone else will see this and start wearing all the gear all the time.

[Trekker]

As a follow up on my friends get off.... he thinks the bruise on his upper back that caused some concern on a vertebra (catscans & mri's) was just above where the back pad in the jacket ended. If it was a little higher maybe he would not have needed to be concerned about spinal damage, (turns out no damage was found).


Rode my bike over to my mother-in-laws to meet my wife and her sister. Sister-in-law asked me wasn't I hot with all that gear on. I gave her two answers-
1) Only when I'm stopped,
2) It's worse if I hit, or slide on, the pavement.

She blinked, and then gave me a hug saying she was happy to know I was protected.


Erik- you have provided the best testament of all. Sorry you had to experience that cause it looks like it was painful.