Scooter riders and Gear

[Dizzi]

I just wanna make a point, I work in Sydney City and so see a whole stack of bikes zipping around the city, so you see majority of the guys on the sports bikes or lets just say proper bikes (not scooters) wearing the proper riding gear then you see the twits on their scooters wearing their lovely tearable suits or just normal everyday gear do they not think that coming of that thing at 60 km an hour or even 40km an hour isn't going to cause severe skin graffting, serisouly someone should explain to them what happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ratmick]

Yep, same in Melbourne. Shits me to tears as our insurance pays for their skin grafts. Girls in summer wearing 3/4 length shorts, short-sleeved/no-sleeved blouse and open-toed sandals. Guys wearing suits, jeans and runners or shorts/t-shirts and thongs (there's a world of pain waiting to happen - or maybe they're just pushing the boundaries).

Having said that I have been riding into work this last week and I have seen several guys in rush hour traffic on 1-litre sports bikes wearing no gloves, ordinary frayed jeans, runners and a non-motorcycle spec jacket AND I have seen a guy on a 250cc scooter wearing full leathers (do you know how odd that looks?).

Also seen a guy on an old small 70s-era Honda (CD250U?) wearing a flanelette shirt, dirty white singlet, shorts and Crocs, but I guess he knows the ropes, has weighed the risks, has the sixth sense and knows that the day where he spears into a car and/or slides down the road on his old fat hairy arse is NOT that particular day. For all I know he is Valentino Rossi's dad and has more talent in one dirty toenail than all us put together...

Mick

[zx-10r]

but talent can only get you that far in traffic. It wont help if the guy behind you doesnt care to repect you personal space and rear end you

[dave#3]

I'm constantly amazed by the open face lids and lack of gear .... but each to his own I say.

[gpxpunk]

there is a women that rides home on the great western hwy, she had a coat, thin pants and thongs on. speed past me about 85ks b4 almost rear ending a car coz she didnt like me overtaking her, what a twit.

[Nosferatu]

bloke up here gets around on a 'blade usually wearing a singlet, stubbies and sneakers. rides like a twat too. i love the scooter riders who wear their nylon/synthetic suits, imagine that shit melted into your skin as well as road rash! it's obvious that most bike shops don't tell scooter buyers the dangers involved in their purchase, and that scooter buyers don't do their homework when it comes to being safe on their motorised pushbike. with the increase in numbers of pooshooters on the road now, the onus should be on the rider to take relevant measures to protect themselves in the same way a motorbike rider does. As was already pointed out, we are the ones who foot the bill with increased premiums when they need a skin graft, so if they aren't adequately protected in an accident, they shouldn't be covered by insurance. Either that, or all potential buyers of poof mobiles should be dragged behind a car naked at 100km/h for 100m so they know whats going to happen to them.

I hate scooters, I put them in the same basket as cyclists, the pricks shouldn't be allowed on the road.

[chicken_strangler]

yea not to sure how they think those open face helmets will help when they face plant

[dutchy]

Once seen a bloke in ballarat on what appeared to be a litre sportsbike in full leathers, boot, gloves, the lot...............and his missus on the back wearing leggins and jumper, one hand on her purse that she had slung over her shoulder.

[robracer]

The debate about squidness will rage on for eons, I saw a classic recently where this guy had 2 piece leathers, boots & expensive helmet but neglected to wear gloves? so close yet so far the classic for me would be (I know Jase you have a myriad of reasons) cops on bikes ....... a lousy thin short sleeve shirt??????? what a fine role model occifer! I would have thought a vented jacket would be a great piece of kit to combat the heat, but it seems that OH&S can only go so far on a budget
As for the scooter riders they go so much slower & therefore dont require proper riding gear..... I am sure thats what they would say

[ty]

Yay! Our annual squid debate
I agree it's risky and each person needs to decide for themselves. Yes everyone pays for them via insurance, but until full gear becomes law there's nothing you can do about it.

I take the risk sometimes, as I know other members here (who shall remain nameless) have.
For example, my ride on the postie to/from the station every day is done in regular cargo's and my KSRC jumper. Yes it's a risk and I know the risks more than some, but I just try to take extra care - I don't want to be carting full gear all the way into the city just because of a 5 min ride.
On the other hand when I'm on the old road just about every bit of kit comes out of the cupboard.

Most of the time I think complaints of other riders are valid, but everyone makes their own choices.
Other times it's a slight case of jealousy

But then Rob's right too - we 'scooter' riders are slow. I think the pushies on the OPH wearing their lycra and travelling ~60kms are more cringe worthy
ty

[Jonno]

Having had a few serious acco's in my time and a few on pushbikes at high speed, I still say until the law says I must wear "xyz" approved clothing I hold the right to wear whatever I want when i want, the only requirement is an approved helmet and not being stark naked as far as safety is concerned!
So to protect us bikers from ourselves maybe they will make us wear bubble wrap coated with Kevlar and 1 meter air bags (maybe I should patent that idea)

It is rare for me to squid it anyway, but I want that choice.

I don’t think insurance companies will greatly reduce premiums if the law enforced "CE" style protection. IMO...

[hammer]

Have seen a few women in brissy wearing skirts and high heels, I HATE scooters but damn it looks sexy! Maybe they wear full leather g-strings as safety gear

[Glen]

This takes me back. I had a verbal punch up with young Vinny on here a few years ago about scooter pilots not wearing gear. We patched it up in the end so all was good. Whatever happened to Vinny?

But yes Scooters are clearly impervious to all kinds of impact and thus the riders have no need to avail themselves of appropriate riding apparel. I suppose when Prada or Gucci make helmets, gloves, boots and leathers things will change

[ZXR750]

I am ashamed to admit but I had an accident while riding a Yamaha Majesty (at least it was a big scooter)on the M4 peak hour on the way home from work many years ago. Full face helemt, gloves jacket, boots but only work pants. It hurt like all fu*k. I was stationary and some tool ramed me from behind. The worst part was I heard the tyres before the impact. I also don't recommend laying across the right hand lane on the M4 at six in the night. My injuries were little more than bruising of the ancle and lower back. If I did not wear the boots the ancle may have been alot more serious. I remember my helmet impacting on the Dihatsu Charade in front of me. The driver of the Dihatsu then left with out finding out what happened. The gloves copped some scuffing. I can't imaging the damage to my hands if I didn't wear gloves. I believe they are the most important piece of gear after the helmet.

[robracer]

Yeah it only has to happen to you once....... I have seen far too many cases in hospital where the rider was in gear offering little or no protection & the injuries can be horrific, this was back in the 80's when I was doing work for the 4B's in local hospitals.
The mentality of it won't happen to me or I am being safe..... is bull shit, I agree its the decision of the individual & I respect that right totally, but for the sake of looking cool or trying to stay cool weighed up against the possibilities of serious injury.... well you decide