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Chaps?

VenusAnn

New member
My Nomad is for sale and I have had my first Spyder for 4 weeks now. Friends say I no longer need to wear chaps over my blue jeans for protection as i can not fall off the Spyder, or lock up the brakes. Is this true, are jeans enough. I took a fall from my Nomad and rolled down the road. I was grateful for my leathers. What should be worn for safety on my spyder. Venus
 
My Nomad is for sale and I have had my first Spyder for 4 weeks now. Friends say I no longer need to wear chaps over my blue jeans for protection as i can not fall off the Spyder, or lock up the brakes. Is this true, are jeans enough. I took a fall from my Nomad and rolled down the road. I was grateful for my leathers. What should be worn for safety on my spyder. Venus
I would say to wear the chaps if you are concerned about your safety. I'm looking for a pair for my wife now, but it is something she needs to try on.
 
While it's true you might not as easily fall off, you are still in as big of a risk as someone sideswiping you, running you off the road and all the other things that happen. So if you wore chaps for safety/security before your Spyder, then you might consider just keeping that same standard. Just my two cents.:thumbup:
 
Whatever you think is comfortable and safe. I never wore chaps when I rode two wheels even though I knew there was a chance I'd be sliding down the road. I always wore jeans, boots, gloves and the best helmet I could afford. That's pretty much what I wear on my spyder, too.
 
While it's true you might not as easily fall off, you are still in as big of a risk as someone sideswiping you, running you off the road and all the other things that happen. So if you wore chaps for safety/security before your Spyder, then you might consider just keeping that same standard. Just my two cents.:thumbup:
thanks I will continue to wear them.
 
Hey Venus. I agree that your riding attire is personal preference.

Just tossing my opinion out there, but I don't consider chaps to be 'safety' gear.
If you're surfing down the blacktop, no doubt they'll save ya some road rash on your legs/knees
but not so much in the way of protecting your backside.
If you happen to be flying through the air, they're probably not gonna help much
when you come to an abrupt stop.

(Case in point, when I was t-boned by a SUV with a huge trailer hitch while sitting at a gas station,
the chaps wouldn't have done much in the way of protecting my ankle or leg.)

Chaps do help protect legs/knees from flying objects such as rocks, yellow jackets, etc.
that you may meet up with while riding down the road.
And also, they'll provide some protection from rain and cold.

I like 'em, and I wear 'em.

Whatever you wear, be comfortable, and be safe.
 
Everyone knows what I am going to say: ATGATT

Some protection is better than no protection.

We always ride with motorcycle riding pants, chaps, or kevlar lined riding jeans. Depends on the weather.

Granted, you are not likely to fall off the :spyder2:, but you could be ejected in a serious crash. I prefer to be dressed for the occasion.

:welcome: and have many safe rydes.
 
Disclaimer: to each their own, we're all adults, ride your own ride.

I'm ATGATT. I don't really consider chaps ATGATT-- better than jeans alone, but it doesn't protect your behind, and has no knee/hip armor. Personally, if I was going to go through the trouble of putting on overpants, I'd invest in something fully protective. Chaps don't save you any more time compared to complete leather overpants.

I do, however, understand the appeal of not wearing as much safety gear on the Spyder when compared to a motorcycle, and can even rationalize it.

In accidents, two wheels tend to fall over-- they're funny that way-- and you can goof even riding solo, going slow. Given the likelihood of those brands of "get offs," wearing gear to avoid road rash and busted bones makes sense.

With the Spyder, you don't run the risk of those stupid accidents-- you're not going to drop the bike on gravel, you're not going to low-side in a corner, etc. Thus, the chances of those "minor" accidents are far less on the Spyder.

The chance of more serious accidents, however, still exist, obviously. But in those instances, the question is whether all that extra clothing does anything. If you're flipping a Spyder on a highway at 70 mph, anything less than fully armored racing leathers (or an airbag suit) isn't probably going to protect you from all that much.

Then again: better than nothing. We've all seen what happens to flesh wearing nothing. Bones (may) heal, but skin grafts can take years of awful pain, and you're never quite right again.

Anyway, I find riding wearing properly-fitted quality gear to be more comfortable (AND functional). Keeps the sun off my body, the engine heat off my legs, and the bugs off my skin. :thumbup:

Besides, I'm superstitious enough to know that the day I *don't* properly gear myself up is the day I almost certainly could have used the gear. :joke:
 
Wear what you want. The Spyder is a safer vehicle than 2 wheels but you can never be TOO prepared.

Wear the Chaps!
 
As you can see, there is no correct answer, except for you. The Spyder is considerably safer than your bike, with its three wheels and Vehicle Stability System. You are far less likely to end up on the pavement, but it could happen in an accident. It doesn't always. I will be the first to say that while I wear full gear on my motorcycles most of the time, I have been known to skip the jacket occasionally on the Spyder, and the riding pants more often. I do wear the pants some 75% of the time, though, especially on the highway or long trips. They help keep the heat, sun, bugs, and road debris off, so it is more comfortable with them than without. Here up north, they are also warmer in cool weather.

I'd start with riding with the gear you are used to. In time, you can gauge your comfort, and possibly leave the gear off from time to time...or even switch to overpants, Draggin' Jeans, or some other type of riding gear.
 
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