From ATGATT to H

[vito1943]

I've been riding motorcycles for over 40 years, and for most of those years I was an ATGATT guy (All the gear, all the time). Especially when I was an MSF Instructor (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) I felt a personal obligation to never be seen with less protective gear than what I recommended to my students. But as I got older and more experienced I more or less became a MTGMTT rider (Most of the gear, most of the time) and then, to be honest, I was more of a STGSTT (Some of the gear, some of the time) rider. When I switched from the Goldwing to the Spyder, my confidence that I would not end up on the ground grew and I am convinced that there is good reason for having this confidence. The stability of three wheels, and the larger front profile making me much more likely to be seen by oncoming traffic and thus less likely to have a vehicle make a left turn right in front of me, led to feeling even less concerned about safety gear.

I can't recall the last time that I put on actual motorcycle boots when riding the Spyder. My leather chaps and old riding pants have not come out of the closet in several years. Fingerless gloves are my normal wear now, with the old armored, full gauntlet gloves mostly gathering dust. And in this beautiful weather that I have had the good fortune to have recently, my several different motorcycle jackets have stayed in the closet for the most part. Yesterday was a perfect riding day, with blue skies and temps in the high 70's. So yesterday I moved all the way from ATGATT to H, meaning I was in tennis sneakers, shorts, a t-shirt, no gloves and a helmet. Even the helmet was my open faced LS2 rather than my modular Shoei.

I know that even on a Spyder I could get hit and knocked to the ground. I have no seatbelt or air bag to truly protect me. But riding as I did yesterday was exhilerating and full of the joy that I only experience on a motorcycle and only when not encased in gear which almost feels like riding in my car. At 82 I don't know how many more riding seasons are in store for me, but riding with just a helmet (and I doubt that I will ever ride without one for any distance or time) is, for me, making the most of the rides that I have left to me.

 

[troop]

I've been riding motorcycles for over 40 years, and for most of those years I was an ATGATT guy (All the gear, all the time). Especially when I was an MSF Instructor (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) I felt a personal obligation to never be seen with less protective gear than what I recommended to my students. But as I got older and more experienced I more or less became a MTGMTT rider (Most of the gear, most of the time) and then, to be honest, I was more of a STGSTT (Some of the gear, some of the time) rider. When I switched from the Goldwing to the Spyder, my confidence that I would not end up on the ground grew and I am convinced that there is good reason for having this confidence. The stability of three wheels, and the larger front profile making me much more likely to be seen by oncoming traffic and thus less likely to have a vehicle make a left turn right in front of me, led to feeling even less concerned about safety gear.

I can't recall the last time that I put on actual motorcycle boots when riding the Spyder. My leather chaps and old riding pants have not come out of the closet in several years. Fingerless gloves are my normal wear now, with the old armored, full gauntlet gloves mostly gathering dust. And in this beautiful weather that I have had the good fortune to have recently, my several different motorcycle jackets have stayed in the closet for the most part. Yesterday was a perfect riding day, with blue skies and temps in the high 70's. So yesterday I moved all the way from ATGATT to H, meaning I was in tennis sneakers, shorts, a t-shirt, no gloves and a helmet. Even the helmet was my open faced LS2 rather than my modular Shoei.

I know that even on a Spyder I could get hit and knocked to the ground. I have no seatbelt or air bag to truly protect me. But riding as I did yesterday was exhilerating and full of the joy that I only experience on a motorcycle and only when not encased in gear which almost feels like riding in my car. At 82 I don't know how many more riding seasons are in store for me, but riding with just a helmet (and I doubt that I will ever ride without one for any distance or time) is, for me, making the most of the rides that I have left to me.

Like you, I have been riding motorcycles for 56 years. I'm a 80% helmet/jacket/jeans/gloves/boots rider, but I do have that 20% in me. My primary helmet is a open face 3/4, though I do have a flip back modular in inventory. Also, I also have been known to ride in shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes and no helmet. When you ride two/three wheels, you know that anything can happen. And we take chances.

 

[blacklightning]

I also see the 3 wheels as being a safer option. I have a 2 wheeler and always where gloves, full face or modular helmet, boots, and jacket. When I am on the spyder, I will ditch the full helmet for a 3/4, the boots for sneaker or hiking shoes, and the full gloves for fingerless ones. As said, anything can happen, but it feels safer on the 3's.

 

[RayBJ]

I'm always ATGATT on my rides (2 or 3) .
BUT, with the Spyder on a quick run (3 miles) to the store and back, I sometimes only wear the helmet, jacket, & gloves with jeans & sneakers .

 

[ollicat]

I totally get it. There is a balance between safety, and convenience and fun. I ride in jeans, gloves, and a long sleeve shirt or light jacket, mainly for sun protection. I mostly wear hiking books but sometimes just sneakers. I live in TN with a helmet law but if not, I could be tempted to ride without one for short periods of little traffic.

 

[Gwolf]

No matter what I ride, always wear at least an open face helmet an most of the time a full face. Never short pants, always leather boots and gloves. I have slide on gravel roads and had pieces of gravel or asphalt come out of healed over scars many years later. They don't ever get all that stuff out before they sew you back together. The more of it you can prevent getting into you, the better. If you ride for decades it is not, if you gonna crash, just when. You can be as careful as you can, and somebody in a closed up, air conditioned car, texting while driving, will pull right out in front of you at the last minute.

Yes, 3 wheel motorcycles are safer than two wheel motorcycles, but they ain't got any more protection between you and a slide on the pavement. You get hit from the side, or slide into a 2,500 pound metal monster moving 30 or 40 MPH with your brakes locked up max, you going down. Ride like you believe you are invisible, and wear what you would choose to slide in.

I don't even own any sneakers. They ain't much good for anything out on a farm. I have some flip flops, but only wear them inside the house.

 

[crna59]

A car/truck can hit a Spyder just as well as a Motorcycle.... Even though your/my confidence has increased riding a 3 wheel vehicle, my confidence has NOT increased trusting other drivers! ATGATT+ for me.....

 

[Bfromla]

Shorts?! Nope not an option 1 bug in sleeve of shirt was enough & wasn’t even a stinging one. No comical story srz just experience to not be repeated at any speeds any traffic. Have been in a cage stopped at a light as a migrating swarm of bees passes by & enough of them inspecting the windows & such.

 

[VitoNam]

A car/truck can hit a Spyder just as well as a Motorcycle.... Even though your/my confidence has increased riding a 3 wheel vehicle, my confidence has NOT increased trusting other drivers! ATGATT+ for me.....

...or from deer running out of the ditch. It's happened to me each summer here in NW Minnesota.

 

[2dogs]

...or from deer running out of the ditch. It's happened to me each summer here in NW Minnesota.

Yep, it's not only the distracted driver you have to watch out for, it's the distracted spyder rider you have to look out for, and that would be YOU. The spyder is so comfortable and easy to ride that a rider can easily become almost oblivious to their surroundings. I have to sometimes, on a beautiful spring day, keep telling myself, "hey, dumb ass, watch what the hell you are doing and where you're going"! Probably most m/c accidents are preventable as they are a result of owner/operator error, i.e., inattention to their surroundings. Here's a quick thought: ride like you have a daughter or grandson as a passenger.

 

[VitoNam]

Yep, it's not only the distracted driver you have to watch out for, it's the distracted spyder rider you have to look out for, and that would be YOU. The spyder is so comfortable and easy to ride that a rider can easily become almost oblivious to their surroundings. I have to sometimes, on a beautiful spring day, keep telling myself, "hey, dumb ass, watch what the hell you are doing and where you're going"! Probably most m/c accidents are preventable as they are a result of owner/operator error, i.e., inattention to their surroundings. Here's a quick thought: ride like you have a daughter or grandson as a passenger.

* INDEED!
* 95% of the time my wife is my pillion. After being together for 53 years, we STILL enjoy each others company.