• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

How do you dress for a ride?

JamSpyder said:
I am a newbie, never ridden a bike but middle age crisis setting in, I got a 2020 Spyder RTL, reason being, to take the wife along and enjoy. Starting out I equipped the Spyder and ourselves with every safety gear possible, from flashing head, strobe tail lights, to BRP led floorboard lights, and for us the usual gear plus a Hiviz Helite Turtle Airbags. I am so new, I almost crashed into a car taking a corner... there was two things that made us escape the accident, GOD and Spyder safety systems. The speed and angle of entering the corner was so fast, and became steep to prevent hitting the car, that I could hear my wife's scream, see the front of the car coming, and knowing within my mind that I messed up. As far as the Spyder, I concluded, it will not turn over, it just stopped in the corner, I mean stopped, ... and as you can imagine, I had to try and calm my wife down. Wearing the right gear is a must for me. This will never happen again...
Click to expand...

On anything other than a Spyder, with its inherent stability, exceptional braking and electronics nanny the outcome would have been very different, especially as a novice motorcyclist with a passenger.

Your safety gear didn't even factor into it, as I understand what you wrote. :dontknow:
 
Thanks for all the input and I appreciate it. As for me riding around town and 90 to 100° weather it’s going to be shorts, T-shirt, tennis, gloves and a good helmet. I’ve investigated more motorcycle accidents than I would like to admit but, none of them, particularly severe injuries and deaths would’ve made a difference if they were wearing jeans, tall boots, or armor gear. What made the difference in many of them was a good helmet. So I must go on my experience in riding for a few decades and investigating accidents to make up my mind on what I’m going to wear at certain times of the year. Take care all and have a wonderful weekend.
 
UtahPete said:
Name one instance where someone got thrown from their Spyder from hitting a deer...
Click to expand...

Steve Humphrey's (Roadster Renovations) late wife hit one at better than 50 wearing no protective gear, spent most of summer in hospital, family ultimately had to pull the plug.
 
Thanks for all the input and I appreciate it. As for me riding around town and 90 to 100° weather it’s going to be shorts, T-shirt, tennis, gloves and a good helmet. I’ve investigated more motorcycle accidents than I would like to admit but, none of them, particularly severe injuries and deaths would’ve made a difference if they were wearing jeans, tall boots, or armor gear. What made the difference in many of them was a good helmet. So I must go on my experience in riding for a few decades and investigating accidents to make up my mind on what I’m going to wear at certain times of the year. Take care all and have a wonderful weekend.
 
ARtraveler said:
You are going to be reading both sides of the story here.

Have always been a firm believer in ATGATT until moving to the South where 90+ is very common in the summer. l have ATGATT for all levels of weather. But...

We are now in a climate where we can ride most days of the year. Also retired so have a lot of time to kill, and live in a beautiful riding area. A lot of days, a hundred miles is no issue. Currently we are over 25K a year on the bikes.

Now for some of the differences. We always wear helmets, gloves, jeans, and boots. In 70's, we usually wear high viz long sleeve sweatshirts. In 90's, I am down to high viz t-shirt. For trips on the highway, at minimum, the high viz mesh jackets come out. At highway speeds they are tolerable, going through towns at low speeds, they are not. It is a calculated risk, we drive defensively, as if everyone is out to get us.

We are both in our 70's and love to ride the Spyders. My Vulcan 900 was recently sold...so now its all three wheels. I do think we are ahead of the game with three instead of two in many safety aspects.

That's my story, and I am sticking to it. :bowdown:
Click to expand...

This is pretty much where I'm at with the exception of riding for short errands at speeds below 40 mph, then it's whatever I'm wearing at the time and usually helmetless unless it's cold out.
By the same token I don't wear a helmet when on my bicycle.
 
They always say you will be in an accident 5 or so miles from home.....
Well this was 7.2 miles from home....
this was 8 years ago I was t-boned by a DRUNK, uninsured driver, in a stolen truck
he did not have a drivers license or insurance, this was his 5th. DUI
I was in FULL armor riding gear, I got a dislocated right shoulder and was run over with the right rear wheel.
he went to JAIL I went to the hospital and was released. that is why I always dress for the slide....
IMG_0499.jpgIMG_0486.jpg
 
Last edited:
UtahPete said:
I went back and reread about that accident and from my reading of it, the deer hit her dead center, knocking Kathy off the bike (which continued on upright)

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?114157-Accident-Prayers-needed/page3 starting at post #70
Click to expand...

The critical point is the lady was not wearing any protective gear. When we're not in a cage it is immaterial who or what hits whom, we lose. Even wearing full protective gear Kathy would have drawn the short straw.
 
Well, I have worn shorts, however, I have mesh armor that I wear underneath them. The armor is from Bonn Body Armor, https://www.bohnarmor.com/. They're kind of like football girdle pads! I have the long ones too. They even make a thermal set. You can just buy pants only (whichever you choose) and the pads can be switched out. Here in Houston its pretty hot when I ride home from work. I had shorts w/pads on one day and the sun really cooked me! I've decided when its hot, I'll just wear jeans without the armor. I do wear my Joe Rocket mesh jacket (which has become my new favorite) item. I also have a couple of the Bonn Armor shirts that I wear. I always wear my helmet, gloves, and motorcycle shoes (Alpine Stars). I commute 56-65 miles daily. My main concern when I'm riding is someone knocking me off my Spyder!
 
In sub-ninety five degree weather I wear jeans and an armored jacket. Above ninety five I drop to a long sleeve cool and dry shirt and jeans. I never bother with boots, on a Spyder you don’t need ankle support, to solid tennis shoes do the job. I always wear a helmet. In hot weather heat stroke is more danger than being ejected from my Spyder. On two wheels Is ATTGATT, but a Spyder is much lower risk.
 
ATGATT. I had a crash on a 2-wheel and my gear saved my skin. Not a single drop of blood despite a broken collarbone and five broken ribs. I even wear an Helite airbag vest now. With jeans I wear kneepads. Otherwise one piece Aerostich. I feel naked if I don't have all body parts fully protected, like when I wear my hiking shoes instead of riding boots. I also wear a helmet when I ride my bicycle.
 
Plarimer said:
This might seem like a weird question, but a lot of things are new to me when I started riding my Spyder. All years of riding Harleys another two wheelers, I always dressed for the slide and not the ride, which included jeans and heavy boots. The spider seems like a different animal simply because I see people wearing more casual clothing. How do you dress when your ride? I still intend to go full bore on long highway rides.
Click to expand...

When I rode those 2 wheel things, I had a one piece riding suit for the slide as you say. I ride with long sleeve wicking shirt and light weight to heavy weight athletic type pants. Still wear a helmet at all times. At first I wore the protective gear, but never gonna low side or high side the Spyder, thus relaxed my stance on ATGATT. Always wear boots.

Willie
 
What to Wear

:coffee: I always wear a full-face approved DOT Helmet. A good set of boots, long sleeve shirt and pants. I definitely want to do the right thing for me.

Wear what you want and enjoy some ryde time.

Stay Safe and Stay Healthy. .....:thumbup:
 
It's about feeling freedom while riding being free, living free. Let your conscience be your guide. To each their own. Live and let live. The same thing with helmets if you hit your head with a hammer then put a helmet on your head we all know which one hurts less.That's what being free is make up your own mind and live by it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

broderp
How do you mange riding a Spyder and a motorcycle?
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
pedalyurassoff
P
J
How do you determine your head Shape when buying a helmet?
2
Replies
20
Views
858
racoon
racoon
BajaRon
  • Poll Poll
How Much Do You Use Wide Open Throttle?
2 3
Replies
51
Views
17K
acdcking12
A
A
Do you change the way you ride with a trailer attached? For safety??
2
Replies
30
Views
702
Gwolf
Gwolf
V
Looking at buying - If you are over 80 y/o and ride a Spyder, raise your hand...
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
Leaping1
L
Back
Top