I've gone from ATGATT to H (just Helmet).

[Gwolf]

It is not about a Spyder being just as dangerous as a two wheel motorcycle or as a high speed jet ski. What it is about is the fact that you are riding wide open and exposed completely to anything that might hit you or that you might hit before coming to a complete stop. You are not surrounded by several tons of metal with seat belts, air bags, or crush zones. You are just as exposed as you would be coming off of a horse or any other animal or machine. The only protection you have is what you decide to wear in addition to your normal clothing. I am not for mandatory legally required safety gear. I do think it is a good idea to protect the parts you would not like to lose when you get into a situation there is no way to avoid.

 

[vito1943]

Raven: What "religious group" is exempt from helmet laws?

 

[racoon]

Raven: What "religious group" is exempt from helmet laws?

Google seems to think some States exempt turban wearing Sikhs.

Tennessee has tried to pass a similar law, but it failed passage.

 

[weeneil]

Raven: What "religious group" is exempt from helmet laws?

Google seems to think some States exempt turban wearing Sikhs.

Tennessee has tried to pass a similar law, but it failed passage.

In Britain Sikhs have been exempt from the day the helmet law was introduced to us many years ago

 

[Lctriple]

It is not about a Spyder being just as dangerous as a two wheel motorcycle or as a high speed jet ski. What it is about is the fact that you are riding wide open and exposed completely to anything that might hit you or that you might hit before coming to a complete stop. You are not surrounded by several tons of metal with seat belts, air bags, or crush zones. You are just as exposed as you would be coming off of a horse or any other animal or machine. The only protection you have is what you decide to wear in addition to your normal clothing. I am not for mandatory legally required safety gear. I do think it is a good idea to protect the parts you would not like to lose when you get into a situation there is no way to avoid.

That's exactly how I feel. You put it into words better though.

 

[Raven]

Back to the subject at hand.
My biggest fear is something hooking a front wheel.
I think if that happened, you are going for ride that will not end well.
Almost happened to me twice. Some idiot pulling out to pass, I headed for the shoulder and almost didn't make it.

 

[canamjhb]

I migrated from almost all the gear all the time to comfortable protective gear all the time. Always wore at least blue jeans (+chaps and long johns when it got colder), over the ankle riding boots, modular helmet, fingerless nose pickers (full gauntlet leather gloves when it got cooler), and riding jacket. I had a winter and a summer jacket. Winter was heavy leather with liner. Summer was a mesh with armor +optional liner. Hot and even moderately warm days here in the Arizona desert are too uncomfortable and dangerous to ride with exposed skin. My summer mesh jacket actually kept me cooler on warm days than riding without it on. Helmet, boots, jeans, jacket, and nose pickers were always on before leaving the driveway (at a minimum). I had the unpleasant experience of riding through a swarm of bees once and a swarm of locust another time. Both times I had to pull over to clean myself and the bike up in order to continue riding. Bugs bouncing off my helmet made it sound like I was in a popcorn machine. Can't imagine how it would have felt without protection......

 

[Danvirsse]

I'm in the ATGATT camp. Everyone should do what they're comfortable with, whether on 3 wheels or 2.

 

[Peacekeeper6]

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 exhilarating 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.

Nope, you don't need our disapproval from those ATGATT people.

You do whatever you want, whatever makes you happy, especially at your age.