Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Would I be wrong to assume that everyone on this thread has read this book ?

https://www.roadcraft.co.uk/motorcycle-roadcraft/

If you've been riding for tens of thousands of miles it might not have much new information in it. Otherwise it might impart ideas about some defensive riding techniques. Worth a look anyway.

To a point, or they wouldn't be protective. I wouldn't say mine are comfy to walk in, but I can waddle about. I have sidi crossfire 3

I read it years ago. It is a great book.

Okay cheers. I bought some ancient but new Sidis for £60, will see how I get on with them.

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There are airbag jackets now...

Has anyone bought one of these actually? I'd be interested in one for under a jacket (or possibly over a jacket).

I'm in a more similar camp to Dammit than most here in terms of my current place in the motorcycle journey. I bought a bike a few years ago which I've been tinkering on when the mood takes me but I've dragged my arse terribly/ let other hobbies distract me on actually getting my lessons and license sorted so aside from occasional rips around the field I haven't been out on the road on it yet.
I'm currently in the throes of renovating our apartment which needs to be completed asap so that's taking up all of my time just for the moment but as soon as that's done I'm committing myself to getting the bike license sorted this year, I've bought all of my gear aside from boots and jeans/ trousers so there's little to hold me back/ make excuses about now.

My dad was a biker in his younger years and had a horrific crash that he was lucky to survive with all limbs intact and brain functioning well and he was off bikes for my whole childhood, he took it back up when he turned fifty and has a Triumph Sprint 1050 ST and a Ducati Sport Classic 1000. Oddly enough this never really put me off the idea of bikes but I do think it's probably a good thing I've waited until I was a little older and more sensible.

I'm 33 now, just got married and expecting to start a family in the coming years so it'll be interesting to see how I feel about the whole thing once kids come along (I suspect it won't be a motivating factor which is why I'm keen to get the license sorted asap before I give myself more excuses not to do it).

Still need to finish exhaust wrap, fit mirrors and get some 70/30 tyres (thinking Shinko 705). The silver sparkle rear fender could do with another bit of lacquer and a polish too. I hope I enjoy riding it as much as I've enjoyed tinkering :)

Edit: @jambon I had actually been thinking about splashing out on a set of the new Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar boots as they're supposed to be a little bit easier to walk in but with motocross protection levels and waterproof... they're expensive but they tick a lot of boxes.

I watched this video on Fortnine recently where they go through some data on crashes and lower leg/ foot injuries are by far the most common injuries on motorbikes so hefty boots do make a bit a of sense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmWQKoN6yX0&t=118s

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I've got an Alpinestars Tech Air bag built into a BKS jacket. It was an expensive way to get an airbag, you can get Tech Air much more cheaply now. It could be said that it's so cheap now as to be a no-brainer. I'm not up to speed with the current offerings from Dainese etc, so I can't make any recommendations.

Foot injuries have always been v. common because your feet hit the ground first. When I raced a very high proportion of people had Daytona Security Evo boots https://www.daytona.de/en/Boots/display/Overview-selection/Security-Evo-G3-Grand-Prix
which give you almost as much protection as MX boots but can be worn on a sports bike. They're like a plaster cast with an ankle hinge. Horrible to walk in but bombproof. I crashed at Brands in mine and slid a long way with my foot jammed under the bike, but I didn't feel a thing.

You can also get knee braces for off-roading. Quite tricky to use them on the road if you have knee armour. But not impossible. I got some custom carbon fibre ones which were really comfy to walk around in. Then I got myself t-boned by another bike, all my own fault. The point of impact was the side of my knee, which was smacked into my cylinder head. The brace broke but my knee got away with just a little soreness.

it'll be interesting to see how I feel about the whole thing once kids come along

Lol. Something only someone without kids could write ;)

Do it now, not because you'll feel differently, but because you absolutely will not be able to physically do it. You just won't have the time or energy.

If I was starting buying gear again for normal road riding I'd look at a Knox armored undersuit or one of the other brands. Gives you a lot more flexibility adding layers depending on where you're going/time of year etc.

My legs are so important. I just bought the best of everything and didn't even think twice. I considered it insurance. And it worked, I crashed good on my left and pinned my foot under the bike and banged my knee. Got up and kept riding. Not sore st all the next day.

If someone is in casualty with a broken leg or shattered kneecap, and you ask them whether it would have been worth £1000 not to be there, I reckon they will almost certainly say 'yes'. That's the way I look at it. If they also have permanent unmendable ligament or nerve damage, the price goes much higher. Nobody wants to be one of those guys at the bike show with a walking stick, let alone a wheelchair. A good friend of mine lost nearly all the use of his arm with a shoulder injury when he was wearing a Belstaff jacket without armour. The surgeons he saw wanted to remove his arm. His family flew him to Switzerland to get a surgeon who didn't want to lose the arm. It was his right arm and he was right handed. He had to change career. His shoulder still looks like something from a horror film.

Even a dirt bike can bruise you up bad at 30mph. Aside from bruising from foot to knee, I barely had any other pain.

That was with proper enduro boots and soft knee armour. Had I worn my Acerbis hard knee guards, probably they would have broken but the bruising would have been less so.

All I know is I’m glad the boots were rock solid and brand new. Had it happened in ‘hiking boots’ like some people suggest then I’d have needed reconstructive surgery.

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Blimey you lot. Motorbikes can be dangerous, riding bicycles down bumpy hills at 40 mph wearing Lycra is dangerous. I think I prefer to fetishize the fun bit rather than the injury bit!

You might have seen it - but here's another FN video about the airbags/jackets:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2jZryt607U

You know I've been on the Isle of Man TT circuit, and been pillion with a top racer. So I have experienced 'proper' movement of a bike with someone who who has amazing control. Also I was a shit pillion and affected the handling of the bike from being tense. Suspect the video of me stepping off the bike shaking and swearing.

In the UK ron haslem race school, do a day on braking with a 125. Off roading, do you ever use the front brake?

Would love to do a day on one those hydraulic bike rigs to practice loss of traction.

I rate hip protec that hiene gericke did.

Don't walk in them, not designed for walking in.

Off roading, do you ever use the front brake?

All the time

hip protec that hiene gericke did

Got a spare set of them somewhere.

As the forums self appointed off road riding god, I rarely use the from brake mainly use the rear. It is what you are taught on moto cross day such as golding barn.

Did you do the ball bearing drop on to the glass counter?

Front brake still does most of the stopping, even off road. MX tracks you use a LOT of front brake.

Umm…. Ok?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I4-ASYcwsI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBa601NpLQs&t=420s

As the forum's self appointed 'off road' riding noob, I've been amazed how much front brake you can get away with. Obviously grabbing a handful won't do you any favours, but moderate use with your weight shifted all the way forward it's pretty effective.

I always thought about it this way - if you've got enough grip to wheelie, you've got enough to stoppy too.

Also, on very steep descents the back brake is pretty useless. You can't weight it enough for the knobblies to work.