This is off the subject of video, but have you Ridden the arch motorcycle yet?..it's Keanu reeves (ehh spelling),, company. I have no plans of buying one with the price starting at 140k. Just wondering if worth the price tag.
I spent my 18th birthday in the hospital watching my brother recover from a lifechanging accident. Gear isn't an option for me, I wear ALL of it or I don't ride.
Same. I think so many people severly underestimate the amount of damage that can be done at even the lowest of speeds. Watching people riding around with shorts and a tshirt on a warm day to me is lunacy
100 agree, just got back from a Durango CO to Vancouver BC. Summertime, but temperature kept changing +/- 10 degrees. My new jacket with closable vents was my best friend. All the (cool) gear all the time is how I've kept my life and original skin - I'm 63 and 45 years on biked. Be safe everyone.
Yesterday I was hit by a car that ran a red light. Whilst I'm bruised and sore, I am still in one piece and didn't require an ambulance ride to the hospital. Helmet, jacket, gloves and boots... Oh and I live in southern Arizona where the heat has been well over 100f 40c for months!
@@logangodofcandy 100f is pleasant, but it's been OVER that, and by a lot! Frequently I ride 115+ temps. Hotter readings on the thermometer at lights. In fact the highest I've seen this summer was 52c or 126f...
@@CactusCycles 100f even in a humid gulf-coast weather is definitely tenable if your moving at least 85% of the time...(so just outside the major city I live in during office hours) I thought I was being cute taking my bike to college classes one time though (inside a major metro downtown)....oh boy. 90f in the same gulf coast region, but during rush hour on main street, sitting in bumper to bumper is hell on earth.
Glad you're okay! I've been hit by a car without injury as well. Please seriously consider going to an urgent care or community clinic to get checked out and maybe get some imaging ordered in the areas exposed to impact or trauma just in case. If you hit your head or lost consciousness or experience nausea, you absolutely should have imaging done immediately. Ride safe 🤙
I wear a set of textile jacket, slide-resistant pants, motorcycle boots and gloves, and a full-face helmet. Always. Every time. I've survived a wreck straight into a brick wall, and having that stuff made the event an injury instead of a fatality. The risk is real.
same here, except the brick wall. I don't do that. BUT I am glad you are O.K. I've been riding for a long time. And it's kinda how you get where I am, you just wear gear, you avoid brick walls and you think for everyone else in a 10 mile radius, because other people (and animals) might not be using their heads and then it's you who dies so how's that fair? It is not. Live long and ride!
@@TGChauuncyy Poorly controlled slide after a stuck throttle cable. All my fault. I had just rebuilt the motor and didn't reroute and lubricate the cable correctly.
ATTGAT is easy. Yammie makes a good point about what constitutes gear. I am a daily commuter, ride the speed of traffic, I enjoy moderate speeds above what is posted in the mountain roads, but I am not dragging knee. A full race suit would be overkill. But an armored textile jacket (one for late fall to early spring, ballistic mesh with removable rain liner for the warmer months), pants, boots, helmet and gloves are appropriate. I keep my work clothes/footwear at work. It only takes a few minutes to put on pants and boots, so for every outing. If I feel I’ll need walking shoes where I am going, I take a pair. If my riding pants are too much for my destination, I take a pair of pants. If I am not willing to expend the minute effort to dress, then I don’t really need to go. It is rare I don’t go. ATGATT is easy.
Dear Mr Y.Noob, I grew up in Italy, ciao! Back in the 90’s you could get a 50cc (see 90cc) at 14 with no plate and no insurance because Italy is cool like that. You were legally required to wear a helmet but very few people did. My mum (yes, I’m English) insisted I wear a skid-lid so I did, it was red and open faced; I also wore shorts and t-shirt. One day I was calmly cruising up the back road ( all the back roads were gravel, no tarmac) and a wasp flew into the left side of my helmet and freaked out and stung me three times in the left ear. I fell off and skidded a few meters down the road removing most of the skin on the left side of my body. Whilst I strangely enjoyed picking the gravel out of my flesh, the resulting wound was extensive and unsightly. Wear gear.
i'm 63 now and still have scars from spills when cycle racing (and sometimes not) in my teens, so i know that feeling, but i never enjoyed picking the gravel out, or the man-made fibres ground into the roadrash from vests, i just wanted to cry, but never did coz men boys don't do that 😄
I got into an accident in April, didn't even know what happened, I don't remember how it happened till today. I wore my full gear that day, even with a full face helmet I broke my jaw, I can't imagine if I didn't have a full face, would've probably lost my lower jaw and teeth. And where I'm from it's summer all year round. Rather perspire than bleed!
Just happened to me the other night. Freaked out a little bit when I felt the beetle inside my shirt about 15 minutes after I got home. Should have seen that coming while driving in the dark with a big light directly in front of me...
As a beginner, I am ATGAAT for now. As I become more experienced and comfortable, I hope I’ll find the discipline to keep it that way. It’s not just about personal freedom/choice: our death or serious injury is something that would affect a lot of people around us. Our families, our friends, our colleagues. It is selfish to just think that our choices only have an impact on ourselves. Stay safe everyone!
Keep it up. I suspect you'll realize the comfort in the safety of it. Imagine how uncomfortable it would be to go out to check the mail completely nekkid. That's how I'd feel without even one piece of gear. Hell, every once in a while, with terror, I realize one of my gloves isn't strapped. Hope you've taken whatever motorcycle safety school your state provides. I was riding for 10 years before I took it a still learned a bunch. And got a percentage off my insurance. That pays for the class in no time. Good luck out there, keep your head on a swivel and keep the rubber side down.
@Ziggy0120 I'm just poking fun at how Yams is very light about gear whereas Motojitsu is very adamant about a wardrobe of gear and buying new ones ever so often and is always geared up for the most part
My son is a firefighter, when I started riding again he reminded me riders in “full gear” usually walk away from a crash/slide. Those who don’t usually get a trip to the hospital. My “full gear” is modular helmet, armored jacket and gloves and riding shoes. Around town I have riding jeans with aramid panels and knee pads, for the highways I have armored Klim motorcycle pants.
The way I think of it is "all the necessary gear for what you are going to do". I don't need racing gear if I'm commuting, nor do I need off-road gear to travel. Also, I think that "all the gear" means to protect all of your body: boots, gloves, pants, jacket (and, of course, helmet).
Also, I don't use helmet "all of the time", I only use it when I'm riding a motorcycle. It would be very strange to use a helmet while walking, eating or showering. (WARNING: contains irony!)
Wearing proper safety gear sets a good example for newer riders and shows we take our motorcycle riding/lifestyle seriously. When I'm in my car, or on my motorcycle, and I see someone who is not even wearing basic protection--even worse when they are riding 2-up with a passenger who isn't either--I cringe at the thought of what they will look and feel like when they go down. And statistically speaking, we will go down at least once in our riding career. We owe it to ourselves, our family, and the riding community to wear proper safety gear appropriate for the weather and type of riding we are doing. As an older rider, I worry less about my decisions on the motorcycle and much more about the Karen's in their cars texting on their cellphones, putting on makeup during the commute to work, and just plain not paying attention; therefore, I am AGATT all the time because I have no control over the decisions other people on the road make. I'm a big fan of Yammie Noob and the honest/balanced perspective he brings to the RU-vid community. Like he said, it's a personal choice, and riding is risky under the best of circumstances and I do my best to stack the deck in my favor every time I ride.
@@thehuable Thats another factor that I always think - you want to look like you know what you're doing and that you care about yourself as subconciously drivers will then give you a little bit of respect.
ATGATT for me is: 1. Helmet 2. Jacket 3. Gloves 4. Boots 5. Sunglasses (polarised) 6. Riding Pants I was in an accident on the way to work 6 weeks ago, the boots saved me from a crushed foot, the jacket got torn up instead of my arm, and my broken hand could've been turned to spaghetti bolognese if i wasn't wearing my gloves. The only gear I don't wear is armoured riding pants, but that's entirely down to affordability at this point in time, I will get some when I can. The reason I am ATGATT is because when I was a cyclist as a teenager, I once forgot my helmet as I was leaving for school and neglected going back for it thinking "what's the worst that could happen?", then speed wobble happened and I came off with a concussion. The one day you don't wear gear is the one day you'll be in an accident and regret it, or not survive to regret it if you're on a fast motorcycle.
@@JesusChrist_IsTruth-LoveForALL yea, but the used market isn't that big here and finding the right sizes, and close enough non-scammers is a limitation on what's available to me. I've bought a used jacket, gloves and helmet combo once when my old jacket zip got destroyed and the rest of it was old and messed up.
@@calvinlondt3037 ah man! Yea, it's sketchy trying to buy used stuff to be shipped to you, who knows if they'll send it or if it'll be what you even bought. Don't forget to check the clearance and sales in RevZilla/cycle gear, usually "end of season" they start selling off for thr new merchandise! Ride safe brotha 💪🏼
I think your comment about gearing up to your riding environment is spot on. Especially your comment about riding in city/town traffic with air bag vest.
Great conversation and video, Poppa Yam. I taught riding for five years in the early 2000s and our school was atgatt (fully covered) of course. It’s also very hot in our riding season and its tempting shed jackets and riding pants. Being of strong enough character to wear your non-negotiable gear, full face, gloves, arm and leg coverage and boots that cover your ankles seems to be part education, part philosophy and part personal experience. A rather attractive women revisited our school after a riding summer and donated her full face helmet to the school which helped her survive a crash. Before the course, she wore a 1/2 helmet (because she didn’t like the feeling of her face being covered). She bought a FF and stuck with it. That summer she got cut off by a left turning car and she launched through the air landing face first and sliding on her face for more than 10 feet. She walked away without a scratch. Any rider who ever met her rethought their gear choices, in a good way.
1 month new rider here. I have never ridden without full gear: Helmet, vented airbag jacket, gloves, waterproof overpants and leather mid boots. I got the vented airbag jacket as I can wear it in the hottest weather, then put a waterproof over it (it's a 3XL raincoat with some modifications over an L airbag jacket to allow expansion of the airbag - I wish someone would make airbag specific ones) and change to waterproof gloves when it rains (a lot all year round in the UK). The vented airbag jacket does come with a water/windproof underlayer, but then I would get a thoroughly wet vented jacket all week while commuting which is not the best. If I am doing a longer trip when I know I have time to dry out the jacket, I would prefer the underlayer. I can wear my office clothes underneath for my commute, or just a T-shirt and boxers/shorts if I'm just riding. I carefully chose my gear for maximum utility with minimum fuss. I didn't get a BMW lol but I got a 2024 Husvarna Svartpilen 125 as my learner bike cause it's a bit better than the standard learner and looks very nice. I think I may be an ADV Dad junior.
@@MiguelRPD Helite Vented Air Jacket. It might not have enough ventilation for places like Texas or Georgia in the summer but for the UK it's great. I even got the one with hi vis bits on, along with my helmet, cause you can't be too careful lol (although it does match the yellow on my bike). It is an expensive jacket but I use it all the time for all weathers like I described above. A specific over waterproof for it would be nice. The one I have modfied is a 3XL (normally a large size jacket but it needs to allow expansion of the airbag) Richa Rain Warrior, where I added snap butttons to close up the baggyness in the arms (so I can see over my shoulders in the mirrors) but it still puffs up when going a higher speeds. Something waterproof and elasticated would work a lot better.
I live in SC and was in an accident on the 3rd of July this year. The only gear i for sake is the pants. I need flexible, breathable cargo pants for work. So i wear knee/shin guards to compensate for this. I was only a mile from my house when a deer leaped from the right. Into the rear of my front tire, wedging itself between my tire and frame. Forcing me into a high side. On the road, sliding. My bike caught up to me and slid up my left leg when i was on my stomach. So the rear brake pedal punctured my knee from the side. Right up under my knee/shin guard. Other than that and a little road rash, nothing else was damaged. Even the bike is fine because it was on my back. Now i have Knee/Shin guards that wrap around my calf and the sides of my knees. This was a scenario i could not avoid. But thanks to my gear the damage was very minimum.
@@zane4682 Nah, it wasn't that bad. My left knee suffered the worse and the only road rash I got was on my left shoulder. The jacket kind of ripped apart at the seam. But save the rest of me. It does bring back that meme of the meat mummy asking if his bike is ok.
I just started riding again after 9 years. I stopped because I got injured in service and didn't trust my knee or my balance. I finally felt confident enough after years of physical therapy and rebuilding muscle in my leg. I will only wear gear while i relearn and rebuild my confidence. I am also a medical professional, and I have seen a lot of injuries from bikes, and 9/10 times like you said, a little bit of gear made the difference between a small injury and a big one. Its always up to you out there, but for most of my riding life, gear is a necessity
Helmet, loop ear plugs, riding jacket, gloves and riding shoes are my pieces of gear that are a must for me. I have some Joe Rocket jeans meant for riding. But it’s summer and the knee protection will shift out of proper position to be viable as protection for me. My 5.11s have been my go-to for riding.
Helmet, gloves, jacket, boots (mine are stealthy), riding jeans. Almost always. Exceptions are skipping the riding jeans (never in shorts though) for short rides in town or to the office. I never ride in bad weather if I can avoid it (too old, and I have car for that) so all my gear is well ventilated and relatively light weight.
I'm an Old Fart (65-ish) with a 28 year old Dyna (FXDS-CONV) who lives in a small/medium town in N.C. 95% of my riding in in/near town - mostly 35 MPH speed limit, with 25 MPH in a few blocks radius near my home (and yes, I know a full sized Hog is an over-kill but my wife wanted me to get it) Most of the time I tool around in jeans and sleeveless t-shirt, Half-helm, gloves, and heavy biker boots ... BUT ... on the few times I'm planning on going up on the interstate I wear a full-face helm (helps with the wind buffering), and an armored fabric or leather jacket. Pick your riding style, know your comfort level (risk vs reward) and gear up appropriately.
I live in North Florida (aka the surface of the sun with an attached water park) and I like to wear mesh gear. I use shorts under my mesh pants for airflow. Plus, the mesh gear protects my skin from the sun, which can make you feel hotter even moving down the road at 60
@@logangodofcandy works for me. I'm used to it. My house is 100 feet from a swamp that I own. 1 acre usable land, 9 acres swamp. I stay moist, and that sounds gross. Que the jokes.
By far the most important factor to surviving a crash is to AVOID the crash. Yes, accidents happen and that's a risk you take every time you drive or ride. What I don't buy is the mentality of "It's not IF but WHEN you go down". That may be true on a dirt bike, but most street accidents are absolutely avoidable if you're paying attention and keeping yourself reasonably out of harm's way. Sometimes ATGATT gives you overconfidence, and when that overconfidence results in a crash did the gear really save you? I firmly believe that your should wear what gear you're comfortable in for the situation and environment. The result of being comfortable is you can focus more on the road and enjoying the ride.
I've been riding 6 years and I've been down 3 times: one rookie mistake, one weather-related, and on time where I was just being an idiot. In each crash, my helmet, jacket, gloves and boots saved each saved me from a different serious injury, and twice the armored jeans protected me as well. But let's assume I'm just sucky rider. You can be the greatest motorcyclist ever (move over, Rossi) and every time you climb on your bike there are 100 things utterly beyond your control that you cannot possibly react to in time that can cause you to wreck. Talent only goes so far.
If you are just going to the gas station and then back home, there is no reason to go to the gas station at all at that time. I wore everything except riding pants and I slid out at 60 mph a mile from my house on a surprise gravel patch on a curve and everything was shredded. Leather gloves, Leather jacket, alpinestar riding boots, and all of it was wore down to holes in the boot sides and my knee had also been worn down with massive tissue loss from the gravel being a giant sand paper. It’s been a month and I still have at least another month of wrapping it every day. Wear all the gear, all the time. You don’t need to “just go to the gas station” on a motorcycle.
It only takes one single time for one single d***head to jump a traffic sign on the very corner outside your home and boom, your life is ruined. Team ATGATT 100%. No matter how many years you've been riding and how good you are (or think you are), especially since nowadays you have maaaany many options of casual looking protective gear that is as comfortable as any regular clothing.
@@TheBarbellBandit you're being a bit childish. There's a whole area between not having an accident and having a fatal accident. Most accidents are in this non fatal zone. Nobody is thinking adding jeans will save their lives. We're thinking 'if I slide at 30mph jeans stop me getting a nasty road rash'. Road rash is no joke... look it up. Takes ages to fully heal and is itchy all the time while doing so. Don't fall into the 'two camps' way of logic. Life isn't like that at all.
@@thebrowns5337exactly! Of course pants won't "save your life" lol. Maybe he will understand if he ever gets major road rash. Hopefully not! Plus I always think about if you did fall without jacket/pants, a lot places have HOT weather climate (I'm in CA) you're going to be on that pavement ROASTING. 🔥😬🙏🏼
When riding, I always wear all my gear-that's the only way my wife agreed to let me get a bike. She made it clear: if she ever catches me without proper gear, either the bike goes, or she does. So, I suit up in full racing gear every time.
Sounds like a healthy and respectful relationship! Threatening your husband with divorce unless he follows your every whim is the key to love. If she leaves you over riding gear, it was already over.
A friend of mine used to be an atgatt. He used to ride like an idiot thinking he was safe. One time he tried to do a wheelie and lost control, the bike...fucking...somehow... Pinged off a curb and got some air before the rear wheel landed on his nuts, which went in a different direction to the bike. Long story short he can't have kids and he doesn't do wheelies anymore.
Your summary of what you wear for longer, more in depth rides, at the beginning. That's my "ATGATT". Which is far above and beyond 95% of the riders I encounter. FP: Helmet - Jacket - Gloves - Slide resistant pants with knee and hip protectors - Riding boots
The minimum I wear going anywhere is a Shoei full-face helmet, an Alpinstars jacket with back and front armor, gloves, jeans, and boots that look somewhat like normal shoes. However, I feel safer when I also wear dedicated boots and armored pants.
Check out the Draggin kevlar liners i been using them for years they're like thick stretchy pj bottoms you can wear underneath your pants. 100% kevlar coverage and doubled up on the rump/thighs
I put around town on my Vespa wearing shorts, vans, and a t-shirt. Only riding gear I wear on that are my helmet and gloves (I'm too used to working a throttle with gloves on).
I live in London in the UK and I have 2 riding states: Low speeds, good weather, close to home and everything else. In both cases I'm always wearing a helmet and gloves. Most speed limits in London are 20mph now. So if I'm within a few miles of home and the weather is very warm, I'll wear a denim jacket, gloves and helmet. If 30mph seems fast for minimal gear remember Cyclists can reach speeds of 30mph and wear very little protective equipment. For everything else, I wear my leather jacket with internal pads, gloves and helmet. I want to get some riding jeans/cargos eventually as they seem like a smart choice and they still look good. I'm not too concerned with riding boots as I wear rugged boots with ankle support most days anyway.
I am the same, I live in Bath in Somerset, UK. My commuter gear is fairly simple as I work across town and the speed limit is no more than 20mph, 30mph max. For everything else I gear up. Wet weather gear is a must so I go for waxed canvas over trousers and jacket by Belstaff.
Not getting the cyclist comparison. Cyclists can reach 30mph so what? A bicycle doesn't weigh 580lbs and won't snap your shin in two if you lock your front brake up in gravel and drop your bike at 5 mph a couple of corners from your driveway.
I have a 3.5 mile country commute and ride a Supermoto with 1 year experience. I’m often riding in jeans and a t shirt with helmet, gloves, and work boots. I know it’s not ideal but it’s as much a personal choice as the bikes we ride
@@user-ep3tm9it7e I second this. Just went down on the highway without proper gear aside from Helmet, Gloves, and boots. The road rash is awful. Concrete is a cheese grater. Just wait when they get you to the hospital to scrub out the gravel. Even after the hospital gave me Fentanyl it was still some of the most excruciating pain i've been in.
dude i hear that....I commuted for 4 years on a bike, and winter, and even rain, is so much better than summer, walking into work and having to go straight to the bathroom to peel off my sweaty gear and dry myself off and change before working the desk at a hotel. its a bitch. the only thing good about summer riding is realizing it can be a ton of fun to ride in the rain.
Here’s my setup. I commute daily on my MT09 at roughly 25 miles a day-60ish% highway. Since I’m military, so wear my full uniform in addition to short gloves, hybrid mesh/leather jacket, and a full face helmet. When I’m not riding to work, I wear similar ripstop pants(I know, they aren’t slide resistant), Solomon mid-top boots, and the gloves/jacket/full face helmet. The only time I don’t wear the helmet is if I’m doing a neighborhood lap that doesn’t go on the actual street with other cars. People here in the Baltimore/DC area are crazy and I actually feel safer on my bike because of how I ride.
People think I'm weird when I say I feel safer on my motorcycle than in a car. I know I'm not if I get hit. I just feel there's more escape routes, fewer blind spots, and I'm more focused riding.
New riders should use ATGATT atleast the first year. As you learn your bike, make the best decision. Always wear a helmet and gloves. You will almost always try to catch yourself if you do fall
The experienced riders know the potential consequences of not wearing certain gear and can make a rational choice about what to wear. They also have a good idea of how much traffic they're likely to encounter and whether they're likely to encounter a car. As Yammie said, you may not need the full track gear just to fill up a gas next door. Beginners, on the other hand, don't have the experience to make these kinds of judgments.
New rider here. I wear a full helmet, leather jacket(elbow protection) with back protector, leather pants(knee Protector), Motorcycle gloves and Motorcycle boots. A few friends alr had accidents and they said leather made the diffrence for them so i take the advise to heart. The plan is to wear this most of times and get a 2nd textile set for short rides to work etc. Since i started on a ~950ccm bike i rather sweat more then having less protection.
Honestly, having choices gear wise is a luxury that I've invested in. I have a 1 piece suit, a leather jacket, a riding hoodie (all with back & elbow armor), riding jeans (knee & hip armor). Full race boots & a pair of "shorty" ankle boots. A pair of gauntlet gloves & a shorty pair & a few helmets. It's taken a while to buy all that gear, but it gives me options. It's not an option to not be protected in the event of a fall. I was more ATGATT before I had all my gear, now I'm MOGATT (mix of gear all the time).
The one thing that you’re not mentioning is that “life happens all the time” and what can go wrong, will go wrong! Even if you’re just taking a little jaunt around the block, the unexpected can catch you off guard and unprepared! For me, I’d rather play it safe than sorry! 🤔🤨👍
I wear an open face helmet, prescription glasses, long sleeve shirt, jeans, usually deer skin gauntlets, jacket if its cold. Now 71, riding since I was a toddler on my dad's Vespa. Crashed twice in the last 30 years, hit a moose on the AlCan and T-boned a pickup. No serious injury.
Appreciate the honesty Yam. ADV guy here. Helmet, riding jacket, gloves, cotton pants of some sort, workboots for my 25min commute. Once in a very great while i subtract the jacket for a short low speed ride to the store. Long rides its AGATT.
Long time paramedic and rider here. I appreciate the honesty in this video. My safety gear philosophy is similar to Yam's. The very nature of riding a motorcycle involves taking (hopefully) calculated risks. When I'm online I hear "ATGATT" talk ad nauseum ... when I'm on the road (in a car or ambulance or on my bike) I SEE "ATGATT" in practice in maybe 1 out of 30 riders and that's being generous. The exception seems to be the older dudes who buy top end GS's, I often see those sorts clad head to toe in the most expensive consumer gear available. People can think what they will, but I'm not wearing what amounts to a 'snow-suit' when it's 90 degrees in the shade. In terms or responding to motorcycle injuries - gear does provide additional safety, but I've also seen people with gear severely injured, and I've seen people without gear walk away. There are a ton of variables - I can recover from a broken bone and road rash - but the TBI issue is a non-starter for me. I wear a helmet 100% of the time.
I'm a long time concealed firearm carrier. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Also, any gun you do carry is better than the best gun that you don't carry because it's too much of a hassle.
I wear all my gear all the time. I commute to work every day with full gear. 115 degrees, full gear. Going to the gas station, full gear. It's like wearing a seatbelt in a car. Feels weird if it's not on.
to me it feels weird to wear a seatbelt in my car. Been in trucking for a few years and got used to it. Almost no truckdriver in Europe uses seatbelts.
Here in the UK, wearing a crash helmet has been compulsory since the early 1970s. So I've always worn one for every single ride. Back when I was 22 (now 61) I got into a head-on accident with a car 12:46 on a bend. I was wearing the skid lid, a leather jacket, gloves, a pair of Levi's, and some baseball boots. Really glad, I was too. The helmet saved my life. Although I broke my righ leg and had an abrasion done to the bone on my left knee, the rest of my gear stopped me from getting any worse injuries. From that day on, that has always been my minimum riding gear on any ride, increasing to full leathers etc on longer or more spirited rides T-Bone
I generally wear my helmet, gloves, boots and pants no matter what. They don't seem to bother me during the summer, and I can wear layers when it's colder. The one item I just can't wear when it's too hot is one of my jackets. I have an armored mesh jacket, and there are still summer days when it's simply too hot to be comfortable and focused. In those situations, I'll rock a T-shirt and call it a day.
As someone with $10k+ in full body tattoos, I wear full gear 97% of the time unless I have a quick ride down the street. If it wasn’t for my tats I’d probably never wear much besides a helmet and gloves
Non-negotiable (do not skip): Helmet, gloves, footwear (on public roads; seriously, proper riding boots saved my ankle from being shattered or even fractured by direct impact from an SUV at 45mph), visor down (when above reasonable speed like 20mph; I've been stung in the face while riding, and it sucks). Negotiable: Jacket (I like my skin, so not really), riding pants or abrasion-resistant undergarment (I got the Axial non-CE padded bottom layer, makes it very easy to always wear it anyway), proper hearing protection (I'm new to this, but so far it's way better than I thought it would be). That said, pretty much everything in this video is agreeable. I'm really wearing all of my casual gear year-round 90+% of the time, though. I ride daily in 100-120 F temps. There's really not much of an excuse for not wearing your gear almost all the time. I wonder how many people are actually taking ATTGATT literally like you do in this video. It's memorable, easy to internalize, and a good rule to try to live by generally. MOTGMOTT doesn't quite have the same ring to it 😂
I'm a firm believer in ATGATT! You never know when an accident will happen! That's WHY they're called accidents...they're accidental. I got back in the saddle after a 50-year absence. At 68, I know better than when I first learned to ride in my middle-teens. Safety is not an option! I wear a modular helmet with Bluetooth, built-in vents, etc. Fodsport shielded gloves, BILT brand Blaze 2 jacket I used leather paints to make into a new-era Captain America jacket, and BILT Pro Tourer Air boots. Zip up and very comfortable. I even wear my gear on 90F+ days! I was told by many that you get used to it. I did.
Reminded of that one time I lifted my visor about 200ft from my parking spot and a bee just flew right in and stung me on the jawbone. Some times just damned if you do damned if you don't.
I couldn't agree more! If I'm out for a group ride with the guys, a lot of highway riding, or an all day road trip, I'm full gear (full face helmet, gloves, jacket, pants & boots). On the flip side, if I'm cruising around town or commuting, I'm more likely to skip the highway and throw on a pair of jeans, half-helmet, jacket, gloves and boots. I laid a bike down once and remember seeing the 2 inch diameter spot worn in my helmet. After that, I always wear one.
I lost my father to a motorcycle crash, he slipped on a diesel stain and a semi going too fast behind him hit him and gave him whiplash. He died wearing all the gear (2003 so no airbag back then) above his suit (he was commuting and even dropped me off at school that morning), I'm sure he would have agreed with you on the "most of the gear, most of the time" thing as I do. All that to say, do everything you can to mitigate risks you take :)
My old Bridgestone mountainbike owner's manual had a good line -- you should wear protection whenever you are moving at high speed, where "high speed" is defined as faster than you can run. Your body was not designed for speeds faster than you can run.
There is a saying..." What other people think of you is none of your business". Be happy being you and do what you think is best for you and if you conform for others, it's only your ego getting in the way of your authentic self. Ride your own ride.
Yammie, this may be the most important video you have ever made. This topic comes up regularly on the Reddit motorcycle forum, also. For me, I always wear a helmet, gloves and boots. It's never an option to wear anything less.
In 2021, I was a lil late hitting the door to go across my small town and walked out without my well rated helmet. Caught gravel on a tight turn in traffic and, even at lower speed, that high side was devastating and life altering. Just put on a helmet folks. Head injuries are a monster.
This video sums up how I feel perfectly. I’ve been getting into it lately with people over this. I will never judge someone for what they choose to wear or not wear. We are all adults or close to it and can make those choices for ourselves. I may make suggestions but if they choose not to listen then cool. No sweat off my back. If they listen then cool too.
I'm with you Yam, I think atgatt is a good teaching point for a new rider. Show the safest option then let them get more experience and decide for themselves. Personally I wear a full helmet, adv textile jacket, denim/Kevlar pants, short gloves and riding boots 99% of the time but this can change depending on weather/temperature, length and type of riding. Don't ride uncomfortable. Its distracting and we ride because we enjoy it
Helmet: ALWAYS! But in the heat of the summer I go from my Full Face to a half helmet. Jacket is also an always piece of gear with me; mine adapts with the conditions by adding rain and/or insolation layers. Full size boots too, since I haven’t found anything I like “smaller”. PS: I’m a H-D rider.
Helmet, gloves, and jacket every single time cause they're so easy to put on and worth it. Honestly, the helmet is as much for music and not hitting bugs with my face as it is actual safety. I also wear boots most of the time too.
Helmet, Boots, Gloves every time without question. Sometimes "squidding" in a t-shirt/jeans, sometimes textile jacket/pants, sometimes a leather one piece. It depends.
Like many of the commenters here, ATGATT for me is a full face helmet, armored jacket, gloves, riding pants or Aramid-lined jeans, and either construction boots or riding boots. On hot days I grab a mesh jacket. I always wear the gear so it feels perfectly natural.
Great advise Yammie, Id say Mtgmtt, definitely always a Modular Helmet, mesh riding jacket and motorcycle gloves with palm sliders and mesh riding pants and motorcycle boots as I ride fairly cautiously. Also extra protection is available in external knee and elbow strap ons and back protection.
I’ve only ever had a leather jacket and cheap gloves with an affordable half helmet. As I get older, had kids, more to lose, I’ve been riding less and less. This year my passion for riding has been renewed for whatever reason, and I decided to invest in some decent gear. A mesh jacket, gloves, and modular helmet (all Scorpion EXO). I’ve found I’m much more confidant and comfortable geared up. If I am just running low speed errands around town and just throw on the half helmet, I feel exposed and vulnerable. Almost paranoid to the point of being distracted. I have not invested in armored jeans yet but jeans and real leather boots are still and always have been a must for me.
My personal idea is that if I’m on the highway I wear normal gear. If I’m going through town I’ll skip the jacket or proper boots sometimes. If I’m going around my neighborhood I’ll wear whatever. If I’m going on a longer trip or expect to rip some twisties I bring all of my gear.
I’m a daily commute rider in Phoenix and honestly the weather dictates what I wear more than I do. I typically wear a pair of sturdy tactical boots because they’re my work uniform, whatever regular long pants, and a helmet unless my destination is less than a mile away. Generally I prefer to wear a full armored jacket but in the summer I feel it’s actually more dangerous to do so because we see temps well above 100° often, so I usually opt for my vest
I always wear a full face helmet, short sleeve shirt, long pants and boots. Use of gloves, long sleeves and additional gear are based upon weather on the street or upon the terrain off road. The most important protection is developing your riding skills and then riding well within your limits. That doesn't mean riding slowly. A skilled rider can be very quick and still riding within 75 to 80% of their abilities with margin to spare in the event something unexpected presents itself. Inexperience riding at 150% of the rider's ability is why so many people claim motorcycles are dangerous.
I've always got gloves, helmet, and riding shoes/boots. Jackets come out when temps get below 85, and my riding pants when we're below 70. If I'm highway driving in the summer, I've got a chest/back protector.
I appreciate the honest discussion about this topic. When I first started riding I said I was ATGATT… but as time went on I got more lax. When I ride my scooter to work, I will wear a helmet, jacket, and gloves, but since I’m never going over 40 mph, I’m OK wearing regular pants and my work shoes. Sometimes after I finish cutting the grass I’m really hot and I enjoy riding down my rural country road inshorts and a T-shirt to cool off. I get it that something bad can happen, but it’s a risk that I am willing to take on occasion. I definitely prefer wearing a full face helmet because I wouldn’t want to get hit by a rock or a bee or cicada without it. Thanks for keeping it real Yammie.
Lifetime cyclist, so learned many a lesson about 'just going to the store' before getting on a motorcycle. Run around gear, or minimal gear is full face, gloves, heavy pants (carhartts), and safety boots (think blundstones). That's riding under 50 km/hr, no multilane streets. And, bring my brain and extra patience. Mostly I'm worried about my feet in a fumble, or hands and head in a slow tumble. Otherwise, gear up to possible outcomes... heavier gloves, proper boots, upper body gear, abrasion resistant pants. Funny that extra hearing protection is so light and cheap and rarely mentioned.
For me, I always wear a helmet. Normally I wear a protective jacket, jeans and boots. However, we recently have had high heat and humidity with triple digit heat. That’s when I forgo the jacket and wear fingerless motorcycle gloves. Protected but comfortable.
100% behind getting comfortable gear for the situation and season. The mesh jacket you're wearing now is way more protective than the full racing suit that you left at home because it's too hot.
When I’m going for a ride in the mountains I topically wear my jacket, sometimes an airbag vest. If it’s hot AF I wear my t shirt, or sometimes just an airbag vest. All gear all the time is absolutely good for people learning to ride. More importantly assume cars never see you and ride within your ability. Honestly as long as you know you could be crushed on any ride, and that your body is a sac of jelly that’s easily squished, wear whatever the hell you want.
Helmet 100%. Gloves and jacket when temperature dictates. I'm rural-ish mountain foothills and valley farms on the side of a sea. 6 miles to work, I put on another 30 exploring omw home. I've only been riding 3 weeks, but already cleared 1k miles. Weekends are for road trips!
If it's too hot for a jacket, only zip the jacket about 1/3 of the way up. Wind will enter this opening and puff the jacket out. The air will exit through the sleeves. It's like AC.
I live in a city where traffic is relatively slow and it’s mostly 1 lane per direction with a lot of one ways so my philosophy is the following: if I were to feel comfortable making the trip on a scooter (
Attgatt for me is always a helmet, armored jacket, armored gloves, riding boots, and slide resistant pants. I typically don't wear my armored jeans or air bag vest unless I'm going on a day ride.
When I first got into riding on 2 wheels when I was teenager, I was on a scooter. Got shoved out of my lane by a guy texting and driving. Ended up going down and sliding across 6 lanes, across and onto the sidewalk. Had gloves, helmet and tracksuit jacket on. Was scraped up decently, and had a sizeable chunk of my helmet broken off from the impact. Would have died on impact if it wasn't for that helmet. Ever since, I wear full gear, every ride. I'm on a yzf600r now, 9 years later. Even in the 100°+ heat, I'm comforted knowing that I'm protected if I ever go down again. ATGATT!
I put on full gear every day before I go to work: Full chest plate, back protector, shoulder protection, elbow protection, gloves, hip protection, knee/shin protection, boots, kevlar pants, and kevlar sweater. One day I will buy a motorcycle.
The only gear I don't have are riding pants and an airbag system. I run full face helmet, leather riding jacket with a high viz vest, armored gloves and steel toe work boots. The only time I'm not wearing all my gear is when I only intend to move my bike out of the garage and around my driveway to wash it. Otherwise, if I'm leaving the driveway, it's ATGAT. I do wear either heavy denim or similar work pants when riding, simply because I'm usually just riding to work. When I had my high side, the only injury (aside from my pride) was a bruised and abraded knee.
My bike is my daily. I’ve no time for being laid up, so I do wear all the gear. Fortunately, there’s a variety of gear to choose from. I ended up going more modular with my gear, so I can better interchange between on/off-road. I’m on a bike all the time, so my wardrobe is almost entirely comprised of polyimide for jeans. On excursions here in the Carolinas you’re going to run into a variety of weather, so a sweat wicking layer, armor layer, and abrasion resistant shell works best. When speeds drop the outer shell can be removed for better cooling. In the summers, I soak my base layer at every fuel stop for evap cooling. You get weird looks when you practically take a shower at the sink, but it feels good ridding amphibious in the heat.
Great video , think you covered it well , for me sliding down the road with the bike on top of me while wearing jeans a t shirt and a cheap helmet was enough pain to start taking protection serious and was 16 at the time , i still have the scars fifty years later , I fall into the feel naked without at least slide protection slot
