[tonyjuliano]

ATGATT = "All The Gear, All The Time"...


I have been riding motorcycles for over 40 years (got my first dirt bike when I was 5 years old), both on the street and the track (professional road racer for 6+ years back in the 80's). I ride almost every single day, and put an average of 30000 miles a year on my various bikes.


In this time, I can honestly say that I have never been a fully "ATGATT" guy. I always wear a helmet (but not exclusively full-face), gloves & proper footwear - but definitley cannot say that full leather and armor are part of my everyday attire.


The exception to this is when I head out for some more "serious" riding, and then I always wear full armor (and leather). MANY broken bones over the years (and there have been more than a few - on and off the track) have reinforced this behavior.


This past Friday, I had a driver (on her cell phone - of course!), T-Bone me. I was riding with a group (in front), westbound on a east / west roadway (single lane of traffic in each direction, with a shared turn lane in the center) when this person was coming out of a parking lot to my right, making a left across the westbound traffic to go east. There was an SUV in front of me making a right into the same parking lot, and she took this as her "okay" to pull out, across my lane.


I swerved hard, and managed to almost clear her (using up all of the center lane in the process) but she kept coming and clipped my right leg. I managed to keep the bike off the ground, and not get bounced into oncoming traffic, but it was a decent hit none the less.


Luckily, I was wearing very good armor under my leather pants (I never rely on the "built-in" stuff for serious riding, I've taken WAY too many hits to my legs over the years for this).


ForceField Level 1 leg armor...

I was sore, but happy about not having to fix yet another crashed bike (I managed to low side my track bike 2 weeks ago – breaking a couple of toes on my LEFT foot in the process). After limping around the parking lot for 20 minutes or so, I decided to continue my ride (I had taken a day off work, and wasn’t going to waste it!) and have my leg looked after later.

Long story (very) short, my fibula is busted – but not clean through…

So now I have to wobble around like a invalid with a break in my right leg and 2 toes busted on the left – but there is little doubt that it would have been a much more serious break without the additional armor.

 

[TC3]

Tony good to hear you managed to avoid more serious injury and hope you make a quick recovery

 

[zswickliffe]

Man, Tony - I'm glad to hear you're ok! I just had something similar almost happen last night. Luckily there was enough room and time to see it coming and gave a pleasant hand gesture once I knew I was safe. I might actually have video of it...

In any case, sorry to hear about the wreck - pics don't seem to be loading on my side but heel quickly!

 

[NickJ]

Guh! That could have been so much worse! I am glad that you had the presence of mind to have the gear on and also to act instead of letting it all happen to you.

Heal up fast and I am glad that you are good.

 

[littleowl]

Sorry to hear that! But glad it wasn't more serious injury .. your armour obviously helped prevent it. Your pic looks a bit similar to mine, a couple of years ago, except I did a better job than you!

I was wearing armoured Daytona boots and leather trousers, the break was in the boot area so probably a good thing I wasn't wearing trainers (not that I do). I wear most of the gear but often take some armour out to make them more comfortable! :rolleyes-84:

Quite liking the idea of the removable leg armour though - may invest in some for summer use under riding jeans

 

[tonyjuliano]

Sorry to hear that! But glad it wasn't more serious injury .. your armour obviously helped prevent it. Your pic looks a bit similar to mine, a couple of years ago, except I did a better job than you!

Yep, you certainly did...

I have a bunch of hardware in the left leg similar to yours.

 

[littleowl]

Do you have a cast on? They left my fibula to heal itself because it was too narrow to pin, but I think because I had my tibia pinned it stabilised the fibula. Not sure what they would have done if it was just the fib?

 

[tonyjuliano]

Do you have a cast on? They left my fibula to heal itself because it was too narrow to pin, but I think because I had my tibia pinned it stabilised the fibula. Not sure what they would have done if it was just the fib?

They put on an air-cast - to immobilize foot movement. Looks like this...

The fibula doesn't bear hardly any weight, which is why they left yours to heal as was, it only contributes when you flex your foot or twist the leg.

 

[Mr Munck]

Ehhh,,, I get it.. gear is important. . so is eating right and working out...

I'm personally more like a "Fair amount of gear a decent amount of the time" kind of guy.

I mean.. you'll never catch me in flip-flops and a tank top. . . but you'll never catch me in a set of race leathers either.

 

[tonyjuliano]

Ehhh,,, I get it.. gear is important. . so is eating right and working out...

I'm personally more like a "Fair amount of gear a decent amount of the time" kind of guy.

I mean.. you'll never catch me in flip-flops and a tank top. . . but you'll never catch me in a set of race leathers either.

Race leathers are only for track use for me.

I'd like to say I would be "all the gear, all the time", but know myself too well for that. I'm more like "some of the gear, most of the time".


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NickJ]

After my accident, I won't ride without a moto jacket, kevlar lined pants, a helmet, gloves and boots. Granted, my gloves and boots are not moto-specific, but they are a hell of a lot better than the Vans that I used to ride in.

 

[tonyjuliano]

After my accident, I won't ride without a moto jacket, kevlar lined pants, a helmet, gloves and boots. Granted, my gloves and boots are not moto-specific, but they are a hell of a lot better than the Vans that I used to ride in.

This is basically my "minimum" set of gear...

• Always at least a DOT approved helmet (but not necessarily full face)
• Gloves, always
• Boots, all the time (although not exclusively "moto-specific")
• Shin / Knee protection - 100% (I've got too much hardware rattling around down there to do otherwise)

I'll wear a leather jacket with armor, and leather pants (regardless of the temperature) if I'm going on an aggressive type ride, but sadly will ride without a jacket at all if I'm just running errands or such.

When I was a teenager, back in the 70's, we didn't know what gear was - but of course I "bounced" a lot better back then.

 

[scowa18]

Glad to hear it wasn't worse. It always pains me to see or hear about a fellow rider going down, ( even if you didn't "go down"). Get well soon!
I don't like to talk about what I wear on bikes, because I don't want someone else rationalizing a bad choice because they saw someone else (me) make bad riding gear choices. I always wear a DOT full face helmet and gloves...that pretty much covers my "always". I live in South Florida and commute daily so I try to use the heat to justify my lack of riding gear. For frame of reference, it was 91 degrees here today with 100% humidity.

 

[AnotherHobby]

Damn dude! That's scary! Good to hear you got out with minimal damage to yourself, but that still sucks ass. You're situational awareness saved you from much worse, that's for sure.

With regards to ATGATT, it depends on the definition. I wear all of my gear all the time, but it's not full race stuff. It is all motorcycle specific. From head to toe...

• Full face helmet (Bell Bullit)
• Belstaff Brooklands jacket with D30 elbows, shoulders, and level 2 back
• or... a cheaper mesh jacket with elbows, shoulders, and back if it's too hot for the Belstaff
• Dianese blackjack gloves
• Kevlar woven jeans that have a kevlar liner as well, along with integrated knee pads
• TCX X-Blend WP Boots with heel, toe, and ankle protectors (a moderately protective style boot)

There are better, safer, and more protective options for almost everything I have, but I do wear it all the time.

 

[bernie]

Sorry to hear that Tony. Heal fast ad thanks for sharing your knowledge.

 

[motopilot]

I was hit by a car in 2001. Shattered my left foot and a broken ankle. Took me almost 2yrs before I walked right again without limping. To this day I still have pain. I have fused bones so I'll probably always have pain. I was ATGATT then and still am today. There's no doubt the proper gear helps reduce injury. Heal well!!!

 

[1611]

Wow! Glad it wasn't worse and you are on the mend. ATGATT for me, always. I don't wear fuller race leathers but I might as well be wearing them. Leather pants or armored jeans, armored jacket, gloves, full face helmet, boots, etc. Get well soon....

 

[Hardright]

Glad you are alright Tony. I hope the woman pays dearly for her folly. Cellphone while driving should cost her.

2 years ago, I crashed my 650cc scoot. Bike fell on its side pinning me on the right leg and slid about 5 feet forward. I was wearing full gear. Two guys helped me put the bike up. I stood up. No damage to body. Torn trouser at the side of my knees. Ego hurts though. Still managed to ride home, have the wife drive me to the dealer to get a bike I had left for its maintenance interval service and rode that home.

Riding in the city I wear the following:

• DOT approved helmet, open face
• Gloves
• Boots, all the time
• Shin and Knee guards - all the time
• Mesh jacket (temps can reach 36C here) with shoulder and elbow guards built in
• Back support
• At night, I wear a reflective safety harness so other motorists can see me

Out of the city in the highways and provincial roads, same as above except I would use these instead:

• DOT approved helmet, full face

• Resurgence Jeans

• Spine protector

 

[John]

I'm always fully kitted out, though mostly wear kevlar jeans not leathers, have had a few spills over the years though fortunately nothing serious (touch wood)

I have an issue with the armour in the knee's of the jeans, they just don't sit right, keep riding up etc. and have wondered recently about how useful they would actually be in an accident...so I too like the look of the knee armour and will invest in a set and bin the ones that come with the jeans.

 

[littleowl]

I have an issue with the armour in the knee's of the jeans, they just don't sit right, keep riding up etc. and have wondered recently about how useful they would actually be in an accident...so I too like the look of the knee armour and will invest in a set and bin the ones that come with the jeans.

I also take knee armour out of my leather trousers as they make them too tight to bend! I've kept them in the textiles as they are a looser fit and the textile fabric wouldn't do much in the way of protection.