Motorcyclists Leathers

[rabbitygirl]

Is it law that motorbike riders wear leathers or similar protection? Saw a biker on the M1 recently wearing shorts and t shirt. I know if you come off (and survive) you can sustain terrible skin and flesh injuries.

[Ethel]

No it isn't, sadly.
The only legal requirement as far as clothing is concerned is the crash helmet.

I've seen bikers on the motorway wearing shorts and vest with flip flops. Absolutely insane. The sunburn would be terrible, which is the least of their worries.

[rabbitygirl]

Thanks Ethel - I thought it wasn't and it is insane for that reason and because travelling in other forms of transport attracts so much legislation. I wonder if any bikers will own up here and tell us why they do this risky thing ?

[dilligaf]

Helmets (or turbans) are legal requirements.

The rest is left to common sense which unfortunately is often ignored.

I live in Norfolk which is popular with the real motorcyclist who chose to wear proper protective clothing.

I once saw a youngster come off a scooter before sliding along the tarmac on his hands. His plastic gloves had melted with the friction and welded themselves into the flesh that was left on his palms. Not a very nice sight.

The first week the M1 opened I took my Vincent up to 100+ wearing shirtsleeves and jeans (no helmet) and even today I judder when I think what could have happened.

Leathers are expensive but can be replaced easier than skin and bone.

[mattfox]

Doesn't even have to be leathers...

Kevlar jeans!
http://giali.com/mod/product/id_prd/156

[helpmetoo]

are you keen on taking away more freedom?
perhaps stabiliser wheels would be a safe option,why not put a big metal box around the motorbike,
you could call it a car!

[rabbitygirl]

My question skirts around the legal issues in a way and is actually asking why bikers wish to risk themselves this way.Seeing a biker,dressed as described, whizz by me while I was myself doing at least 80 made me shiver. Aren't the stats on bike accidents enough to convince a rider to cover him/herself? I cannot comprehend why someone would risk horrific pain and injury to themselves and bring pain to those that love them simply because, it seems, not wearing protection is a statement of freedom. Who didn't complain that the seat belt law was taking away our freedom? Very few. But how many dont even think about the safety advantages now. While the law settles on so many issues we will continue to question I feel that most would like to see bikers made to wear protection if they cannot see the sense of it themselves.

[Loosehead]

I'm a motorcyclist and I usually wear protective clothing, however I don't want the nanny state telling me what to do. I know the risks and if I take them it's my own look out. To answer the question, It is inadvisable but completely legal to ride b0ll0ck naked bar a riding hat if you wanted too!

[rabbitygirl]

Oooohh!! Best hold on veeerrry tight then!!

[redcrx]

loosehead Im sure its not legal, there are laws against indecent exposure. :)

[Bmw-Rider]

absoloutley amazing turbans are included, because i know they have no protective quality !

[Bmw-Rider]

oh yes, Ethel, bang on, Yet Again !

[Bmw-Rider]

Loosehead absoloutley spot on !

[WoWo]

"absoloutley amazing turbans are included, because i know they have no protective quality !"

Turbans are only allowed on vehicles of 50cc or less (I think the law may be different these days in that it would be a power ratio rather than cc's)

I agree with Loosehead, as a motorcyclist it's up to me to take the responsibility of what a wear. Having said that I always wear full protective clothing when riding.

On the subject of Kevlar jeans almost as bad as wearing normal jeans, one of the great properties of leather is that it grips the tarmac and therefore slows the rider down if he is sliding along the ground, this isn't true of Kevlar jeans which therefore increases the likelyhood of a rider colliding with an object such as a lamp post.