Question Author
mdoo: yes it is personal choice, I assume people don't wear leathers or kevlar gear purely because they are unable to afford it. When I put my bike back on the road (pay for repairs to be done) I always price in the cost of gear that needs replacing. Some people don't even replace their helmets every 3 years (5 years if the helmet is to a higher standard) or if they get damaged (dropped, chipped etc).
noggin: describing my accident as 'hit by a car' was, and I agree, very vague. I was riding my brand new Honda CG 125 around the A38 traffic island in Derby (opposite the little chef), a women (apparently pregnant) in a car pulled out at speed and hit my motorcycle center of the left hand crank casing (bending my gear change back double). I was thrown underneath the car and dragged around the road until the car eventually stopped. No doubt in 10 years time due to Health and Safety, pedestrians will be required to wear suitable body armer to protect them from being hit by vehicles.
JJ: If i was on a bike as big as yours I'd be honoured to look like terminator. Most people, after being in an accident involving a motorcycle don't tend to be bothered how they look as long as they are safe (or maybe I am just speaking for myself :) ). I like the analogy about the belt sander; my riding instructor said that if someone was to come off on a motorcycle traveling at 30mph they would be cut down to the femur after sliding for around 6 meter. I don't profess to know anything about how far a person could skid along the road at what ever speed but I can tell you that I wouldn't like it to happen to me!
Chuck: All parents should pull out a ripped up pair of leathers and show their children who intend to get on a motorcycle. I remember my first CBT, I was shown a clip of motorcyclist being hit by cars pulling out of junctions. Lovely stuff!
Thanks for all your comments, keep them coming!
Dizmo.