Wouldn't that be reason enough to buy a new helmet now, even if it means taking a hit on this one? Call me crazy, but I tend to put safety before money (within reason). A couple hundred bucks more to actually be comfortable riding would be well worth it to me, even if it meant I had a wasted purchase lingering over my head (not like I would ever have any of those though).

Helmet is the only thing required by law (unless you are a Sikh).

However, nobody rides without gloves and almost everyone has a proper jacket and boots and most people have either padded over-trousers or padded/kevlar jeans. Personally, I don't feel right unless I have my padded trousers on as the time I don't will be the time I slid on some diesel and tear the skin off my legs and depart the knee-cap from leg.

The same applies to Europe too I believe. Pillion riders are the same with the addition that their feet have to touch the foot bars.

btw, talking of bikes, I got myself a pair of these a few weeks ago as I only had winter gloves until then:

http://www.heldusa.com/airstream.html

You wouldn't believe how much air gets to your fingers and hand in general. They're lacking a bit of padding round the fingers, but overall they're just lovely - kevlar inside, kangaroo leather for the grip.

You get some extra storage space

And if you don't make it to your destination, it's still got you covered.

I meant the coffin dragging behind.

Of the motorcyclists that I see, probably 30% are wearing helmets. It's mostly just a subset of the people on sports bikes. If it's a guy on a cruiser, it's almost a sure guarantee that his gear consists of a bandana, sunglasses, tshirt, and jeans.

Personally, I don't even like riding highway speeds without a full face helmet. I don't have any leg protection yet. I'm thinking about just getting some knee pads.

It is annoying, particularly on short trips. I never ride without a helmet, but if I'm only going across town I may not wear gloves or a jacket (particularly if it's a very hot day).

The helmet can be locked to the motorcycle. (Unfortunately on my bike it's dangerously close to the hot exhaust pipes, so I don't use it.) I often just leave my helmet under the front wheel. Bikers aren't going to steal other bikers' gear (at least around here, it's like you automatically join a secret club once you get a bike), and most people probably wouldn't even notice the helmet sitting there.

The jacket can be hung up just like you would with any other jacket. Although if you have a nice one, you may want to keep it nearby...

And if you use removable leg armor, that's easy to take off if you are going to be somewhere for any extended period of time. And if you're just walking about a store (etc), just leave it on.

But it's all worth it. Riding a motorcycle is so much more enjoyable (and less expensive) than driving a car about. And it makes you automatically cool, even if you really suck.

That reminds me... I wear my clothes baggy... My jeans are usually much lower than yours would be i.e., barely hanging on. There's no way they would provide me any protection, even if they were bullet/friction proof, because they would come off in less than a second. So I'd have to get used to dressing differently.

You've never noticed this? You've never noticed how many cars are exactly like the one your new girlfriend drives until you met her?

I don't have a girlfriend. That said, my dad and I never noticed how many grand ams and grand prixs(very similar) were around until he bought one. They're all over the fucking place. Every other vehicle you see is a grand am/prix practically around here.

That probably has something to do with your waving hand being on the throttle side over in backward island land (unless you build your bikes backward too).

You want us to do "The Wave" with our heads? Not gonna happen!

I just bought an EXO-700. Now I'm ready to cruise in style.

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Oh, and the obligatory picture of my bike, because I've not posted one before:

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BAF's first bike that he doesn't have to pedal... Seems like just yesterday we took the training wheels off.