I often wear a pair of $5 ANSI standard safetyglasses under my faceshield for extra protection. You only have one set of peepers 🙂

I never got the no gloves thing, though. Tan lines should always take a back seat to safety. A rock to the knuckle is not pleasant.

Stay safe everyone!

Lately some of the companies have been putting out some awesome looking jackets, but they are lacking or wimpy in the back armor. What’s with that?!?

So glad your okay and that the kamikaze bird didn’t win.

I wish I could write like you do.

Anyway, let me tell you how much I agree with your comments about safety before style even if we make certain decisions (like buying a Vespa partly because of style).

I have not had any encounters with UFOs since I’ve been riding my GT200 (7 months approximately), but I’ve had a hubcap come darting from the other lane on a highway at 65 MPH and hit the hood of the car and jump over the roof, I had a small rock hit and make a crack that i had to seal to prevent from spreading on a new windshield that had been replaced the year before from being hit by a continued rain of sand flying from a contruction truck in front of me on my way to the beach.

It is for these things that I wouldn’t ride without a windshield. I hate to think what that small rock would have felt if it hit me on the chest or the face.

That’s why I can’t understand why people would ride without proper gear. Even in hot weather, there are now many mexh jackets (and pants) that are almost like nothing except they offer protection.

For some reason, it looks like it’s always the Harley riders that wear the least protection.

The windshield protects you in cold weather by deflecting the cold air from you chest also.

My choice of colors is made with a little style in mind but mostly I want to be noticed. I have a yellow and black full face helmet, and a few jackets in bright blue and white and bright green and white, blue and red gloves, you get the idea…

Ah, I have a Vespa helmet just for style though. I only use it to do short errands in town. Not that the asphalt is softer in Westwood, NJ, but I take a calculated risk on these occassions only.

I think I rambled too long. By the way, I love the photos too.

I think it is always good to be aware of risk and ride accordingly.

cody: Sadly the bird didn’t fare well. That is weird about the turkey. Next time I will have to talk about finding a winning lottery ticket or something so we can see if the syncronicity continues!

v for varate mas: Thanks for the kind words.

s u n d a n c e: I see the same riders and some even tell me I am overdoing it. I have learned to follow my own counsel and try to habitualize the protective gear as much as possible.

Took a look at your 100MPG blog. Nice work! And I like your yellow and black riding jacket too!

I see riders of all kinds without protective gear, and I wonder..am I overdoing it, or are these guys CRAZY?

Your story puts a point toward – they’re CRAZY!

greek rider