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Is It Normal?
What do you think?
Critical of other bikers
I drive a motorbike to work every day, through rush hour traffic, and have done for the last 6 years. I always wear full leathers + body armour, no matter what the weathers like.

When the weathers warm, i see a lot more bikes on the road, and i see a lot of people ( mostly guys ) driving bikes wearing shorts, or not wearing a jacket.

Whenever possible, i drive along side them, or pull up next to them at traffic lights, tap them on the shoulder and say 'What the hell are you doing? Why arn't you wearing leathers?' - I've even stopped bikers at the petrol station, in the middle of a crowded room to ask them.

Most of the time, they look embarressed, and give me a 'well, yeah, i know i should' look/comment.

A friend of main, a fellow biker was quite supprised when i told him this, and said he'd never done it.

Am i the only person who does this? Is this normal?
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Comments (6)
Mungbean (220)
2005-06-22 04:50:22
Not strictly normal but admirable that you are so concerned for other peoples well being. Personally I would even go near a motorbike but I am a total wuss.
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Element10010 (520)
2005-06-30 16:54:11
Some people just have a bike for fuel efficiency or fun, not because they are true bikers. If you are worried about the style, you have problems. If you are worried about their safety, that's fine. Helmets are probably more important, though.
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Anonymous
2005-07-11 16:45:58
In our society it is not normal to care about the safety or well being of perfect strangers enough to confront them when they're doing something stupid, but it should be. If it is a fashion thing that you're hung up on, then you are cracked.
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TommyFilth1 (763)
2005-08-25 16:17:55
If that isn't normal, then the way I see it, normal is over-rated. Most people probably don't bother because they're don't want to "annoy" fellow bikers, of because they assume that it's not their responsibility, but I know too many people whose lives have been saved by the use of leathers and a helmet.

I don't ride, personally, but if I did, I'd wear leathers and a helmet, and I'd probably do the same thing you do. It sure beats losing all the skin on your back because some inattentive motorist pulled out in front of you.
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angola (770)
2005-10-05 01:33:33
@: TommyFilth1
I think you should mind your own business. I like to ride when the weather is warm, I'll wear a helmet because it's the law here, but otherwise just a T-shirt and shorts. I know I would be safer in leathers, but I just can't be bothered. If I wanted safety, I wouldn't ride a bike anyway. If some loony would start harassing me at the petrol station I'd tell him to get lost.
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Anonymous
2005-11-23 06:41:53
I know how you feel. I once saw a guy wearing shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals on a bike. I didn't stop him and tell him off or anything, but I thought, "What an idiot."

For people who say he should mind his own business: Perhaps you don't realise how much of a HUGE difference protection makes. It's the difference between getting out of the crash almost completely unharmed, and having to be sent to hospital. In the case of a helmet, life and death. It's just common sense.
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