Gear snob?

I got to thinking (never a good outcome), is it bad that I judge riders on how they dress when on the bike. I see a guy in shorts and a T-shirt and think "not sure if thats who I want to ride with". I'm back on a street bike after being off for 5 years (been racing MX) , and have no friends that ride the road. So I am looking to meet people but the T-shirt rider just does not apeal to me as a responsible rider. Thoughts, am I wrong to think this way?

The way you gear up shows your attitude towards your safety. So, yes, I'm a gear snob. Doesn't matter the brand of gear so long as its proper gear.

Being a gear snob means having gear in the first place.. This guy didn't so he's really just a squid and therefore not good riding material... However if you mean should you ride with guys who only wear Dainese or the like over Joe Rocket or whatever then that's being a snob in my book.....

Stw said:

Being a gear snob means having gear in the first place.. This guy didn't so he's really just a squid and therefore not good riding material... However if you mean should you ride with guys who only wear Dainese or the like over Joe Rocket or whatever then that's being a snob in my book.....

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Brand does not matter to me. Shoot I'm a craigslist beast . Its more so the lack of gear that makes me judgmental.

MrKO said:

Brand does not matter to me. Shoot I'm a craigslist beast . Its more so the lack of gear that makes me judgmental.

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Then in my book you're good..... But thats just me....

I have been in and around too many accidents not to appreciate wearing full safety gear. I never go on a spirited ride without full leathers and I don't care if people poke fun at me when I walk into a restaurant wearing it.

I think it's completely sensible to look for at least reasonable gear before considering riding with someone. Brand doesn't matter, as long as their gear well-suited to the type of riding you and they are doing.

Squid avoidance, highly recommended.

Problem with guys like that is they end up in the ditch because they obviously aren't taking riding seriously, then you have to stop to help them.

Friend of mine went riding with a group and a random squid showed up. They let him join in on the ride. During the ride, he torpedo'd into the back of a parked cube van, him and the bike became part of the rear axel, the rider died. Turns out this idiot didn't have a bike license (borrowed friends bike,) and was also impaired. My friend and the others on the ride are now scarred for life because of this idiot.

I understand your point and agree in 98% of the cases. My personal answer is it depends. I live in Central Florida, and it gets blazing hot/humid here. I'm not just a gear snob, I'm a gear junkie. I've got 3 Dainese jackets (the $700+ ones), 1 Alpinestars (a $700 Atem), 1 each Dainese and A* leather pants to make the aforementioned jackets 2-piece suits, 2 one-piece race suits (had 3 before I totaled one in a track crash), 4 pairs of boots, 6 pairs of gloves and 5 high-end helmets (trimmed back from 11). I'm not listing that to brag, rather to show the dichotomy that I wear some combination of that stuff when I'm out for a ride longer than 4 miles but significantly less for "errand runs."

When I'm going to get my hair cut, go to Redbox, or get lunch in the hottest summer months, I'll admit to being a bit of a squid and wear shorts, a t-shirt, helmet, gloves, short boots and a level 2-rated backpack (Boblbee Megalopolis) or a Dainese backpack with integrated BAP back protector).

Been riding for 23 years, roadraced for 6, track days at least 10 times a year most of that time and been to 6 racing schools. Motorcycling has been a passion for more than half my life and I will talk anyone's ear off about machines, gear, racing, etc. So while you may catch me looking like this:


I can tell you I would so much rather be doing this:

zaster said:

I have been in and around too many accidents not to appreciate wearing full safety gear. I never go on a spirited ride without full leathers and I don't care if people poke fun at me when I walk into a restaurant wearing it.

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What Karl said. You are right to choose your riding companions based on your perceptions of their attitudes if you have no firsthand knowledge of their skills. Good on ya. Care enough to wear enough!

Be "geared up" always for the "Inevitable". PERIOD!

JeffD said:

I understand your point and agree in 98% of the cases. My personal answer is it depends. I live in Central Florida, and it gets blazing hot/humid here. I'm not just a gear snob, I'm a gear junkie. I've got 3 Dainese jackets (the $700+ ones), 1 Alpinestars (a $700 Atem), 1 each Dainese and A* leather pants to make the aforementioned jackets 2-piece suits, 2 one-piece race suits (had 3 before I totaled one in a track crash), 4 pairs of boots, 6 pairs of gloves and 5 high-end helmets (trimmed back from 11). I'm not listing that to brag, rather to show the dichotomy that I wear some combination of that stuff when I'm out for a ride longer than 4 miles but significantly less for "errand runs."

When I'm going to get my hair cut, go to Redbox, or get lunch in the hottest summer months, I'll admit to being a bit of a squid and wear shorts, a t-shirt, helmet, gloves, short boots and a level 2-rated backpack (Boblbee Megalopolis) or a Dainese backpack with integrated BAP back protector).

Been riding for 23 years, roadraced for 6, track days at least 10 times a year most of that time and been to 6 racing schools. Motorcycling has been a passion for more than half my life and I will talk anyone's ear off about machines, gear, racing, etc. So while you may catch me looking like this:

I can tell you I would so much rather be doing this:

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I also have different gear for different things. But street boots, gloves and some sort of riding jacket whether it's leather or mesh is typically a minimum for me.

Once a year we do a purposeful "squid ride" that's more of a parade, 50+ out for Canada Day, cruise around doing under the speed limit.

FrostyFire said:

Once a year we do a purposeful "squid ride" that's more of a parade, 50+ out for Canada Day, cruise around doing under the speed limit.

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That is freakin' hilarious! Only those in the know get that joke. Come down here during Bike Week at Daytona and you will see the most ridiculous riding apparel (or lack thereof).

And all of the time, almost NOBODY wears helmets (no helmet law), they are actually strapped to the sides of their bikes, like the most expensive frame sliders ever to exist.

JeffD said:

That is freakin' hilarious! Only those in the know get that joke. Come down here during Bike Week at Daytona and you will see the most ridiculous riding apparel (or lack thereof).

And all of the time, almost NOBODY wears helmets (no helmet law), they are actually strapped to the sides of their bikes, like the most expensive frame sliders ever to exist.

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Same here in New Mexico. The wife actually gets mad when I laugh at the stupidity of Arai frame sliders.

Great stuff here, glad to know I'm not the only one that thinks this way.

These are the kinds of ....... you want to avoid.

[youtube]6Vpruo6zDUw[/youtube]

Absolutely, same thing with stretched swing arms and mohawks -.-.

FrostyFire said:

These are the kinds of ....... you want to avoid.

[youtube]6Vpruo6zDUw[/youtube]

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That was freakin' awesome! Hate to see them on the roads but I love those types of vids. That one was double-justice, he ate it being a squid and then Johnny Law witnessed it to give him the citation and some "excessive use of force" for good measure, he he.