As motorcyclists, that’s a phrase we all get used to hearing as we go through our training learning to ride, whether it’s when we first start out or if we choose to progress on to further and more advanced rider training. However, the phrase isn’t just applicable to your gearbox.
‘Gear', in another sense, is what we wear when we ride, and it’s probably more important when we think about personal protection.
In this country, the law says you have to wear a helmet, but that’s the only legal requirement. There's nothing about boots, you can legally ride in flip flops. There’s nothing about trousers, I’m sure we’ve all seen people riding in shorts. There’s nothing about a jacket so if you’re male, that means going topless on your bike is legal. The same goes for gloves. In fact, if it wasn’t for decency, you could ride your bike naked although I’m not sure you'd fancy the wind chill…..
How many of us have pulled up at a set of traffic lights in the height of summer, that one day in July when you don’t need thermals, only to see another rider in shorts, trainers and a t-shirt? They might be cool, but what if the unforeseeable happens? Skin and tarmac are not a good combination. We have seen plenty of examples and they are not pretty.
I’m not a fan of excessive rules but I’m all for a little bit of common sense.
Keeping it shiny side up and rubber side down.