Become a Member: Get Ad-Free Access to 3,000+ Reviews, Guides, & More

“Gear up” campaign to protect riders

Gear up campaign

Are you an ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) rider, or do you believe riders should be allowed to choose their own level of protection?

While we can understand the desires of riders to choose their own level of protection and, on occasions, choose style and comfort ahead of safety, new safety gear allows both.

Gone are the days when riders had to cocoon themselves in stiff leathers and stormtrooper boots to be protected.

Many of today’s motorcycle apparel manufacturers offer jeans, jackets, gloves, boots and helmets that are comfortable, cool, weatherproof and protective.

If riders don’t start taking some responsibility for their own protection, we fear authorities may start to mandate protective clothing as they have done with hi-vis vests for novice riders in Victoria and France.

The US Motorcycle Industry Council has started a “Gear up” campaign to get more riders to choose suitable gear, a tall order in a country where many riders choose to not even wear a helmet in some states where it’s legal to do so.

While the MIC isn’t advocating mandating protective gear standards, it is launching a “Gear Up Every Ride” public awareness campaign and website for riders to choose appropriate gear for the various riding conditions and motorcycle uses, such as cruising, track work, off-road and so on.

Gear up campaign

The program which will run during May’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month was designed by the MIC Rider Safety Committee including riding gear manufacturers, distributors and marketers, such as Aerostich, Bell, BMW Motorrad USA, Held, HJC, MotoQuest, REV’IT!, Schuberth and Scorpion.

Yes, these are companies with their own interests at heart, but also those of riders who they want to retain as customers.

Committee chairman Eric Anderson describes their campaign as a “fundamental shift” in rider attitudes to protective gear.

“We want to inspire a fundamental shift in the way riders think, encouraging them to express themselves and the independent spirit of motorcycling through their riding gear,” he says.

“At the same time, we want to help motorcyclists make educated decisions. It’s not about shaming riders to do the right thing. It’s about providing good information and encouragement to make wise choices.” 

  1. Here we go again
    You can put on as much safety gear as you like But it will
    not stop you from breaking every bone in your body
    if you hit something solid. Your safety gear may be intact
    but your internal organs will be like soup
    Your helmet will be intact but the deccellaration will
    probably turn your brain to mush
    No doubt “the industry” will soon be pushing compulsory
    compliance, because there’s a buck in it
    If you want to be safe go and play ….ing bowls

  2. I’ve been riding for 45 years and in that time I’ve had 3 accidents in which 2 of the bikes has been written off so I can speak from experience on this matter.I have always ridden with full gear and believe me it will definitely help in most accidents,Pete’s right in one way if you hit something at high speed it probably doesn’t matter what you have on but in my 3 accidents the full kit saved my bacon no doubt, in the last one a car came through a red light as I was turning right with the green arrow and took me out,one of the witnesses said I took off like a missile when hit,I ended up 30 odd feet from the bike and admittedly I ended up with a cracked pelvis but at least I kept all my skin on.The other thing that I can tell you is a mate of mine came off without the full kit when we were riding together after hitting gravel and pretty much ripped all the skin off his forearms so to me full kit is a no brainer.

  3. It is time that some people realise that ‘All The Gear All The Time’ simply doesn’t work for everybody. It is unreasonable to expect commuters riding to work to wear specialised motorcycle trousers and boots and have to change before and after work as well as twice at lunch time when they ride up the street for a sandwich. Forcing them to wear ATGATT would discourage them and many others from riding bikes. If you make motorcycling inconvenient people will choose other transport options.

    I live in the Far North where it is hot for nine months of the year and warm for the other three. I don’t own a car so do all of my shopping on a bike. I wear my mesh jacket and gloves for the 10km journey into town but take them off at the first stop and leave them off until I am ready to go home. It simply isn’t practical to have to take them off and on at every stop when running around town. Unlike you southerners I rarely walk around with my jacket on because it is much too hot. Mesh jackets are great while you are moving at above 20km/h but when you stop they feel as hot as a solid jacket.

    Wearing ‘All The Gear’ can save you from some nasty injuries, but generally it won’t save your life. It doesn’t protect you from the major injuries that cause death, loss of limbs, or disablement so it doesn’t miraculously transform motorcycling from being a dangerous activity into one that is safe.

    Bicycle riders can do 60km/h wearing only flimsy lycra which doesn’t cover their arms and legs. If that is allowed there is no justification for trying to force ATGATT on motorcycle riders. If anything a motorcycle is more stable and less likely to crash than a bicycle.

    For weekend warriors and long distance tourers it is easy to put on all your gear and take it off at the end of the ride. But for those of us who ride everywhere all the time it is a major inconvenience, especially when it is hot. We need the freedom to decide for ourselves what we will wear without regulation and without condemnation from other motorcyclists. We are only increasing the risk for ourselves and not anybody else. We, the motorcyclists of Australia, need more freedom, not more regulation.

    1. Your points are very well made out regarding the clothing that motorcycle riders should or should not wear.

      It all depends on location, weather, purpose, duration, plus many other factors. Most riders would have many different articles of clothing to chose from to wear for their journey. They choose what they require Or deem necessary.

      Very interesting point with bicycle riders who are also subject to the same dangers, but there is no outcry about their protective clothing, apart from the lycra jokes.

  4. I agree that it’s up to the each to decide what they wear when riding. For me gloves is a must, it feels wrong to ride without them. But I cringe when I see riders in pluggers.

  5. I think the current regulations (in Queensland at least) are fine. I personally wear ATGATT, but can see how that is an issue for some. I think a mandatory helmet is as far as it should be taken.

  6. Personally I’m all the gear all the time. Like to think I’m safe and I feel like a power ranger but I am not a commuter just longer rides or track days. Previously I was a commuter rider as I had no car parking there’s plenty of bike gear out there that can easily be worn and taken off before and after work, plus few brands that have very well styled pants that can be worn all day.. its the riders choice and there’s plenty of advertising and photos on the internet showing what happens when you don’t wear the gear.

Comments are closed.