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chaps

chunkygoat

chunkygoat

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Well I finally some leg gear. I couldn't afford a 1 piece or expensive pants, but I found on craigslist a pair of leather chaps for 100$. Bought em up and wore em to work the first day i got em.

Low and behold a group of 10 or so people at work started heckling me for my "assless chaps" and whatnot. It got under my skin though that i could be made fun of for actually wearing my gear. I got real defensive and told them all to eat led.

I don't think people understand me, either that or I really am a loser for wearing chaps. Either way I'm safer and will continue to proudly wear my darned assless chaps to work. Got a problem with that? bring it on.

anybody else have similar experiences?
 
I feel a little silly gearing up for the "commute" to school (all of a 5 minute ride), but i know it's for the best. I haven't been called out on it yet, but i'm sure once summer rolls around I'll start getting some greif for it. ATGATT.
 
The thing I have against Buttless chaps is that there is nothing to protect your derriere. In most of the crashes I've seen, people spend a good deal of time sliding on their back/butt. It would suck to get road rash on your butt. Have fun sitting on the pot after your accident....

That being said, don't let people get to you because you actually are better protected. The front and back of your legs now have protection...
 
Wolfman said:
:needpics:
Click to expand...

Its raining out so i would've gone and stood next to my bike but i threw all my gear on just for you so here you go:

chaps2.jpg

facemask.jpg


bike.jpg

so if you imagine me and my black gear on my black fizz.
 
hmmm, I'll add no comment other than Mccaulley Caulkin looks realllly interested in the a$$less chaps :rof:
 
Man, this is a tricky one...

The spectrum runs from ATGATT to, um, flaming village people guy. The first time I saw a pair of those was, literally, the first time I ever drove into San Francisco, I kid you not. And they were being worn by a guy and his bare a$$ was hanging out for all to see. A disturbing mental image to this day...

I applaud the effort as regards gearing up; your intentions are sound. But (er, no pun intended...) there is the undeniable fact that a very important part of the body remains unprotected from this type of gear. What size are you? I have a pair of joe rocket textile pants that are too small for me. I'd be happy to make you a screaming deal in the name of getting you out of those things. Just trying to help a brother out...
 
:) How strict is your workplace? You could always show up, quickly change and strut your stuff in your chaps w/just a man thong underneath. That would either encourage them, or show them you mean business :)

And I thought my dad was the only one to wear chaps on a sportbike. I have since loaned him my Ballistic 5.0s and he's fallen in love. I'll never see those pants again. At least, on me that is.
 
Ignore them. Some of us are old enough to have bought riding gear before the days of armor when a good set of leather chaps, jacket, and gloves was all there was to buy. I've had this outfit since the 80's, and still like it on cool days. I've also got lots of armored gear, including full leathers, but I don't feel unsafe when wearing this, e.g., at Deals Gap.
 
Screw what people think, you got gear on it shouldn't matter what kind it is. This is off topic but whats with the three xboxes in that picture? Plus for $100 you can get some nice overpants or jeans meant for riders.
 
Jim Karam said:
Ignore them. Some of us are old enough to have bought riding gear before the days of armor when a good set of leather chaps, jacket, and gloves was all there was to buy. I've had this outfit since the 80's, and still like it on cool days. I've also got lots of armored gear, including full leathers, but I don't feel unsafe when wearing this, e.g., at Deals Gap.
Click to expand...

Jim, this is the first time that I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with one of your posts. I realize you've been riding far longer than most of us and have seen the evolution of gear over the years, and I respect your opinions immensely, but to tell the OP to "ignore" valuable information is a bit irresponsible. Yes, you've had the brown leather outfit pictured since the 80's, when that's all there was to buy. But it's not the 80's anymore. The fact of the matter is, he overpaid for a pair of chaps that aren't going to protect him the way a pair of armored leather or textile pants will.

To the OP...forget what your coworkers say. Most of us have gone through the same thing when we first started wearing gear to work.

Chaps are a bad idea that's been perpetuated by cruiser riders. They don't protect your knees from any sort of impact (what the knee armor in pants is there to do) and, unless you're sliding on that 6-inch wide strip of leather on your hip, your ass (literally) is toast. Those jeans will rip, then your sliding on bare skin...and believe me, you don't want that.

My advice to you...put those chaps up on Ebay, sell them for $75 (because I'd be surprised if you could ever get the $100 back that you paid) and put that money toward a good pair of textile or leather ARMORED pants.

You can find great deals on really good gear if you're a) willing to wear last year's model and, b) realize that most riders don't realize that the jacket you're wearing is last year's model. A good set of leathers will last for a LONG time. Hell, look at Jim's brown leather jacket and pants. It's been around 20+ years. And don't be afraid to buy from people on places like Craigslist and Ebay. A jacket may be used, but that doesn't mean it isn't any good.

Rant over.
 
CCHOUSEKY said:
Jim, this is the first time that I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with one of your posts. I realize you've been riding far longer than most of us and have seen the evolution of gear over the years, and I respect your opinions immensely, but to tell the OP to "ignore" valuable information is a bit irresponsible. Yes, you've had the brown leather outfit pictured since the 80's, when that's all there was to buy. But it's not the 80's anymore. The fact of the matter is, he overpaid for a pair of chaps that aren't going to protect him the way a pair of armored leather or textile pants will.

Rant over.
Click to expand...

Most things in life are relative. Chaps are much better than plain jeans, which a lot of folks still wear routinely. Obviously, I feel much safer in my full perforated leathers with CE armor, but I stick by my claim that the chaps still provide needed protection, e.g., your knee is still much less likely to get scrapped/cut. I'd also have recommended that he bought some good armored overpants, but he's already spent his money on the chaps. They are literally much better than nothing.
 
Jim Karam said:
Most things in life are relative. Chaps are much better than plain jeans, which a lot of folks still wear routinely. Obviously, I feel much safer in my full perforated leathers with CE armor, but I stick by my claim that the chaps still provide needed protection, e.g., your knee is still much less likely to get scrapped/cut. I'd also have recommended that he bought some good armored overpants, but he's already spent his money on the chaps. They are literally much better than nothing.
Click to expand...

As per usual, I completely agree that the chaps are better than just jeans for protection. And you're right, as far as keeping the OP's knees from getting road rash, they should do the trick. I'm just concerned with the idea that if he slammed his knee into the pavement, road rash would be the last thing that he'd have to be concerned with. :thumbup:
 
07CandyFz6 said:
Screw what people think, you got gear on it shouldn't matter what kind it is. This is off topic but whats with the three xboxes in that picture? Plus for $100 you can get some nice overpants or jeans meant for riders.
Click to expand...

They're all friggen broken. I have a 4th one broken too....anybody wanna buy a broken xbox for parts ha

and im glad i have chaps, is there better? yes. but i could be worse off. and the ass is the meatiest part of your body. if i get some road rash on my ass - so be it. but i feel safer than just wearing jeans. that's that.
 
A friend of mine told me about a group ride she went on when another dude crashed in chaps. He literally rashed his ass off, and had to get a ride from another rider out of the hills and to the hospital, riding pillion on the skinless chunks of his ex-ass.

I have a pair of chaps, but they are for purposes other than riding. For riding, I wear leather pants that stand a chance of... well, saving my ass. :)
 
I have no idea what kind of look you're going for. whatever it is, it's definately cutting edge:confused:

I'm really sorry, but the bad ass poses made me LOL and spit coke out my nose.
 
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