I always wear gloves, but not always a face shield. I have issues with them fogging and inhibiting my visibility. I wear goggle/glasses that seal to my face, and I have taken a few bugs to the cheeks that hurt!
I always wear gloves, but not always a face shield. I have issues with them fogging and inhibiting my visibility. I wear goggle/glasses that seal to my face, and I have taken a few bugs to the cheeks that hurt!
Beer Baron wrote: I find the glove thing much less weird than no face protection. I figure I average 4 hours of riding between getting smacked in the face by some extra large bug.
No gloves freaks me out.
When I ride my naked bike, I wear a full face helmet.
When I ride my touring bike with a fairing and windscreen, I wear a 3/4 helmet.
The windscreen kicks all the nasty stuff up and over you. I've seen great big bugs come ripping in and go right over because of the airstream.
I've also seen them slam into my full face helmet which is why I wear one when there is nothing in front of me. I don't want a wasp jammed in my helmet.
Shawn
I wear gloves. I still want to do this at her age.
When I worked at a BMW shop for a time we got a guy coming in saying his bike shifted hard....Multiple techs went for a ride and all said no problem. Bike was given back. this went on for several weeks the guy would come in on Mondays pick up the bike during the week. The dealer went as far as using a spring scale on the shift to see if there was a difference in his bike and others...none was found....So they held on to the bike until Sat and the guy came to pick it up with Flop flops on his feet....turns out he and his girl were beach goers on the weekends...
On the subject of gear. I try to wear as much as I can as it will not protect you if its not on you. Around here no gear no race. I've had to black flag riders with out gloves and goggles
I don't see how you can ride without gloves, have you ever rode in the cold and had your hands go numb? I've had to tuck my hand behind the engine before to try and warm them up. If you haven't rode in freezing weather give it a try.
If I am just riding around town I just wear a skid lid. If I'm going lots of highway miles I have to either wear the fool face or put wadded paper in my ears because my king rat blast is just so loud at speed. You get better vision wearing a half dome helmet.
If you are afraid of getting hit in the face you haven't done enough miles in the saddle. Getting hit by stuff is part of the excitement. Ride wearing a half helmet through the pines and you feel little pin pricks in you face, in the rain it feels like tiny rocks hitting your face. Its all part of getting rid of puss face, a real biker face is like leather.
I find it funny that people with their first bike are giving a 30yr motorcycle racing/riding veterans a talkin' to on how to not to ride a motorcycle. Would you guys give Gracie a little advice on choke holds? Maybe enlighten Alonso on the finer points of driver safety? 
FWIW, I am in the ATGATT lobby. That is only because I have lived this long and have scars from not being in the ATGATT lobby. YMMV.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I find it funny that people with their first bike are giving a 30yr motorcycle racing/riding veterans a talkin' to on how to not to ride a motorcycle. Would you guys give Gracie a little advice on choke holds? Maybe enlighten Alonso on the finer points of driver safety?
...and it didn't take a whole lot of riding to get smacked in the middle of the face shield by one of these:
I got a full face helmet for the ATGATT philosophy with the grand hope that I never actually "need" it. Quickly discovered that although I haven't needed crash protection yet, I do need wasp and bee protection on a regular basis. Boggles my mind that other people don't care about getting stung.
As for Gracie, the guy in the Twist of the Wrist video shared elsewhere on here seems to be advocating ATGATT. 
Edit: I hope we all here are being a bit light hearted with this discussion and realize that everyone else is too.
It was British Bike Day at the H-D dealer's monthly bike show last weekend. I brought my little Royal Enfield out. The ONLY guys with gear at ALL, I mean like the only guys with helmets, much less gloves, jackets, pants, were the Triumph guys and me (oh wait there was one BSA, and he was geared up, too). Forty two Harleys, NONE with any gear for rider or pillion. Wow.
Every one of them must be a far, far better rider than I am, because I am not a thousand percent confident in my ability not to blow a tire, get creamed by an old Oldsmobile driver, and choose completely gravel-free, bug-free roads.
I admit that I do occasionally leave the leather pants at home when I am commuting. I am right at the comfort limit for wearing them over my jeans, and I have made the deliberate choice to skip them in the name of comfort. I don't even feel comfortable riding a motorcycle from one end of the driveway to the other without helmet and gloves.
I am fully willing to say, all of those no-gear guys, enjoy that sense of invulnerability. I just don't have it.
For the record, I do wear a neck brace, full body armor, padded shorts, MX pants, knee pads, quality helmet, goggles, and top notch boots (which probably prevented a broken leg last weekend).
But I will not wear gloves, as I believe they are a liability. I will wear gloves on the street because you don't need the same level of control.
Me: always a helmet and eye protection. Getting smacked in the face by bugs rocks etc HURTS and even worse can distract at the absolute wrong time. In very cold weather, face shields and goggles can fog so I wore shooter's glasses instead.
When I raced off road, I always wore gloves. They never hurt my tactile connection, in fact it was more difficult for me to ride without them. There is definitely a difference in glove brands and types, though! Grips play a big part in that too, I absolutely LOVED some which were on the smooth side, didn't have ribs or etc IIRC they were called 'Gripz', when I heard they were no longer going to be produced I bought 4 pairs.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I find it funny that people with their first bike are giving a 30yr motorcycle racing/riding veterans a talkin' to on how to not to ride a motorcycle.
Ever notice how it's the older machinests who lose a finger? Almost never the new guy. The older guys get casual with the equipment they've used for so many years. The new guy is the one following all the safety recommendations.
OK, yes, it's also the older machinest who can actually get the work done. The new guy is busy being so terrified of the equipment they can't actually use it.
I'm not opposed to learning new things, or taking input from others with regards to riding style/skill. From new thoughts on how to use brakes to new changes in helmets (rear view mirrors, modular, etc), and pretty much anything else. I just get tired of the self ritious puffery that tends to come along with it.
As an older machinist I won't tell you I'm insulted, nor will I tell you I'm flattered with your point of view. However I will tell you that you'll never see an older machinst lane splitting at 80 mph in a tank top while some guy's grand daughter is perched up on the tail light wearing a thong and flip flops.
Yep, the older machinest will be cruising responsibly on a Harley dresser.
Squids is squids (still can't get used to that term), and they're going to behave the way they do.
foxtrapper wrote: Ever notice how it's the older machinests who lose a finger? Almost never the new guy.
No. It's always the young guy. At least that's my observation working in plants and machine shops all my life.
Ran our club's 1 hr MX on Sunday. It was a rainy, muddy mess, so I put gloves on so my fingers didn't get covered in mud and get too wrinkly and slippery. Tossed them off after two laps because they felt so dangerous. I finished three laps up on third place.
I always wear gloves-- not for the cold (I live in Florida) but for the hand protection. My hands feel naked without them
I own both a full-face and open face helmet, and find myself wearing the open face much more often. With the full-face on, it almost feels like I'm watching T.V.---- too isolated. The open face (for me) is the best compromise as I can hear better than with no helmet, and I still get most of the "wind in the face" feel of not wearing a helmet at all. (which I still occasionally do) Yeah, I get pelted by bugs, sand, and rain, but for me, that's part of the experience. I like it.......and yes, I've been hit by bees too, which is less fun.
If you ATGATT good for you---- you are clearly being more safety conscious that someone who doesn't. Just don't get on a high-horse and call me stupid because I decide not to follow the same path as you. Going by that reasoning.....ALL motorcyclists are stupid, as safer transportation exists.
Joe Gearin wrote: I own both a full-face and open face helmet, and find myself wearing the open face much more often. With the full-face on, it almost feels like I'm watching T.V.---- too isolated. The open face (for me) is the best compromise as I can hear better than with no helmet, and I still get most of the "wind in the face" feel of not wearing a helmet at all. (which I still occasionally do) Yeah, I get pelted by bugs, sand, and rain, but for me, that's part of the experience. I like it.......and yes, I've been hit by bees too, which is less fun.
I just don't get that. It isn't part of the experience that I'm looking for.
But then, some people are into driving lifted 4x4's that never go offroad, or being tied up and flogged with leather whips by large, stern men named Otto. I don't get that either. But then, many people would probably not comprehend why knuckle scars are a point of pride.
May also be that it never gets particularly warm here and there are lots of large bugs.
How did you know about Otto?! 
I've been hit by those bugs. Unless you get one in the eye, it's just a nuisance. Knuckle scars? I've been wrenching for almost 40 years. My hands are covered in scar tissue.
Top of the list of moronic things that boggle my mind that I've been seeing a lot lately are people who wear helmets but don't bother to attach the chin strap.
What is considered foolish varies by the individual. No helmet? You're a moron. ATGATT except for pants? I was okay with that...until I had a low speed crash last year. IMMEDIATELY purchased riding pants after the results of that.
I think some of it is risk acceptance, some of it is stupidity, and some of it simply is not having gone down and gotten hurt, yet.
Pennsylvania had a helmet law for as long as I could remember, but it was repealed many years ago. Being of a Libertarian bent, I always supported the repeal of the law...but you won't ever catch me not wearing one. I'll mentally shake my head at people who ride without and call them idiots inside my helmet, but keep that opinion to myself in their company. I make my decision, and they make theirs. As it should be.
How you look while riding shouldn't factor into the decision, however. I'm sure my mismatched riding gear looks about as stylish as a short old dude wearing chaps with an open face helmet astride a Harley that is bigger than he is. Right, Foxtrapper? 
I've really got to get that helmet painted, so it color coordinates.
Bigger than he is. Hmmf! OK, it's true.
Even ATGATT isn't fully wasp proof. Had one of those little guys land on my neck once (I only wear gear THERE when it's really cold) and climb down my collar into my jacket.
Had one climb up through my ears once. You are ever safe from them, but I prefer to weigh the scales in my favour. I do need to find better fitting riding pants though. Mine are too long in the inseam. Might have to try chaps cut to length next. Gloves? Tried without them once, ended up in a hail storm. I will count that as a higher power telling me to quit being stupid (YMMV, do as you choose).
Rode almost all day yesterday, hot and humid, full ATGATT. You know what? Wasn't uncomfortable most of the time, and then only because my skivvies got sweaty. Proper gear works incredibly well to not only protect but provide good airflow. If you're uncomfortable in your gear, it may be because you haven't selected or found the appropriate items. There's a difference between engineered riding apparel and something you pulled off the rack at the leather outlet.
Rode Friday and Saturday thru Hocking Hills area in Ohio. Over 90 degrees and humid. Tried out my new mesh pants (works great- $30 used).
Full gear, left my jacket zipper open 6" and a dam wasp hit me in the neck and went into my jacket. Stung twice before I got the jacket off. Had I been smart and not wore gloves I probably could have gotten the jacket off quicker and not been stung.
Some day I will wise up. 
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