ATGATT

 

You'll know after reading a few of my blog posts (this one for instance) that I find it pretty irritating when riders fail to wear any protective gear while they're operating (or being a passenger on) a motorcycle. However, there's a bit of a trend I'm noticing that swings the pendulum in the complete opposite direction. ATGATT is an acronym for All The Gear All The Time and is a term used by a lot of riders who believe that you should never be without full protection while you're on a motorcycle.

While this idea is generally something I can stand behind, I believe some common sense may be in order for some individuals. If you are riding on a track or plan to do some aggressive canyon carving on your bike, by all means wear a full bodysuit, proper boots, gloves, etc. But, if you are riding two blocks down the street to get a cheeseburger, then I'd say that much gear is a bit of an overkill.

As I stated previously, use some common sense. A good riding jacket, helmet, gloves, and boots will go a long way in keeping you safe enough for nearly all of the riding you will be doing. A good pair of jeans should also go a long way...no yoga pants on motorcycles, ladies! You can splurge and buy the Kevlar reinforced jeans, but that's up to you and your budget. Please don't get fully geared to ride your bike from you driveway into your garage.

"People should not be protected from the world.. -It cripples them." - Josephine Humphreys