daveslash5
Member
This is a not quandary for me. Bike when possible.
I generally go AGATT. With my Aerostich Roadcrafter 2-piece which zips together and is on in 15 seconds I can be off almost as fast as I can be in the car. I use my GS as a packhorse; filling the panniers at the grocery store, running a package to the post office, or carrying 60 pounds of dog food. If things get much bigger than that I am on four wheels.
In the summer riding around Spartanburg SC in 90 degree temps and 80 percent humidity it just gets HOT in this outfit. On the move it is not so bad but at long holding stoplights it is a sweat bath. On those days I will often swap out for my Hi-Vis TourMaster Sonora vented jacket and jeans, with the mandatory (at least to me) helmet, gloves and boots. This outfit is a bit less cumbersome in the stores than the Aerostich, but while riding I am aware that I am more vulnerable too. If I leave the city limits the Aerostich is on, and now that the temps have dropped it is the go to outfit until next summer.
It is also fun wearing the gear (minus the helmet) into the stores and watching the reactions. Mostly positive looks, sometimes a little one asking "Are you a Power Ranger?", sometimes an old guy asking what I ride and reminiscing about when he used to ride, and others who can't believe that this white bearded guy (me) is still riding a motorcycle! It also reminds people that motorcyclists are part of the community and hopefully they will notice the motorcycles on the road. Good PR can't hurt.
I generally go AGATT. With my Aerostich Roadcrafter 2-piece which zips together and is on in 15 seconds I can be off almost as fast as I can be in the car. I use my GS as a packhorse; filling the panniers at the grocery store, running a package to the post office, or carrying 60 pounds of dog food. If things get much bigger than that I am on four wheels.
In the summer riding around Spartanburg SC in 90 degree temps and 80 percent humidity it just gets HOT in this outfit. On the move it is not so bad but at long holding stoplights it is a sweat bath. On those days I will often swap out for my Hi-Vis TourMaster Sonora vented jacket and jeans, with the mandatory (at least to me) helmet, gloves and boots. This outfit is a bit less cumbersome in the stores than the Aerostich, but while riding I am aware that I am more vulnerable too. If I leave the city limits the Aerostich is on, and now that the temps have dropped it is the go to outfit until next summer.
It is also fun wearing the gear (minus the helmet) into the stores and watching the reactions. Mostly positive looks, sometimes a little one asking "Are you a Power Ranger?", sometimes an old guy asking what I ride and reminiscing about when he used to ride, and others who can't believe that this white bearded guy (me) is still riding a motorcycle! It also reminds people that motorcyclists are part of the community and hopefully they will notice the motorcycles on the road. Good PR can't hurt.
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