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First time ever went out in shorts, sneakers and short sleeved sweater to the farmers market. Wore my helmet and gloves but no jacket and jeans today due to the heat. Mostly city streets. No more then 35 mph.

After the market and breakfast i took a short ride 15 miles south of town. It was lovely!
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We all know we shouldn`t, but sometimes the heart rules the head. Glad you had a lovely ride and remained intact.
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Wow.. I bet if felt liberating. The first ride I took on my Vespa was definitely on the wild side, being sans all safety gear on the private road in my neighborhood. It felt great, albeit just a tad scary, I think mostly because I'm old. Judy, do you think you will do it more often, particularly when it is blazing hot out and you need to go somewhere?
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On a warm- but dark night take a ride naked- just sayin... Oh , and don't stop anywhere. Around the block will do. Abby the good ol days!.
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kawzak wrote:
On a warm- but dark night take a ride naked- just sayin... Oh , and don't stop anywhere. Around the block will do. Abby the good ol days!.
Portland Oregon has an annual naked bike ride that is perfectly legal. Just thought I would mention that. 😉😉
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Just took a run down my road two days ago pre-oil change. Felt pretty awesome, especially in hot, humid weather. Considering there was NO traffic whatsoever I considered the risk pretty miniscule.

Sometimes ya gotta do what you gotta do.
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UTC quote
IL no longer requires helmets so I often am the only rider around with helmet, gloves, riding boots, riding jacket, but I feel safer and don't care who thinks I am a silly old woman, I still have working brains, hands and know I would have a better chance if I was in an accident or spill.
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UTC quote
Re: took a ride on the wild side today...
Gloria wrote:
First time ever went out in shorts, sneakers and short sleeved sweater to the farmers market. Wore my helmet and gloves but no jacket and jeans today due to the heat. Mostly city streets. No more then 35 mph.

After the market and breakfast i took a short ride 15 miles south of town. It was lovely!
You go girl!!

Living on the edge! I took a ride once in shorts and t-shirt after doing some work on the bike and it felt great! In a perfect world we could ride like this all the time without any fear of sliding down the road or going over the hood of a car. *sigh*
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Strick wrote:
In a perfect world we could ride like this all the time without any fear of sliding down the road or going over the hood of a car. *sigh*
*Sheesh* is right, when I first started out on scooters about 10-12 years ago I dressed for the weather. It felt great! Until one day whilst wearing a particularly loose legged pair of shorts a hornet made it up the left leg at 60mph, I was lucky I wasn't badly hurt. Shortly there after, my son gets a sport bike I tell him he must wear gear, the great 'do as I say, not as I do' arguement ensues. I don't 'preach' gear except to my kids!
Two weeks ago after some 'tinkering' with my scoot, I took a quick 'buzz' around my block, about 2 miles, in just shorts and a tee. I felt naked, it felt great!
PrimaBlanco1 wrote:
kawzak wrote:
On a warm- but dark night take a ride naked- just sayin... Oh , and don't stop anywhere. Around the block will do. Abby the good ol days!.
Portland Oregon has an annual naked bike ride that is perfectly legal. Just thought I would mention that. 😉😉
One of the New York City based scooter clubs used to do one annually, I think on New Year's Day.

A couple years ago, while mowing my lawn, I heard a sport bike coming down my road, the rider had on boots, gloves and a FF helmet, nothing else! Mind you, I live on a quiet rural road. He was up on one wheel coming down the hill, poor bastard must have lost a bet.....


Jeep people have a 'Go Topless' thing. When I first got my Jeep, about 25 years ago, I'd try to talk my wife at the time into 'topless rides' on warm evenings, she always brought a sweater along....
Facepalm emoticon
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Re: took a ride on the wild side today...
Gloria wrote:
First time ever went out in shorts, sneakers and short sleeved sweater to the farmers market.
Ah. The good old days. I remember them well. I fear the forum "dress to fall off" lot will not approve though
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Yeah Matty, it's one of those things.... some people just cannot see the "liberty" part in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Or maybe it's the pursuit of happiness?

Anyway, I always wear a jacket. But I do remember one hot June day many moons ago on a group motorcycle ride when I stashed my "hot as hell" Vanson CHP jacket in my saddlebags and rode rode in a T shirt and jeans. It felt invigorating.

While riding, all I could think about was "did I put enough sunscreen on". I'm whiter than white, and the most sensitive person on the planet. Razz emoticon

Just because I wear boxers doesn't mean I am allowed to be outraged if you wear tighty-whities. Or go commando. Just stay within the limits of the law, and do your own thing, because that's what this is all about, the freedom to make our own choices.
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If it makes you feel better , 90% of the time I ride my Vespa, I'm in a short sleeved t shirt, shorts, flip flops, no gloves, but wearing my helmet. I also take the 78.8 to top speed, I just don't take any crazy turns.
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Larrytsg wrote:
Yeah Matty, it's one of those things.... some people just cannot see the "liberty" part in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Or maybe it's the pursuit of happiness?

Anyway, I always wear a jacket. But I do remember one hot June day many moons ago on a group motorcycle ride when I stashed my "hot as hell" Vanson CHP jacket in my saddlebags and rode rode in a T shirt and jeans. It felt invigorating.

While riding, all I could think about was "did I put enough sunscreen on". I'm whiter than white, and the most sensitive person on the planet. Razz emoticon

Just because I wear boxers doesn't mean I am allowed to be outraged if you wear tighty-whities. Or go commando. Just stay within the limits of the law, and do your own thing, because that's what this is all about, the freedom to make our own choices.
Agree completely but with one tiny exception. "within the limits of the law". Our helmet law is legal but wrong. I say this because it seems to me most laws are to protect us from the consequences of others bad decisions whereas compulsory helmets seem to attempt to protect us from our own decisions. (good or bad is subjective)
Sorry for rant but our country changed forever to nanny state with that law. Many other similar laws followed.
⚠️ Last edited by Matty G on UTC; edited 1 time
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colemillerkills wrote:
If it makes you feel better , 90% of the time I ride my Vespa, I'm in a short sleeved t shirt, shorts, flip flops, no gloves,
Your scooter, your health and your decision. Thats freedom. Enjoy, and long may it continue.
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Matty - per the rules here, we're not supposed to argue about helmet laws.

In states and countries where we have a choice, I support your right to choose for yourself. What I do (and what I'm comfortable with) is immaterial.
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In my younger days i went "naked 4 wheeling". Out by Kaena point and who should come by on a 4 wheeler? A cop. He had clothes on and said "hi" and waved. Didn't miss a beat. Laughing emoticon
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Matty G wrote:
I say this because it seems to me most laws are to protect us from the consequences of others bad decisions whereas compulsory helmets seem to attempt to protect us from our own decisions.
You have heard of seat belts, no?
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For today's ride I was fully geared and hot as heck when I returned home. To me for a shower to cool down.q
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If I'm going to the market, get a bite to eat or cup of coffee during Houston summers I often ride in short sleeves and occasionally in shorts. I always wear closed toed shoes and helmet.

I have to admit riding through Yellowstone last week with my camera slung cross body in full gear and full face helmet I definitely felt a little jealous of the folks riding sans jacket and helmet, especially when stopped in road construction lines. However, I just can't bring myself to ride sans helmet. Though if I'd had the clips with me to convert my Nolan n44 to a 3/4 I might have actually done so for the first time ever.
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cdwise wrote:
If I'm going to the market, get a bite to eat or cup of coffee during Houston summers I often ride in short sleeves and occasionally in shorts. I always wear closed toed shoes and helmet.
This has been my M.O. here for the past week. Much as I believe in A.T.G.A.T.T., making short hops in full gear in 100+ temps was not going to cut it, and, IMO, an uncomfortable rider is a potentially distracted rider...and sweating bullets just for a trip to the market doesn't seem too wise a move. (And yes, I know the stats about close-to-home accidents.) There's no easy equation here, but one needs to do the best one can under the circumstances.
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Yes, it is a choice we make for ourselves. The state I live in doesn't make a helmet manditory. I won't argue helmet laws, nor will I say anything derogatory of those you choose to or not to wear one.
I hated that when I worked out in the field, on DOT jobs I was required to wear a hard hat. What good is that gonna do me when I'm hit by a speeding 18 wheeler on the highway? Give the rest of my crew something handy to scrape up what's left of me?

The only time I say "gear or you don't ride" is to my kids!


I rode to and from work in high 90s to 100 today, 8 miles each way, my summer jacket is mesh though it's black, helmet ( 3/4 ) & gloves. I get home and shower off, a tall Gin&Tonic, all is good with the world.

I think we can all go on and on and on and on, for that matter about this, but that wasn't the point of the original post on this thread. The point was, how 'freeing' it felt to ride 'unencumbered' for a change. I for one will agree with that point. In fact, I think tonight after dark I'm gonna strip down to my birthday suit and take a spin....
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Larrytsg wrote:
Matty - per the rules here, we're not supposed to argue about helmet laws.
thanks for the pointer. I found it here:

Things that aren't allowed on Modern Vespa
- Racist or hate speech
- Discussion of politics or religion
- Identifying your political party
- Discussion of helmet laws
- Divisive topics like abortion or the death penalty
- Personal attacks, even minor ones
- Denigrating or insulting another user
- Legal threats toward the admin, the moderators, or any user
- Argumentative behavior*
- Pornography**
- Commercial postings, solicitations, or promotions***
- Avatars or sig pictures that are off-color, NSFW, or in poor taste

Didn't read that before joining. duh! If I had then I would have realised this forum is not for me. Thanks to all who responded to my posts.
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I feel for those who live in warmer climes in the world where it is much harder to resist the urge not to follow Toreador Pants.

I remember renting a nifty fifty in Key West whilst on vacation and followed the locals gear, shorts, t-shirt, flip-flops and sunnies! If i did that where i lived it would be borderline hypothermia!

Did i regret it, absolutely not!

One thing i do enjoy where i live is poking fun at the cyclists who often ride faster than 50's but wear minimal protection.
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It's funny but as I think about it I have a "space" in which I'll ride without any sort of gear save for the helmet. And there have been times that I've ridden without it -- usually after I finish some sort of maintenance and need to take the Vespa for a spin to make sure it's working.

But chasing down the ice cream truck or running down the street to the cafe I'll often go "naked".

But I always feel weird -- as if I'm taking a risk I really might regret. Can never get comfortable.

I've had too much Toreador Pants Kool-Aid to drink...

Hey -- how come "too much" turns into Toreador Pants?
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A.T.G.A.T.T. gets turned into "toreodore pants" if you remove the periods in the acronym. I suspect the mods got tired of the frequent discussion of the topic.

-craig
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caschnd1 wrote:
A.T.G.A.T.T. gets turned into "toreodore pants" if you remove the periods in the acronym. I suspect the mods got tired of the frequent discussion of the topic.

-craig
Heh...I noticed that too.
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UTC quote
This subject has come up here many times.

There are those who will not get on a machine without Toreador Pants (all the gear all the time for you newbies)

And there are those who ride wearing whatever they want (that would be me).

Some feel that it is the biggest risk ever to ride a few blocks in shorts and a tee shirt. I don't.

I look around the PTW (powered two wheelers) scene in North Florida. Virtually every rider in the summer is wearing jeans and a tee shirt, usually with no helmet. The only people I see totally geared up are BMW riders. Almost all of them.

There become little cliques here. The Toreador Pants people think that their way is the only way and belittle the others for doing differently.

All I can say is to wear whatever you want, within the law.
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I'm a "toreador pants" kind of guy all the time (yes, I typed that on purpose!), but yesterday on my way home in the neighborhood I saw a pile of beer cans. One of my friends collects cans for the 5 cents refund for cancer research, and I just had to have those cans.

I rode home first, put away my groceries, grabbed a bag for the cans, and then took the scooter back to get them... no jacket, no gloves (I was still wearing my long pants). It was HOT (91 degrees) and felt good to hop out there with a breeze.
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UTC quote
MATTY, so you'd want to impose YOUR beliefs on other people? Were all adults here and can make our own decisions. Some states don't require helmets. So if it's not against the law (even if it was that's a choice the rider takes not us) who am i to tell them differently. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Your comment is the reason we even have the helmet comment in the guidelines, in the first place. Gets old being told by others what to wear.
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UTC quote
Matty G wrote:
Larrytsg wrote:
Matty - per the rules here, we're not supposed to argue about helmet laws.
thanks for the pointer. I found it here:

Things that aren't allowed on Modern Vespa
- Racist or hate speech
- Discussion of politics or religion
- Identifying your political party
- Discussion of helmet laws
- Divisive topics like abortion or the death penalty
- Personal attacks, even minor ones
- Denigrating or insulting another user
- Legal threats toward the admin, the moderators, or any user
- Argumentative behavior*
- Pornography**
- Commercial postings, solicitations, or promotions***
- Avatars or sig pictures that are off-color, NSFW, or in poor taste

Didn't read that before joining. duh! If I had then I would have realised this forum is not for me. Thanks to all who responded to my posts.
There are plenty of forums that will allow you to argue helmet laws, but there is only one that can provide the information MV does.
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I succumbed a couple of times at AV in Memphis - riding without my full contingent of gear was shocking to the folks who know me well.

We all understand and acccept the risks of riding everytime we venture out.
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CrazyCarl wrote:
I succumbed a couple of times at AV in Memphis - riding without my full contingent of gear was shocking to the folks who know me well.

We all understand and acccept the risks of riding everytime we venture out.
Carl, we'd understand if it was actually warm out. Razz emoticon
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fledermaus wrote:
CrazyCarl wrote:
I succumbed a couple of times at AV in Memphis - riding without my full contingent of gear was shocking to the folks who know me well.

We all understand and acccept the risks of riding everytime we venture out.
Carl, we'd understand if it was actually warm out. Razz emoticon
Scooter emoticon Laughing emoticon
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I kept my fingers crossed all weekend at the Baltimore Rally. It was so hot full gear would have been just as dangerous or more so than riding with out. On the long ride I drank four gallons of water and actually hit that dizzy, pukey, stoppped sweating point which means heat exhaustion is setting in. Luckily the 250+ miles I covered on my scoot were without incident.....
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I'm off to the Greek islands next week - unless the next ice age hits, I guess it will be flip flops, sun glasses and shorts for me. I do ride real slow out there because all I'm doing is enjoying the scenery (plus it would hurt like hell if I fell off).
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UTC quote
I wear long pants and long sleeves all the time but it has nothing to do with Toreador Pants. I just do my best to avoid direct sunlight (doctors orders). The fedora is kind of my trademark.
I get used to it but here of late with 98° temps in the shade the full face is hard to take.
I have been known to pop out in the heat of he day with a half helmet and sunglasses.
Oh now I get the deal about "Toreador Pants".
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Posts: 437
Location: Utah
UTC quote
Doing the triple digits here in Utah right now. I experimented a little last summer, and continue to do so this summer with jackets and hot weather riding.

I don't mind the short sleeve or tank top ride to the store on the back roads. But when I venture out like that on the Burgman to tour up to Park City or Salt Lake I just feel sun baked.

I have an all season jacket that has liners that zip out. If you take all the liners out you have an open mesh jacket. I am finding that with the open mesh on these bigger rides I actually feel more comfortable. Its like my skin is shaded, but the little mesh holes give off kind of an A/C effect. So I am liking it. Sure the jackets feel heavy and all when you put them on but once on the bike you don't even notice. My son and I rode our bikes like this this past weekend up to Park City (103 degrees), about 1.5 hours to get there, And I was surprised to find very little sweat on my t-shirt when I took the jacket off. I didn't notice any on my son either. Other benefit is no bugs or debris blasting your skin.

The jackets working out so well I am thinking of adding mesh pants to the line up. You could wear your shorts underneath. Have that cooking affect going and when you get to your destination, take them off and sport about in shorts until its time to ride again.

I never ride without a helmet. Not just for protection, but I can't stand getting hit in the face with bugs and debris kicked up from cars. I also hate the wind in my ears and eyes. I seriously don't understand how those biker guys can do that at speeds over 25 MPH.

I never wear shoes that can fall off my feet. Flip Flops, Open toed Sandals, etc. While riding.
@ed_h avatar
UTC

Hooked
Piaggio BV 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 325
Location: Seattle, WA
 
Hooked
@ed_h avatar
Piaggio BV 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 325
Location: Seattle, WA
UTC quote
Mesh
gr8shotz00 wrote:
The jackets working out so well I am thinking of adding mesh pants to the line up.
Help me! I'm having a flash attack of a big hairy guy in FISHNET stockings.
@cdwise avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GTS 300, Buddy 125
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8871
Location: Knoxville, TN
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@cdwise avatar
GTS 300, Buddy 125
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8871
Location: Knoxville, TN
UTC quote
gr8shotz00 wrote:
The jackets working out so well I am thinking of adding mesh pants to the line up. You could wear your shorts underneath. Have that cooking affect going and when you get to your destination, take them off and sport about in shorts until its time to ride again.
I'd suggest wicking quick drying hiking shorts under your mesh. Technical t-shirt or even a long sleeve heat gear type shirt works best under mesh. I've got a Columbia Omni-freeze shirt that is noticeably cooler than others under my mesh http://www.columbia.com/technology-omnifreezezero/.

As you've found it is often cooler to wear a mesh or coolmax kevelar jacket than it is to go without one. A few years back my husband decided to wear just a t-shirt when we rode to get breakfast before leaving Los Vegas when temps were already around 100f. By the time we got to breakfast he felt overheated and dehydrated. After breakfast he put his mesh jacket on and felt cooler even as the temps rose to 112f on the ride to San Diego since he wasn't loosing as much moisture through his skin. Staying hydrated is critically important as well.
@fledermaus avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 LX150 2015 GTS 2017 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12436
Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@fledermaus avatar
2007 LX150 2015 GTS 2017 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12436
Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
UTC quote
Cheryl, +1 on the mesh. Rode briefly without a jacket at AV (weather in the mid to high 90s) and felt at least as good with the jacket. Definitely had to keep moving though. Nerd emoticon

I got my own wild side ride today. After my out of gas fiasco, https://modernvespa.com/forum/post2097040#2097040 realized that my wife had my jacket and helmet in my car. For better or worse, no helmet law here, so rather than arrange a rescue, rode home nekkid. Felt rather good, if I must say so. OTOH, I'm spoiled with a FF helmet....was afraid my glasses were going to come off with a lane check at 65 mph.

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