Modern Vespa

I started out with just flip flops, shorts and a t shirt many many years ago when I had my 50 cc and didn't know any better. Over the years as I have read more and learned more I have acquired more gear. Now, even if I were to go to the store for milk, I put all my gear on. Full face helmet, gloves, armoured jacket and armoured pants and riding boots.

May I gently point out that about a 1/3 of helmet impacts are to the chin area?

What you wear is a personal decision, but it shouldn't be based on ignorance.

Harvey

As I always tell people in my club when we go gear shopping, if you like to be able to eat solid food, get a full face helmet. But Harvey is correct, it is fully your decision and I'm not trying to be argumentative.

Thanks again for all the kind and enlightening comments. I opted for the Copter helmet because it had the face shield thingy and to be honest I didn't even think to look beyond Vespa for helmet options. Since I have this one, I'll stick with it for now. I was going to add a cheaper 2nd helmet for the occasional rider, but maybe instead, I'll get a full face one and let the copter one be the "extra".

So this morning despite the heat and humidity, I put on a thick fall jacket (cloth, I don't have leather), helmet and gloves and plunged into the scooter commuting world. I will call NewEnough when they open and try to quickly get in something a little more protective, and finally I signed up for the safety course that's offered next week (even though it's an hour away) rather than waiting 6 weeks for an opening on the closer course.

Thanks again!

-George

George, it sounds like you're on the right track. Enjoy that beautiful LXV you have.

I have to admit that I make well-informed, but completely haphazard and irrational choices about riding attire, depending on what mood I'm in. I never go ATTGATT, since I don't have armored pants, but I always wear a helmet and gloves. I sometimes wear my armored jacket, but often don't, and almost never do for short rides around town. If I'm going on a long ride with lots of highway riding or on challenging roads, I'm more likely to wear the armored jacket and boots. Obviously, I'm not trying to talk anyone out of wearing the most protective gear.

Brendan

May I suggest the hjc is-max.
Great helmet and well priced. Plus, I find the sun visor that pops down is really useful.

As far as gear. I used to not wear anything besides a half helmet on my 50cc's. I gotten smarter seeing what even a low speed tumble can look like. (check out liz's accident https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic41521?postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0#562878 , I go through that intersection pretty frequently )

Now I wear a armored jacket (corrazo is expensive but the service is bar none), FF helmet (hjc is-max), Kevlar gloves.

Armored Pants wont do as then I would need to change in the morning when i get in for work. But I'm considering getting a pair for long distance trips.

Don't give up on armored pants. Check these overpants out from Olympia. They go on and off easily at the office. Just wear your normal attire underneath.

http://www.olympiamotosports.com/mensairglidepant/menairglidepant.htm

At the risk of bringing down the wrath of all the "FF helmet or don't bother riding" advocates around my poor head (which is inadequately protected by only a 3/4 helmet), I just have to comment on the statistic above... which is so often quoted without any provisos.

As far as I know, that statistic is based on one study that simply counted the impact marks on helmets that were damaged in accidents. Given that the chin area of a full-face helmet extends forward much farther than any other part of a helmet, it is only logical that it often strikes the pavement or another object. My point is simply this: the fact that 1/3 of the impact marks on damaged helmets are on the chin guard does not translate directly to a conclusion that all those impacts to the chin area of the helmet -- which may have been light or glancing blows -- would have caused a facial injury.

The chin guard on most FF helmets extends out a couple of inches farther than the wearer's chin. Surely, the brunt of some of those blows would have been taken by the brow or ear coverings of a 3/4 helmet had there not been a chin guard sticking out there to catch them first, and nobody knows what percent would have actually caused injury because I don't think that detail has been studied... or, if it has, the study has not been widely disseminated.

I'm NOT trying to claim that a 3/4 helmet is as protective as a FF... just that it is logical to assume that the 1/3 figure somewhat exaggerates the proportion of impacts that a FF protects against vs. other helmet styles.

My own personal view of safety on two wheels (or four for that matter) falls very much in line with Aviator 47's, and I gave his previous post a big "thumbs up". I try to practice both active safety in my riding habits as well as survivability in the event of a crash, but I think the former has a larger bearing on keeping us alive. I make the personal choice of a 3/4 helmet because I am fully aware of the survivability differences, but I feel that a FF helmet somewhat impairs my ability to keep my head on a swivel and slightly restricts my excellent peripheral vision.

Lest anyone pounce on me because they think I don't understand the consequences of facial injury, I should point out that my worst fall ever was a perfect "1 and 1/2" with a one-point facial landing over the handlebars of my bicycle while racing my brother when I was 13. I was going full-tilt when the sprung front wheel (it was an old Murray) locked up when the new tire tread caught on a protruding screw inside the fender. Scraped off my eyebrows and the tip of my nose, my teeth came right through my upper lip, and I broke the front two incisors off. Twenty-three stitches in my upper lip... I've worn a mustache to hide the scar ever since I could grow one as well as a dental bridge. Despite the memories of the pain and the merciless abuse from my classmates, I still feel my personal choice of helmets is what keeps me safest when the big picture is considered.

I'd love to see a well-done study directly comparing extent of injuries between the two helmet styles. I'm not sure how it would be done meaningfully, but it would be bound to provide riders with far better information for personal choices than that old "1/3 of impacts" chestnut.

If you are still reading this thread, here's my 2¢:
anyone new to scootering should always pile on the safety gear regardless of what anyone else says or does. Your chance of needing it is very high compared with the folks who have a lot of experience on 2 wheels.

Frankly, I have been riding scooters for many years and have some road rash souvenirs, but often deck out in shorts and flip flops when I'm taking short hops around town. I would strongly discourage you from emulating such behavior because I am much better than you are at avoiding bad situations and I have a high tolerance for pain.

After you have a couple of years of riding and a crash under your belt, you'll be in a much better position to decide about leaving some of the gear at home.

roland

That's the best news of all.  Even though the thread-starting question was explicitly about gear, I agree with Judy and Aviator and others that the most important piece of safety equipment by far is your brain.  The best way to survive an accident is to not be in one.

As a follow-up to the safety course, you might also learn a lot from David Hough's excellent book Proficient Motorcycling.

But I'll start a different thread.

I'll save the time. This my routine also.

In April I went down on my LX 150 on the way to the WKRP rally. I think it was a classic "don't put on the front brake when turning in gravel no matter how slow you are going" accident

I was going almost zero and all of a sudden the scoot is down.

It was pretty cold so I wasn't wearing my summer mesh jacket with the armor and so when I landed on my arm I ended up with a broken elbow. I think if I had been wearing the Joe Rocket jacket I would have been OK.

I always ride full face helmet, armored jacket, and armored gloves. I started out with a 3/4's but switched to ff because of bees. I ride with jeans and boots or hiking boots. I usually only ride under 45mph. If I go faster or farther or I'm wearing shorts I'll put on mesh armored pants over my clothes.

I used to ride in the summer with suede birkenstock clogs (w/ strap around heel) and shorts. But one day I had second thoughts as I was leaving and changed into jeans and boots. I promptly crashed half a block from my home. (slipped on gravel turning across and up a slope, grabbed throttle when I started to lose my balance)

I wasn't going very fast but it still HURT when I hit. Ended up with a skinned knee and some sore muscles. If I had been wearing shorts and clogs, I'd have been really torn up and probably would have seriously damaged a foot as I slid for a couple of feet with the vespa on top of my foot and leg. I also would have seriously torn up my hand if I hadn't been wearing gloves.

I learned two things: 1) no matter how far you're going or how fast, never ride with bare skin or unprotected feet and hands. 2) Never ever ride when you are distracted, tired, or really stressed... let alone all three.

Short journeys - Open face helmet,Gloves, Combats, Big Boots and Armoured Jacket.

Long Journey - Full face helmet, Gloves and Armoured Trousers and Jacket. Hi -Tech Boots.

Bill X

I've got a corazzo jacket, leather gloves and open face helmet...Which is more armour than most scooter riders wear in these parts.

Former trauma nurse and EMT speaking here. I guess I wear appropriate gear about 90% of the time.
In NJ, where I did most of my practice, I worked with blunt force trauma (not too many gunshot/stab wounds in Morristown NJ, but plenty of freeway).

Full face helmet. 'Nuff said. I have some 3/4 helmets, but I've paid a lot for the dental work and want to keep it. Basal skull fractures are also a bitch.

Gloves (thick for winter, thin leather for summer). NEVER bare-handed.

Jacket usually one of my 3 CE body armored jackets, but I admit I have jaunted in a suede or leather one on a couple of rare occasions. I have mesh with zip out waterproof liners for summer and wear layers (polartec fleece underlayer) in winter. Never go with bare arms, no matter how hot it is outside.

Pants: minimum jeans. If I am wearing a skirt, I wear my mesh body armor pants underneath. Looks stupid, but skin grafts are a bitch. I am looking into getting a pair of kevlar jeans.

Confession: I have scooted to work wearing khakis or suit pants, but I never, ever go bare-legged. I have water/wind-proof mountaineering pants for the winter, because they can pack small into my seat and I can wear them over jeans.

Shoes: at least something with a rubber sole. I have worn street shoes, but they are suede which covers my whole foot with a rubber sole and a thick heel.
On the freeway I always wear over the ankle boots.
I pack the high heels under the seat if I need to (see afore mentioned skirt) and wear my vibram soled boots while riding. Never flip-flops or sneakers, period.

Sneakers were always about 20 yards away from the accident scene when I was an EMT.
My philosophy, whether on bike or scoot is 'ride like they don't see you and they're going to kill you' because that's how most motorists behave. So I ride super defensively. It's saved my bacon on many an occasion.

Thanks again. I called the kind folks at NewEnough yesterday and they hooked me up with an inexpensive mesh Honda jacket (promised a small pair of snips can take care of the competitor logo quickly) for $85 and a bright yellow mesh vest for $38. Since I'm saving so much $$, I decided to splurge for 2nd day air so I have it before the rider course on Monday.

-George

I've been riding over a year, and threads like this are important to read when you're starting out.

Yes, Italian models in miniskirts look great in a Vespa ad. But after reading actual riders talking about their choices I definitely saw the other side. And the MSF course emphasizes smart choices too. And as a guy in his 40s, miniskirts just don't work for me.

I wear helmet/gloves/armored jacket all the time. If I have FF and 3/4 helmets, that's my concession to weather and heat. If I hadn't read experienced riders talking about their choices I might have been a lot more casual about what i wear on a scooter.

I remember from MSF that statistically there's a "spike" in the number of accidents in riders' 2nd year on the road, and with that in mind I'm trying to remain careful.

I wear the same gear (FF helmet, gloves, armoured jacket and pants), boots) to scoot to the corner store or visit another town. But that's me, and I have my own reasons for doing so. YMMV!

That's excellent!
Those mesh jackets are just the thing for most NJ summers!

I gather it has been a cool summer back there
The mesh jacket liners are often uncomfortable,
so you may want to slide a light windbreaker under the mesh jacket instead

(It's easy to get cold on a scooter because
as soon as you're moving, there's a wind chill effect)

Long rides: boxer briefs. Less likely to bunch up and cause discomfort. No bothersome seams as with my usual boxers. Comfortable waistband is essential. 100% cotton or cotton/lycra blend.

The only significant change I make in my protective gear is my gloves. For high-speed riding, I wear my serious Belstaff leather riding gloves. They also have reflective darts on the fingers, so I prefer them at night, too. They're a little warm and bulky, so I'll wear my Corazzo Urbano lightweight gloves around town during the warmer months.

All the gear, all everytime.

I have just started riding but I wear at least my full face, gloves, jeans, and jacket everywhere. You never know when you are going to hit the ground. Regardless of how careful you are like some others have said.

From what I can tell every ride will crash at some point at least once. When/if it happens I plan on keeping my teeth and skin somewhat intact.

Thanks!

Now I won't scrape my elbow... but I might die of heat stroke.

Special thanks to the kind folks at NewEnough!

-George

No, I pretty much always wear long pants, boots, armored jacket and full face helmet wherever I ride. I'll add the scooter skirt if it's chilly out.

BTW, being a Cannonballer, when I first saw this thread, I thought it said "Do you change your shorts on long rides?"

If I knew how to do it, I would refer y'all back to my "Dog proof pants" post from earlier in the summer.

Here ya go:
Dog-proof pants

Also, here's a thread on how to do those links:
NSR - Link format in post

Looking good there!

You might be hot during the MSF class (because you're going slowly),
but once you get moving, the mesh'll kick in and you should be cool

And do check that the helmet isn't frying your brains--it doesn't look like it has vents

Folks here will advocate strongly for a vented full-face,
but you may be interested in one of these vented 3/4 helmets



I especially recommend the silver HJC IS-33 (the middle one),
which has an internal sun visor

NewEnough had a very good price on those, when I was looking

Looks like you got rid of the Honda logos just fine. Great looking outfit with the vest.

Thanks, Danny*h.

Helmets have vents????

Lookin' good George!

I'm a newb, and I wear Toreador Pants, except for pants, which I'm still shopping for (so for now it's jeans). I'd so love to have the "look" you mentioned--skirt and heels!--but I'd rather err on the side of minimizing bodily harm. So I gear all up for my two-mile commute, even when it's over 100 degrees.

That's always been my experience. On hot days you'll feel it while waiting at the red lights, but once you get moving the breeze through the mesh cools you down just fine.

When it gets colder I just put the liner in, layer up, and wear something windproof under the mesh jacket and I'm good for all four seasons.

Definitely... and this is a great thing in hot weather!

(It's often mid-90s here in Columbia SC, with >50% humidity)

In almost 50 years of riding, almost all my "accidents" have been in parking lots or driveways at 5 to 10 miles per hour. The scrapes and bruises still hurt.




The bad things tend to happen when you relax and let your guard down. If you're all done up in Toreador Pants, you're guard probably isn't down.

Hey Flanman! Come clean. I've seen your knees at 5mph in a driveway. Toreador Pants is for more than your protection.

I'm pretty cautious and wear all the gear most of the time, but have in rare moments of fatalistic rapture chucked everything but helmet and gloves to the wind. My wife is a horrible influence too, complaining about having to wear close-toed shoes and a jacket. She makes me feel downright Victorian sometimes. "Hasten Dear, don your kit quickly and don't neglect to lace it up tight. We're off to scoot."