Happy summer riding season to everyone out there on the Island! I’m Greg Evangelista, and I’d like to thank Michael and Lindsay Langella for the opportunity to write this guest post on their blog. This is going to be a two part series (maybe more if they decide to have me back? We’ll see!) on riding safety, gear, and attitudes towards staying safe as a rider.

Motorcycling is a huge part of my daily life, and something I simply couldn’t live without, so having an opportunity to talk about the risk and rewards of the hobby with Mike and Lindsay’s audience is something I’m very excited about. I’m a big fan of how they go about their handling of Motorcycle Accident cases, and I’m happy to endorse their services.

So Who am I Anyway?

A little bit about me to start off with: I’m a 37 year old rider who actually dailies a motorcycle. My everyday ride these days is a 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa, and I’m that guy who shows up to the office in the morning holding a motorcycle helmet.

There are plenty of people out there who ride as a hobby, but for me, it’s a way of life. Getting on my bike at the start of the day makes heading to work in the morning something to look forward to, and the ride home afterwards helps me unwind from my day. But with that much exposure to risk, it’s impossible to be safe without a really clear understanding of how to do that, so today we’re going to talk about how to stay safe as someone who racks up a lot of “seat time”.

A Quick Discussion of My Credentials as a Rider and Expert.

If you have been a part of the Long Island motorcycling community for long enough, then you know about Motorcycle Mike ESQ. I consider Mr. Levine to be a great influence on me, my understanding of the world of motorcycling, and a fantastic professional mentor. I had the honor of helping to launch the Motorcycle Mike ESQ brand back in the early 2010s, and serve as the main coordinator of the Motorcycle Mike ESQ Poker Run in 2014, 2015, and 2016. It was a great opportunity to bring our Long Island motorcycle communities together with local charities and businesses, and I couldn’t be happier to have been a part of it.

When it comes to being a rider and part of the motorcycle industry, I’ve worked with multiple notable shops over the years, as well as working with Comoto Holdings, the owners of the Cycle Gear and Revzilla brands. I also used to spend a lot of time on the track as well, racing amateur leagues in the 600cc class. There’s nothing quite like spending entire weekends in your garage tearing down a Yamaha R6 prepping for your next track day, or entire weeks on your couch after an accident on track.

Are Motorcycle Accidents an Inevitability of Being a Rider?

The first thing I want to discuss here when it comes to accidents are some of the attitudes around being a rider. Motorcycling is one of those hobbies that everyone seems to have an opinion about, regardless of their actual proximity to the hobby itself. Accidents tend to be very high profile, and frightening to people who don’t ride, especially if they have family who do.

There is this common idea amongst non-riders that choosing to ride a motorcycle is basically choosing the eventuality of a serious accident that leads to crippling injury or death.The fact is that no, as a rider, you do not have anything whatsoever physically shielding you from any of the other vehicles around you. And yes, if those vehicles were to make contact with you, you’re in for a very bad time.

Even folks who do ride, including veteran riders, will commonly tell you that your first accident isn’t a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. As for where I fall on this subject, surprisingly, I’m inclined to agree, but with some caveats that I’ll be happy to explain.

The long and short of it is this: If you ride, you should behave as if an accident is inevitable, and plan accordingly, regardless of whether or not that’s actually true.

Gearing Up Properly is a Must, and “ATGATT” is Not a Bad Idea.

Let’s talk about gear. I think it’s fair to say that the time when wearing extensive motorcycle gear being looked at as wimpy is over. There was a time and place where plenty of old school riders might look at you funny if you were all “geared up”. And there are certainly still riders out there who can’t even be convinced to wear a helmet. But thankfully, motorcycle communities these days tend to have a much more positive outlook on wearing gear, and it almost certainly has to do with greater awareness of both the prevalence of, and visibility of motorcycle crashes. First rule of thumb about gear is that you should not be making decisions about your gear based on whether or not you think some other person is going to think it’s “cool” or not.

Let’s Start by Talking About Your Helmet.

As you might imagine, there is not a single person out there worth listening to who isn’t going to tell you to wear a helmet. The risk of fatality in the event of an accident jumps up from “more than most people would be comfortable with” to “a near certainty” when you choose not to wear one. But just slapping on any old helmet is not the same as making sure you have one that properly suits you. Because the efficacy of your helmet is determined by a few different things that you have total control over.

First off, don’t cheap out. The most expensive piece of gear that you own should be your helmet, and you absolutely get what you pay for when it comes to this piece of gear. Everything from the materials, to construction methods, R&D, impact resistance, crush resistance, fit, wind noise, and more are things that are reflected in the price of your helmet. Some people will tell you that so long as your helmet of choice meets the common safety standards (DOT, ECE & SNELL), any extra dollars spent on it are for luxury or brand.

This could not be any further from the truth. Those standards are achieved through testing that leaves plenty to be desired when it comes to real world situations that might occur. Just because a $150 Bilt helmet has the same certifications as a $1000 Arai helmet does not mean that they are anywhere near the same league when it comes to overall protectiveness.

A Good Helmet is About so Much More Than Crashes.

And then there are the other factors when it comes to helmets that people don’t tend to think about (and these factors apply to other pieces of gear as well, which we will get to). Riding involves a lot of sensory processing, and a lot of focus; especially if you’re doing the things you should be doing to mitigate accident risk. Your helmet, by the very nature of being something that’s on your head, can either enhance or detract from your ability to focus on and perceive what’s going on around you.

A helmet that fits poorly, is overly heavy, has bad wind noise, or bad resistance to wind forces is going to be something that frustrates you and distracts you. Meanwhile, a really well developed helmet that fits great and has had enough wind tunnel testing to work well at speeds is actually going to significantly increase your ability to stay focused and aware while riding. In the case of basic riding enjoyment alone, the difference between a poor helmet and a good one is a huge factor. But when it comes to riding safely, it’s an even bigger one.

Do I Need a Full Face Helmet?

Look, I’m a sport bike rider, and for me it’s non-negotiable. It’s hard to keep a half-helmet on your head going 120 mph. But for your average rider, I still would have to recommend one. The fact is, the only style of helmet that offers serious protection is a rigid full-face helmet. A half or ¾ helmet does not cover your face, and while I suppose it is possible that you may just land on the top of your head during an accident, it isn’t likely. Protecting your chin and face is only possible with a full face helmet.

What About Modular Helmets?

Modern modular helmets are marketed as a way to have the safety and wind-resistance of a full-face helmet when riding at speeds, while having the ability to flip it up while riding around town. On paper, this sounds pretty great. But in reality, modular helmets do not, generally, have the same degree of protection as a full face alternative. With the front of the helmet being a separate piece with a hinge system and latch, it is absolutely possible that the system will fail upon impact. While certain modular helmets like the Shoei Neotec or its AGV equivalent may have better standards than other modular helmets, a rider should not have the expectation that a modular helmet will stand up to the same forces as a full face helmet.

What Other Gear do I Need, and What is ATGATT?

If you frequent common online message boards or follow motorcycling YouTubers like Dan Dan The Fireman, you’ve probably heard of ATGATT, or “All The Gear, All The Time”. This is a pretty common philosophy amongst modern riders, and the concept of it is simple: If you’re going riding, no matter how short the trip or how sedate you might think it’s going to be, you wear all your gear. And I totally understand this idea, because there are countless stories of the guy who got into a horrible accident that ONE TIME they decided to be impatient and skip gearing up. But there are some caveats to this which we’ll get to in a minute. First, we need to talk about what “all the gear” is.

There’s a very common joke around motorcycle circles about the “squid” who saves up just enough money to buy their first Suzuki GSX-R, and ends up riding with a 10 year old helmet with a scratched visor and flip flops because they had nothing budgeted for gear. Back during the time where I worked in motorcycle shops, this was horrifyingly common. The 17 year old kid shows up with a poorly maintained bike that’s way out of their league, $70, and no clue what they’re doing. Joking aside, there’s nothing cheap about motorcycles or the gear you need to ride them, and it’s very common that a newer rider just doesn’t have the money to buy every last piece of gear in the store.

The Absolute, Non-Negotiable Basics.

As we discussed, a decent full face helmet should be item number one. If you really can’t afford much, you should grab that, a pair or robust leather motorcycle gloves, and proper riding boots. I absolutely CANNOT recommend riding with just those protective items, but I also know that I can’t stop the person who is going to choose to ride anyway. So if you really can’t or won’t budget for more than a couple items, these are the ones. A stiff pair of heavy jeans and a real leather jacket will help a little in the event of a crash, but they’re really only SLIGHTLY better than nothing.

In the event of an accident, your head and your extremities are most at risk. In most cases, your hands or feet are going to be the first thing that makes impact with the pavement. That pair of gloves is going to be the only thing that keeps you from losing a finger, or your entire hand. And that pair of boots is what is going to keep your foot attached to your legs. Gloves and boots designed for riding have the necessary reinforcements where necessary to specifically save you from that fate.

Choosing a Proper Riding Jacket.

Your choice of riding jacket is something that you’re probably not going to get right the first time, and even veteran riders consistently find reasons to buy new ones. Why? Because fit can be very finicky, and matching your gear to your riding climate can be extremely difficult. Just like with your helmet. The first choice you’re going to have to make is material.

Nothing protects like leather. If you’re looking for maximum protection, that’s going to be your choice. But leather riding jackets are extremely hot, and can somehow be both constricting and bulky feeling at the same time. In colder climates they’re an obvious choice, but not everyone lives in a colder climate. 

The most common choice for people today is what is typically referred to as the “mesh” style of jacket. Synthetic materials that are made to breathe well, while still providing some degree of abrasion resistance. Mesh jackets are also typically far cheaper than leather alternatives.

You’re usually going to find the same array of armor panels in both types of jacket, and you should absolutely be making sure that you inspect those armor pieces, make sure they have a proper certification, and that they cover your “hardpoints”. You want armor on your elbows that extends down the side of your arm. You want shoulder pieces. Chest pieces are a nice bonus but aren’t totally necessary.

Some jackets don’t come with a back panel, and you need to confirm that you have one. If the jacket doesn’t come with one, you’re going to want to add one. Going a little bigger on the back plate is a good idea as well.

Riding Jeans Are a Nice Bonus.

Check out your local gear shop and you’re likely to see a selection of riding jeans. If you can afford to rock these, they’re a nice bonus to your setup. Truth is, most people just wear regular jeans when riding, and most people assume that they’ll have the abrasion resistance to keep you from getting road rash in an accident. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. While jeans do stand up better to abuse than almost anything short of leather, they’ll shred to ribbons on the pavement just like anything else unless an accident is a very minor one.

The riding jeans you’ll see come with a pretty hefty price tag. And the reason for that is because most of them have materials like kevlar woven right into the fabric. Back in the “old days” leather riding pants were the only thing you could count on to protect your legs in an accident, but these modern materials in riding jeans can actually get the job done, and some of them even come with additional protection sewn into the jeans. They’re a great modern invention.

A Controversial Opinion on The “Necessary” Amount of Gear.

Here’s where I’m going to introduce a subject that might rub some people the wrong way, but I personally find it worth talking about, and that’s the concept of “too much gear”. Is there such a thing as being “too” protected when riding? I’m going to argue that, yes, there is such a thing, and it can actually be dangerous.

Like I discussed earlier, staying safe while riding is about more than just protective gear. Proper mindfulness, lack of distractions, and maintaining good riding technique and focus is a must to stay out of trouble. Gearing up heavily may be the best way to mitigate damage in the event of a crash or accident. But if overdoing it ends up leading to an accident, or keeps you from being able to avoid an accident (either through lack of situational awareness or inability to operate the bike well), then I believe we’re looking at something counter-intuitive.

It’s important to be free of extreme discomfort and free of restriction of movement while riding. For instance, if you’re riding in South Florida during the summer, your expensive and well made leather riding jacket isn’t really protecting you if you get heat stroke and make mistakes while on your bike. The same goes for overly bulky gear that makes it hard to move while on your bike, or hard to see. If you aren’t able to turn your body to see that car that’s in your blind spot, or you aren't able to operate your controls properly, your chances of an accident go up drastically.

All of this is to say that there is a sweet spot for gear. You should be balancing the level of protection you opt for against what makes sense for your climate, your riding style, and your level of experience. Don’t let your gear become a liability in the quest for total safety.

What’s On Deck for Part 2?

Next time we chat about Motorcycle Safety, I’ll be talking to you guys about what techniques you can use to ride safely. We’ll be talking about how to “read the road” in front of you, dangerous situations you want to keep yourself out of, and all of the ways that you can start shaving risk off of your riding habits. Every little thing you do while you’re out on the road can have an effect on your safety profile, and by mastering each one of these skills, you can lower the risk you face while riding.

Of course, if you ever find yourself in the need of legal services after a Motorcycle Accident on Long Island, I’m happy to recommend Michael & Lindsay of Langella & Langella. They’re two great, trustworthy people who understand how to do good work on motorcycle cases. So until next time, enjoy the riding season, stay safe, and keep the rubber side down!