Old school ride

[the Ferret]

Yesterday was another unusually hot day here in SW Ohio. Upper 80's again. Anyhow I wanted to go for a ride and just felt like going "old school" like in this pic of my wife and I taken on our KZ1000 38 years ago in 1977

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/BikePic6.jpg.html]

I rode down to the local shop to see if they had any dark smoke 5 snap flat shields for my HJC CS5 helmet. They used to be all the rage. When I started working in shops in the early 70's we sold gazillions of them, clear, light smoke, dark smoke or yellow for $1.99 each. Well their was none on display, so I asked the owner if they had any. He went back and dug around in the back of the shop and found ONE...Paulson 5 snap shield for me, luckily dark smoke like I wanted and it was now $14.50. GADS! I'll take it. Looks very old school don't you think?

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/old%20school%20002_zpsllivcosn.jpg.html]

So now I was ready.. open face helmet with 5 snap shield, T shirt, blue jeans and gym shoes. Just like I rode for probably the first 8 years I rode (in the winter I would wear a wool sweater and Army surplus green coat over the t shirt lol), I think I was 23 before I could afford a Bates leather jacket, and real motorcycle boots.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/old%20school%20006_zpsdbrrvhby.jpg.html]

Rode about 40 miles and it felt great...free actually, liberating from the usual heavy and hot body armor I most often wear. Plenty of cool air all over, face, body, arms, hands. Nice!

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/old%20school%20015_zpsrnuo3zlx.jpg.html]

Except for 1 thing....I had forgotten how many bugs and how much grit hits you when you are riding. It was ouch....ouch....ouch. Little hard shell bugs and road grit getting thrown up made it felt like I was getting sand blasted on my neck, chest and arms. Wow, we used to ride like this all the time, how in the heck did we do it? Was certainly happy I was at least wearing the helmet and face shield and long pants, otherwise it would have been a miserable experience lol.

It was fun, but doubt I will ride like this much again. I will at least wear a jacket and boots, even if I'm wearing the old school lid which I didn't mind wearing a bit.

Caveat for the safety guys:
I knew the risks I was taking by riding dressed like this, personally accepted the risk, and managed to come back home safely once again. I am not endorsing any one else ride with minimum gear. It was a personal choice I made on this particular day.
I understand some wouldn't be comfortable riding like this. I was. (well except for the getting sand blasted part lol) and encourage others to ride within their own comfort limits with regards to gear.




.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Mick,

I would stick with a clear shield like the one in your 1977 photo because it makes your stomach look really trim and athletic!! And check out your sweetheart's protective footwear in that old photo!

I miss those days. I started riding in the late '60's and always wore t-shirts and tennis shoes. Didn't know any better and it was all good.

Chip

[CA200_imp]

I must admit right up until we closed our store in 2012 we had to keep at least one snap on shield in stock for sale because
some old fart would come in and want one . We always tried to keep the customers happy.

[Guth_imp]

I must admit right up until we closed our store in 2012 we had to keep at least one snap on shield in stock for sale because
some old fart would come in and want one . We always tried to keep the customers happy.

Or in this case, "customer".

Probably not an overwhelming demand for these.

[the Ferret]

yea I don't know when the last time I saw someone wearing one out on the road was.

[redbirds_imp]

Looks like fun Mickey. There is something liberating about riding in "casual" gear. On really sticky hot days down here it becomes proper riding gear. I wore my new HJC 3/4 helmet on my ride yesterday. 92F when I rode and the HJC was so much cooler than the Modular Nolan.

[the Ferret]

For todays ride I wore a little more. 3/4 helmet and perforated Tecnik leather jacket, perforated gloves with padded palms and work boots. No more sandblasting and since it was only 77 I wasn't burning up. The jacket had the added benefit of hiding the gut that Chip alluded to, well he didn't allude to it, he just pointed it out. lol, Ohhh to be young and skinny again sniff sniff

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/CB%20ride%20May%2010%202015%20002_zpskik3eveh.jpg.html]

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/CB%20ride%20May%2010%202015%20011_zps4nt4nnee.jpg.html]

[emptysea]

I like this post. I rode in just a t-shirt jeans and helmet to get gas last week and I liked the feeling. Like you, though, I felt every bug, even in a 1/2 mile ride. That was irritating enough to toss a jacket on for future rides.

Cheryl liked the before/after photos and Chip's shield advice. LOL.

Happy Mother's Day to your lovely bride.

[the Ferret]

And to Cheryl as well.

Amazing how the grit and bugs felt like little needles hitting. I had to laugh as I was headed home from this mornings ride, a guy passed me going the other way.. Wearing a white tshirt, jeans and sunglasses, and I thought dude, I feel your pain lol

[Novice_imp]

Great pics! That lid from 78 reminds me of the one I had when I used to ride around on a Suzuki DS80, although I only wore it when I thought my dad might be watching.

I found it's easy to forget about the practical side of wearing a jacket etc once you're in the habit of always wearing it. When I only wore a t-shirt while riding, I found the constant slap of it irritating/fatiguing at freeway speed.

While riding outside of the city I've hit bugs that I felt through my jacket. I would rather not take one of those while wearing a T-shirt and sunglasses.