its not just people out on the streets, even my dad automatically assumed i was a certified maniac when i informed him i was saving for the next piece of my riding gear, the jacket. helmet and gloves got him thinking i was a disaster waiting to happen and that i was kitting up to make sure i can ride like a maniac !

The only looks/comments i have got so far for my gear is that of respect, from the cops, from fellow road users. People here are genuinely interested in knowing more about the cool jacket/gloves that i sport around town

I really feel they do understand what its for.. at least i like to believe that way.. when some random girl @ CCD looks at me n smiles/giggles.. i like to look at the possibility that she found my gear sexy... (instead of thinking i was just made fun of..)

This is my way of staying happy / feeling good. I have been clicked pictures of astride my bike, fully geared by schoolkids / city/civic owners. And if ever some poor chap does get intimidated by my looks under the gear and wants to streetrace.. I am more than happy to help the poor chap EATT MYY DUSST!! (But thats only limited to traffic signal GPs )

As yet, I have never been told that my gear was a waste of money by anyone (maybe partly because of my ride, partly because of the way I mostly ride.)

P.S.: I am only 4 months old in this gearing up business.. Earlier i also used to be one of those steel-headed titanium bodies Pune riders proudly riding my Caliber 115. But all that changed for good after i got to know about xbhp (in july) and got my new ride (the P220) in august. In the 5800km i currently have on my odo.. I have ridden a total of 12 km without a helmet on and I hated every bit of it(i.e. the 12km .. not the 5788 ).

I just love to see COPS reactions, seeing a fully geared person riding.........

Although I did get pulled over twice, and I was luckily carrying my papers and PUC so was set free immediately.

The best incident ever happened was.....

1) At a Signal a Rickshawala asking me "BOSS garmi nahi hoti hai kya?"

2) At a tyre reparing shop, a guy standing who was getting his car tyre fixed. "Kya race hai kahan pe?" As in he thought that I just came from a race or something, then I had to narrate everything saying that I have been touring and wear the GEAR as a safety precaution, but some how he failed to realize and still had a BIG question mark on his face.

I personally enjoy the attention and individuality.
In my city, no one says anything but of course they notice/ stare... specially members from opposite gender!

And my college-mates, they know I'm a biker and a safe one. So, everyone understands it...

---
@ Sarvajit: That "R1" comment was a really cheap one that guy made. Had it been me, I would have politely shouted then and there, that its for protection, not for sadak-chaap racing...
But then again, there's no benefit reacting to "them unawares".

same with me.. I have experienced many times, specially in villages when I tour, they literally touch my jacket & sometimes even try knocking on my knee pads to get an exciting feeling..!
Most of the guys get restless to know the reason behind such an investment & the reason of wearing them. There are many who appreciate. Once somewhere around punjab, we where stopped by two traffic cops & asked up park our bikes properly in a queue. First we thought, it must be for license, papers. Later one cop came near me & asked, pointing to my jacket "isme gharmi nahi lagti, kyon pehen rakha hai..!" I told him its for the protection, as in any kind of incident a biker is forced to hurt. He let us go.!
We wear this, as we care for ourselves. Most importantly riding with gears on, give us more sense of responsibility to ride on the road.

How can you 'shout politely'?
But yes, no point in talking to them, when they don't know what you are wearing it for in the 1st place. Same applies for many other comments like headlights on while touring, why spend a lakh plus on a bike for only some 40kmpl mileage, R15 is a flop due to 'cchota tyre' etc. Ignore all. You know what you are doing is right&at the end of the day you are answerable only to yourself. That is what I believe.
Whether it is an R15 or an R1, I will ride with gear.

My friends give me a weird look if i just wear motomesh gloves, a balaclava and a helmet.
My grandmother thought i was an alien, got scared and shut the door on my face!
The best solution is just give a silent smile.

Well i have'nt come accross any wierd comments, But i do get lot of looks from ppl, mostly because of my helmet's visor.

I am very lean and i wear Daijya and vega higend model helmets, so i do look odd with it.

Most of my colluage's disagrred with me initally but later on they realised why i spent so much on safty gears after most of them had or their relative/friends had such incident's


One funny thing:

Last week i just walked into the office without removing any gears as i was talking on my cellphone, My manger was in the middle i just said "Chandra, pls move" He turned back looked at me got soo scared that he fell back on the floor

Apart from stares and wired comments people start comparing the bikes with the riding gears.
I ride a RX135 and when i reply to questions of Why Riding gears? I get comments like why so much protection when you are just riding a mere RX??
Even cops are not lagging behind in this regard, They stop you among many and ask you all sorts of wired questions ranging from why? How much? and what for? and then they conclude themselves that you are wearing these so that you can ride like crazy... ha...
If only riding gears would've increased speed i would have worn a shopful if it...

lol on a lighter note, next time someone says or does something, look at them, show some shock on your face, look behind and YELL! Run for your lives, they are coming!!!!! crouch and storm off :P

Lol..
The aliens have landed...

well the day they fall off and hurt a lot of body parts maybe then will they realize

"why do people stare at you when you wear gloves & protective gear"?

the same reason we stare at SBKs and Super cars.its normal for humans to stare at things tht are new,interesting and strange to us.

btw its fun to see school kids jumping,pointing at you and calling their friends!

When I started wearing full riding gear, I was too self conscious... but now got used to it.... I dont care what others think.. At red lights, when ppl stare at me... I just nod at them... and you have to see their confused faces....

But what I'm afraid of is the day when the stupid cop who dont understand the use of riding gear pulls me over... they can be quite stubborn and stupid beyond comprehension....

hilarious..

I also had quite a few instances where i have experienced this..

Even my office mates tells, Man you are maniac.. why you need all these gloves,helmets and riding gear..

Sometimes they appreciate it... and sometimes tells that its a total waste of money.. dont know what they are up for..

But i dont give a damn.. i know my limitation, so better be safe rather then sorry...