I used to have a pretty casual outlook on gear when I was a new rider. More than a few time you could have caught me riding around in a T-shirt. Always wore a helmet and gloves though.
Then one day I realized that I couldn't afford to be out of work for weeks or months, and good gear is certainly less expensive than hospital bills, just keep that in mind.
I'm still not really getting the image thing though. I thought motorcycle gear looked cool.
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Don't do something because it's easy,.. Do it because it's not!
If you aren't going forward, then you're falling behind.
"Drive it like you stole it"!!!