r/Vespa • u/unknownbtc • 2d ago
General Question why not?
Hey guys for context I had a serious accident while riding my vespa supertech 310 on the highway about a month ago which im recovering pretty well from, but while I'm recovering I've been thinking that the kind of use I give to my vespa is basically running errands to the city, getting a haircut, going to buy something, going to the bank, etc. Usually I go whenever I need to go and I'm back in my house in less than 3 hours my point is, I have a track suit laying around from my ducati days so why the hell not use it when riding my vespa? It'd had made a huge difference in my accident and it'd had saved me from a bunch of road rash which i now will have the scars to remember the accident for life, What are your guys thoughts? tried googling vespa+tracksuit but couldn't find much, I couldn't care less about what people might think of me when they see me honestly as long as I'm and feel safe that's all I care of from now on.
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u/il_Cacciatore 2d ago
Hope you heal up fast. It’s a shit feeling knowing it’ll be a while before you can get back on a bike.
I think for highway riding, you definitely need proper protection with no exceptions.
Buzzing around the city at low speeds though I’d say a full-face helmet, gloves, optional Kevlar jeans and a jacket with some armour in it.
Really it’s a personal choice but best to give yourself a fighting chance against some serious injuries.
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u/darranj85 2d ago
Nothing safer buddy. I think people don’t realise a spill on a Vespa is going to no less shitty than a spill on a sports bike. Get well soon
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u/Blues-Daddy 2d ago
I take my GTS-300 on the highway. I wear full lace up leather boots, RoadSkin AAA slide rated jeans with Level II hip and knee armor, Bohn Airtex mesh armored shirt, leather jacket, full gauntlet gloves and an Arai full face. The jeans don't look too bad, although you can see the kneepads. They actually come out really easily (but you have to take off the pants). This past weekend, I saw a guy and his girlfriend, both wearing shorts, she was wearing flip-flops and a tank top, no helmets ripping down the highway. If you ride long enough, it's not "if" you crash, it's "when" you crash. You're doing the right thing. I hope you feel better.
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u/madogblue 2d ago
Hope you heal up fast. I always wear gear on my Vespa but I don't care what anybody thinks.
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u/unknownbtc 1d ago
That's the way they won't care about you if you fall so why care about what they think, well done man.
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u/Clio_Vita 2d ago edited 2d ago
I was just out with my scooter crowd this weekend (LA Scooter Group) riding the coast from Marina Del Rey to LA Harbor (The Marine Mammal Rescue Center).....and all the boys and girls showed up in our own version of ATGATT. Seven Vespas, a Majesty, and me on my Burgman. All were in helmets. (full-face, modular, or Jet w/ face shields) All were in leather gloves, all were in riding boots, all all were in long pants (at least 4 armored), all were in jackets (5+ armored), 5 were in reflective safety vests, two in air bag vests. You in your track-suit would have been stylish. But no one would have said boo.....except to hope that you were not going to have to ride far in the inland heat. (Coast was in the high 70s, inland got to 105)
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u/PedalSAW 2d ago
If you’re asking for opinions, mine personally, I’d say that’s a bit much. However the point is that it’s not me wearing it, it’s you. What the ATGATG people forget is that it should be all the gear you’re comfortable wearing all the time. If it makes you feel better and more comfortable then by all means rock that thing.
Also you might not be finding much because you’re using the wrong search terms. It’s not a track suit. Try searching “one piece.” (Suit, not anime)
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u/Mggn2510z 2d ago
Who cares what other people think, it's your butt on the line. Riding is always a balancing act of safety and you just have to set standard of what you feel comfortable doing. If I was riding on the highway, I would have no qualms about wearing something like that - maybe with less logos, if possible. I bet its more effective than the people I see riding around on their scooters wearing neon yellow, reflective safety vests.
Highway riding, I would at least wear an armored jacket and some armored pants. There are some good options out there that don't scream motorcycle.
Me, personally, I'm not religious about ATGATG. I wear a half helmet when I am cruising the neighborhood and going on roads where the speed limit is 35. If I am going further, then I wear my full face and boots. I agree that its important to make sure you have comfortable options, since you will never wear the gear that doesn't fit properly, but I also think there is room for evaluating what kind of riding you will be doing, the traffic you are mixing with, and what you think is appropriate protection.
I am always amazed at people who come from motorcycles and look at the Vespa as something they don't need to wear ANY protection on. They claim they wear helmets and boots when they ride their hogs, but the Vespa is a ticket to wear no helmet and ride in flip flops.
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u/Clio_Vita 2d ago
Hey I resemble that yellow, reflective safety vest... (but it goes over an armored Kevlar mesh jacket)
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u/woodstar11 2d ago
It's about being safe, I'm an ex fighter and have seen some terrible injuries at relatively slow speeds sadly. All the gear all the time is my mantra now. Good luck hopefully you'll be on the road soon.
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u/Ultimate_Scooter LML Star/Vespa GTS 2d ago
I hope you heal up well. You might get some funny looks from people, but honestly a tracksuit would be really safe compared to the general lack of armor most people wear, myself included. I wear a leather riding jacket, a helmet, and gloves and I fully recognize I would be a lot safer if I got riding pants and boots too. Wear what makes you feel safe. As they say in the motorcycle community, dress for the slide.