Originally posted by viciouskitty74:
The weather in Singapore is the reason.
Plus the number of stops in Singapore....dont justify for it.
And plus....full armour does not mean your bones wont break or your life is secure.
It just means less injuries from abrasions.
A full face helmet, thick jeans, covered shoes & thick jacket will work well enough in Singapore.
edited to add: Plus, your defensive riding and mindset to ride safe is more important then wearing any armour. If you speed, cut other vehicles way dangerously or arent paying attention to your surroundings and the road....no amount of armour can protect you from an accident.
there has been instances of riders, with full armour, on a heavy big bike, running into back of lorries in Malaysia at full speed and died.
There has been instances of riders, with full armour, on sport bikes, riding fast speed on track, met with accidents, fly thru the air, landed on the speedway, nearly broke his spine, broke his hands and some parts of his leg. No abrasions. But certainly broken bones and nearly paralysed or broken necks.
The examples you mention are really extreme; armour has proven effects.
We all know that most (if not, all) cars have airbags. They don't always guarantee the safety of the driver, following an accident; however, it is undisputed that it greatly increases the odds of survival.
I can understand the argument based on Singapore's weather. However, it is but a small price to pay compared to the medical costs that could ensue (not to mention, in the case of paralysis etc., potential losses arising from lost of jobs).
With regards to price, SG bike gear is really cheap. Like dirt dirt dirt cheap. Same items here cost a fortune overseas. Considering the average rider will not be involved in accidents on a weekly basis, armor purchased can be considered a lifelong investment, and an investment to prolong life.
Leathers (without armour) really serve no practical purpose other than to protect against minor abrasions. And I don't think any random pair of jeans will help either. As far as I'm aware, I believe there exists "kevlar jeans" (by a co. called Dragging Jeans or something); very expensive stuff, and that's the only "jeans" that I'm aware of that has any real, substantial benefit to the rider.