Back then – version 1
Personal safety on a motorcycle has had many faces over the years. I have been riding motor cycles for 23 years, and always focused on personal safety. And one thing is for sure, what was considered top class safe back then is not up to speed today.
When I bought the Honda CB 400F back in 1986 as a second hand, I also looked for a leather outfit. The Dainese was bought as a second hand and used until 1993. There were only a nylon alternative to leather, why the leather was considered pretty good. Now it is necessary to define good.
Does good mean?:
- Protecting against cold temperatures? Nope
- Protecting against rain or wet weather? Nope
- Protecting knees, spine and elbows? Nope
Well, if good means it protects your skin if you are down kissing the tarmac, then yes. And just to bear in mind where personal safety came from with jeans and a simple jacket, the Dainese was really good and safe. I know, comparing it with todays standard is not really fair. Back then it was a big time mess when the rain came. First the full body rain suit, then the boots got packed in and finally the gloves. And then the rain stopped… My wife and I we once went to Nordkap here from Denmark in 1992, and except Norway is a fantastic country, it was 20 days which were wet and cold.
Honda CD400F and pre-historical Dainese leather outfit
Back then – version 2
This is as the name indicates – made in Denmark. After our education we got a job and then followed some money. One of our first priorities was to get a new outfit, and got fed up with the leather stuff, we ordered some gore-tex outfit. Heaven. That is what we felt. No more wet and less cold than the old leather. Purchased in 1992 and used until 2008. After 16 years the best thing to say was the ability to be humid when rain and chilly when cold. This were not really attractive, so a new investment were considered.
Honda VFR 750 - just 18 km old
Now
This is really good. I easily feel pretty cold, but this does the job, and was also pretty cheap. Paid €200 on sale for last year model, and it has really giving me a great quality/price ratio. Now I am not clod or wet anymore, and it is very comfortable wearing.
Held - and the same VFR now just 50 000 km older
The future?
As I start I can end. Dainese. It is a bit impressive what development are about to offer us. It does not seems like it is perfect yet, but they will get there.
No related posts.
One of these would have been very handy last year when I had my spill on the M62 just outside of Leeds, maybe would have saved my left collar bone from going crack!
Safe riding
Dave
Hi Dave,
I hope you have recovered fine since then. I were also once in a situation once where I could have made fine use this. So Dainese better speed up development…
Regards,
Jan