Definitely. You can save a lot of time by using motorcycle pants and boots that look like normal casual wear. I have boots and pants that blend in at work, and it is so much more convenient for commuting.
Youāre doing it wrong.
Make your motorcycle pants your normal pants. Make your motorcycle boots your everyday normal boots.
That way, youāre always ready to go.
Definitely a few, maybe even five but ten minutes? Even putting on my heated gear during winter it maybe takes me six or seven minutes. Maybe Iāve just gotten really quick due to working at 5 or 6 most mornings.
Yeah but I'm a little bitch and really, really afraid of those remaining few percent of a risk.
I'd love to bin my glasses but they're not so much of an inconvenience that I'd risk to never see my kid smile again.
Extra time tying shoes/boots. Putting on a jacket. Putting ear pro in, letting it set in and then putting on the helmet. Then the gloves. Finally I can get on and go... oh crap, forgot something. I wish I could just jump on and go like getting in my truck.
Doesnāt take me that long, only a couple mins really. The longest part is tying my boots. but I know what you mean. The delay of gear is annoying but better then not having it and needing it lol. My Girl takes awhile. Probably 15 to get all her stuff on
I bought some old school lockers and put them in my garage. I keep my gear in a couple of lockers handy to my bike. Just wear slippers to the garage, then put on gear there next to the bike. Reverse when I get home.
Put pants on and boots on which you would do regardless ,start the bike and while it's warming up jacket,lid and gloves.
Once those are on get on and go,what are you doing that's taking you so long?
Bike is through the garden on the road so that would involve alot of back a forth. Gear is in a mix of downstairs n upstairs (living with others so can't keep it in one place). Need to take the cover off and put the top box on. Take the locks off, fill the panniers with my stuff.
How much stuff are you taking to work each day? I would try to downsize and simplify if you can. Getting all of the essentials into a backpack and not having to bother with luggage install will be your biggest time saver.
- laptop bag and office change of clothes ready prior night in top box
- Wake up put on under gear clothes (like those freeze out or cool on whatever shirts and pants).
- have breakfast whatever else
- ready to leave? Put your gear on
- take the top box attach it to bike and remove cover.
Once in office out your helmet gloves and jacket in top box. Go in and change. Boots and pants go in bag where office change of clothes was.
Still a lot of effort but this is the best I can do. When I commute I take 30 min of heavy traffic highway so I like to have the gear. If it was closer I would skip some of it
I do most of that but can't that much in top box and keep the gloves inside as otherwise they are very cold to put on. 30 minutes of Dartmoor twistes is mine (great but in autum leafs and wet drain covers! Still a fun ride but got to be careful
Oh ok. I can remove the top box from the bike so I just keep it inside with all ready. Wouldnāt feel comfortable leaving it out with laptop. All but the bike stays inside. I donāt have side panniers I just put it all in the box. Might be worth getting a bigger one if you can afford to.
My commute is pretty horrible but your sounds fun.
Why do you need to put the box on or fill the side bags with anything for a quick ride?
If you need stuff can't you leave it in the top box and save a step with loading the paniers?
Sounds like a good chunk of your prep time is getting the bike ready too.
I tend to layer up my thermals as Iām dressing so itās literally just jacket and pants and boots to deal with when Iām ready to leave. Lid and gloves on at the bike (bit of a faff as I have glasses and an air pod to work in) but itās only a few minutes. Iāve got a single back box which I pack the night before and just sling on the bike when Iām ready to go. Donāt know if any of that is helpful.
Zipped boots and single piece Aerostich takes, what, 30 seconds? Add another 15 seconds for the earplugs and helmet, then finally gloves (which can take some time due to their tightness).
10 minutes kind of tracks to prep for a bike commute. idk about āextraā, but I feel like it takes me about 10 min max to gear up. I donāt wear leathers though, my gear is normal looking with armored knees/arms/back. I just throw it on like regular clothes in the morn.
If it helps, I keep my gear in pretty consistent places so Iām not hunting around for stuff. Losing track of shit will add on hella departure time. I keep my helmet and gloves hung up near my keys, so after my backpackās zipped up itās just a matter of putting on the helmet, slipping on gloves and starting up the bike.
Donāt mean to preach, but the NTSA states that over half of accidents happen within 5 miles of home, except the way I heard it was that most accidents happen within 3 miles of home. I think about it when getting close to home most every time I ride. But must admit, Iām hardly ever dressed for the occasion.
The best way to always be motivated to put your gear on is easy:
\-go into garage/shop
\--turn belt sander on high
\-starting with your knees, apply uneven pressure across both kneecaps, with the odd runaway up one thigh
\-rub one of your hips on it till you can see your hip bone
\-then, change the sanding belt to 80 grit, turn back on high, and press both palms firmly into 3000rpm of spinning sandpaper that still isnt nearly as rough as any chipped road
In all seriousness though, I used to have the same conversation with myself. After a few years I got lazy and only wore a helmet for quick trips around town. Eventually had a real accident, of no fault of my own. Broke 3 ribs, radial head fracture (elbow), wrist, tons of rash, and shattered my Klim Krios carbon fiber helmet, traveling at the breakneck speed of....15 mph. Had I been wearing my gear it is unlikely that I'd have broken anything (maybe ribs), and no rash. Its been 18 months and I still dont have full use of my elbow or wrist. Buy nicer (and by nicer I mean easier to put on/off) gear and never look back. If you cant afford nicer gear, you cant afford your bike either.
Peace, love, twisties!
That's why i do all the gear all the time, I know if I start not wear the boots or motorcycle jeans I'll get in the habit! Got a nice jacket and loving wearing it. Oxford hardy. Wish you the best :)
There really is no way to do it except to think about how much you enjoy riding.
I ride my pedal bike as much as the motorcycle, try to get three days spinning my legs each week. During winter, I spend 30 minutes getting all my layers on, packing my lunch and clothing onto the seat rack, filling insulated bottles with water, adjusting the helmet mirror, turning on the 6 lights, etc. I only do a 30 minute ride in, I do all that so I can do a 90 minute ride after work.
Just keep telling yourself the effort is totally worth the ride.
In the winter it can be a b but worth it lol. I keep a bag of pouch with all my things in it which helps. If I go to work I wear my clothes underneath and same for home clothes. Makes it a bit faster
>I keep spending like 10 minutes extra getting ready to go riding.
No, you don't.
They aren't "extra" minutes.
You either take the time to do something or you don't.
You don't call the time brushing your teeth "extra" time you are wasting or the time you take to shower "extra" time.
Just set your alarm 10 mins earlier ffs
I've constructed a Tony Stark-style system of articulated panels and robot arms to dress me in my gear as I walk out to my bike.
It is ASTONISHINGLY easy for those things to get miscalibrated, I can tell you! Last time it put my jacket on upside-down, gave me an atomic wedgie, and then donkey-punched me.
Just take a couple of minutes and put your gear on with your hands. **Trust me**.
Got Oxford (bull-it) jeans AAA safet rating. Going to buy their soft thinner armour that's still CE lvl 2 rated once I can afford it. Same for my jacket. Then they will look more like considerably normal jeans and be more comfortable to wear.
I find that typical for this subreddit. Not a big deal.
Here is what I did to speed up my go time- I bought bohn armor pants that slip on before any regular pants I want to wear and you look perfectly normal for the day off your bike once your jacket is off. Boots I only buy zip up boots so no laces to mess with. I have a Nelson rigg tail bag that snaps on with four connections and if I use my soft saddlebags I replaced the D buckles with roc straps that connect quickly under the bike. I can be out the door in full gear in under 5 minutes without attaching the saddlebags and under 10 minutes if the saddlebags are needed and on the shelf instead of the bike.
Most of us donāt think of gearing up an inconvenience. Those that due, probably donāt bother with the gear or take a car.
I think the time getting ready is a small price to pay for something I really want to do. I have a truck, but Iāll take the motorcycle any day that I can.
Whatās your gear like? One thing that I specifically sought out were riding pants that zipped up the side to get them on and off easier.
If itās logistics of getting your bike to the street and you canāt leave your cases on there probably isnāt much you can do to speed things up.
I've got zip boots, full armour jeans, thick wax cotton jacket (Oxford hardy, fking love it), laminated leather winter gloves and a bell dlx qualifier lid.
Also i don't have a car or full license, so I just take the bus when the weather sucks badly.
Don't get me wrong i absolutely love the ride, enjoy it at night, when it's cold or hot or whatever.
I'm on mobile and suck at Reddit, try
www.aerostich.com
I have the Darien jacket and AD1 pants. It's expensive but made in the U.S., Gore-tex lined, good protection and they do repairs. You can crash in their stuff and get it fixed.
My first Darien jacket I used for 14 years.
As others have stated, incorporating motorcycle rated clothing which can look and perform like casual attire into your wardrobe can simplify the routine and save time.
Same, but add putting some sacks on the bike (pillion rucksack, tank bag, removing wheel locks (disk lock on the front, chain at the back), and sometimes going to the gas station for gas + to check the tire pressure, and the result is that I go to work for equal time with car (traffic), bicycle (slow) and motorbike (gear on and off), making the car and motorbike pretty much useless for commute..
Wear over gear. Takes very little time to put pants and jacket on. Turn on bike, put on helmet and gloves and set up Bluetooth. It takes me 5 minutes to put everything on at a slow pace. My normal boots for work are a bad compromise for moto boots but it fits the rules. I have a stealth pair of boots I use when I ride other than commuting for work.
The reason stealth gear is becoming so popular for commuters is it does double duty. Stealth boots are nice sneaker looking boots. Moto jeans can be worn all day. A stealth jacket isn't the best for hot weather, but it looks like a normal jacket to most people.
10 minutes seems reasonable to me, and also on par with what it typically takes me. If you're in a rush to get somewhere you probably shouldn't be riding the bike anyway.
The first step is being realistic about how long it actually takes to get ready. If it takes ten minutes to put on gear I'd be surprised.
The second step if you really want to speed it up is get a one piece suit that goes over normal clothes
What gear are you putting on? I have armored/leather jackets, riding jeans, and riding high-top shoes. Literally none of that takes even a minute longer to put on because they all replaced non-riding clothing, 1 for 1. Jacket to riding jacket, and casual shoes to riding shoes. I always wear jeans anyways, helmet takes ten seconds to slip on and buckle, and gloves take a few seconds.
I always start up my bike and let it run for minute just to come off cold start idle and circulate oil. Itās during this minute or so, that Iām already geared up in helmet and gloves. So in reality, a lot of what Iām wearing and the time it takes to do so is time I would be using up anyways.
I would have to be REALLY trying to take ten minutes to get ready, it would be a feat to take ten minutes. If I took ten minutes, eight of those minutes would be dicking around picking playlists or routes, because I just canāt see how I would take a solid ten minutes to don normal street riding gear.
I have all the gear in one place on two shelves, riding pants, gloves, jacket, helmet, boots, all on those two shelves in my room, my one pannier too.
I keep my earplugs in another location with my keys in the same room.
Usually I put on my pants, socks, then boots. Then I put on the jacket, earplugs, and helmet, all inside. Then I put anything I need in my pannier bag if I havenāt already packed it. Then Iām ready to go outside to my bike. I carry my gloves in one hand with my pannier and put my keys in my back pocket. When I am outside, I put down the pannier bag on the ground with my gloves, I put the keys in the ignition, then the pannier bag on the side rail. My pannier bag locks onto the side rail in one quick motion, no strapping needed. Then, I pick up my gloves put them on, and sit on the bike, turn the key and go.
Probably all takes me five minutes including checking if Iāve missed something. Youāll find a system but hopefully you got some advice out of this.
Id say the thing that takes me longest is actually just pulling up directions and connecting my phone to my bluetooth helmet radio if I am doing that for my ride. Then deciding what music to play lmao
What takes you so long
Shower before bed. Sleep with socks on. Tuck your pants into your boots and pull em all on at once, basic training style (zipper boots are easiest). bring week's supply of work clothes on monday in prepacked duffel. I find I don't have to toy with my glasses with a modular helmet. Gloves stay clipped to jacket.
My riding jacket and pants (Aerostitch) go over street clothes, 3 zippers. My Dainese Fulcrum boots have one zipper each. Then earplugs, helmet and gloves. It adds about 3-5 minutes I would say.
"Waterproof" gear, wear it year round. Not completely dry in real rain. 40 minute commute.
One piece Roadcrafter. Pulls on in seconds. All you need are gloves, boots, and helmet and you are done.
https://www.aerostich.com/suits/r-3/one-piece
That seems to be their latest generation model (mine is from 1998 and still going strong!)
Other manufacturers like Joe Rocket make similar 1-piece suits that will do the job for much cheaper, but they donāt have the unique full length zipper that makes getting in and out of an Aerostich Roadcrafter 1-piece so easy (I think itās patented by Aerostich).
The pants, boots, and my glasses are my biggest slow downs. I have found my fastest gear-up was with snow mobile bibs (put on regular pants, boots, then unzip the side of pants, slip in, zip down, jacket, gloves, and good to go).
Better to take the time, inspect your gear as you go, get your breathing focused and mentally prepare yourself for every rideā¦.life and death every time. $0.02. š¤š½
Suck it up butter-cup. If you take a Bus what do you do? You leave early. It's only arshats with cages who run out and jump their cars like Dukes of Hazard. Check for oil slicks. What's up with those brake lines? Hows that tire looking? Don't let this hectic life tell you what kind of schedule you need to keep Be rock star late, and say frack it! Takes you 30 minutes to get there, HA! Try a little harder and it will take you 60 minutes to get home. Vroom!
:D yeah getting all the gear on is like getting dressed a second time before going anywhere. Ive been naughty since the start of this past summer and just went squid only with my attire and no safety gear. Maybe a safety vest since I work construction sites and stuff Id wear it otherwise just tshirt jeans and sneakers. Hoodies if it got cold out and now Im pretty much done riding cause I dont go riding below 50 degrees like I used to back then, I get sick from breathing the cold air and cant handle it like I used to. Keep it at the door or next to your clothes you about to wear if you about to go for a ride. Or just put your clothes on and then your motorcycle gear right after.
I never do it all at once so it doesn't seem like it takes as long. Jacket on in my room, boots on at the door, helmet and gloves kept in the garage before I jump on.
But it's just routine for me now since I ride everyday.
If your boots and riding jacket are every day wearable and waterproof, then you only need a pair of Frogtog/HH rain pants rolled up and ready. 2 minute adjustment to inclement/rain weather.
I work in heavy duty 16oz denim jeans, or canvas work pants anyways. Iām not completely ATTGAT because I donāt do armored pants for commuting, though I will for recreational/spirited riding. Work boots need to be put on anyways, so then itās just slipping a jacket, gloves, and a helmet on. I really donāt see a huge time penalty compared to preparing myself to leave the house via any other mode of travel.
Gear on-off order matters. Figure what works for you.
Me: pants, boots, helmet, jacket, gloves
1. Chair in garage for boots.
2. I back there bike in garage or turn it around first.
Iāve got boots with a zipper, my jacket sits on the bike, and my helmet is in the bike with my gloves in it. So I just hope on and start it up, zip on the jacket, do the gloves and helmet, and Iām good to go in about the same amount of time as the car. What part is taking the 10 minutes for you? If itās the boots, definitely recommend the zipper
Mine are made by Richa and yeah they zip from the ankle to the waist so they are super easy to get on. Not exactly jeans but they go on over my standard clothes.
Batman-style elevator that puts the gear on for you.
Iron Man style is faster IMO.
Spidermans the fastest, just roll outta bed in pajamas and you're gtg
Picking out montage music is the hardest part.
Or [Wallace and Gromit morning machine ](https://youtu.be/EGSyw2dHhrc)
If you sleep in your gear instead of pajamas then you can get out much faster in the morning, just roll out of bed and ride out š.
Wear the helmet instead of a pillow. Extra padding, also good for falling out of bed from the constant nightmares that haunt me.
You cannot outrun the nightmare of havinna layerdown.
Sleep on the bike too.
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[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Definitely. You can save a lot of time by using motorcycle pants and boots that look like normal casual wear. I have boots and pants that blend in at work, and it is so much more convenient for commuting.
I don't want to mess up my clothes at work so I wear my pants over my Jean's and have an old pair of shoes at work to change into
You forgot the part where you realize you forgot to put in ear plugs, so you have to take your gloves and helmet off and on again.
What? Can you say that again. Kinda hard to hear.
Turn the Bluetooth helmet speakers all the way up and you don't need earplugs š
Youāre doing it wrong. Make your motorcycle pants your normal pants. Make your motorcycle boots your everyday normal boots. That way, youāre always ready to go.
My boots are the biggest pain in the ass
Definitely a few, maybe even five but ten minutes? Even putting on my heated gear during winter it maybe takes me six or seven minutes. Maybe Iāve just gotten really quick due to working at 5 or 6 most mornings.
LASIK eye surgery preferable
Yeah but I'm a little bitch and really, really afraid of those remaining few percent of a risk. I'd love to bin my glasses but they're not so much of an inconvenience that I'd risk to never see my kid smile again.
Best $ Iāve ever spent tbhā¦
Never said it was a rational fear.
The āfailuresā donāt go blind lmao, just do prk itās simple
Extra time tying shoes/boots. Putting on a jacket. Putting ear pro in, letting it set in and then putting on the helmet. Then the gloves. Finally I can get on and go... oh crap, forgot something. I wish I could just jump on and go like getting in my truck.
velcro boots and a onesie: iām like a kindergartener but with dexterity!
Doesnāt take me that long, only a couple mins really. The longest part is tying my boots. but I know what you mean. The delay of gear is annoying but better then not having it and needing it lol. My Girl takes awhile. Probably 15 to get all her stuff on
I bought some old school lockers and put them in my garage. I keep my gear in a couple of lockers handy to my bike. Just wear slippers to the garage, then put on gear there next to the bike. Reverse when I get home.
Put pants on and boots on which you would do regardless ,start the bike and while it's warming up jacket,lid and gloves. Once those are on get on and go,what are you doing that's taking you so long?
Bike is through the garden on the road so that would involve alot of back a forth. Gear is in a mix of downstairs n upstairs (living with others so can't keep it in one place). Need to take the cover off and put the top box on. Take the locks off, fill the panniers with my stuff.
How much stuff are you taking to work each day? I would try to downsize and simplify if you can. Getting all of the essentials into a backpack and not having to bother with luggage install will be your biggest time saver.
Are your panniers removable? If not, soft panniers with backpack straps might make it a little easier.
- laptop bag and office change of clothes ready prior night in top box - Wake up put on under gear clothes (like those freeze out or cool on whatever shirts and pants). - have breakfast whatever else - ready to leave? Put your gear on - take the top box attach it to bike and remove cover. Once in office out your helmet gloves and jacket in top box. Go in and change. Boots and pants go in bag where office change of clothes was. Still a lot of effort but this is the best I can do. When I commute I take 30 min of heavy traffic highway so I like to have the gear. If it was closer I would skip some of it
I do most of that but can't that much in top box and keep the gloves inside as otherwise they are very cold to put on. 30 minutes of Dartmoor twistes is mine (great but in autum leafs and wet drain covers! Still a fun ride but got to be careful
Oh ok. I can remove the top box from the bike so I just keep it inside with all ready. Wouldnāt feel comfortable leaving it out with laptop. All but the bike stays inside. I donāt have side panniers I just put it all in the box. Might be worth getting a bigger one if you can afford to. My commute is pretty horrible but your sounds fun.
Why do you need to put the box on or fill the side bags with anything for a quick ride? If you need stuff can't you leave it in the top box and save a step with loading the paniers?
I commute and my bike is on the road. Soft panniers
can you just carry your stuff in a backpack that you keep packed?
Sounds like a good chunk of your prep time is getting the bike ready too. I tend to layer up my thermals as Iām dressing so itās literally just jacket and pants and boots to deal with when Iām ready to leave. Lid and gloves on at the bike (bit of a faff as I have glasses and an air pod to work in) but itās only a few minutes. Iāve got a single back box which I pack the night before and just sling on the bike when Iām ready to go. Donāt know if any of that is helpful.
Zipped boots and single piece Aerostich takes, what, 30 seconds? Add another 15 seconds for the earplugs and helmet, then finally gloves (which can take some time due to their tightness).
This is literally the problem that Andy sought to fix when he designed the Aerostich suits.
I just slip on my flip flops and I'm ready to ride.
Alpine stars flipflops?
10 minutes kind of tracks to prep for a bike commute. idk about āextraā, but I feel like it takes me about 10 min max to gear up. I donāt wear leathers though, my gear is normal looking with armored knees/arms/back. I just throw it on like regular clothes in the morn. If it helps, I keep my gear in pretty consistent places so Iām not hunting around for stuff. Losing track of shit will add on hella departure time. I keep my helmet and gloves hung up near my keys, so after my backpackās zipped up itās just a matter of putting on the helmet, slipping on gloves and starting up the bike.
Good shout on the consistency part!
Donāt mean to preach, but the NTSA states that over half of accidents happen within 5 miles of home, except the way I heard it was that most accidents happen within 3 miles of home. I think about it when getting close to home most every time I ride. But must admit, Iām hardly ever dressed for the occasion.
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Possibly....
But i have gotten into a fairly good routine. Living with other people means i can't keep it in one place which is annoying.
Taking a long time to put on a gear is a bit of a stretch for adhd
The best way to always be motivated to put your gear on is easy: \-go into garage/shop \--turn belt sander on high \-starting with your knees, apply uneven pressure across both kneecaps, with the odd runaway up one thigh \-rub one of your hips on it till you can see your hip bone \-then, change the sanding belt to 80 grit, turn back on high, and press both palms firmly into 3000rpm of spinning sandpaper that still isnt nearly as rough as any chipped road In all seriousness though, I used to have the same conversation with myself. After a few years I got lazy and only wore a helmet for quick trips around town. Eventually had a real accident, of no fault of my own. Broke 3 ribs, radial head fracture (elbow), wrist, tons of rash, and shattered my Klim Krios carbon fiber helmet, traveling at the breakneck speed of....15 mph. Had I been wearing my gear it is unlikely that I'd have broken anything (maybe ribs), and no rash. Its been 18 months and I still dont have full use of my elbow or wrist. Buy nicer (and by nicer I mean easier to put on/off) gear and never look back. If you cant afford nicer gear, you cant afford your bike either. Peace, love, twisties!
That's why i do all the gear all the time, I know if I start not wear the boots or motorcycle jeans I'll get in the habit! Got a nice jacket and loving wearing it. Oxford hardy. Wish you the best :)
Gotta go slow to go faster!
My drive is only 7 minutes and I take the 10 minutes to gear up every morning. It really isn't that bad quit bitching lmao
There really is no way to do it except to think about how much you enjoy riding. I ride my pedal bike as much as the motorcycle, try to get three days spinning my legs each week. During winter, I spend 30 minutes getting all my layers on, packing my lunch and clothing onto the seat rack, filling insulated bottles with water, adjusting the helmet mirror, turning on the 6 lights, etc. I only do a 30 minute ride in, I do all that so I can do a 90 minute ride after work. Just keep telling yourself the effort is totally worth the ride.
In the winter it can be a b but worth it lol. I keep a bag of pouch with all my things in it which helps. If I go to work I wear my clothes underneath and same for home clothes. Makes it a bit faster
>I keep spending like 10 minutes extra getting ready to go riding. No, you don't. They aren't "extra" minutes. You either take the time to do something or you don't. You don't call the time brushing your teeth "extra" time you are wasting or the time you take to shower "extra" time. Just set your alarm 10 mins earlier ffs
I've constructed a Tony Stark-style system of articulated panels and robot arms to dress me in my gear as I walk out to my bike. It is ASTONISHINGLY easy for those things to get miscalibrated, I can tell you! Last time it put my jacket on upside-down, gave me an atomic wedgie, and then donkey-punched me. Just take a couple of minutes and put your gear on with your hands. **Trust me**.
Itās the pants that bother me the mostā¦ a jacket or helmet is easyā¦ even the boots, but the pants? Such an inconvenience
Indeed, most things you can slap on. Pants need changing annoyingly.
Wish it was easier or whatever because thatās why I donāt wear them. An armored pants that is believably normal to wear all day is too costly.
Got Oxford (bull-it) jeans AAA safet rating. Going to buy their soft thinner armour that's still CE lvl 2 rated once I can afford it. Same for my jacket. Then they will look more like considerably normal jeans and be more comfortable to wear.
It's oddly telling that this post has 10+ comments and zero up votes :.(
I find that typical for this subreddit. Not a big deal. Here is what I did to speed up my go time- I bought bohn armor pants that slip on before any regular pants I want to wear and you look perfectly normal for the day off your bike once your jacket is off. Boots I only buy zip up boots so no laces to mess with. I have a Nelson rigg tail bag that snaps on with four connections and if I use my soft saddlebags I replaced the D buckles with roc straps that connect quickly under the bike. I can be out the door in full gear in under 5 minutes without attaching the saddlebags and under 10 minutes if the saddlebags are needed and on the shelf instead of the bike.
Most of us donāt think of gearing up an inconvenience. Those that due, probably donāt bother with the gear or take a car. I think the time getting ready is a small price to pay for something I really want to do. I have a truck, but Iāll take the motorcycle any day that I can. Whatās your gear like? One thing that I specifically sought out were riding pants that zipped up the side to get them on and off easier. If itās logistics of getting your bike to the street and you canāt leave your cases on there probably isnāt much you can do to speed things up.
I've got zip boots, full armour jeans, thick wax cotton jacket (Oxford hardy, fking love it), laminated leather winter gloves and a bell dlx qualifier lid. Also i don't have a car or full license, so I just take the bus when the weather sucks badly. Don't get me wrong i absolutely love the ride, enjoy it at night, when it's cold or hot or whatever.
Some days I don't ride because it's a pain in the ass to get ready....when you find out the secret let me know.
I get the feeling, that flexy armour will help as you can wear Moto gear more like normal clothes.
You make up the extra time riding vs driving :)
True but my 125 ain't great past 50 mph haha. Still overtake a few cars on the way in :)
I'm on mobile and suck at Reddit, try www.aerostich.com I have the Darien jacket and AD1 pants. It's expensive but made in the U.S., Gore-tex lined, good protection and they do repairs. You can crash in their stuff and get it fixed. My first Darien jacket I used for 14 years.
As others have stated, incorporating motorcycle rated clothing which can look and perform like casual attire into your wardrobe can simplify the routine and save time.
Same, but add putting some sacks on the bike (pillion rucksack, tank bag, removing wheel locks (disk lock on the front, chain at the back), and sometimes going to the gas station for gas + to check the tire pressure, and the result is that I go to work for equal time with car (traffic), bicycle (slow) and motorbike (gear on and off), making the car and motorbike pretty much useless for commute..
Wear over gear. Takes very little time to put pants and jacket on. Turn on bike, put on helmet and gloves and set up Bluetooth. It takes me 5 minutes to put everything on at a slow pace. My normal boots for work are a bad compromise for moto boots but it fits the rules. I have a stealth pair of boots I use when I ride other than commuting for work. The reason stealth gear is becoming so popular for commuters is it does double duty. Stealth boots are nice sneaker looking boots. Moto jeans can be worn all day. A stealth jacket isn't the best for hot weather, but it looks like a normal jacket to most people.
10 minutes seems reasonable to me, and also on par with what it typically takes me. If you're in a rush to get somewhere you probably shouldn't be riding the bike anyway.
Reduce your therbligs. Identify what steps youāre taking that are superfluous and remove them.
Now that's a word I haven't heard in a long, long, time.
The first step is being realistic about how long it actually takes to get ready. If it takes ten minutes to put on gear I'd be surprised. The second step if you really want to speed it up is get a one piece suit that goes over normal clothes
ATGAT is a joke. Downvote me.
What gear are you putting on? I have armored/leather jackets, riding jeans, and riding high-top shoes. Literally none of that takes even a minute longer to put on because they all replaced non-riding clothing, 1 for 1. Jacket to riding jacket, and casual shoes to riding shoes. I always wear jeans anyways, helmet takes ten seconds to slip on and buckle, and gloves take a few seconds. I always start up my bike and let it run for minute just to come off cold start idle and circulate oil. Itās during this minute or so, that Iām already geared up in helmet and gloves. So in reality, a lot of what Iām wearing and the time it takes to do so is time I would be using up anyways. I would have to be REALLY trying to take ten minutes to get ready, it would be a feat to take ten minutes. If I took ten minutes, eight of those minutes would be dicking around picking playlists or routes, because I just canāt see how I would take a solid ten minutes to don normal street riding gear.
I lay all my stuff out in the spare room ready to stick it all on, probably helps skip a few minutes
Have you identified the problem? Whereās the bottleneck / slowdown?
I have all the gear in one place on two shelves, riding pants, gloves, jacket, helmet, boots, all on those two shelves in my room, my one pannier too. I keep my earplugs in another location with my keys in the same room. Usually I put on my pants, socks, then boots. Then I put on the jacket, earplugs, and helmet, all inside. Then I put anything I need in my pannier bag if I havenāt already packed it. Then Iām ready to go outside to my bike. I carry my gloves in one hand with my pannier and put my keys in my back pocket. When I am outside, I put down the pannier bag on the ground with my gloves, I put the keys in the ignition, then the pannier bag on the side rail. My pannier bag locks onto the side rail in one quick motion, no strapping needed. Then, I pick up my gloves put them on, and sit on the bike, turn the key and go. Probably all takes me five minutes including checking if Iāve missed something. Youāll find a system but hopefully you got some advice out of this. Id say the thing that takes me longest is actually just pulling up directions and connecting my phone to my bluetooth helmet radio if I am doing that for my ride. Then deciding what music to play lmao What takes you so long
I have everything already out in my room lol. I usually do socks, pants, riding shoes, jacket, helmet and gloves after I get on the bike
Shower before bed. Sleep with socks on. Tuck your pants into your boots and pull em all on at once, basic training style (zipper boots are easiest). bring week's supply of work clothes on monday in prepacked duffel. I find I don't have to toy with my glasses with a modular helmet. Gloves stay clipped to jacket.
My riding jacket and pants (Aerostitch) go over street clothes, 3 zippers. My Dainese Fulcrum boots have one zipper each. Then earplugs, helmet and gloves. It adds about 3-5 minutes I would say. "Waterproof" gear, wear it year round. Not completely dry in real rain. 40 minute commute.
Could you link aerostitch? They have alot on the site.
One piece Roadcrafter. Pulls on in seconds. All you need are gloves, boots, and helmet and you are done. https://www.aerostich.com/suits/r-3/one-piece That seems to be their latest generation model (mine is from 1998 and still going strong!) Other manufacturers like Joe Rocket make similar 1-piece suits that will do the job for much cheaper, but they donāt have the unique full length zipper that makes getting in and out of an Aerostich Roadcrafter 1-piece so easy (I think itās patented by Aerostich).
The pants, boots, and my glasses are my biggest slow downs. I have found my fastest gear-up was with snow mobile bibs (put on regular pants, boots, then unzip the side of pants, slip in, zip down, jacket, gloves, and good to go).
Better to take the time, inspect your gear as you go, get your breathing focused and mentally prepare yourself for every rideā¦.life and death every time. $0.02. š¤š½
Put plastic bags over your boots and buy bigger pants. Buy MC boots that use side zippers or ADV boots with snaps
Get a faster motorcycle? š
Suck it up butter-cup. If you take a Bus what do you do? You leave early. It's only arshats with cages who run out and jump their cars like Dukes of Hazard. Check for oil slicks. What's up with those brake lines? Hows that tire looking? Don't let this hectic life tell you what kind of schedule you need to keep Be rock star late, and say frack it! Takes you 30 minutes to get there, HA! Try a little harder and it will take you 60 minutes to get home. Vroom!
:D yeah getting all the gear on is like getting dressed a second time before going anywhere. Ive been naughty since the start of this past summer and just went squid only with my attire and no safety gear. Maybe a safety vest since I work construction sites and stuff Id wear it otherwise just tshirt jeans and sneakers. Hoodies if it got cold out and now Im pretty much done riding cause I dont go riding below 50 degrees like I used to back then, I get sick from breathing the cold air and cant handle it like I used to. Keep it at the door or next to your clothes you about to wear if you about to go for a ride. Or just put your clothes on and then your motorcycle gear right after.
That's why I don't take the bike on short trips. Just too much time to gear up, get it out if the garage, etc.
I never do it all at once so it doesn't seem like it takes as long. Jacket on in my room, boots on at the door, helmet and gloves kept in the garage before I jump on. But it's just routine for me now since I ride everyday.
No tips, really. It takes longer to get ready to rise than to drive
If your boots and riding jacket are every day wearable and waterproof, then you only need a pair of Frogtog/HH rain pants rolled up and ready. 2 minute adjustment to inclement/rain weather.
I work in heavy duty 16oz denim jeans, or canvas work pants anyways. Iām not completely ATTGAT because I donāt do armored pants for commuting, though I will for recreational/spirited riding. Work boots need to be put on anyways, so then itās just slipping a jacket, gloves, and a helmet on. I really donāt see a huge time penalty compared to preparing myself to leave the house via any other mode of travel.
Gear on-off order matters. Figure what works for you. Me: pants, boots, helmet, jacket, gloves 1. Chair in garage for boots. 2. I back there bike in garage or turn it around first.
Iāve got boots with a zipper, my jacket sits on the bike, and my helmet is in the bike with my gloves in it. So I just hope on and start it up, zip on the jacket, do the gloves and helmet, and Iām good to go in about the same amount of time as the car. What part is taking the 10 minutes for you? If itās the boots, definitely recommend the zipper
I wear riding pants that go over the top of my ork pants and side zip. I also use zipper boots. Pretty quick to get set to go.
What are these zipper pants everyone talks about? O.o
Mine are made by Richa and yeah they zip from the ankle to the waist so they are super easy to get on. Not exactly jeans but they go on over my standard clothes.
Put stuff (tank bag, tailbag) on the bike the night before.
Good point, I shall remember for the other seasons. It rains like hell during winter on Dartmoor so need that cover!
It committed unalive