Crash Avoidance, Protective Gear, and Rider Responsibility
Gear that works
An FMVSS 218 helmet, eye protection, an abrasion-resistant jacket and pants in leather or armored textile, gloves, and over-ankle boots. Add bright colors and retroreflective material at night. Dress for the crash, not for the ride - at 25 mph a T-shirt and bare hands produce road rash and hand injuries that cost far more than the gear.
Where crashes come from
Most motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle, and the leading pattern is a car turning left across the rider's path at an intersection or driveway. Conspicuity measures that matter: headlight on, high-visibility gear, lane position out of blind spots, and never assuming a driver has seen you.
Rider responsibility in Oregon
Carry a valid license with the motorcycle endorsement, registration, and liability insurance. After a crash you must stop, render aid, call 911, and exchange information - leaving the scene is a crime. Don't remove an injured rider's helmet unless you must to clear the airway; wait for EMS.
Worked example
A rider goes down at 25 mph in a T-shirt with no gloves and slides across asphalt. Reasoning: sliding friction does the damage, and hands and forearms take the first impact. Gloves and a textile jacket with armor turn a skin graft into a bruise - the gear is cheaper than the emergency room.
Traps
- "I'm only going to the store" as a reason to skip gear.
- Assuming a driver who looked your way actually saw you.
- Reflexively pulling off a downed rider's helmet.
- Riding without insurance or a proper endorsement.