Bike Kit

Ultimately it's crashing you need protecting against, so I would always avoid stuff that hasn't been up to the job in crashes. I've crashed in:

Dainese gloves, palm down on the road at about 50mph, gloves had some damage, hand injury free.
Alpinestars mesh summer jacket, same crash, elbow and shoulder ripped apart, but protections intact and no injuries at all.
Hein Gericke Kevlar jeans, same crash, knee had a small hole, no injuries to knee but a mahoosive big bruise on my hip which looked hideous, but strangely hardly hurt,
Alpinestas boots, same crash, foot got caught under the bike, boot was only cosmetic damage, sprained ankle (but I think it would have been a break if wearing non-bike foortwear).

Last track crash was in the same boots (no injury), a Gear one piece suite which had some sliding scuffs but hardly visible and no injury and Alpinestars gloves, they got quite scuffed on one palm which slid on the tarmac and that hand got a bit warm and tingly! No real injury though.

One to avoid, Spidi kevlar jeans (bought to replace the Hein Gerike ones) lasted less than a year until they wore holes in the inside of the knees from rubbing on the tank... Utter crap.

I must admit that between this and Meeks' thread about lids, it does bring it home that whilst you can afford the bike, there's a lot of ancillary stuff that needs purchasing.
I know it's bad, but if I was ever going to an end destination that would involve mooching around then I would often wear normal jeans and maybe even normal boots like Red Wings etc. I would only get fully kitted out if going for just a ride or to a bike meet on a weekday night etc.

I gave up on leathers years ago,  I use all weather armoured textile gear instead and Falco Patrol boots...comfy enough to wear off the bike. I’ve got another pair I use for long distance, more heavy duty and go higher up the leg. I’ve also started to wear a separate armoured vest recently....Rukka D30....for some added chest/back protection. 

I agree with that, but sometimes reality kicks in.

The crash I had with a textile summer jacket on was in July in Spain, about 36ºC and most cunts wearing only T-shirts on their bikes. Leathers would have been better, but fuck me I was glad I had that sweaty summer textile mesh jacket on.

I never ridea anywhere without at least low bike boots, kevlar jeans, mesh jacket and short cuff gloves.

I also always have a zip installed in the kevlar jeans so that my jackets zip onto the waist of the jeans. When you buy an Alpinestars jacket, it comes with the "other side" of the zip for that purpose. Don't know about other makes.

Thank fuck for that. When I saw that you said you'd fixed it for me, and knowing your creative writing skills, I think I got off lightly with a dogging accusation. I was half expecting an insinuation of giving the head of the local WI an Alabama hot pocket.