Sorry to here it happened. We are all at the mercy of the machine when we ride. Most of us don't weigh more than a Busa, so we have to balance it when we're not moving fast enough for the wheels to take over. If something upsets the balance, it will tip over. When we ride the balance that the wheels provides, is the same force that doesn't want to turn. Again, if something upsets the balance, it will tip over.
Wearing gear is a personal choice. When something upsets the balance, and your moving 30 or more MPH, what will you do? You will tip over with your bike.
I dumped my Busa going 40 MPH on a tight/blind corner, that I'd never ridden before. I went a different line than the rider before me (BentValve), and ended up running over the painted line. My front wheel washed out, and down I went. I was in control of the bike until something upset the balance/traction, then I hit the ground.
I wore through my right knee slider more than 1/4in. in one spot (Teknic leathers are great). My right shoulder dis-located, and I tore 3 ligiments in it. My leathers had just over 20ft of sliding on them before I impacted the with Busa at the guard rail. My helmet had a 3in wide gash through 3 of the 5 layers (thank you Aria).
The Country Sheriff that came to the scene said "I'd be calling you an ambulance if you didn't have that gear on!", and he meant it. He also told me that the marks my shoulder left on the pavement would have torn the skin completely off my shoulder, probably leaving the bone exposed.
Murphy has no compassion if you wear gear or not. He'll bite you in the arse if you do have gear on, but he'll tear your arms off if you don't!
