Gear + your passengers

[neebelung]

All too often, we see sportbike riders who are mostly-to-fully geared (right down to good boots and a top-notch helmet), riding with a passenger who either has NO gear, or helmet only (more often than not they're in shorts, tank top, flip flops and sunglasses though). Now I know, they're hot, so the rider wants to show them off.... but (as we often say) road rash isn't hot, so if you care about your passenger, get her some gear! (or make her buy her own!)

A fatality here in Jax on this morning's news has me thinking about this... it was 2 cars versus motorcycle; rider is apparently okay, but passenger died. When they showed the bike, it was upright and looked fine, and the rider's helmet and jacket were placed on the bike (intact)... so I have to wonder what gear (if any) was the passenger wearing (or was he/she fully geared, and just thrown from the bike )?

So what about you - do you require your passengers to wear gear? Helmet only? Or don't give it so much as a thought?

(poll will be private, so answer as honestly as you wish).