Crash Tested: Steel Black 02 Dyneema® jeans vs. reckless driver

March, 2021 was an ordinary day to most of us, but not for Gustavo. Little did he know that a routine drive to work could end up like this. Life can change in an instant, sometimes in the best possible way… sometimes not. 

After three years of recovery, Gustavo is back on his Triumph and has shared his crash story with us. We all know that the best therapy is a long ride on your motorcycle and every ride you choose is safer with PANDO.

“What happened to me was that I was at a crossroads in Barcelona on my way to work. I was first in line at a red light, and when it turned green, I rolled the throttle, and all of a sudden I felt the hit on the left side.”

Unfortunately, some drivers disregard traffic laws and engage in risky behaviors, including running red lights or using their phones while driving. And this time a careless car driver did both: “This guy had just jumped the red light and clipped me on the leg, crushing it between his car and my bike.”

“I remember I couldn’t stand up, my heart was racing and I knew it was bad as I looked down” – Gustavo immediately knew his leg was broken and open fracture required immediate medical attention. Fortuitously, passersby gathered around him, providing assistance and calling for an ambulance. “I couldn’t reach my phone as it was mounted on the handlebar, and my bike had slid a couple of meters away from me.”

After waking up in the hospital, eight operations and three years of recovery waited for him around the corner.

Reflecting on that fateful day, Gustavo emphasizes the importance of proper motorcycle gear. On that fateful day of his life, he was wearing full motorcycle gear, including PANDO MOTO Steel Black 02 Dyneema® jeans. Dyneema® is the secret that fuels this gear’s power – it’s lightweight and 15 times stronger than steel – because safety can never be pushed too far.

Of course, none of the gear was left after the crash, and it couldn’t completely save him from a strong smash and broken bones. Paramedics cut his clothes trying to save him: “probably they had a real tough time cutting PANDO jeans”, but Gustavo shares that although he suffered severe body injuries, no additional bruises or skin injuries were found on his body, thanks to PANDO MOTO gear.

“After long recovery years, I’m back on the bike and feeling blessed that I’m still able to ride and feel the thrills of everything that comes with it. Can’t be luckier. Oh, and also learned not to ever be the first one to go on a traffic light.”

For the global PANDO MOTO community, Gustavo’s story serves as a testament to always paying attention to what’s going on on the road before crossing and choosing reliable protective gear.

Gustavo’s PANDO weapon of choice:
STEEL BLACK 02 – Men’s Motorcycle Jeans Slim-Fit Dyneema®

Do you have a crash story you’d like to share with us? Send us a message – we love hearing from our global PANDO MOTO community!