I'm 76 years old and have been riding motorcycles since 1948, I've never worn any protective devices outside of helmet's (started in the late 60's,) Levi's, leather jacket and gloves, for street riding.
Two piece Belstaff (oil treated canvas with no padding) suit, Georgia Giant lace up boots, Troston Halman MX gloves (little rubber strips on the back of each finger) and open face helmet with goggles, for dirt riding.
I stopped riding in the dirt in the middle 80's.
Whenever I ride my 18 speed mountain bike, I never wear and have never worn a bicycle helmet, I wear a NRA cap, backwards. >:-}
When my state made motorcycle helmets mandatory, I actually moved to a state that didn't. My dirtbike experience consists of accidently riding an old fashioned doodlebug on grass when the throttle stuck wide open. I still have a scar on my ankle from that. Well, I guess I have a little more experience than that. I also rode 3 wheelers for awhile back when they still made them. They were called ATCs, as I remember.