Motorcycle safety is as important as when driving a car or maybe even more so because it’s just you, the bike and the environment. A minor distraction, another rider or driver’s carelessness or an obstacle on the road can cause an accident and unless safety gear is worn, it’s a matter of seconds before injuries are sustained.
Basic safety gear is available in most motorcycle dealerships and independent stores. Quality varies depending on the manufacturer and how much you’re willing to pay. What is certain is that good quality gear has better safety features and lasts longer.
Helmets
Helmets are required to be worn by law so you can’t skirt the necessity. Head trauma is one of the leading causes of death in motorcycle accidents and the simple act of purchasing and donning one is literally the difference between life and death.
Full-face helmets offer the best protection among other types like half helmets and open faces. They do take getting used to especially if you don’t like to feel restricted when riding. You can also opt for a motocross helmet if it’s more your style. However, you may have to wear safety goggles to get the same protection as full-face helmets.
Gloves
Gloves look cool and they offer so much protection. When falling, we instinctively stretch out our hands to break the fall and cuts and bruises are sustained in the process. While gloves don’t protect against fractures, they do prevent hands from lacerations.
You can choose winter gloves with extra padding for insulation, summer gloves which allow skin to breathe, half gloves for style or waterproof gloves for rainy days.
Jackets
What rider doesn’t look super cool wearing a motorcycle jacket? That reason is enough for some to buy one but if you need to know how you stand to benefit, here it is. Like helmets and gloves, jackets protect the upper torso from cuts and scratches in the event of a fall. They also shield against excess heat and cold. Waterproof varieties act as a partial raincoat.
If you’re worried about sweating under a jacket, there are summer jackets that have plenty of ventilation and are very lightweight to keep the skin cool and provide unhampered mobility.
Boots
Motorcycle boots are another component that shouldn’t be missed because they provide extra grip when riding. Many have shin guards so you can sure of not getting a nasty bump amidst flying pebbles or accidentally knocking yourself on the bike.
Knee guards
Knee guards are a part of standard riding gear for many and shouldn’t be overlooked when suiting up. If wearing separate guards puts you off, at least wear pants that have knee protection.
Pants
If you like wearing motorcycle jackets, why not complete the set up with pants? The legs bear the same amount of force as the rest of the body during a fall and lacerations can be painful. Investing in a good pair of motorcycle pants also means you don’t have to spend as much on medical bills than if you weren’t wearing them.
Chaps, leather and fabric pants are the three options available. Leather is favored but it isn’t waterproof and ventilated. Chaps don’t offer protection to the hip, groin and rear areas while fabric pants are well-ventilated and rainproof but aren’t as comfortable as leather pants.
Goggles
Goggles are must-haves for helmets with no visors. They keep dust and rain out of the eyes and reduce glare.