What to Wear on a Motorcycle
While riding a motorcycle can be thrilling, it’s not without its risks. Luckily, those risks can be tremendously minimized by wearing protective safety gear. Regardless of weather conditions, there are a few items no rider should be without: a helmet, gloves, jacket and boots. Let’s learn more about what to wear on your bike.
What to Wear Riding a Motorcycle
Motorcycle gear is about safety not fashion and the most important thing you’ll need is a helmet. In most states it’s the law to wear a helmet but regardless, we recommend you always wear one to protect your head and also keep bugs out of your face. There are several types of helmets such as full-face, open face and skull caps. Be sure that it’s DOT approved and fits properly. Read more about how to size a helmet here.
The next most important piece is gloves. You’ll want your hands to stay warm and protected while you ride and also in the event of a crash. You’ll also want a jacket that not only provides insulation and resists weather, but will also stand up to abrasion as a result of a crash. Look for tight closures at the neck and wrists and adequate ventilation. You may also consider a bright color which will make you more visible to other riders.
The main things to look for when it comes to motorcycle footwear is to make sure your boots are sturdy, have good tread and provide over the ankle protection. Your boots should also have low heels and non-skid soles to grip pavement and the foot pegs. Boots also offer protection from things flying up off the road, burns from hot pipes and adverse weather.
Additional Important Motorcycle Apparel
If you wear a full-face helmet you won’t need additional eye protection, but with an open face helmet you’ll want to wear glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from wind, dirt and debris from impeding your vision. Glasses should provide UV protection and be made of a shatter-resistant material. Sunglasses can be worn during the day, but you’ll want to change to clear or slightly tinted lenses as night approaches.
Whether you choose to wear riding pants or leathers over your everyday clothing, the key here is protection. Leather, kevlar and other synthetic materials used in pants designed specifically for motorcycle riding will protect you best in case of an accident. Some pants also have hard plastic armor at the knees and hips. Remember, shorts, dress pants or athletic pants will not stand up well against pavement or if the weather suddenly changes.
If you live in an area where the climate changes, you’ll want to always be prepared for the worse case weather scenario. It’s always a good idea to dress in layers, and have warm and waterproof layers packed on board in case the weather takes a turn. Rain gear in particular is compact and easy to store.
Riding with the right motorcycle gear will give you peace of mind and comfort. Don't skimp on your layers, treat yourself to the best items available so you can keep riding safely as long as possible. If you’re looking for high quality and dare we say fashion forward gear, be sure to check out our riding apparel here.