Officials have reported that more than 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in 2019.
Before you get on your motorcycle, you need to make sure that you have the right protective gear. By understanding what to wear on a motorcycle every time you ride, you’ll help to keep yourself protected from the weather and injuries in the case of an accident.
That’s why today, we’ve created a complete guide to help you better understand all of the motorcycle necessities. Keep reading to learn more!
Helmet
In some states, wearing a helmet is legally required.
Wearing a helmet while you ride keeps your head protected from insects, hail, debris, and the wind.
Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have found that helmet help to improve your chances of surviving a motorcycle accident by 37%.
Depending on your riding style and how much traveling you plan on doing, you can choose between a half helmet and full-face helmets. Full face helmet to provide the most protection to your head, eyes, and ears.
We recommend wearing earplugs if you choose to wear a half helmet, as the wind rushing by your ears while you’re riding can increase your chances of hearing loss.
Plus, wearing a helmet allows you to use Bluetooth easily. As technology continues to evolve, there has been an increase in helmets that come with speakers and Bluetooth capability installed into the helmet.
If you’ve already found a helmet that you really like, you can purchase a kit that allows you to install Bluetooth capability or speakers. This will allow you to listen to music or directions while you’re out riding.
Leather Gloves
Many people argue that the second most important piece of equipment that you should wear while you’re riding is jackets.
However, gloves are the second most important piece of equipment that you can wear. Why?
If you ever are in a motorcycle accident, your instinct will be to extend your hands to protect yourself. As you’re sliding on the pavement, it could cause you to loose skin, grind off your fingers, and break bones.
While motorcycle gloves won’t protect you from everything that could happen during an accident, it can help to improve your chances of avoiding serious harm. Plus, the majority of motorcycle gloves nowadays come with knuckle protectors.
Not only will you help to keep your hands safe in case of the accident, but you can also invest in weatherproof gloves that help to keep you comfortable while you’re riding.
Motorcycle Jacket
When people talk about motorcycle gear, most riders are under the impression that it’s the gear you buy to make yourself look cool while you’re riding.
However, motorcycle gear is the protective equipment to keep yourself safe whenever you hop on your bike. Investing in a motorcycle jacket keeps you safe and looking cool.
There’s a large variety of materials that can go into creating a motorcycle jacket. Depending on the riding you do, you can purchase jackets that are made to keep you well-ventilated or to keep you protected from cold weather and rain.
If you’re against wearing a motorcycle jacket because it makes you sweaty, keep in mind that one-day a sweaty jacket could keep skin from being torn off of your body as you’re sliding across the pavement.
A motorcycle jacket will keep you protected. If you’re worried about sweating, buy a jacket that’s well-ventilated.
Motorcycle Boots
Over-the-ankle motorcycle boots are often one of the most overlooked pieces of safety gear that you can invest in.
Boots that are specifically made for motorcycle riders offer traction and protect the bones in your feet. If you aren’t wearing shoes that go above your ankle while you’re riding, there’s a chance that your shoes could fly off in the event of an accident.
When you’re shopping around for motorcycle boots, make sure that you’re buying boots that offer a sturdy design and protection for your ankles. While some manufacturers sell motorcycle shoes, they won’t offer the full protection that motorcycle boots do.
Motorcycle Pants
Many riders believe that cotton jeans or denim jeans will keep them protected while they’re riding. However, after sliding on the pavement for a couple of feet, the denim or cotton material will shred and leave your skin exposed.
Manufacturers have begun to make motorcycle jeans that have been mixed with Kevlar. By adding Kevlar in with the denim or cotton material, the motorcycle jeans are a lot less likely to shred. Also, some manufacturers also armor up impact zones on the jeans that are made from Kevlar and cotton.
However, if you’re interested in investing a motorcycle gear that keeps you highly protected, leather motorcycle pants can provide you with an extra level of protection.
Eye Protection
If you’ve invested in a full-face helmet, you can skip over this one. However, if you have a skullcap or an open face helmet, you should be sure to wear eye protection.
Sunglasses provide riders with protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. You can even invest in glasses that are shatter-resistant in case something from the road flies up and hits you in the face. If you plan on taking a long ride, bring an extra pair of shatter-resistant sunglasses just in case.
Eye protection will keep bugs, dirt, and wind from getting into your eyes and making it hard for you to see.
Undergarments
Yes, even your undergarments can help to keep you comfortable and safe while you’re riding. If you plan on riding in cold weather, investing in long underwear or thermals will help to keep moisture wick away from your skin.
Plus, your body will be insulated and you’ll stay warm while you’re riding.
High Visibility Vest
If you plan on doing a lot of night riding, wear a piece of high-visibility clothing. Vests that you wear over the top of your motorcycle gear can make you more noticeable in the dark.
High-visibility clothing also comes in T-shirts, wind pants, gloves, rain gear, and helmets. Wearing high visibility motorcycle gear will make sure that you’re visible at all times, no matter what the weather is.
If you’ve had one too many run-ins with unaware drivers, high-visibility clothing will make it easy for drivers to spot you and maintain a safe following distance.
How to Buy the Right Motorcycle Gear
Your life depends on the type of motorcycle gear that you invest in. Don’t cheap out if you want to make it back home safe.
That’s why you must buy the best motorcycle gear for your riding needs and the size of your body. Here’s how to go about choosing the best motorcycle gear:
Sizing
Before you purchase any motorcycle gear, try it on.
Pants, gloves, jackets, and boots will need to be snug enough to fit your body comfortably. However, there’s a fine balance between ensuring that your gear is snug and that it isn’t too tight.
By purchasing motorcycle safety gear that snuggly fits your body, it’ll provide you with the best possible protection as it stays in place if you’re ever scraping against pavement.
A great way to ensure that your gear continues to fit you over the years is to find adjustable sizing. Jackets and gloves can come with an adjustable waist.
As you’re trying on the right gear, make sure that it isn’t constricting your movement. You should still be able to lift your arms, move your hips, and bend your knees comfortably without feeling like your stuffed in gear it’s too tight.
Length
You should also make sure that your pants and jacket aren’t too long. When you’re sitting on your bike, you should make sure that the sleeves of your leather jacket cover down to your wrist. Your pants should also cover your ankles.
In the back, your jacket should overlap your pants by a little bit. Gear that’s too big won’t keep you protected when you’re out on the open road. If you’re buying your gear online, make sure that you check the return policy of the store that you’re buying from to ensure that you can return anything that doesn’t fit perfectly.
Understanding What to Wear on a Motorcycle
By understanding what to wear on a motorcycle every time you ride, you can make a big difference between getting seriously hurt and walking away in the event of an accident.
Safety and comfort are the two most significant influential factors that should play a part in what you choose to wear whenever you ride.
Know about any upcoming riding event near you? Let us know in the comments!
