Motorcycle riding safety gear is as mandatory as wearing a seat belt in a car.
But with the myriad of helmets on the market, choosing the right one can be intimidating.
And that’s just the helmet – you’ve still got jackets, pants, armor, boots, and gloves to think about.
In this blog, you’ll discover:
- Why you must wear All The Gear All The Time
- The 4 kinds of motorcycle helmets – and the 1 type I recommend you buy
- Things to consider when choosing a helmet (and why you must NEVER buy a used helmet)
- The 2 different types of motorcycle jackets
- The ratings for motorcycle armor
- What kind of footwear you must use
Quicklinks:
- Why You Need Full Motorcycle Riding Safety Gear (It’s Not a Fashion Statement)
- 5 Main Types of Motorcycle Helmets
- Half-helmets
- 3/4 helmets/open-face helmets
- Full face helmets
- Off-road helmets/dirt bike helmets
- Modular helmets (or “flip up helmets”)
- Buying a helmet – things to consider
- Motorcycle Helmet Ratings to check for
- Your head shape
- Why Buying used Helmets is a Bad Idea
- When do you replace your helmet?
- Motorcycle Jackets
- Leather jackets
- Textile jackets
- Motorcycle gloves
- Motorcycle armor & armor ratings
- Motorcycle Trousers
- Motorcycle boots
- What kind of boots should you get?
Why You Need Full Motorcycle Riding Safety Gear (It’s Not A Fashion Statement)
5 Main Types of Motorcycles Helmets
Half helmets (or “brain buckets”)
¾ helmets/open-face helmets
Full-face helmets
Off-road helmets/dirt bike helmets
Off-road helmets are common with dirt bikers and enduro riders.
Unlike the previously mentioned helmets, off-road helmets have peaks to deflect rocks and dirt being kicked up from the wheels (also known as “roost”).
Unlike a ¾ helmet, an off-road helmet offers sturdy face protection. However, similar to the ¾ helmet, the off-road helmet doesn’t offer much in terms of eye protection – remember to get a good pair of goggles.
I’d recommend getting an off-road helmet if you’re planning to do more trail riding or dirt biking than street riding. Otherwise, get a full-face helmet.
Modular helmets (or “flip up helmets”)
Buying a helmet – things to consider
Motorcycle Helmet Ratings to check for
- Australia and New Zealand have the AUS 1698-2006 rating
- Sweden has the SIS rating
- The UK has the BSI rating
Your head shape
Why Buying Used Helmets Is a Bad Idea
When Do You Replace Your Helmet?
Motorcycle Jackets
Leather jackets
Textile jackets
Textile jackets are usually made from polyester and nylon. This makes textile jackets great for riding in hot weather.
Textile jackets are often made to fit over your regular clothes. If that’s the case, make sure that you:
- Have room underneath for additional layers
- You have a non-restricted form of movement
Also, keep an eye out for a “CE” mark – this will tell you that the jacket has protective properties.
“Easy for you to say – you live in Northern Europe. I live in Texas, where it’s 110 in the summer!”
With the exception of your thumb, notice how thin your fingers are?
In a crash, your fingers as especially vulnerable. Since there’s not much flesh on them, it’s possible to grind them down to the bare bone.
Disgusting, isn’t it? But like road rash, it serves to prove a point – wear proper motorcycle gloves.
During colder weather, you can wear heavier, insulated or even heated gloves.
Motorcycle armor & armor ratings
- The “EN” stands for “European Norm”
- “1621” states that the armor is for motorcycle use.
- EN1621-1: the armor is to be used anywhere EXCEPT on the back
- EN1621-2: the armor is to be used on the back
Motorcycle Trousers
There are two important factors you must take into account when buying a pair of motorcycle trousers:
- They must cover your legs completely
- They should have slots for knee armor pads or knee protectors
Knee injuries are unpleasant, so the more you can protect yourself from them, the better.
Apart from that, make sure that your trousers fit you properly – just like your jacket.
Motorcycle boots
So what kind of boots should you get?
- The boots are comfortable
- You can operate the gear shifter and the rear brake with ease.
That’s why boots with shin and ankle protectors can be a real saver.
Not only that, but they’ll also protect your feet from getting burned by the exhaust or any bare metal parts while you ride.