5 Essential Protective Gear Items

When driving a car, if something gets wrong you have a myriad of safety systems to help you out. Seatbelts, airbags and an entire protective shell all reduce any impact. That’s without mentioning preventative systems like blind-spot monitoring, anti-lock braking and traction control.

Every motorcyclist should own

But, when you’re on your bike, it’s often down to your gear and alone to protect you. Most motorcycles still don’t have airbags or incident prevention systems, and you can bet they don’t have an exterior like a car. That’s the whole point! It’s also why motorcyclists are 29 times more likely than drivers to die in a crash and need to build their own protective shell.

In this post, together with ZeСycles, one of the most popular online platforms for selling motorcycles, we’ll look at some essential gear items every motorcyclist should own and use on the road. We’ll dive deeper into how to pick the right gear for your kind of riding. We’ll also discuss exactly what items you should purchase to make safety a priority. Start your engines…

 Essential Gear Items For Every Motorcyclist

A helmet

 Perhaps the most critical piece of safety gear you’ll own, riding without a helmet can cost you your life. Your head is your most critical, and most vulnerable, body part. If you break an arm, sure it’ll hurt, but chances are you can recover in a few months. The same cannot be said for your head. Break your head and that’s that, so make sure you choose a helmet you love to wear every time.

There are a few ways to ensure you’ll never forget your helmet and that it protects you to the highest possible degree. These are:

Size – Your helmet should not be too loose or too tight. If you shake your head and your helmet wobbles, you’ll need tighter straps. However, if your helmet makes your head hurt after a while you definitely need something looser. The most significant thing is that your helmet is comfortable enough to wear for long periods because you can’t remove it on the road.

Visor – Most helmets come with a visor, so when you’re trying one on flip the visor and make sure it’s able to give you what you need. The visor should be user-friendly and not feel too flimsy. If you opt for a helmet without a visor, you’ll need safety goggles instead.

Rating – In North America, motorcycle helmets are safety-rated so you can be sure they work to a high standard. When purchasing your helmet, make sure it has a DOT, Snell, or ECE rating. These ratings mean the helmet has met safety standards set by the US or Canadian governments.

Style – It’s not as critical as safety, but if it makes you proud to wear your helmet every time, style shouldn’t be left out. Choose a helmet that suits you and makes a statement, or customize it once you’ve bought it. The options are endless.

Gloves

 Next, you’ll need gloves. Surely your hands aren’t as delicate as your head, right? That’s true, but chances are if you ever suffer a fall, your hands will be the first thing to hit the ground. So, gloves can absorb some impact and prevent scrapes or gashes.

When trying out motorcycle gloves, make sure you can still get an adequate grip on the handlebars. You should be able to feel their shape without your hands slipping or sliding along them when you turn. Similarly, if your hands move inside your gloves, it’s time to choose a tighter pair. You should also opt for gloves that are slightly longer than your wrist, to protect any space left by your jacket sleeves.

Boots

 Just like your hands, your feet can suffer life-changing injuries in a motorcycle accident. Proper riding boots will stay on during a crash, absorb a lot of impact, and keep your feet and ankles intact. However, even during everyday rides, boots will stop your ankles twisting and protect you during wet weather better than your favourite jeans ever would.

The most comfortable motorcycle boots will be sturdy to the squeeze, so get your hands on them before putting your feet in them. The soles of your boots should ideally be stitched, or at least well bonded, to the rest of the shoe. A thickness of at least 2.55mm is recommended. Because of this, it may be tempting to choose a steel cap on the toe. However, don’t forget these can cut and crush your toes in an accident.

Pants

 Although it’s fun to wear stylish motorcycle gear, you’ll need to look stylish when getting off your bike too. This is why finding protective pants that offer the benefits of both worlds can get frustrating. At the end of the day, your date may think you look funny if you’re wearing leather riding gear. However, it’s better than not making it to your date.

With that being said, you’ll need motorcycle pants with a lot of armour in critical places like the knees, shins, hips and butts. Leather should be at least 1.2mm thick and waterproof, as well as double-stitched at the seams to prevent tears. Do some strutting around the store to make sure your pants fit you well?

Tip: There are now jeans specially made for riding. These feature Kevlar armour in vulnerable spots. If you live somewhere with pleasant weather, they can be great for everyday rides. However, good old leather pants always serve you best for safety.

Jacket

 Last but certainly not least, you need a jacket. Unlike your lower half leathers, motorcycle jackets are a fashion statement, and it’s easy to find one that suits your style. But, as we know, style is far from the most significant thing when riding, and it should never trump safety. Here’s what you need to know about motorcycle jackets.

Like the pants, you’ll need a sturdy leather jacket of at least 1mm thickness, with double stitching on the seams, to keep you safe. You may be tempted to wear something lighter in the summer months, but remember, a little sweat is better than a lot of pain. Make sure the main zip is covered so it won’t rub your skin and distract you during your ride. When you first try your jacket on, zip it right up and windmill your arms a few times – make sure no skin is exposed at any point.

Ready to Go?

And there you have it! These are the 5 essential protective gear items every motorcyclist should own. They may cost a lot, but your life is priceless, so don’t scrimp when you’re safe.

Though much of your bike kit will have a significant lifespan, it’s worth checking every ride. This is to make sure there’s nothing that could put you at risk or that you’ll need to replace.

Now all that’s left to do is don your protective gear and get out there. Have fun!