Choosing Your Safety Gear
Buy gear for the crash, not for the ride —Author unknown.
Ride smart. A helmet, jacket, boots, gloves and pants designed for motorcyclists are important and necessary items. In all but the worst accidents, your gear will save you from road rash and head injury or at least reduce the severity. Buy your gear for its protective qualities, not as a fashion statement.
Plan on spending between $500 to $1,000 for your gear. I initially rode in my hiking boots and paid $775 at a local store for the rest of my gear in early 2004. After my accident it was evident that my soft leather hiking boots did not provide acceptable protection. I bought a pair of motorcycle boots before riding again.
If you buy online be sure to carefully check the return and exchange policy and be prepared to send the item back for a different size. I strongly encourage you to buy the helmet from a local, knowledgeable retailer even though it is more expensive than buying online. You must wear the helmet before buying to ensure a proper fit.
Helmet: Get one, even if not required by law—head impacts are not any softer in states without a helmet law. Buy the best quality full-face helmet you can afford. 1/2 and 3/4 (open faced) helmets do not provide any face protection while riding or sliding over the pavement and ground after a crash. By law it must meet DOT standards. You may be safer if it meets the Snell Foundation standard which is more demanding, but there is no consensus on that point.
Fit and comfort is all important—so the best helmet for you is a DOT approved helmet that correctly fits your head and does not cause discomfort while riding. Too small and it can feel like torture. Too large and your head will rattle around inside the helmet during a crash. Each model helmet within a given brand will best fit a particular head shape. The only way to get a correct fit is to try it on, do some basic checks and wear it for a short while before buying. A wrong size or helmet shape will seriously dampen your riding enjoyment and decrease your margin of safety.
Related Links:
Some Basic Helmet Facts
Fitting The Helmet
How to Buy a Helmet
WebBikeWorld Helmet FAQ.
Jacket: A textile motorcycle jacket with a removable cold weather liner, CE approved armor and ventilation openings that can be zipped shut will provide satisfactory protection and reasonable comfort in all but the coldest and hottest of weather. Your best and most economical choice in the long run is a jacket that: is armored, is good for three season riding and keeps you dry when riding in light rain. For torrential downpours buy a rain suit and keep it handy under the seat.
Related Links: Armor FAQ
Gloves: Pavement and ground will mangle unprotected hands. Buy gloves specifically designed for motorcycle riding. You will want different gloves for moderate temperatures and hot summer days. Summer gloves will be ventilated for comfort. Winter is another matter—but you are not planning to start your riding career in the winter, are you? Look for leather gloves that are sturdy and have extra padding over the knuckles and heels of your palms. The seams should be sewn on the outside. Inside seams may rub against your fingers and cause discomfort. The thicker the leather the better the protection. Deer skin and kangaroo skin are stronger than cowhide but are more expensive.
Boots: Riding in street shoes, let alone flip flops, is just not cool. If you value your feet and ankles, wear a pair of sturdy, leather boots with slip resistant soles and sides that are high enough to completely cover your ankles. The soles should be thin and flexible to provide feedback when using the rear brake. Tuck the laces in securely and check them frequently while riding. If you can afford them, buy a pair of motorcycle boots that have extra protection for the toes and ankles.
Pants: Jeans are better than shorts. That’s about all you can say for them. They will begin shredding on impact and expose your skin to the unmerciful pavement or ground as you slide. Leather pants offer the most protection but are hot in the summer, don’t like being soaked in the rain and are expensive. Armored textile over-pants (to wear over your jeans or shorts) are a good choice for most of us. Some have a removable cold weather liner and are waterproof, even in downpours.
ATGATT: All the gear, all the time. Buying good gear does not protect you if you don’t wear it. Many accidents occur within a few miles of home. So wear it all the time, even for those quick trips to the store.
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