Have you ever gone to get on your motorcycle and stopped yourself for just a second and said to yourself, “Should I be wearing something a little more protective?” Chances are the answer to that question is always, “Yes.” The fact that you even had to ask yourself that question indicates that you’re probably not properly equipped or dressed for the ride, and that you should reconsider what you are wearing before you get out on the highway.
The motorcycle trip should always start with a review of what you are going to be wearing. First and foremost, we’ll start with your head. Got your motorcycle helmet? You should always have a good helmet that meets DOT safety standards or SNELL ratings so you know your helmet with hold up and protect you in case an accident were to occur. Your motorcycle helmet is the single most important piece of equipment that you can have when heading out for your trip.
Next, you should be wearing a motorcycle jacket to help protect your arms and torso from injury, particularly injuries like road rash. Time and time again I’ve heard horror stories of guys crashing their bikes, and they weren’t wearing a good jacket. Just imagine the thought of sliding down the pavement going 45, 50 miles an hour and not having any protective gear on. That sounds pretty painful doesn’t it? I’m sure that anyone who went through this experience will tell you that they wish they were wearing their gear. The jacket should be made of thick leather and reinforced armor padding. This type of jacket will be able to withstand the scraping and scratching that a fall will bring.
Your legs also need to be protected when you’re out riding your motorcycle. A good pair of riding pants or motorcycle chaps is a great solution for protecting your legs and buttocks in the event of a fall or crash. Riding pants or motorcycle chaps, like motorcycle jackets, are made with reinforce padding on the knees, and buttocks. These extra padding patches are usually rigid which prevents them from bending or flexing.
Some other safety apparel items to consider are gloves, boots, and goggles (if you’re not wearing a full face helmet). Leather motorcycle gloves will help to protect your hands in the event of a crash or fall, and they will also block the wind and cold on any trip. Shoes are also an important piece of equipment that you should pay attention to. I prefer to wear my steel toe boots when I ride because they offer maximum protection, especially from flying debris that may come up off of the road. Motorcycle boots also provide excellent protection for your feet and are usually lined to provide insulation during those cooler rides. Do not wear flip-flops, sandals, or any other type of shoe that will leave your foot exposed in any way. Not only will these types of footwear offer no protection in the even of a crash or fall, but they also leave your feet exposed to the parts of the bike that become extremely hot when riding. If you’re feet come in contact with any of these parts, they may be severely burned. Goggles help protect your eyes from excess wind and cold, and any flying debris that could injury your eyes and negatively affect your vision.
Remember, it’s important to make sure that you are wearing the proper riding gear every time you get on your motorcycle. Helmets, jackets, pants or chaps, boots, gloves, and goggles are all great pieces of equipment that will help protect you the next time you head out for that motorcycle trip.
The motorcycle trip should always start with a review of what you are going to be wearing. First and foremost, we’ll start with your head. Got your motorcycle helmet? You should always have a good helmet that meets DOT safety standards or SNELL ratings so you know your helmet with hold up and protect you in case an accident were to occur. Your motorcycle helmet is the single most important piece of equipment that you can have when heading out for your trip.
Next, you should be wearing a motorcycle jacket to help protect your arms and torso from injury, particularly injuries like road rash. Time and time again I’ve heard horror stories of guys crashing their bikes, and they weren’t wearing a good jacket. Just imagine the thought of sliding down the pavement going 45, 50 miles an hour and not having any protective gear on. That sounds pretty painful doesn’t it? I’m sure that anyone who went through this experience will tell you that they wish they were wearing their gear. The jacket should be made of thick leather and reinforced armor padding. This type of jacket will be able to withstand the scraping and scratching that a fall will bring.
Your legs also need to be protected when you’re out riding your motorcycle. A good pair of riding pants or motorcycle chaps is a great solution for protecting your legs and buttocks in the event of a fall or crash. Riding pants or motorcycle chaps, like motorcycle jackets, are made with reinforce padding on the knees, and buttocks. These extra padding patches are usually rigid which prevents them from bending or flexing.
Some other safety apparel items to consider are gloves, boots, and goggles (if you’re not wearing a full face helmet). Leather motorcycle gloves will help to protect your hands in the event of a crash or fall, and they will also block the wind and cold on any trip. Shoes are also an important piece of equipment that you should pay attention to. I prefer to wear my steel toe boots when I ride because they offer maximum protection, especially from flying debris that may come up off of the road. Motorcycle boots also provide excellent protection for your feet and are usually lined to provide insulation during those cooler rides. Do not wear flip-flops, sandals, or any other type of shoe that will leave your foot exposed in any way. Not only will these types of footwear offer no protection in the even of a crash or fall, but they also leave your feet exposed to the parts of the bike that become extremely hot when riding. If you’re feet come in contact with any of these parts, they may be severely burned. Goggles help protect your eyes from excess wind and cold, and any flying debris that could injury your eyes and negatively affect your vision.
Remember, it’s important to make sure that you are wearing the proper riding gear every time you get on your motorcycle. Helmets, jackets, pants or chaps, boots, gloves, and goggles are all great pieces of equipment that will help protect you the next time you head out for that motorcycle trip.
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