Riding Gear - Where to Start
If you are new to motorcycling, you’ve likely already learned that there is a black hole of gear options. Those options also have a huge swing in price. What makes something this price or that? Is it worth it? Will it offer the right kind of protection? For most new riders, getting a motorcycle is the pricey part, and gear is often an after-thought, and a shock.
Let us break it down from head to toes with what is necessary, and help you make a better decision for yourself and your needs regarding your motorcycle riding gear. If you stick with motorcycling, you will likely end up with more gear eventually. Like any other sport, most people don’t go reaching for the top shelf right off the bat but rather ease into it. Come along as we discuss some stepping stones into the realm of motorcycle gear and protection so you can gear up with more confidence.
A Note Before We Begin
Motorcycle gear is designed for a crash. Wearing jeans and a leather jacket is not protection. Those street clothes are not designed to withstand the abrasion of speed against pavement. Be careful about the gear you pick as there are many sellers, especially online, that will claim a jacket, boots, etc. is a “motorcycle” jacket, when it’s not. Be smart, and do your research. Shop at motorcycle gear specific dealers and stores. A good physical store option is Cycle Gear. A good online store option is RevZilla. You can also go to your local motorcycle dealership. They will also have gear available and some dealers will actually roll the price of your gear into the financing when you buy a motorcycle from them.
Helmet
Picking a helmet can feel tricky. You’ll want one that fits your head and face well. Try not to get too distracted by the fun colors and design when choosing a helmet. A proper fit is more important for your safety and overall comfort.
Consider what you’ll need and want:
DOT and/or SNELL certification sticker on the helmet
Buy from a legitimate helmet dealer/store
Full-face helmet
Modular helmet
Three-quarter helmet
Half shell helmet
Does it fit well and feels comfortable
The United States requires motorcycle helmets pass testing that certifies they are safe and approved. On the back of a motorcycle helmet you’ll find one or two stickers. One will be a DOT sticker. The other (in addition to the DOT sticker) will read SNELL. It is not necessary to have a helmet that has both certifications, however it must have the DOT sticker which states it is a certified and legal motorcycle helmet in the United States. Warning, some people will sell you a fake DOT approved helmet. It is best to get your helmet from a legitimate retailer.
Helmets can vary in price from the low hundreds to the thousands. A $1000 helmet and a $200 helmet both passed the same DOT certification (so long as they have the sticker). Some of the most common difference are going to be comfort , weight, wind sound, aerodynamics, styling, and additional safety technologies.
You’ll have a choice between a few helmet types: Full-face, modular, dual-sport, off-road, open-face, and half-helmets.
When it comes to the fit, it’s like wearing a seatbelt or a parachute correctly. Just because you have it on, doesn’t mean it’ll work properly if used incorrectly. The fit of your helmet is vital to it providing the correct protection in the case of a crash. We highly recommend you do your research and go into a physical dealer/store to get fitted. If you are fortunate enough to connect with someone that really knows helmets well, they’ll be able to walk you through making a helmet fit you better by changing out the padding for example.
Another note on new helmets, they should feel snug, especially when they are brand new. They will begin to relax and feel better after you’ve worn it some. Be careful though as some poor fitting helmets can cause painful pin points or broader discomfort. Helmets are highly personal and the brand or style your best friend uses may not be a good option for your head shape. Again, do some research, and talk with an expert to properly get fitted for your new helmet.
For a more comprehensive look at helmets check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s article “Choose the Right Motorcycle Helmet.”
Eye Protection
Depending on the type of helmet you choose, some come with a face shield that can protect your eyes from wind and debris. If you want to feel the wind on your face and prefer to not use or have a face shield, you’ll need something to protect your eyes.
Consider what you’ll need and want:
Helmet face shield
Glasses
Sunglasses
Goggles
Not only do you need to protect your eyes from wind and debris but also the sun. Squinting all day can be fatiguing and having alert eyes is vital to operating your motorcycle safely by responding to visual cues.
There are motorcycle specific eye wear options out there, however it is not critical for your safety. What motorcycle specific eye wear does do is enhances the overall comfort, usually when paired with a helmet. Sliding in a pair of standard sunglasses over your eyes while wearing your helmet can create pressure and pain which can become distracting and irritating over time. A motorcycle specific pair of sunglasses might be better suited to fit under a helmet without causing unwanted pressure.
Finding an eye wear option is also very personal as it needs to fit your face and under your helmet. Take your helmet with you when trying on new eye wear to get a better fit.
Jacket
If you thought helmets were a black hole, welcome to jackets and upper body protection. Keep in mind not all protection is created equally, and you are often getting what you pay for. However, there are some good low cost options, and there are cheap ones.
Consider what you’ll need and want:
Protection rating
Material(s) used
Weather protection
Abrasion resistance
Riding style
The armor and abrasion resistant material(s) found in jackets (and pants for that matter) are rated for varying impacts, abrasion, and speeds. Keep that in mind while you search for a protective motorcycle jacket. Consider and be honest about what speeds you’ll intend to ride at, then get a jacket that is rated for those speeds. For example, an “urban” style jacket that looks and feels great on and off the motorcycle is not rated to withstand a crash over urban speeds, which is generally no more than 45 mph.
Then take into consideration the type of weather you’ll likely ride in. This is a common mistake for many riders. They get the same jacket they see others wearing online, but it might not perform the way you need it to for your climate. GORTEX jackets are a perfect example of this. They are wonderful for keeping water out but are heavy and aren’t great for dry, hot climates, they are wonderful for cold and wet conditions. Get a jacket that you enjoy for your climate. You can get accessories for the jacket if you need it be warmer or drier when those elements arise.
Lastly, get a jacket that suits your riding style. Will you need a jacket that does it all because you intend to tour the U.S. and beyond? Are you using your motorcycle to commute to and from work? Or do you have plans of riding off-road and need something that doesn’t hold you back as you ride on the trails? Create a checklist for yourself as you search for the right jacket for you and your needs.
Pants
Your riding pants are going to have all the same consideration elements as your riding jacket.
Gloves
Your hands are one of the first things you’ll send out to catch yourself in the case of a fall. It’s an automatic response. Gloves, just like jackets and pants, come in varying degrees of protection, technology, materials, comfort, and cost.
Consider what you’ll need and want:
Protection rating
Material(s) used
Weather protection
Abrasion resistance
Riding style
Depending on the material the glove is made of will determine how it should fit when you first buy them. If the glove is primarily leather, a slightly snug fit is ideal at first. After you wear the glove the leather will stretch some and form to your hand, and fit you like, well…a glove. If you’re going for a synthetic material, you’ll want the glove to fit the way you want it to from the get go as they don’t typically have as much give and stretch.
Gloves also match up with the style of riding you’ll be using them for. If you compare a dirt bike glove to a sport bike track glove, you’ll see a major difference. That has a lot to do with the speed involved in those riding disciplines. Just like the jacket and pants, consider the speeds at which you’ll be riding with your gloves and get something that can resist that kind of abrasion in the case of a crash.
Your hands are critical to being able to control your motorcycle. Consider cold hands, hot hands, wet hands, or gloves that are too tight and cause your hands to go numb. Get a glove that will keep your hands warm, cool, dry, and comfortable so you can operate the necessary controls.
Boots and Foot Wear
Like any of the above articles of motorcycle gear, boots and foot wear are also motorcycle specific. They are designed to stay on your feet in the case of a crash. They usually have additional armor at the ankles and some have a more solid shank. Most motorcycle boots and foot wear will also have a pad over the left toe to protect the boot from ware and tear from the shifter.
Consider what you’ll need and want:
Boot or Ride Sneaker
Protection rating
Material(s) used
Weather protection
Abrasion resistance
Riding style
Very simply put, you get to choose between a boot or a ride sneaker. The boots are pretty straight forward, and do come in a large variety of options and protection based largely on the style of riding. A tour rider’s boot is nothing like that of the motocrosser’s boot. Ride sneakers look like shoes, but are high-tops. They come up around the ankle to add a little more protection than a standard sneaker and are of course designed for motorcycling and crashes.
Overall
Motorcycle gear is designed for crashing and the gear is not all created equally so keep that in mind when buying gear that is supposed to protect you in the case of a crash. Motorcycle gear is also designed and styled to look nice, function, and perform while you ride through weather, and ride athletically. However, they are designed first to protect you in the case of a crash. The worst thing you can do, especially as a new rider, is assume “it won’t happen to me.” Even the most experienced riders go down. All it takes is a little oil they didn't notice on the roadway to send them to the ground, at speed.
Do what you can, for now, to get the best gear you can afford. Don’t worry, you’ll get more gear as you go. Enjoy the process and ask and answer your own questions honestly. Find something that you feel good in. It looks great on you and it gives you the peace of mind regarding protection for the style of riding you’ll be doing.
Welcome to motorcycling! We’re happy you’re here.
