Motorcycle: Clothing

The law says you must wear a motorcycle helmet whenever you ride, but that doesn’t mean it’s cool to ride in shorts and flip-flops, a bikini or stilettos. The right gear won’t just help you look the part, it could also make the difference between a knock to the ego and a week in hospital. Most motorcycle accidents happen at low speeds, so it makes sense to be able to walk away with slight bruising.

What’s most important? After the helmet, go for gloves, boots and eye protection. Hands and feet are the most likely areas to be injured if you have a minor spill, and among the hardest to fix. And if you’re riding at 20 mph, even hitting an insect can damage your eye, not to mention blinding you for just long enough to hit the bus stop and fall off. If your helmet doesn’t have a visor, get some goggles. Riding in shades looks cool, but if they’re not designed for the job they could break in an accident instead of protecting your eyes.

Many people buy a protective jacket but ride in denim jeans. Some of them will end up with nasty gravel rash, having slid down the road after a low-speed accident. If you want the casual look, you can now get jeans reinforced with Kevlar and similar materials.

Whether you go for leathers or textiles, look out for armour at vulnerable points like knees, hips, elbows and shoulders. It should be CE approved. Sometimes you’ll get pockets that the armour fits into, so you can take it out and clean the garment. Modern armour is usually light and flexible, so it shouldn’t limit your movement.

A back protector will protect you from knocks and bumps. If there is no pocket for one in your jacket, you can buy a separate one to wear underneath. You can now also buy jackets with a built in airbag to cushion your neck if you leave the motorcycle abruptly.

If you’re planning to ride off-road, you will fall off at some point, so invest in some specialist gear. It’s designed to be light and breathable, so you won’t overheat, but it will save you from some knocks.

Finally, remember that many motorcycle accidents are not caused by the rider, but by another driver who didn’t see the scooter or motorbike until it was too late. A high-visibility or reflective vest, bib or jacket may not do much in an accident, but it might help you avoid having one.

Whether you go for leathers or textiles, jacket and trousers or all-in-one suit, your clothing has to do a lot of jobs. You want it to keep you warm and dry, but not too warm in the summer. Even more important, it should protect you if you come off your scooter or motorcycle. And of course you want it to look right.

Leather is the traditional material for motorbike riding. It’s tough, so it gives good protection against knocks and scrapes, and it wears well. You can go for retro or modern styles, off the peg or made-to measure.
Most garments will have EC-approved armour, or pockets to add armour, for extra protection to knees, elbows, hips and back. If you plan some serious sports bike riding, think about an all-in-one suit or a two-piece that zips together. If you want to do a track day, they will usually insist on this.

The downside is that leather isn’t naturally waterproof and tends to stay wet, though you can get it combined with a waterproof membrane. And it can be too hot in summer and not warm enough in winter, so you may have to layer up.

Modern textile garments have come a long way since the classic waxed cotton. They can be waterproof, breathable, reinforced with Kevlar and similar fibres for protection, and as cosy or as cool as you need. Many jackets and trousers come with removable linings, as well as pockets for armour if it’s not built in.
Any style you can think of is available, from enduro-style adventure gear to an outfit that would suit the most fashionable urban café. Of course, if you’re planning to take a fast bike around a track, you probably want the reassurance of leather, but for normal riding textiles can cover most situations.

When you’re riding a one-piece suit offers better protection from everything including weather, but once you get off the motorcycle it can be cumbersome. If you go for the convenience of separate jacket and trousers, think about a set that fastens together or overlaps well.

Rather than go for a waterproof outfit, you might prefer to get separate waterproofs that can go on only when it rains. It’s a good opportunity to put on something more visible, too, as car drivers won’t see you so well with rain on their windscreen and mirrors.

Specialist motorcycle waterproofs have a few advantages over all-purpose types. They won’t flap around or get caught in moving parts, are less likely to melt onto a warm exhaust pipe and they’re designed to keep the weather out where it’s most likely to get to a moving rider – the chest, lap and cuffs, especially.

Bear in mind that waterproofs need to fit over your usual protective gear and leave you able to move. Do try this before you set out on your thousand-mile trans-Alpine trip, not when you’re standing in the downpour miles from home. It helps, too, if they can pack away small and go on and off easily without having to remove your boots or helmet on a wet roadside.

Buying a full outfit can seem expensive, but most motorbike kit is durable and will last for several years. So make sure it fits well, not just standing but also sitting on your motorcycle. It should let you turn your head freely for those lifesaver looks over the shoulder, and have room for warm clothes underneath if you need extra layers. Try to wear something that makes you more visible, a jacket with reflective trim perhaps, or get a hi-vis over-jacket you can slip on and then stow when you arrive.

And fashion? We can’t help you there. Today you can buy gear in every style from retro leathers to urban chic. Only you know what’s going to look great.

Your hands and feet are operating important controls as you ride, so the boots and gloves you choose are doing a number of vital jobs. As well as protecting you in case of accident, they have to keep you warm and dry without hindering your free movement. To see why the right gloves matter, try texting when your fingers are numb with cold.

Boots:
Even on a scooter, it’s important to wear boots that will protect your feet and ankles if you come off your motorcycle. If you don’t want to wear something that looks like a motorbike boot, there are plenty of style options, including casual leather boots and low-rise boots for urban riding.

Not all boots give the same protection, so look for the European Standard mark. And don’t think that your safety boots from work will do. Steel toe caps are designed to save your toes if you drop a piano on them, not your ankles!

Fit is important, so buy your boots from a dealer where you can try them on. If the boots are tight, they could restrict your movement or even cut off the circulation and numb your toes. Too loose, and they could easily come off and give no protection at all. If they slip on easily they’ll slip off just as easily.

Some boots designed for riding are not great for walking around all day, so if that’s important to you, wander around the shop in them before you commit yourself. But remember, you can always change your footwear when you arrive.
And do try them on with the trousers you plan to ride in, and sitting on a motorcycle if you can, to check you can operate any levers with them on.

You may want to get different boots for summer and winter. A waterproof boot with a fleecy lining is ideal for bad weather riding, but in summer you’re probably looking for something cooler and lighter.

Gloves:
Yes, your hands are the first thing to get cold, but there’s more to good motorcycle gloves than a thermal lining. Remember last time you fell over? Which bit of you met the ground first? Suddenly, a strong glove with a reinforced palm seems like a good idea. Gloves come in all sorts of styles, colours and sizes, so there’s no need to sacrifice style for safety.

Other things to look out for are a strap to hold the glove on, and a decent cuff to defend your wrist. Reinforced knuckles are a good idea too. Metal studs look tough, but in fact Kevlar or polycarbonate are more practical.

For winter riding, a thick glove with a thermal lining, or even room for a thin inner glove, will help you stay focused on the road, not the cold. Not all gloves are waterproof, but wet hands get chilled fast, so if you’ll be riding in all weathers look for Gore-tex or a similar rain-proof layer.

In summer, a thinner glove will probably be more comfortable. Town riding can mean your hands get hot - and tired, if you’re using the clutch and brakes a lot - and you may want something with ventilation.

Always try the gloves on and check that you can move your fingers freely, operate the motorcycle’s controls and adjust your visor. Does the leather bunch up under your palm when you curve your hand over a handlebar? That could become painful on a long ride. And any seams inside the glove will rub on your hand, which is the last thing you want. Ask somebody to try and pull the glove off, to check they’ll stay on when you need them.

A good pair of gloves will keep you riding for years, but don’t let that stop you buying a pair to match every outfit you ride in!