RIDING TIP: Number Five Mistake Experienced Riders Make

Published: Posted on July 7, 2016February 12, 2021 by admin

Last Updated: February 12th, 2021

Key Points:

• • The right motorcycle safety gear makes all the difference. It can keep you safe in the event of an incident and may even help prevent crashes.
  • Looking good on your bike is nice, but it’s much more important to choose gear that protects you.
  • Your motorcycle riding gear should cover several important categories. Think about the individual types of gear as well as your whole-body approach.

Why Motorcycle Riding Gear Is Important

Safety is important in every aspect of life, and that’s especially so when you’re riding your motorcycle. Whether you’re an experienced rider or you’re just getting your start in motorcycling, appropriate riding gear is an important investment that will always be worth it when you need it most. Some people appreciate the style of jeans and normal hiking boots or even tennis shoes, but you’ll be thankful for your motorcycle specific riding gear if you ever get into an crash.

You may have seen experienced motorcycle riding experts or coaches use the acronym ATGATT, which stands for All The Gear, All The Time. This is a good motto to live by because accidents can happen even if you’re just going out for a quick ride around the block. Gravity doesn’t discriminate between inexperienced and experienced riders. Nor does the length of ride prohibit riders from incidents. Many crashes happen when the driver or rider is within one mile of home, so don’t take anything for granted.

We know it’s important to some riders to look cool on the bike but believe us; no one looks cool when they’re all banged up on the side of the road. That’s why we always recommend putting function ahead of form. The good news is that there’s a lot of great gear out there, and it’s possible to find options that perform well and look good at the same time. It might cost you a bit more in the short term, but keeping yourself out of harm’s way in the long term is one of the best ways you can spend your money. With that in mind, let’s start from the top.

Motorcycle Helmets

A lot of people ask us if they really need a helmet. Even if you put the laws aside and just think about your own health, this is perhaps the most important piece of motorcycle safety gear. We have a saying around TEAM Arizona: Protect that which protects you. Our brain is our biggest asset when it comes to our safety, so we do everything we can to protect it to the highest level. As with most risk decisions, helmet models are available that put us somewhere on the sliding scale of brain and neck injury protection. Let’s see what works best.

There are three popular kinds of motorcycle helmets from which you can choose:

1. 1. Full Helmet – This gives you the most protection, which makes it a very good choice as it places us highest up on the sliding scale when it comes to preventing brain and neck injuries. How does it do that? Simply, it provides maximum protection for your head, face, and even your neck. This type of helmet normally includes a visor that can be lifted up out of the way if needed (like if it becomes hard to see through). The visor may be clear, or it could be tinted in any number of colors. Choose one that makes you comfortable, has enough ventilation to let you breathe well, and still makes it easy to hear what’s around you.
   2. ¾ Helmet – The ¾ helmet looks very similar to the full helmet, but looks can be deceiving. While they still cover the sides, top, and back of your head, they leave the chin bar area exposed. Why is this important to know? More than 1/3 of first impact to a user’s helmet occurs in the chin bar area. Thus, if you want to maximize your safety, this type may not be the best choice after first glance. The visor will be somewhat similar to what we described above for the full helmet.
   3. ½ Helmet – You might hear this type of helmet called a “brain bucket.” It covers the top of your head and may extend partially toward the sides and the back. There’s no protection whatsoever for your face, which is why most riders who choose this type of helmet also wear glasses or goggles for some eye protection. Of the three main options, this type of helmet offers the least protection. Due to its inability to offer rider protection, we avoid this helmet for use in our training and cannot recommend it for street use as the two options listed above perform far better.

Motorcycle Riding Jacket

Your jacket is another important piece of motorcycle safety gear. It can help prevent you from getting stung by airborne debris while you ride around, especially at high speeds. It increases your comfort when riding as it keeps the environment out. It will also help protect you from road rash if you ever fall from the bike.

There are many different materials to choose from depending on your style preferences and the function you want. Leather is a popular choice for the way it looks, but many people choose synthetic materials because of the way they last and for their weight reduction benefit versus leather. When considering a motorcycle specific jacket, think about what kind of pockets you want and how you want your jacket to fit.

Pants

Of all the riding gear that can protect you on the road, pants may be overlooked the most. Compared to blue jeans or other types of pants, motorcycle riding pants normally offer more ventilation, more protection, and better visibility. You’ll appreciate the difference if you ever find yourself sliding across the pavement.

Luckily for us, more manufacturers are offering jeans-style riding pants that include impact absorption and abrasion resistant materials. So you may not have to sacrifice style at all when it comes to motorcycle specific pants.

Like jackets, these come in various materials, including leather, denim, kevlar, or some combination. Many of these pants can be worn as a second layer, so you can still wear whatever you want underneath (whether that be shorts or your work slacks). Make sure you get some that fit comfortably with all of your other gear, like riding boots.

Suits

Instead of buying a motorcycle riding jacket and motorcycle riding pants separately, you may choose to get a single piece of motorcycle safety gear. Some suits are actually in two pieces, but they’re just designed to match perfectly. Other people like the one-piece style of motorcycle riding suits. In either case, think about how you’ll wear it and get something that will be comfortable for you in addition to keeping you safe.

Boots

First and foremost, motorcycle boots are designed for riding. Still, you may end up walking around in them at some point, so keep that in mind if you want to hop off your bike and go for a stroll without changing shoes. In the unfortunate event of a motorcycle accident, some of the most common injuries happen because the rider’s foot or leg gets trapped under the bike. Boots can prevent your feet, ankles, and lower legs in situations like that.

Motorcycle riding boots are also designed to give you good traction at any point when you have to put your feet on the ground, such as at a stoplight. There are often slippery fluids on the ground at intersections, so the non-slip surfaces of your footwear will go a long way. These boots normally have laces that can be tucked away, so they don’t get tangled with your bike, and buckles or velcro are common on motorcycle riding boots for the exact same reason. Some key features to look for when shopping for motorcycle boots include: ankle protection and support, over the ankle support, flat soles that do not flex easily, toe protection, and lightness (reduced weight has many benefits in a crash scenario).

Gloves

Gloves are underrated, but deserve a motorcyclist’s attention,because it’s a natural reflex to brace yourself with your hands if you ever fall. There are many different styles to choose from, so pick something that doesn’t make you feel too restricted. It’s important to keep good control of your fingers. We recommend full finger, gauntlet style gloves that offer exterior stitching, knuckle impact protection, and abrasion resistance panels.

Other Motorcycle Riding Gear

Beyond all of the things mentioned above, some riders like the following gear:

• • Body Armor – This can give you even more protection than your jacket offers.
  • Elbow, Shin, and Knee Guards – Again, this is an added layer of protection, as long as it doesn’t get in your way.
  • Eye Protection – This is a must-have, especially if your helmet doesn’t have a visor.
  • Hearing Protection – Earplugs are a good idea to save our precious hearing from wind noise and overly loud motorcycles.

For more tips on selecting the right gear, check out our other riding tips including:

• • When Misfortune Strikes: The Crash Aftermath
  • RIDING TIP: TIME TO GIVE YOUR MOTORCYCLE BOOT…DA BOOT?
  • Riding Tip: Safety Isn’t Sexy…or is it? 

While you’re at it, improve your skills with one of our ADVANCED RIDING COURSES.

Bill Seltzer has been a Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach since 2003 and a Total Control Advanced Riding Instructor since 2011.  He currently serves as the Marketing Director for TEAM Arizona and is a member of the Arizona Strategic Highway Safety Planning committee.  Have questions or comments about the article?  Email him: Bill@MotorcycleTraining.com