Essential Protective Motorcycle Gear
On a typical motorcycle ride, you face the threat of bad weather, kicked-up debris, a collision, and more. The right gear helps keep you safe and comfortable no matter what the road throws your way. We've gathered up the essential protective motorcycle gear that all riders should wear. If you have any questions or want to explore motorcycles for sale, head over to S&N MotorSports. Our dealership is based in Port Charlotte, Florida, and we also proudly serve those in Fort Myers.
1. A Helmet
You know you need a helmet, but not just any old model will do. First, it needs to be crash-tested by either a government agency or a non-profit. The crash-test ratings tell you how well the helmet held up in a mock crash scenario, so be sure to seek out an option with great results.
Second, it needs to fit you well. Too snug and it'll be uncomfortable to wear. Too loose and it won't offer the protection you need. Before you go helmet shopping, it helps to figure out your head size and head shape (which you can find in charts online).
Third, it needs to be less than five years old. After this amount of time, the binding begins breaking apart and the helmet won't work as well in a crash.
2. Eye Protection
As you cruise around on your motorcycle, you can face hazards such as kicked-up debris flying towards your face. Eye protection is crucial! If your helmet doesn't come with built-in eye protection, you will need to purchase goggles or sunglasses. Make sure you get eye protection that will fit with your helmet.
3. Hearing Protection
An often overlooked part of motorcycle riding protection is ear protection. When you ride your motorcycle, you face an onslaught of noise between your engine, the other motorists, and the wind. All of these noises combined can cause irreversible hearing damage. You'll want to throw on a pair of earplugs to prevent this damage. Use disposable earplugs, reusable earplugs, or even custom made earplugs.
4. Outerwear
Outerwear offers valuable protection in many scenarios, such as:
- helping block out the sun to limit sunburns
- helping keep you dry in the rain
- helping guard your skin in the event of a crash
If you are worried about full-length clothing making your rides too hot, you can seek out materials that are lightweight and breathable. There are plenty of outerwear options that wick sweat and offer ventilation, keeping you cool even on hot summer days.
5. Riding Boots
Your feet need protection too! Sturdy riding boots protect your feet from kicked-up debris, engine heat, wind, rain, and other hazards of the road. They also offer valuable grip in case you need to push yourself up after falling over.
6. Gloves
Exposed hands can struggle to control a motorcycle. They can become wet due to rain, which makes them slick. They can shiver due to the cold, which makes it harder to manipulate controls. Sturdy gloves help you maintain the necessary grip to control your motorcycle. They also protect your skin in the event of a crash.
7. A Neckerchief
There is a small amount of exposed skin between the top of your jacket and the bottom of your helmet, which can suffer from sunburns, wind chill, and so on. Throw on a neckerchief or bandana to protect this area and stay comfortable.
We hope you found this guide to essential protective motorcycle gear useful! If you want more riding advice or want to shop motorcycles for sale, head over to S&N MotorSports. Our friendly staff is happy to chat with you and help assist you with whatever you need. Our dealership is based in Port Charlotte, Florida. We also proudly serve those in Fort Myers, Florida.