Every motorcycle owner knows that his two-wheeler is the riskiest vehicle on the road. Unlike cars, motorbikes don’t have any external or internal protection for the driver and passenger. According to Helmet Hunt, motorcycle accidents are in most cases fatal, and so, it’s always advisable to wear a safety helmet for every ride. Fortunately, you can minimize the peril following this safety gear guide by YourMotoBro experts. Read this article to know the most important aspects of choosing motorcycle safety gear.
Helmet – Yes, you really need it!
Choosing the safest helmet, you should consider the pros and cons of each helmet type. There are 3 classic types, such as the full face, ¾ cover, and ½ cover. Each class is suitable for the road, but it should comply with your driving habits, the load of your everyday routes, and the motorbike type.
The full-face helmet provides a hard shell not only for the back of your head and temples but also for your neck, chin, and the entire face. The eye protector is usually made of an ultra-solid plastic that can’t shatter into sharp pieces and will protect your eyes from everything from night insects to medium rocks and sharp glass shrapnel.
Although it looks like a vacuum sphere on your head, a qualitative full-face helmet lets you head everything around clearly and breathe through ventilation. Custom options include air filters and additional eye protection, such as sunscreen, UV radiation screen, a color filter, or even a holographic HUD to keep you focused on the road.
A ¾ cover helmet type is nearly the same as the full-face type, but it offers worse facial protection. While your eyes and forehead are safe, your chin still can be affected in this helmet. At the same time, it provides better face ventilation and slightly better audibility.
Finally, the ½ type provides your head with a 50% cover. For that, it’s also jokingly called a “brain bucket.” It doesn’t protect your face and neck at all, so extra safety measures may be needed. Such helm is enough for chopper and small scooter riders, who don’t drive at high speeds or go into sharp turns on high speeds. For the rest, YourMotoBro.com experts recommend ¾ and full-face products
Besides, it’s better to purchase only the headgear that passed at least one independent safety test. You can look for marks on the product or ask the seller if the helmet passed any tests, such as:
- Impact Testing;
- Chin Bar Test;
- Faceshield Penetration Test;
- Positional Stability Test or a Roll-Off Test;
- Shell Penetration Test;
- Dynamic Retention Test.
It’s also important to know if the helm meets technical standards of the US, Europe, or the UK. You should look for such marks as:
- Department of Transportation FMVSS218 (United States);
- European Standard 22/05;
- European 6658-85 Type-A;
- SHARP (UK).
Jackets & Pants – Style and Security
If you want to ride something faster than Vespa and somewhere farther than the nearest supermarket, the right full body cover is necessary. Let’s start with a jacket. No matter what material you prefer, you should look for the lightest and the most convenient one. Your jacket must also fit the weather conditions in your area and be able to reduce heat or save your joints from hypothermia. Some models, like IXS Montevideo II, can even provide you with convenient 4-season protection. However, comfortability doesn’t always mean safety.
Make sure that your jacket has at least some reflective elements to add up to visibility on the road both day and night. It’s important for the pants you wear too. They must be made of a bright reflective material or at least have reflective inserts. The best material to that extent is textile, as it’s versatile and incredibly durable at the same time.
Leather tends to wear out too fast, but it’s definitely more stylish and safe enough. If your choice is denim, don’t think that your new Lewis is good enough. Look for solutions with integrated kevlar plucks, water, and wind protection. Another crucial factor for pants is size. They must be bigger than your everyday pants to fit well when they are on.
All parts of your riding suite must have at least the basic armor. All joints must be covered in durable and light material, the best of which is kevlar. If you own a speedy sports bike, never neglect abrasive pucks for knees, bottom, shoulders, and, most importantly, spine. Wearing jackets with spine protection is the only way to avoid laceration and fatal spinal cord injuries. The best spine protection is usually offered by body armor. Moreover, it’s compact enough to fit under a jacket as a shirt. Some of them even have built-in automatic airbag systems.
Requirements for a coverall suite are the same as for jackets and pants. Suits are the best solution for sports and those riders who seek an all-in-one solution that prioritizes comfort and safety.
Boots – Care About Your Feet
Motorcycle boots are not just another way for moto brands to get into your wallet. They’re created with safety in mind. A pair of good riding boots provide shields for ankles and reduced flexibility to save lower leg bones from crashing. Even if you prefer classic boots to shiny sporty models, they will have special hidden laces to avoid tangling and extra stitching layers to make you ready for emergency sliding.
At YourMotoBro.com, we prefer thick leather boots with waterproof inserts, abrasion-resistant covering, and good ventilation. As for the look, the market is full of stylish, high-quality models. Or in a pinch, order a custom design in a workshop.
Gloves – Grip & Wrist Protection
Choosing gloves, look for models that have kevlar knuckles and hard shells around your wrists. In hot areas, wear light gloves with robust ventilation to avoid sweating palms. Some modern models for cold seasons even have built-in heating, but there are quite a lot of classic solutions without electronics as well. In case you use your smartphone or other touch-screen devices for navigation, look for gloves with magnetic lining.
Take Care!
If you don’t want to be in the list of motorcycle riders who died in crashes, don’t ever try to save money on security gear. For more details check “ProtectiveGearz” Even if you get into an accident by somebody else’s fault, high-quality road armor will let you get back on the highway faster!