When we are freshly starting out with motorcycle riding, getting a bike, license and the appropriate training is just the first step. From the right clothing to other helpful tools, there is a lot of equipment to choose from. It’s not always easy to figure out which parts are necessary, and many motorcycle riders disagree on the right choices. Here are the best pieces of gear for beginners to pick up.
The importance of motorcycle equipment for beginners
A motorcycle has many benefits. It’s easier to store than a car, it’s cheaper, and many traffic situations are easier to navigate with the small and nimble machine. However, there are risks when we are riding a motorcycle. The small size and flexible movements leave it without protection and often overlooked by cars.
When we buy motorcycle equipment, our goal is to either avoid a motorcycle accident entirely or reduce the severity of injuries if we do get involved in a crash. This means there are two basic goals for motorcycle equipment:
- help us ride – The equipment can make us more comfortable and make it easier to be alert for long times, or aid us in controlling the bike more effectively.
- protect our body – Protective gear, like a helmet, shields our body in case of an impact.
Motorcycle clothing, helmets, armor and additional gadgets can help us with both of these purposes.
What are necessary parts of motorcycle equipment?
Which equipment is necessary is often a personal choice. However, you should consider that a set of protective clothing, including motorcycle boots, gloves, and a helmet, is widely considered critical , and it was proven in many studies that this kind of gear can save your life and reduce injury severity.
Clothing
Motorcycle clothing includes jackets, pants, jumpsuits, gloves, and boots. It is made of tough materials that won’t rip on contact with the ground and give you road rash. They also protect you from weather influences and keep you comfortable. Additionally, they stabilize vulnerable areas (like your ankles and wrists) or cover them with armor plating (like your knees and elbows).
This way, the clothing protects you from abrasions, cuts, penetrations, and broken bones while also shielding you from the air flow, rain, or UV-rays.
Helmets
Motorcycle helmets are often mandatory, as they should be. They protect your head and therefore one of your most critical organs. You should never ride without a helmet. Make sure to buy a new helmet and to select a product that was certified to reach the necessary safety standards.
By protecting your eyes from the air, particles, and the sun, the helmet keeps you comfortable and concentrated.
Armor
Next to the armor that is typically part of motorcycle clothing, you can buy additional armor. For example, there are armor vests or knee pads you can wear over regular clothing or in especially dangerous situations.
Gadgets
There are many technological gadgets you can use to make your riding experience saver and easier. These are mostly optional but can be a great addition to the base gear.
- Airbag Clothing – Unlike a car, the motorcycle has no airbags. However, you can add these yourself by buying airbag clothing. These are typically vests that hide an air canister and the inflatable bags. There are two types of triggers. One variant activates the airbags when a tether you have connected to the bike snaps. Another version uses sensors that can recognize an impact and inflate the airbags immediately.
- Navigation Systems – You can use your phone or a navigation device and attach it to your handlebar. Alternatively, there are more and more companies working on helmets or additional gadgets you can attach to your helmet that will display the navigational information in a head up display directly in your field of vision. Some of these systems are still in testing since they need to make sure the HUD does not interfere with the rider’s vision and safety.
- Bluetooth Systems – Our phone and navigational devices should be used with a pair of Bluetooth headphones that will connect to the device and give us audio directions. Some of these systems can be connected to other riders when we are taking a trip together, so we can communicate easily. There are some helmets that are built to connect with Bluetooth items as well. They have buttons on their shell that we can use to control them.
Conclusion
Motorcycle equipment is built to protect you from harm, keep you comfortable, and help you with useful information. A set of motorcycle clothing and a helmet are critical pieces of gear. It lessens the force of impacts and protects you from injuries, like cuts and road rash. Additionally, it keeps you comfortable and helps you control your bike, for example by improving the grip with gloves. Optional gadgets and armor can be used to improve your riding experience even more.
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