What protection is essential for riding a motorbike?
It is just as important to wear the right motorbike protection as it is to have a well-maintained bike and to know how to ride it. Being well equipped will give you good protection in case of a fall. In this article, we present you with the essentials of protective equipment for a motorcyclist.
The helmet
Let's start with the basics. Helmets are mandatory by law for all types of motorcyclists around the world. A good helmet is probably the most important piece of motorbike protective equipment for a motorcyclist. A full-face helmet provides face, head and neck protection for the rider. Make sure the helmet you choose meets government BIS standards and has the ISI mark on the back. For those who opt for international helmets, look for the DOT and SNELL ratings, which are much more stringent than standard safety standards. Look for a helmet that fits the size of your head. If it wobbles when you move your head, it's too big for you. Wearing a helmet that is too tight will restrict your breathing, especially on long outings. A good fit also ensures low noise penetration inside the helmet and helps the biker concentrate on the road.
Jacket and trousers
No matter how powerful your motorbike is, a fall could seriously injure you, hence the importance of jackets and trousers. It is important that the jacket and trousers protect you from violent shocks causing internal and external injuries. Biker jackets have internal protective padding on the elbows, back, shoulders, hips and chest. The jacket must not restrict your movements in any way. Make sure that the arms are long enough and that the shoulders allow you to move around in the jacket. The jacket should have a double seam and should also be sealed. You can adjust it to your comfort with Velcro belts. Some jackets also provide removable thermal linings that offer protection without burning you in the summer. You can opt for specific motorbike denims that have woven Kevlar yarns to provide extra protection. These denims offer the functionality of denim plus good protection. You can also opt for knee protectors if the trousers are not too comfortable. Opt for reflective elements on your jacket that make you visible in the dark. Most jackets already have reflective piping.
Gloves
Gloves are an important part of motorbike protection. Fingers and wrists are very fragile and require adequate protection. Poor quality gloves will tear, damaging your hands and bones; opt for high quality gloves with a strong protective layer. There are special gloves for summers and winters. Choose one of the two depending on the conditions that prevail when you ride. The gloves should be light and need to have good scratch resistance. They should keep your hands dry and warm, especially in winter. You should be able to move your fingers easily with the glove. Make sure that you can use all the controls on the motorbike effectively.