Top 5 Essential Motorcycle Riding Gear You Must Have

If you ride a motorcycle on India roads, safety should be your number one priority. Cars turning blindly, people jaywalking, animals crossing the roads, there are many variables which may cause an accident but it is our duty to keep ourselves protected at all costs. Here is a list of top-5 motorcycle riding gear, according to their importance, you must own:

Helmet

Your head is the command centre of your body and it is of utmost importance to protect your head at all costs. We recommend you get a full face helmet, a helmet which covers your entire head and also your jaw. A full face helmet will protect your jaw in case you fall face-first and will prevent facial injuries. A few things to make sure when you go buy a helmet; it should be of the correct size. The helmet should not be tight at your temples but should hug your temples and cheeks firmly. The strap which you use to buckle up the helmet should ideally be a double-D ring type which is the best option and does not allow your helmet to fly off your head in case you land head-first in a crash. Indian law mandates you wear a helmet that meets the ISI standards and has been certified for the same. 

That said, ISI standard is based on the older ECE standards, and is not as bad as the social media makes it out to be. It’s just the certification process that’s a bit off. There are helmets out there that are ISI as well as ECE certified. However, your head is the most valuable part of your body, and if you are wondering how much you should spend on a helmet, the answer is, how much do YOU value your head? To put it simply, if you can afford a phone or a laptop worth Rs 50,000, you can afford a helmet worth as much too. It’s just setting your financial priorities. Ideally look for a helmet that is at least ECE 22.05 certified, if not ECE 22.06 certified, which is the latest safety standard in international helmets.

Riding Boots

Your feet have a lot of small bones which form complicated joints which you need to protect. Riding boots does that job as they are tougher than your normal boots. A good riding boot generally gets a stiffened toe box , ankle protectors, and are quite abrasion resistant to protect your feet and a part of your legs if you have a crash. A lot of companies have been making good riding boots at affordable prices. You can check out boots from brands like Cramster, Viaterra, Clan, and others. That said, safety boots are not riding boots, and should not be used for the same. That said, while we don’t recommend them, safety boots are a significantly better option than wearing sneakers, formal shoes, sandals or chappals (flip-flops) while riding. 

We reviewed the Clan riding shoes and here's what we think.

Motorcycle Gloves

Just like your feet, your hands too have small bones which make up delicate joints. A good pair of motorcycle riding gloves will save your hands. While there are a lot of options, perforated leather gloves with proper CE certification would be the ideal choice. Primarily look for protection for the knuckles and scaphoids since these are the commonly injured areas in a crash. Gloves with a pinky bridge adds an additional layer of safety for your pinky fingers. Most importantly, get gloves that, well, fit like a glove – they shouldn’t be loose, nor too tight. Leather gloves will generally break-in after a few weeks of use and fit snugly. Most manufacturers will allow an exchange for size differences if  you buy directly from them. Check with the reseller/brand before buying. A few good brands that offer budget gloves are Rynox, Viaterra, Raida, and Scala, amongst others. 

Check out our review of the Viaterra Holeshot Pro Motorcyle Riding Gloves. 

Riding Jacket

A riding jacket protects your torso if you fall off your motorcycle. Good jackets are made of abrasion- resistant material, have protection for your elbows, shoulders, and spine primarily. More expensive jackets can also have chest protectors or provisions to install a chest protector. We recommend getting a mesh jacket since it would be more affordable and comfortable in our hot climate. Like others, you should be aiming for a jacket with at least Level 1 CE certified protectors. Brands to look out for include  Rynox, Reise, Viaterra and Raida.

Here is our review of the Spidi Tek Net Riding Jacket. 

Riding Pants

The riding pants are also made out of a thick, abrasion resistant fabric and will protect your lower half in case of an accident. Most pants have protectors for the knee, some also have for the hips, and the more expensive ones can have one for the tailbone. Again, like jackets, pants with mesh patches will keep your legs cool on a hot ride.  

Riding jeans can substitute for riding pants for quick rides or everyday commutes. These can also have similar protection pads like the pants, however, the budget ones can be slightly less abrasion resistant. 

An important note is to make sure that the gear you get is comfortable and should fit you properly, because when you wear uncomfortable gear, you tend to be distracted while riding which may cause mishaps. Also, to reiterate, get riding gear that’s properly certified – at least CE level 1. Remember the phrase ATGATT – All The Gear All The Time. An accident can happen any time, anywhere. You could be riding at 10kmph and a car could come hurtling down towards you at 100kmph. In the same breath, riding gear does not instantly mean you will be completely safe. You could have the most expensive gear and still get injured, or worse. But hey, nothing beats being able to go back home even after a crash. For those who crib about feeling hot – better to sweat than bleed. Motorcycles are inherently dangerous, and if you are getting into a hobby that can make your loved ones worry about you, wearing the right riding  gear is the least you can do to alleviate their concerns.