Lots of people love riding motorcycles. It is a fun activity and according to a famous quote, “four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul.” Riding a motorcycle may be fun but it can also be dangerous in case of an accident. Proper riding gear reduces the amounts of cuts, bruises, and broken bones in case of an accident. Sometimes, it also helps save your life.
Although it is advised that you should wear all of your riding gear, which includes a certified helmet, riding jacket and pants, gloves, knee and spine guards, and riding boots, you should wear the helmet, riding jacket, gloves, and boots at the very least.
Let’s start with the basic and probably the most important protective gear that any motorcyclist should have in their arsenal. While the Indian government has issued a notification that only those helmets will be available on sale in the country that have the BIS and ISI certifications, DOT, ECE, and Snell certified helmets are equally safe to use.
Riders have the option to choose from four types of helmets. You can either get a full face, flip-up, three-quarter, and half face helmets. Full face helmets provide the most protection, while flip-up helmets also provide similar levels of protection with a bit more opening.
Three-quarter and half-face helmets offer the least amount of protection and are also the least favoured types of helmets. They are mostly worn by scooter riders as they don’t go very fast, yet it is still advised to stay away from such helmets.
Another crucial safety gear for riders is a proper riding jacket as it protects the upper body in case of an accident. A good riding jacket protects a rider’s chest, shoulders, elbow, and back but it depends on the type of jacket. Most come with specific armour to protect the aforementioned parts.
Different riding jackets are constructed using different materials which help provide protection against different weather conditions as well.
Similar to riding jackets, riding pants also provide protection against impact in cases of accidents along with weather protection, depending on the material. Riding pants are designed to be used as a second layer, so it can easily fit over your shorts or trousers. Some riding pants also get knee guards that help aggressive riders while cornering. Riders can either purchase a whole set of riding jackets and pants or buy them separately. Make sure you never go for a ride while wearing shorts as they offer the least protection.
Other crucial gears in any rider’s arsenal are proper riding boots and gloves. While you may feel riding boots are moot since any footwear will suffice, you are wrong. Riding boots come with additional protective armour such as steel toes to protect the rider’s toes, that regular shoes don’t get. Additionally, they also get a high-top design that helps protect the rider’s heels.
One of the most advanced riding gears, the racing suit is basically a jumpsuit that projects the whole body of the rider. It integrates upper and lower body armour to protect the rider’s shoulder, chest, back, elbow, knee, and shin guards. It is designed with safety and speed in mind, and sometimes comes with special sensors to monitor a rider’s physical condition.
For some reason, your protective clothing doesn’t come with these specific armours, it is advised that you should invest in specialised knee and spine guards. Some riding jackets come with a slot to add a spine guard, while others may require some retrofitting. However, knee protectors can be worn over regular jeans or pants. Don’t make the mistake of wearing knee protectors over shorts.
[Featured Image Credit – Unsplash/ Joshua Reddekopp]
Satvik Khare