What should you wear when riding a motorcycle

In the lower body, your Tibia, Fibula, and Femur are most at risk which is pretty much most of your leg. However, also among the most common types of motorcycle injuries are skull fractures, concussions, rib fractures, spinal injuries, and of course, significant torn skin and lacerations. This means that every exposed inch of my body will be wearing at least some sort of clothing that will protect my skin and joints in the event of an off. Whether you wear gear, as well as how much, is entirely up to you but I would prefer it if you made an informed decision.

It may just save you some money in medical bills or lost earnings in having to take time off work. You should never be on the road without one. This piece of kit is more likely to save your life in the event of a crash than any other.

The forces transmitted through your skull when your head has hit something hard are much higher than people think, even at low speeds. Good helmets are also much cheaper than they use to be. The jacket is my personal favorite piece of gear, possibly for the reasons given above. Your obvious options are either leather or textile. Textiles are great because they are usually waterproof and flow a lot of air but they do not stand up to the same amount of abuse that regular grade cowhide does.

Leather motorcycle jackets are usually at least 1. Both types should contain pockets in the elbows and shoulders for CE rated armor that can withstand impact forces. Most jackets will have a space to insert a back protector into a pocket in the rear of the jacket. Great protection and it may even be more comfortable than an integrated one. A lot of people overlook the importance of a decent pair of motorcycle gloves.

Your hands are usually the first thing to hit the ground in the event of a fall as you try to prepare yourself for the landing.

The best gloves out there will protect your hands from road rash and lessen the risk of broken fingers and wrists by incorporating different types of leather and using palm sliders. Look for the gauntlet type as these extend up your arm a little further and are less likely to come off in the event of a crash.

Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing, or you can put reflective strips on your helmet and the backs of your boots. It's always better to use extra caution and do everything in your power to make yourself visible to other motorists. If you or someone you care about were injured in a motorcycle accident, you must act quickly. There are time limits to file a claim, and if you wait too long, evidence could disappear.

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Do I Have a Case? What Is My Case Worth? Why Do I Need an Attorney? How Much Will a Lawyer Cost? All Case Types. Bicycle Accident. Business Interruption. Industrial Accidents. Medical Malpractice. Neoprene collar and cuffs with additional fasteners to ensure comfort and prevent chaffing. YKK zips, especially to the main body , with a storm flap over the top to keep the wind and rain out. Vent pockets- Zips in the body that open to reveal a mesh panel to allow airflow through the jacket when its hot.

Inner lining- detachable linings to keep you warm in the winter but can be removed in the summer. Adventure jackets will also have a map pocket on the back. Removable CE approved armour to the spine, shoulders and elbows. They will need cleaning after a warm summer! Just as our head, arms and bodies need to be protected, so do our legs. And that is why just as much care and attention should go in to choosing the right jeans.

In any accident the first part of your body guaranteed to contact the ground at some point is your legs. With the high heat of the engine between your legs and the summer sun beating down the temptation to just jump on the bike in cotton trousers, normal denim jeans or even shorts can be all too irresistible at times; but is it really worth it?

The common assumption that normal denim is as good as Kevlar lined jeans in a slide is a myth. At low speeds up to 20mph on a flat surface normal denim will scuff, seams will burst and you might find small rips along the legs, but any faster and over gravel or road debris, etc. The outer layer of the Kevlar jeans may scuff and rip slightly but the weaved lining inside will stay intact, vitally keeping your bare skin off the road and preventing a serious case of road rash.

Here are some points to look out for when choosing a pair of riding jeans, whether it be leather, textile or armoured denim. Check for a snug but comfortable fit. Zip around the waist to connect the jeans to your jacket. This gives good all-round protection by stopping the jacket and jeans from separating and exposing your back if you fall off. Stretch panels around waist and above or behind the knees to aid movement and comfort when riding. The outer layers of our protective clothing do a fantastic job of keeping us warm, dry, comfortable and safe from debris, friction from the road and lots more besides; But what about the initial impact with solid objects such as cars, other bikes or even the ground?

Body armour, in one form or another, is a big consideration when choosing your riding gear. Most bike jackets and trousers come fitted with foam inserts like those shown below, typically fitted at the spine, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.

These offer a good basic level of protection from an impact. Some people choose to upgrade these to lighter or more durable materials.

The armour tends to be made in block or waffle patterns contoured to fit around the area they protect and are often cut in such a way that they not only dampen the blow of the impact but also protect the joints from hyperextension.

Harder outer materials such as nylon will also aid in sliding after the initial fall. Sliding to a stop is preferable to bumping and bouncing as the risk of injury is greatly reduced. Similar items for the legs and hips are also available. Rider Airbags are also now available and proving popular on the race tracks although are still too expensive for most road users. They provide excellent protection for your head and neck when you fall off your bike. There are different styles of boots on the market to choose from.

The style you choose will probably be dictated by the type of bike you ride and the sort of riding you do most often. Typically we look for certain features in a motorcycle boot: ankle protection to guard the delicate ankle bones in impact, solid soles to protect the profile of the foot when crashed from the side, good adjustable fasteners to allow the best fit possible, weather proofing to keep us warm and dry and sometimes toe sliders to protect us as we slide on the road.

Steel toe caps are NOT good for motorcycling. They may offer protection in certain circumstances but they will just as easily cut your toes off in a crash! If the boots are fastened with a zip there should be a second fastening over the top, Velcro for example, in case the zip fails during an impact.

A moped rider might wear a lower level boot as they travel at lower speeds and generally shorter distances. Sports bike riders travel faster and on bigger, faster roads so will tend to wear boots designed for racing.

Riders of cruiser style bikes tend to opt for a more traditional look while Motocross and Enduro riders wear something much higher for added protection; some examples of which are shown below. This test is known as the Hydrostatic head test and is conducted at laboratory level. To test a fabrics water resistance it is stretched out in a frame and a column of water placed on top.

The rating a fabric receives is denoted by the height of the column of water it resisted before it allowed the water to pass through; for instance, if the column reached mm high before the fabric leaked it is said to have a hydrostatic head of To call a fabric waterproof in the UK it must have a minimum hydrostatic head of