Motorcycle Gear Guide for Beginners

So, you have a helmet and think you're ready to ride? Not so fast, while a helmet is a great place to start, there's more to motorcycle gear than just a helmet before you jump on and take to the open road. Here's what you need to know.

The most essential piece of gear you need is a proper fitting helmet. To ensure you choose the right helmet you should be ready to try on many. Since close to 50% of all motorcycle accidents result in injury to the face not covered by a helmet, a full-face helmet is highly recommended. Your helmet should fit snug but not pinch or press any pressure points. It is very important to make sure the helmet is snug enough that it will not rotate upon the scalp. Also, when you think you've found the right one wear it for more than just a minute or two, walk around the store, hang out in it for a bit.

Hands and fingers are pretty important, not something you want to lose. That means good riding gloves are also important. The right gloves should cover the entirety of your hands and wrists and be made out of high quality material. You don't want to have any gap of skin exposed to the open road, so proper wrist restraints are essential as well.

Not just any jacket will do, you are definitely going to need a motorcycle jacket from a reputable dealer. A leather jacket with vents to help with cooling is ideal, but you can also go with textile for a less expensive option. Your jacket should also fit snug but have some give in it, while maintaining overlap with your gloves so that no skin is exposed.

Armor is an impact absorbing cushion that is necessary for protection to the most vulnerable parts of your body. Armor can be built in to your gear or bought separately and should always have a "CE" safety rating. In a jacket you want CE-rated armor for your back, elbows and shoulders. In pants your looking for, again CE-rated protection, for your hips, knees and shins.

True riding pants will be made of leather or textile but we know some will ride in jeans. Don't be fooled, regular jeans will never provide the protection you need. Jeans should never be considered an option unless they are made with Kevlar or include Kevlar panels.

Also important are boots & accessories. A good riding boot should be should be slip-resistant, oil-resistant and offer protection above the ankles. You'll need a good set of ear plugs in order to protect you from a loss of hearing over time. It is also necessary to have proper lenses that fit your helmet for both daytime and night time riding.

Remember, having the right motorcycle gear is key to riding responsibly. Riding responsibly is the only way to ride if you want to enjoy riding for years to come.