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Welcome to motorcycle clothing for beginners.
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Motorcycle clothes - style, comfort, safety and features |
The MSF recommends dressing in layers and its a good tip. If it gets warm you
take some off, when it get cold put more on. Safety, motorcycle wear should
provide comfort, protection and visibility. There are thousands of articles of
clothing made for motorcyclists. In order to give you some idea of what to wear,
we'll break this down to the weather conditions. Let's stick to street wear. Clothing sold specifically for motorcycling
provides for the best combination of fit and protection. Motorcycle clothing is designed to fit while sitting in a riding position. They are cut longer in the sleeves and legs and are fuller across the shoulders. Flaps and fasteners seal out the wind and extra padding
and armor helps protect you in case of a crash or spill.
 Why black?
Why did black become the cool standard? The theory is that
black became the motorcycle standard because motorcycles in the old days were spurting oil, grease, and grime, black doesn't show oil, grease, or grime
as much. Ok black is cool, you want to look like Brando. Not the best choice for visibility. There are reflective patches you can put on to make you more visible.
But then again, big yellow school buses get t-boned all the time. Visibility
only goes so far. As an old pro once said, "I could give a rats A** if they
can see me, if I can see them, they won't get me."
Why T-shirts - this one is simple, riders don't like getting slapped in the face
by collared shirts. A T-shirt isn't the best protection. Stick with a long
sleeve cotton shirt, pull over or button down collar. Whatever you wear make
sure it fits sitting down. |
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Talk to other riders, visit
the
forum and ask
questions. They may be your best source for what to wear
and why.
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| Summer Motorcycle
Wear |
 In hot weather cotton should be a
motorcycle rider's first choice. It absorbs moisture and
then cools the body. It's also tough enough.
Some riders
use mesh summer jackets with armor which provide some
protection and air flow. Cotton clothing allow for better air circulation, which helps remove and absorb body moisture, drawing heat away from the skin and keeping the body cool and dry. Also, because cotton clothing breathes better.
Again dress in layers, it can get cold where you're
headed, or at night.
Heat / dehydration on a motorcycleThere are cooling vesting
available for those desert riders. |
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| Winter motorcycle wear |
 Dress in LAYERS - A lot of
though has gone into winter motorcycle apparel, hypothermia just sucks. Remember visibility! Synthetics work better
as
an inner layer than cotton, which holds moisture. On top of that, wear fleece, wool, or other layers that provide insulation. The idea is to let your body create a warm pocket of air between you and the environment.
There are heated jackets, suits, socks, gloves, grips
and heated motorcycle seats. For most up north, winter
is bike storage time, but some take to the road and need
cold weather gear. You will need good winter gloves,
(heated or not) - You can't ride with your hands in your pockets. Heated grips?
They are pretty easy to install and work for most stock
motorcycle handle bars.Think warm under wear, a good wind proof
jacket, make sure when you buy your jacket there is room
for a sweater or allows for warm thick shirt or
underwear.
Winter may be a good time to think about that full face
helmet, winter seems to be the only time those vents
work :-). If you have a 3/4 helmet a shield is in order.
Think about a scarf. That 3/4 leaves your chin exposed
and it will get cold.
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| Rain Gear |
 There's a lot of debate about what is the best rain gear
for a motorcycle. But it comes down to keeping you dry,
visibility and comfort. Remember it may be cold and
raining so try on rain gear with your jacket on.
Sunglasses in the rain won't cut it friend. You need a
shield and maybe good polarized sunglasses under.
polarized sunglasses will help you see through the
refraction the rain droplets make. One or two piece rain suits
come in different materials, the most common being polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and nylon. Rain suits come in different colors, but orange or yellow is best for high visibility.
Brands? There are
many brands, and the best one seems to depend on the
rider. Visit the
forum and ask A lot
of experienced riders swear by "frogg toggs", some swear
at them. Some prefer one piece others don't. Wally-world is for some.
Whatever you get, the pants should have a band at the boot to keep the pants leg down and they should be tight at the wrist. Most of the water you get will be around the neck and collar. Make sure it's tight there.
Also consider purchasing glove and boot covers. Most glove covers are large enough to fit over gauntlet gloves without interfering with hand flexibility.
Boot covers should be worn under the rain suit pants.
The pants stirrups are pulled over the boot covers.
Vinyl may or may not be the best choice. It will
definitely keep you dry, but may be too warm to wear in
the summer rains. If you are a lazy rider and don't stop
after the shower to take it off, it can be quite warm. |
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Monkey Butt
Prevention |
 If
you have ever ridden a motorcycle for a long while on a
hot day, there's not much use explaining Monkey Butt to
you. Here are some tips to prevent Motorcycle Monkey
Butt. Ok, you can click the monkey's butt....;-) |
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