Motorcycle Gear

As they say in the motorcycle community, all bikers are divided into those who have fallen and those who have not yet fallen. So today, we will try to pack everything we know about gear into this article. What types exist, how they differ, and what they are suitable for. If you already ride a bike, the information in this article may seem boring to you, but we really missed it when we started.

Since the topic is extremely broad, we have approached it from two angles – by purpose and by body part. So, the first approach:

MOTORCYCLE GEAR FOR WHO

Obviously, an office worker on an electric scooter and a skilled rider jumping off-road ramps will be equipped differently. Whether we like it or not, we will have to divide the conditions into several types based on common sense and the type of adventure.

1. CITY RIDING

When talking about city gear, in addition to the obvious quality of safety, appearance is always a factor. Not everyone has the opportunity to change clothes, and how a person looks in an office chair can also be important.

A leather jacket, despite its protective inserts, looks like a regular jacket rather than a Power Ranger suit. Pants have knee inserts but do not look out of place. Yes, not every office chair is comfortable for such attire, but there are many types of motorcycle pants, including those designed to look like jeans or based on them.

2. SPORT / TRACK

Sports competitions are where risks are taken, and records are set. Each type of motorcycle has its own requirements, but competition gear should prioritize the comfort of the motorcycle rider rather than the pedestrian. This category includes the monstrous plastic armor for off-road motorcyclists and the humpbacked suits of sportbike riders.

Yes, half of the sportbike riders in our country somehow believe that the city = track. We do not support this idea in any way, although a racing suit on a sportbike does look more harmonious. The main thing is to ride safely for yourself and others.

What does a motorcycle racing suit for the track look like? The jacket and pants are a single unit. It is lightweight yet protective. Note the "hump" on the back – it is needed to improve aerodynamics.

Photo by Ronnzy Moto

3. MOTOCROSS

Due to the high frequency of falls and impacts, motocross protection is often bulky and much better adapted to withstand hits against hard and sharp objects. Additionally, protection from dirt is necessary – there are specialized clothing sets or separate elements for this purpose. However, if you are not ready to get dirty, what are you doing off-road?

4. TOURING

Touring gear has completely different qualities than sports gear and often surpasses city gear. If we were talking about knives, city gear would be a kitchen knife – ordinary and unobtrusive. Sports gear would be a chef’s knife – highly specialized but effective. Touring gear is like a Swiss army knife. It must protect and not be too restrictive for walking. It should protect from the cold but also prevent overheating in the heat (usually through a detachable lining and zippered ventilation). It should protect from rain but also be breathable in dry weather (for example, textile with water resistance or a motorcycle raincoat).

As with a Swiss army knife, the tools are selected according to the tasks. For now, we want to emphasize the jacket length – it is deliberately made longer to reduce wind exposure.

Motorcyclist's Body Parts

Now let's go through the gear differently – applied to body parts. And we will start, obviously, with the most important – the head.

HEAD

Even a child knows: head protection means a helmet. Helmets are divided into several types depending on the intended use.

FULL-FACE

A full-face helmet is a classic, closed helmet. This type is used in the city, on the track, and for touring. It is the most universal type and has the simplest design. It can be equipped with retractable glasses and/or double-layered glass to prevent fogging. Usually, the double-layered glass looks like a donut and is called a Pinlock (thanks to the company of the same name).

MODULAR

A modular helmet is a closed helmet with a flip-up chin bar. It is considered less safe due to this mechanism, although it usually has the same certification for passing safety tests as full-face helmets. However, for touring or smokers, it can be much more convenient – you can drink, eat, or smoke without removing the helmet. It is often equipped with additional options (space for a headset, built-in sunglasses, etc.) more frequently than a full-face helmet.

OPEN-FACE

Photo by Raspopova Marina

An open-face helmet, also known as a 3/4 helmet, lacks a chin bar and optionally has a large visor. It generally provides a much better field of view, but statistics show that about a quarter of all possible head injuries involve the jaw. It is a compromise between comfort and safety.

HALF HELMET

A half helmet, also known as a "melon shell", only protects the upper part of the head. Often, the impact-absorbing layer is thin or even absent. It is the ancestor of modern helmets but is now used more for style rather than as a protective device.

MOTOCROSS

A motocross helmet is designed for motocross riding. The chin bar is reinforced and extended forward to make breathing easier. A long visor is installed to protect the face from flying debris. There is no built-in visor; the helmet is used only with protective goggles. Due to its complex shape, at high speeds, the helmet transmits more aerodynamic pressure to the rider’s head compared to a full-face helmet.

DUALSPORT

A dual-sport helmet, also known as an adventure helmet, is a mix between a full-face and a motocross helmet. It usually has a visor but can also be used with goggles. It has a peak but can be used without it. Optionally, it may be designed for a headset and sometimes comes with built-in goggles. Recently, it has gained popularity among adventure enduro riders as a compromise for those who want to ride off-road (without extreme conditions) but also need to reach those destinations.

HELMET LINER

Lastly, let’s talk about the helmet liner: when you wear shoes, you use socks. When you wear pants, you use underwear, etc. The purpose of a helmet liner is to keep the inside of the helmet cleaner and reduce friction when putting it on and taking it off.

Yes, the interior of most helmets is removable and can be washed with gentle washing, but it’s best not to do this too often. Helmet liners vary by seam count (2 seams are more expensive but more comfortable) and insulation (summer/winter).

Additionally, a helmet liner protects the rider’s neck from the wind. However, there are also specialized "neck collars" for such purposes.

BODY AND HAND PROTECTION

Upper body protection is also selected based on specific needs, which are described above. Additionally, this piece of clothing can be made from leather or textile, both of which have their own advantages and disadvantages. Often, a jacket can be attached to pants.

So, the types of jackets:

SPORT / RACING SUIT

Often made of leather, featuring an advanced protection system designed for high-speed falls. It is less intended for impact protection and more for sliding. In the case of a racing suit, it forms a single piece with the pants. It is tailored for comfort while riding a sportbike and is not designed for walking, even standing straight in it can be uncomfortable.

CITY / CASUAL

Photo by Andy Luo

Offers a lower level of protection compared to sports gear, often sold with basic protective inserts, which can usually be replaced. Depending on the price and quality, it may include features such as membrane linings, ventilation openings, and more. One of the key factors is its appearance, it should not shock people when the rider is off the motorcycle.

Many jackets can be worn in everyday life if the protective inserts are removed. The presence and number of inserts depend on the price — shoulder protection, long or short back protection, elbow and forearm protection, and chest protection may be included. A jacket may have pockets for all or some of these elements, may or may not come with the inserts, or may have a placeholder for them, pay attention to this detail.

TOURING JACKET

A touring jacket is based on a city jacket but must have several additional features. It should be suitable for both hot and cold weather (as weather conditions can change, and carrying minimal gear is preferable), have ventilation openings, and provide rain protection either built-in or as a separate layer. Reflective inserts are useful in the city but are almost mandatory for touring. The jacket should also be long enough to prevent the wind from chilling the lower back. A couple of pockets with reliable fasteners and easy access while wearing gloves, as well as an internal pocket for a phone and documents, are also significant advantages. Naturally, additional features impact the price.

MOTO ARMOR ("TURTLE")

Designed for motocross but also used by those who find city motorcycle jackets insufficiently protective. It is worn under a jacket or, in hot weather, over a t-shirt or even without one. It provides better impact protection, but its mesh fabric will quickly wear through in case of asphalt sliding. One of the most protective city options is a turtle armor worn under a motorcycle jacket (with inserts removed). Apart from making the rider look more muscular, it does not draw attention. The appearance ranges from a light superhero suit to rugby-style gear.

Consists of back, shoulder, elbow, and forearm protection. In some cases, the back protector can be detached and worn separately. The back protector itself can also be purchased as an independent piece of gear.

JERSEY

A lightweight, breathable fabric t-shirt (pants and shorts are also available) that provides no protection. Its purpose is to absorb dirt and sliding impact in motocross, preserving the turtle armor and the rider. It is usually inexpensive.

BACK PROTECTOR

An independent piece of gear, though not entirely self-sufficient. A separate back protector can be purchased if a jacket provides sufficient side and shoulder protection but lacks adequate back protection.

GLOVES

Photo by Abhiram Vishnu

Gloves vary between urban and more technical designs. There are long and short gloves—long ones are mainly used for touring or motocross (for wrist protection), while short ones are for city riding. In some cases, the pinky and ring fingers may be stitched together — not a defect, but a safety feature to prevent injuries. Additionally, gloves vary by season: windproof and waterproof gloves for fall/spring, while perforated and ventilated gloves are ideal for summer.

There are also fingerless gloves, but they cannot be considered protective gear.

LEG PROTECTION – PANTS/KNEES

As with jackets, leg protection can be divided into three main types:

SPORT

Part of a racing suit or standalone gear, offering strong sliding protection but limited impact protection. Protection elements are integrated into the clothing and are not meant to be hidden. They restrict movement off the bike.

CITY OR CASUAL

Based on regular pants or jeans, reinforced with special threads for abrasion resistance. Protective inserts are removable and not very noticeable, offering a lower level of protection than other types. It is assumed that this should be sufficient for city riding. Often, elastic inserts are added for ease of mounting and dismounting the bike.

The touring version is based on city pants, featuring additional enhancements like waterproofing and relative comfort for walking. Like jackets, small knee pads or full knee protectors can be used instead of built-in inserts.

MOTOCROSS

This is a modular set of strong protection focused on impact resistance. In addition to knee pads, "armored shorts" provide basic protection for the tailbone and thighs (assuming that landing on asphalt is not as painful as on dirt, though on rocks, it's equally bad).

Unlike city knee pads, motocross knee protectors usually feature hinge mechanisms for extra strength and protection against unnatural leg bending.

Many riders wear hinged knee protectors in the city, believing that "there is no such thing as too much protection" and disregarding aesthetics.

MOTORCYCLE FOOTWEAR

Motorcycle footwear (unsurprisingly) also follows similar classifications.

SPORT

Sport motorcycle boots are high and provide a rigid fit. Walking in them is a struggle, but racers do not need that. Once the race is over, they walk back to the pit and take them off. The protection principle is the same as other track gear, designed for sliding on smooth asphalt.

A key feature is sliders (plastic pieces with bolts on the side of the toe), which are mandatory for sport boots. During a race, riders lean so much that their knee, footpeg, and even foot touch the track. To prevent foot injuries and act as a limiter, special plates are attached to the boots. These wear out and need to be replaced regularly.

Sliders or similar components are found on most motorcycle boots designed for aggressive riding, but you will not find them on boots meant for cruiser/chopper owners.

CASUAL / CITY

City motorcycle boots come in various styles, as manufacturers try to disguise their motorcycle-specific features.

Photo by Mike Montgomery

However, besides protection, city boots must have another crucial feature — a gear shift pad. How many times do you shift gears during a ride? Even assuming fewer shifts in traffic, the number is still significant over time. Over a month or a season, excessive gear shifting can wear down the left boot, so manufacturers add a reinforced area. A similar patch is usually placed on the right boot for symmetry.

It's worth noting that "city" protection is still less protective.

TOURING

Touring motorcycle boots, like other touring gear, prioritize comfort. They are usually high-cut and equipped with necessary technologies to keep feet fresh after long rides. Gore-Tex or similar membranes (breathable but waterproof) are almost essential. Walking in them is easier than in sport or motocross boots, but they offer slightly less protection. Here, comfort is the priority.

MOTOCROSS

Motocross boots deserve special attention. In motocross, feet are used extensively for pushing off, braking, absorbing falls, and hitting obstacles, all while enduring mud. As a result, their design is more like roller skates than traditional boots.

They do not need sliders, but the gear shift pad is reinforced. Additionally, they feature a unique protective plate at the front, absent in other motorcycle boots.

SO HOW SHOULD A MOTORCYCLIST PROTECT THEMSELVES?

Protect the body parts that matter to you.

And yes, as cliché as it sounds, here is a simple safety rule regarding gear:

There are no "safe distances". If you are going to ride, wear your gear. No exceptions for "just going to the store" or "just around the garage". Every year, new stories emerge of riders who were "unlucky", those who went for a short ride without gear and ended up bedridden for months.

Stay safe!