Ultimate Guide to Motorcycle Riding & Safety Gear

A man takes a tight turn on a motorcycle

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An assortment of motorcycle gloves

It’s time to ride! What gear are you taking along for the ride?

New riders need to make sure they have their bases covered when it comes to essential motorcycle gear. That’s why we’ve put together this motorcycle safety gear list.

These are items that will help keep you safe on the road, without sacrificing your style. When it comes to riding, you may have heard “Dress for the crash, not for the ride.” That’s great advice, but we think “Dress for the crash, look good for the ride” is even better.

Dress for the Crash, Not for the Ride

If you’re new to motorcycles or motocross, you might not have heard this phrase before. But if you hang out with other riders for long, it’s going to start sounding familiar.

Dressing for the crash, not for the ride is about prioritizing safety over style alone. This hobby that we love can be dangerous, but we can reduce the risks by choosing the right gear.

When you dress for the crash, you get on the bike with the expectation that this could be the time you crash. Dressing for the crash means knowing what to wear when riding a motorcycle to have the safest possible outcome.

Can you do both? Dress for the Crash, Look Good for the Ride!

Good news: You don’t have to sacrifice looking cool in order to stay safe. “Dress for the crash, look good for the ride” means choosing gear that keeps you safe and helps you look and feel good on the bike.

After all, the best protective gear for motorcycle racers is the gear they will actually wear. Plus, being comfortable in your gear is a big part of riding well and riding safely.

If you can move naturally, without being restricted by cumbersome safety equipment, your ride will be better and you’re going to be safer on the road or track.

Essential Motorcycle Safety Gear for Your Ride

Protecting yourself on your ride comes down to four things: protecting your head, your body, your feet, and your hands.

You’ll need to choose the right helmet, jacket, boots, and gloves to stay safe on the road. Things to take into consideration:

Safety features
Style/appearance
Budget
Material
Fit

Let’s take a look at the best motorcycle gear for beginners. What do you need to have on hand for your ride?

Head Protection

Protecting your head is the most important thing you can do while riding. Head injuries pose a serious risk to riders on the road and track.

Your helmet is the most important piece of gear you can buy. It’s also the thing most likely to be mandated by law or rules. Almost every state requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets while on the road, and the American Motorcyclist Association has a mandatory helmet rule for officially sanctioned motocross events .

In addition to a helmet, you can wear goggles, a face mask, and a neck gaiter for additional protection.

Helmets

Your first priority when choosing a motorcycle helmet is to choose one that fits well, so we have put together a sizing guide for you to use.

Helmets are designed for men, women, and youth.

There are several helmet styles, including:

Full face
Half face
Open face
Dual sport
Modular

If you’ll be riding on the MX circuit, you’ll need your helmet to meet all AMA requirements, including full face protection.

Riding in a group? Consider choosing a helmet that comes equipped with Bluetooth communication.

These are a few more things to take into consideration:

What material do you want the shell to be made from?

Polycarbonate: less expensive; flexes as it absorbs impact energy
Fiberglass composite: more expensive; crushes, flexes, and splits as it absorbs impact energy
Carbon fiber: most expensive option; lightest weight option; distributes impact energy
EPS: crushable foam used to line helmets; often used for bicycle helmets

How heavy should your helmet be?

Helmets typically weigh between 1400g and 1800g.
A helmet that is too heavy will strain your neck
Modular helmets tend to be heavier due to the visor apparatus

What additional comfort and safety features are you looking for?

Integrated sunshade
Bluetooth communication devices
Wind reduction
Cheek pad systems
Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS)

Eye Protection: Goggles & Glasses

Think of the iconic motorcycle riders of past generations, making their way down the highway in their leather jackets and motorcycle glasses. Undoubtedly, motorcycle glasses have always been an important part of motorcycle safety and style.

Eye protection for motorcycle riders is designed to provide the maximum amount of protection against the elements: sun, wind, rain, and glare.

Goggles are typically foam padded, with a wide, adjustable, stretchy strap for comfort. The lenses are scratch-resistant and shatterproof, and they have an anti-fog coating.

You can choose from 3 different lens options, depending on when you are riding. If you’re riding during the day, you’ll want smoke lenses. On overcast days, choose clear. And at night, you’ll want yellow lenses.

You have a lot of additional options to choose from, including:

Sunglasses with shatterproof lenses
Goggles that fit overa pair of prescription glasses
Extra-wide head strapfor a comfortable fit
Goggles with additional and specialized anti-fog coatings
Wrap-around frames

Neck & Face Protection

Your neck and face should be protected from the elements. Windburn, sunburn, road rash, and fire — these are all potential risk factors for your skin. While your jacket and pants may protect most of the skin on your body, what protects your face and neck?

Gaiters, face masks, balaclavas, and face shields are all great options for neck and face protection. The kind you choose is based on your personal preferences.

This is what you need to know!

Face maskscover your mouth and nose. They usually stretch over the head and may be made from nylon, Neoprene, cotton, fleece, microfiber, or a fabric blend. Optional discharge valves reduce moisture inside the mask. Face masks protect your lungs in addition to your skin.
Neck gaitersare also called neck tubes. These serve the same purpose: protect the front and back of your neck while keeping you comfortable and cool. Gaiters are typically made from polyester.
A balaclavais a headwrap that does the work of both a face mask and a gaiter–plus a little bit more. The balaclava covers everything but your eyes, including your head and neck. Balaclavas are often made of polyester, but if you’re riding in winter, a fleece balaclava will keep you extra warm.

Motorcycle Clothes: Jackets, Pants, and Riding Suits

After your head is protected, it’s time to protect the rest of your body. Motorcycle jackets and pants are not just about protecting yourself in the event of a crash, although they definitely do that!

Motorcycle jackets, pants, and riding suits also protect your skin from the sun and wind.

Motorcycle Jackets

In the past, motorcycle jackets were bulky and often uncomfortable. Today, you have a number of options that give you comfort, style, and protection.

Jackets may be made from leather, Cordura, or Kevlar. They are different from other jackets because of the extra padding on the elbows, shoulders, and spine.

Additional options:

Motorcycle Pants & Chaps

It’s good advice to always wear long pants while riding, but what kind of pants are best? You have three options for protecting your legs while on the bike: high-quality denim, motorcycle pants from other materials, or motorcycle chaps.

Denim doesn’t just mean an ordinary pair of jeans. For example, you could go with a pair of aramidic fiber denim jeans that are designed for protection and against abrasion and cuts. Long pants also protect you against sunburn, windburn, and being struck by road debris.

You can also go with touring pants, which are designed specifically for comfort on long-distance rides. They have non-tapered legs and roomy legs and waist.

Chaps are an option if you want to wear something over your everyday pants. Typically made from leather, chaps fit over your pants via snaps and buckles.

Additional options:

Protecting Your Feet

Choosing the right boots and shoes is an important part of protection that sometimes gets overlooked by newer riders who are looking for motorcycle gear for beginners.

Boots and shoes are the best way to keep your feet from sustaining a serious injury in an accident. They also play a role in your safety on the bike. A sturdy, durable, and comfortable pair of shoes or boots will allow you to maneuver safely on the road or track.

Boots & Shoes

Look for a pair of boots that meets the following requirements:

Wears comfortably, so that you are confident while wearing them on the bike
Gives you the level of protection you want, including your ankles and lower calves
Has the appropriate amount of rainproofing or waterproofing to keep you dry on wet rides
Gives you the right amount of ventilation so your feet stay cool
If you’re riding in cold weather, keeps you warm enough to maintain comfort — and help you avoid numbness
Meets your budget needs

Some pairs we really like include:

If you want to avoid a full boot and go with motorcycle shoes, you have options! There are great pairs of motorcycle shoes that offer plenty of durability and foot protection. Just keep in mind that shoes typically have less weatherproofing and skin protection than a pair of boots.

Don’t Forget About Your Hands

Your hands need protection, too!

Gloves offer your hands protection from the sun, wind, road debris, and injuries in the event of a crash. Gloves don’t make your hands invincible — injuries are still possible — but they do help reduce the normal “wear and tear” of the road. They also lower the risk of severe road rash after an accident.

Motorcycle gloves protect you from injuries caused by your bike’s handlebars and wheels, as well as the terrain.

Motorcycle Gloves

Motorcycle gloves are different from ordinary gloves in several key ways. Although all gloves can protect you from the sun, wind, and moderate temperature changes, motorcycle gloves are typically far more durable. They are also designed for comfort so that you can wear them for hours on end.

Waterproofing is essential — you need to be able to ride safely in rainy or misty weather.

Last but not least, motorcycle gloves must allow for complete dexterity while riding. You need to be able to control your bike with precision and care.

Some motorcycle gloves to check out include: