Make sure to get all your gear before you start
riding your motorcycle. I would say to buy it before you buy your
motorcycle, but you may have a desire to get stuff that matches the
bike. The most important things about your gear is that it is easily
visible (black is cool, but it can be hard for other motorists to
see), it is comfortable, and it is good quality.
Helmet
There are 3 important things about a
helmet.
1) Buy it new - If a helmet
is dropped on a hard floor from more than a few feet up, the
protective layer inside can be compromised.
2) Make sure it's comfortable
- I recommend you go to a big motorcycle store, try helmets
on, and then order one from the internet.
3) Make sure it is snell and DOT
rated. You need a helmet, make sure it is both DOT and
Snell rated. The newest Snell rating is M2005.
I recommend that you buy an HJC cl-15 helmet on
ebay. They are cheap yet of a high quality, I put some links for
you guys below.
Jacket
Your jacket is going to be expensive, but it is essential.
Make sure that whatever you buy it has armor built in for the
shoulders, elbows, and preferably a back protector as well. The
best protection is going to come from a leather jacket, but if
you are riding a very warm area, you can also use a mesh jacket
with plenty of armor.
I recommend the Alpinestars Stage jacket, it is leather, has
plenty of armor, is relatively inexpensive, and is perforated so
you don't get too hot in warm weather.
Gloves
Yes gloves can be a pain in the ass... especially when you
try to put on your helmet while wearing them. Still, you will
feel much safer when wearing them. They are great to protect
your hands from cold weather and from potential road rash.
There are three types of gloves
Pants
I have to admit, I wear jeans when I ride. This is ok to do,
but you have to realize that if you crash at any significant
speed, denim will only hold up for 10 feet of sliding before it
is destroyed, exposing your skin to brutal road rash. Leathers,
on the other hand, can withstand over 100 feet of sliding. So if
you are really looking to be safe, get some leather pants. You
can also get textile pants, such as jeans with extra padding on
the ass and knees.
If you don't believe that leathers can
save you, take a look at this guy crashing at 140 km/h and
walking away without injury.
