Motorcycle Riding Gear

If you’re the proud owner of a brand-new motorcycle, congratulations! You’re well on your way to taking dozens of exciting trips and thrilling inner-city rides. But you can’t just hop on your new bike and hit the road in your street clothes! Riding a motorcycle leaves you more vulnerable to the elements and you’re at a higher risk of suffering greatly in a collision or accident. You need to be wearing protective gear to keep yourself safe from all the dangers around you.

So what is it that you’ll need to invest in? Cycles of Jacksonville is your Florida motorcycle dealer. We’ve listed some of the top pieces of gear you’ll want to invest in for safe and enjoyable riding.

Helmet

By far, the most important piece of gear you’ll wear while riding your motorcycle is a well-fitted, DOT-rated helmet that has high crash test ratings. If you get into an accident on your motorcycle, there’s a very high chance that you’ll fly off of it. You don’t want to bang your head on the asphalt or a rock or a vehicle without it being protected. Motorcycle helmets come in a variety of styles and it’s essential that you choose one that’s comfortable to wear and fitted correctly.

Eye protection is also a necessity. This usually comes in the form of a face mask on your helmet. However, if your helmet lacks a mask, you’ll want to invest in a good pair of goggles to keep debris, dust, wind, rain and bugs out of your eyes as you ride.

Gloves

Strong, comfortable riding gloves will protect your hands and keep them warm in the cold. Your hands could get chapped by the wind if they’re left bare, and if you crash, you’ll scrape them against the concrete and it won’t be pretty. Gloves are also important to help you get a better grip on the handlebars, since sweat or rain could make that more difficult otherwise. Insulated gloves will be best in cold environments.

Outerwear

For your attire, you can opt to wear a one-piece riding suit over your street clothes. This garment lets you dress however you like underneath it and serves to protect both your skin and your clothing from dirt, dust, wind, precipitation, the sun and abrasions. You need to be cushioned if you get in an accident and the strong cloth of a riding suit is ideal protection.

If you prefer, though, you can instead wear a riding jacket and riding pants in equally sturdy fabrics. Leather, canvas and denim are all common options. For hot weather, light-colored attire is recommended, and you can look for ventilated options to keep you cooler. You may think that long sleeves and pants won’t be very cool, but the truth is that covering your skin can help to regulate your temperature quite well.

Boots

Tough shoes are necessary for motorcycle riding. Your feet need to grip your bike and touch the ground frequently. If you get in an accident, you want them to be adequately shielded. And weather conditions can make them cold. Invest in a pair of riding boots that come up to your ankle and have good tread. Make sure laces are tight and that the boots fit you well.

Once you’re properly equipped with the right safety gear, you can twist the throttle and head out on your next adventure. Still need a bike or some advice when it comes to riding gear? Come see us at our location in Jacksonville to take a tour of our motorcycle inventory. We’ve got financing and credit options to help you get what you need! Cycles of Jacksonville welcomes all our Sunshine State customers coming from the cities of Orlando and St. Augustine, Florida.