| There is some great looking motorcycle | | | | they are hardwearing, if they are leather |
| clothing on the market these days, but | | | | make sure it is thick leather not fashion |
| believe me not all of the motorcycle clothing | | | | leather like some jackets. Stitching should |
| offers as much protection as you think. In | | | | be uniform with no dropped stitches, and all |
| Europe, for motorcycle clothing to be | | | | your "sharp bits", your elbows and shoulders |
| lawfully sold as "safety" clothing, it has to | | | | should be reinforced, ideally with some |
| pass a series of European standards, which | | | | impact protection included. |
| are pretty lengthy but are available on my | | | | |
| website. The standards cover the clothing's | | | | A decent pair of gloves is a must; your palms |
| performance in abrasion, tearing and impact | | | | will be at risk in an accident; you |
| tests, and when they have passed; they are | | | | instinctively put out your hands palm side |
| sold with the CE mark. However, no such | | | | down to stop yourself in a slide, so the |
| regulation is available in the USA, so what | | | | palms of your gloves should be reinforced |
| should you look for? | | | | with patches. Knitted Kevlar is especially |
| | | | good for this kind of abrasion resistance, |
| Protection in the right places... | | | | but reinforced leather works well too. |
| | | | |
| Not many people realise that most motorcycle | | | | Impact protection can be bought separately |
| injuries occur below the belt. Your legs and | | | | like back protectors and so on, but remember |
| feet are extremely vulnerable, so make sure | | | | where your most vulnerable areas are. And |
| that you wear a decent pair of high boots and | | | | make sure if you buy impact protection you |
| some protective pants. The pants should be | | | | actually wear it! If you have any doubts it |
| reinforced at the knees and hips; ideally | | | | may be better to go for motorcycle clothing |
| they should attach to your jacket by a | | | | with a degree of impact protection included |
| zipper. Boots should be thick leather, with a | | | | so that you know when you put on your jacket |
| sole that can flex with the foot but has a | | | | and pants, the protection is always going to |
| resistance to crushing across the foot. | | | | be there. |
| | | | |
| Traditional material for motorcycle clothing | | | | Last but not least, pick out a helmet you can |
| is leather, but thick nylon and other | | | | wear and wear it always. You may have a |
| synthetic materials work well too. Kevlar | | | | greater chance of getting injured below the |
| reinforced jeans are better than normal jeans | | | | waist in a motorcycle accident, but the |
| .Normal jeans last 0.6 seconds in the | | | | consequences of being involved in an accident |
| European standard abrasion test, while | | | | without a helmet just don't bear thinking |
| protective motorcycle pants will last 5 | | | | about.... |
| seconds or more. You don't really want to be | | | | |
| ripping your skin open within less than half | | | | So, next time you are shopping for motorcycle |
| a second of falling of your bike do you? | | | | clothing, give a bit of thought to the level |
| Thought not. | | | | of protection it offers before you buy it. |
| | | | You never know it could save you a lot of |
| Same principles apply to jackets. Make sure | | | | unnecessary pain! |