Owning and riding a motorcycle is a lot of fun. Once you have the basics -- your bike, a motorcycle helmet and a motorcycle jacket -- there is more motorcycle gear available to make your riding time even more enjoyable. This motorcycle gear buying guide will explore these items, so you will know how to buy motorcycle gear that will help you make the most of your motorcycle.
There are hundreds of products aimed at motorcycle owners; some are absolute necessities and some are frivolous trinkets that are best avoided. In this motorcycle gear buying guide we will show you how to buy motorcycle gear that will serve you well whether you're a motorcycle commuter, tour rider or sports enthusiast. The gear we will focus on includes motorcycle clothing items, such as motorcycle gloves, rain suits, boots and pants, and gear for your bike, such as motorcycle covers and bags.
While perhaps not the first thing riders think of when assembling their riding wardrobe, motorcycle gloves are extremely important. Let's be honest; most motorcycle clothing is designed for one main purpose: to help you avoid or reduce injury in case of a crash. While motorcycle gloves perform other functions, such as providing warmth, their main function is to save your hands in a fall.
When a person falls, it's natural to reach forward with palms down to break the fall. Without gloves, a motorcyclist will lose lots of skin and probably a significant amount of blood by doing this. There are two main styles of gloves to help prevent this from happening: leather gloves and textile gloves. Both styles are available as full gloves and fingerless gloves.
Leather gloves
Leather gloves have been in use since motorcycles were invented. Today's leather motorcycle gloves are generally made from cow hide and are available in different thicknesses. When shopping for a good pair of leather gloves, look for two things: thickness of the leather and robustness of the stitching.
Leather gloves are relatively inexpensive and long-lasting. They can also be repaired more easily than textile gloves if damaged. While leather motorcycle gloves offer great wind resistance, they are not water-resistant and can shrink once they get wet. They feature high abrasion resistance but puncture more easily than many textile gloves and also become hot in warm weather.
Textile gloves
Today's textile motorcycle gloves are generally made from high-tech man-made materials, such as Kevlar and ballistic nylon. As new materials are developed, textile motorcycle gloves continue to improve, becoming a viable choice for bikers looking for maximum comfort and protection. These gloves are usually waterproof, making them the smart choice for those who ride in the rain. In addition to providing good abrasion resistance, textile gloves also have good puncture resistance and do not shrink once they are wet. Many textile gloves feature breathable fabrics, making them cooler to wear in warm weather. A good pair of textile gloves will be more expensive than a pair of leather gloves.
There are no set standards for motorcycle boots, leaving open the door to get the boots that have the most eye appeal to you. That being said, there are certain features to look for in regards to comfort and safety. First of all, a motorcycle boot should at least cover the ball of your ankle and be made from leather. In addition, they should be comfortable to walk in, have good traction and be gas- and oil-resistant. It's also a smart idea to have reflective material incorporated into the boot, whether it comes that way or you do it yourself. Many riders also select steel-toe boots for additional protection.
Another option you have is how the boot closes. Boots with laces are comfortable, but can also be a hazard if the laces become untied. Many riders prefer boots that slip on or close with buckles, zippers and Velcro straps to avoid potential lace problems. No matter what style closure you use, make sure that your boot is securely on your foot.
While some people think of motorcycle pants as the domain of hard-core riders, that's not the case at all. When you think about what parts of your body are at risk for severe impact and abrasion in the event of a crash, the parts that pants cover rank right up there. Many riders wear jeans, and while jeans offer more support than pants made from materials other than denim, they will still shred quickly when you take a spill. In addition, they are not windproof or waterproof.
Chaps
Many riders wear leather or textile chaps. Motorcycle chaps are a step-up in protection from jeans alone, offering windproof and waterproof capabilities, but they do not cover the areas that are most often injured in crashes -- the bottom, the groin and the hips. While they improve safety and look cool, chaps are not always the smartest choice.
Leather pants
While leather motorcycle pants are expensive, they do offer superior protection to the rider because of the areas they cover. Not only do they offer greater abrasion protection in spills, they also protect the rider from road rocks and bugs that one might encounter while riding. The drawbacks to leather pants, other than their cost, are that they aren't water-resistant, can shrink when wet and are poorly ventilated.
Textile pants
With advancement in textile technology and ever-improving synthetic fabric development, textile motorcycle pants are becoming more popular all the time. Most textile motorcycle pants are designed to be worn over jeans, and when the two are combined, they offer roughly the same amount of protection as leather pants. Other advantages to textile pants are that they are usually less bulky, less expensive, more breathable and more water-resistant than leather.
Some people may think that riding a motorcycle in the rain is a dangerous proposition. However, experienced riders understand that if you are dressed properly, can see well, understand the properties of traction and are equipped to be seen by others, riding in the rain is a viable option for any skilled motorcyclist.
Probably the most important element for safe and enjoyable rainy-day riding is a high-quality motorcycle rain suit. There are several factors that make up a top-notch rain suit, and the main one is that the suit keeps you dry. Besides staying dry, however, other factors come into play, including ease of getting it on and off, the warmth factor, breathability and, of course, how comfortable it is.
Material
There are three main waterproof fabrics: poly vinyls (PVC), coated fabrics and laminated fabrics. PVC fabrics are waterproof but have no ability to "breathe," which means that they need to possess vents to keep the wearer from becoming hot and sweaty. PVC rain suits are generally the least expensive. Coated and laminated fabrics have an outer layer that provides a durable outer shell and a coated inside layer that provides a moisture barrier. Coated fabrics have a micro-porous coating, while laminated fabrics possess a micro-porous membrane. Both keep rain from entering but are porous enough to allow sweat to escape, making these fabrics breathable. Rain suits made from these fabrics are generally more expensive but are also very durable and will last for many years with proper care.
Other important features
Closures: Having waterproof material is important, but if water can get to your body through the openings, it still isn't an effective suit. For motorcyclists, it's important to have a tail in the rain jacket long enough to cover the top of the rain pants while you're in the riding position. Other areas where water can get in are the collar and wrist openings, so make sure any rain suit you consider can close snugly in those areas. Many rain jackets feature a fleece-lined collar to help keep moisture out while saving your neck from becoming chaffed.
Reflective material: When you're riding in the rain, it's important to be seen by traffic. That's why it's important that your rain suit has plenty of reflective material on it. Usually, rain suits have reflective tape and reflective piping in addition to being offered in bright, easy-to-see colors.
Pockets: As with motorcycle jackets, make sure your rain suit has plenty of closable, usable pockets in which to store your valuables. Rain suit pocket closures should, of course, be waterproof.
Ease of entry: Some rain suits are one-piece, which is great for maximum rain protection but can be a real pain to get on and off -- especially if you're trying to get it on in a hurry while it's raining. Another factor is foot entry; look for rain pants with leg openings wide enough to get them on quickly over your boots or shoes. Remember, if you get soaked before you can get your rain suit on, it's not going to do you much good!
There are many good reasons to own a motorcycle cover. Covers not only protect your bike from exposure to rain, sun, dust and bird droppings, but it also can act as a theft deterrent, keep your bike clean longer and keep the seat of your bike cool in hot weather.
Motorcycle covers come in lightweight styles, which are great for taking on trips and for protecting your bike on a daily basis, and heavyweight covers that are perfect when you need to store your bike for an extended time, such as during the winter months.
When choosing a cover, look for features such as heavy-duty grommets for securing the cover around your bike, covered vents to prevent condensation from building, heat-resistant material around the bottom of the cover to prevent hot pipes from causing damage and a soft inner-lining to protect your windshield and paint from getting scratched.
One of the drawbacks to riding a motorcycle is that there are not a lot of places to store things. A good solution to that problem is equipping your ride with some motorcycle bags. The most common type of bag is the motorcycle saddle bag. Saddle bags generally hang over the rear fender and have a storage compartment on each side of the rear wheel of the bike. Some of these are soft-side bags and some are hard-side bags. Hard-side bags offer more protection for your things but are heavier, more difficult to put on and off and may not offer the "look" you want.
Two other types of bags that are commonly seen on motorcycles are tank bags and tail bags. A tank bag rests on top of a motorcycle's gas tank and is secured with straps or magnetic flaps. Tank bags are great for the smaller items you may want to keep at close hand, such as snacks, sun block, a water bottle and a cell phone. A tail bag, as you may have guessed, sits on the back luggage rack of a motorcycle. These motorcycle bags can range greatly in size, can be soft-side or hard-side and may be part of a luggage system that includes matching saddle bags or not. By combining saddle bags and a tail bag, the luggage system has plenty of storage for extended rides of up to several weeks.
Wearing gloves in the summertime sounds HOT. Are there motorcycle gloves made especially for summer riding?
There are several styles of gloves preferred by riders for summer use. Two styles often seen are fingerless gloves and mesh-back gloves (and gloves with both features). While these gloves provide some relief from the heat, they also allow parts of your hands to get sunburned and they provide less protection in a crash. A smarter choice for summer riding is a very thin pair of leather gloves with vents. These gloves stay fairly cool and offer full protection.
I store my bike in my garage. Should I still buy a motorcycle cover?
Having a motorcycle cover is always a good idea, even if you garage your bike. When you open and close the garage door, dust and dirt particles become airborne and eventually land on your bike in places difficult to clean. In addition, if you take any trips on your bike, you'll want a rain cover; so, for a relatively small expense, it's smart to invest in a motorcycle cover.
Are there any tips for how to load saddlebags?
Yes. Always remember that whatever cargo you take on your bike will in some way affect the bike's performance. There's a reason you have two saddlebags: equal weight distribution. Try to keep the weight the same in both of your saddlebags or you'll find yourself altering how you ride your bike to compensate, which is never a good thing.
I only ride in the rain when I have no other choice. Can I get by with an inexpensive rain suit?
If you only ride in the rain when you happen to get caught in it, chances are you can get by with a cheap rain suit made from PVC. Make sure the suit has vents, though, because if you get caught in rain on a warm day and you don't have some kind of ventilation, you'll sweat so much that a rain suit will make little difference in how wet you get. That being said, prices on high-quality coated and laminated fabric rain suits have dropped considerably in recent years, so don't rule those out until you've checked all of your options.
Stay active when you're not riding
Even the most ardent of motorcyclists don't take their bikes out when there's three feet of snow on the ground. When your motorcycle is safely tucked away in your garage for the winter, explore your snow sports options at Overstock.com. With a wide selection of skiing and snowboarding options as well as snowshoes, sleds and snow tubes, you're sure to find an activity that will keep you happy until it's riding season again.
Turn your game room into your favorite room
Well, you do have to stay home sometimes, so why not equip your recreation room with the latest fun things from Overstock.com? We carry a large selection of billiards equipment, casino games and board games, so an evening spent at home can be a good thing.
Make it a day in the outdoors
Why not ride your motorcycle to the trailhead and then take off on an adventure in the great outdoors? Overstock.com carries everything you need from backpacks and fishing gear to binoculars and other gadgets and electronic gear. Remember, no matter how much you order, you'll never pay more than $2.95 per order for shipping.
