This entry was posted on Sunday, January 11th, 2009 at 2:59 pm and is filed under Gloves, Helmets, Jackets, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Boots, Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
January 11, 2009
When you first start riding a motorcycle, there are a lot of things to consider. Anyone who has taken a motorcycle safety class can tell you that there are a lot of safety aspects to riding a motorcycle that you do not have to consider when you are driving a car or truck. This is because motorcycles are so different from any other type of vehicle.
When it comes to motorcycles, you have absolutely no protection afforded to you. In a car or truck, you are basically surrounded by a large metal cage. This cage is designed to crumple in a way that will reduce the force of impact and keep you safe. You also have a seatbelt that prevents you from being thrown out of the safety of this metal cage. This is not so on a motorcycle.
When you ride a motorcycle, you have an engine between your legs. In a crash, there is no metal protective cage. There is no seatbelt to keep you safe. All that you have on a motorcycle is whatever protective equipment you happen to be wearing. Generally, this includes a helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots.
The helmet has a very obvious purpose. If you ever get into an accident, the helmet will significantly reduce the chances of traumatic brain injury. However, the visor of the helmet also serves to keep particles out of your eyes. Beyond simple discomfort, this could cause you to lose control of your motorcycle and crash.
The motorcycle jacket is meant to protect your body. Different jackets provide different levels of protection. Most of them provide good protection against road rash. However, there are some jackets that are better than others. Armored jackets, for instance, provide protection from flying objects and reduce the chances of breaking bones.
Gloves may not seem necessary, but they are a safety precaution as well. When you ride a motorcycle, your hands are incredibly important. The throttle, brake and clutch are all controlled by your hands. If something hits your hand, it could cause you to lose control. Having gloves can prevent this in some cases, and can prevent road rash.
Boots are also very important. If you do not wear boots, the engine can heat to a degree that will burn your legs. Boots also prevent you from rolling your ankle when you stop or are involve in a crash.
Article curtesy of ezinearticle.com author Joseph Devine
Disclaimer: www.motorcycle-leather-gear.com and www.openroadcyclegear.com are wholly owned by RobyCo, Inc. of Reading Pennsylvania. Excerpt articles do not represent the management opinions of RobyCo, Inc or its holdings. Selected information is provided for discussion purposes