Leather Motorcycle Gear

Motorcyclists love to take advantage of their wheels with unrestricted views and take road trips in the summer. You’ll often see motorcycles whizzing by on highways, stopping at greasy spoons, and flooding tourist towns to see the sights. In fact, I recently encountered dozens of riders during a weekend vacation in the town of Winthrop, Washington. It turned out that the small town is at the end of Highway 20, a gorgeous road that runs through an old growth forest with several lakes, mountains and waterfalls to view along the way – a very popular route for riders!

There are entire websites dedicated to the best riding roads in America, and it’s no wonder. With the freedom you have while riding a motorcycle, nothing could stop you from seeing the most beautiful parts of this country. Just make sure you have the proper motorcycle gear! As with any interstate motorcycle trip, it’s important to know the various motorcycle laws in each state. Washington state’s law is that riders must wear a helmet that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). A DOT-approved helmet has a sticker on the back that identifies it as such.

When you’re first purchasing motorcycle apparel and accessories, your main focus should be on safety. Style is a consideration, but keep in mind that motorcycle safety gear is one of your only lines of defense in the event of a crash. Since you have no seatbelt, airbag or vehicle frame to protect you from injury, you’ll be relying on your helmet, jacket, chaps, boots and more to keep you safe. You should plan on spending between $500 and $1,000 for a full set of good-quality motorcycle gear.

One of the most important pieces of motorcycle safety gear is your motorcycle helmet. A full-face helmet is best because it will provide you with face protection if you slide over the pavement after a crash. The fit of your helmet is very important. If it’s too small, you’ll hate wearing it and may leave it at home, leaving your head and face vulnerable in the event of an accident. If the helmet is too big, your head will bang around inside it if you crash and you may sustain head injuries. Whether or not your state law requires motorcycle helmets, it’s a good idea to have one – your head is the most important body part you want to protect if you crash.

In the hot summer months, a full leather motorcycle jacket can be too warm. While leather jackets provide the most protection against road rash in the event of a fall, they can simply be too heavy for everyday wear. A good alternative is a leather motorcycle vest. It still gives your chest and back vital protection against road rash, and you can layer it over a T-shirt or a sleeveless shirt to stay really cool while riding.

A leather motorcycle vest always works off the bike, too. It’s common to see men and women wearing motorcycle vests around town, either as a necessity for when they get back on their bikes or as a fashion statement. Like motorcycle jackets, motorcycle vests are open to a host of options for special embroidery and customization. You can choose from patriotic designs, skull and cross bone designs, the designs of your favorite motorcycle company and many more. A leather vest is a must for anyone who rides in the summer.

Let’s face it, for motorcyclists, it’s important to ensure our hands are protected. Even a single slip of the hand can spell out disaster, so having a good pair of leather motorcycle gloves is essential. Motorcycle gloves do a lot more than just look cool and help us to feel better in control of our motorcycle. A good pair of leather motorcycle gloves also provides a firm grip for the handlebars, protects our hands against sunburn and frostbite, and against abrasions from potential flying objects on the road.

When choosing motorcycle gloves, it’s important to ensure the fit is snug, but not too tight. Wearing the same gloves for hours takes a toll on the skin, and if at all possible, we want to avoid blisters and our hands becoming uncomfortable. It’s common for hands to start sweating if the motorcycle gloves are too tight or too small, and leather isn’t a breathable material so it’s good to have a little room inside. Motorcycle gloves also have different linings, and before purchasing, make sure the lining is comfortable against the skin. Wear the gloves around for an hour and see how it feels before committing to the purchase.

Motorcyclists recognize that their helmet expresses much about their character, and it’s important to have a helmet that offers protection while also being fashionable. There are several different types of motorcycle helmets. There’s the classic bucket helmet with a chinstrap, reminiscent of the kind of helmets soldiers wear in combat. Then there’s also the wrap around helmet which encases the entire head and comes with a protective visor that flips down. For adverse weather conditions, a wrap around helmet is the clear choice, but for fair weather, a bucket helmet works great. For those with a bucket helmet, it’s also a good idea to invest in a pair of sunglasses to shield against the sun and also protect the eyes from objects and even bugs. There are several different motorcycle helmet brands, but in general, Outlaw motorcycle helmets are great for bucket helmets, and Hawk offers an extensive selection of functional wrap around helmets.

It’s a good idea to start off with a wrap around helmet, and then move on to a bucket helmet as riding becomes more comfortable. But experienced motorcyclists might be happy with wearing either full time!

The mark of a true amateur or imitation motorcyclist is owning a motorcycle with too many extras attached to it.  Those motorcycles that look more like camping trailers with two wheels aren’t impressive to anyone.  Being a motorcyclist is about that feeling of freedom that comes from traveling on the open road, and that true feeling doesn’t happen with a motorcycle that is shaped like a brick.  The first step: don’t purchase a motorcycle that looks like a brick.  Those motorcycles that are often sold at dealers that weight half a ton and are laden with useless accessories and storage containers don’t impress real motorcyclists.  The real motorcyclist just needs their bike, their motorcycle jacket, and a few motorcycle accessories like motorcycle saddlebags just in case they need a little extra storage.  Taking to the open road with a cooler, a bag full of hygiene products, and an extra change of clothes is for amateurs, real motorcyclists don’t need all the extras!

Purchase genuine leather motorcycle saddlebags for the best kind of storage a motorcyclist can own.  These saddlebags will endure the elements, and not look too gaudy or flashy either. 

Motorcycle saddlebags are of three types : Soft, Hard, Aluminum. In soft ones, the vulnerable parts on the bike are protected with clear vinyl or a soft towel. A backing plate can be made of 1/8″ aluminum that holds then flatters. A single U shaped bar that attaches to both the passenger peg mounts and the rear fender eliminates most of the wobble. In hard ones, GIVI saddlebags are very high quality. However, the mounts tend to stick out pretty far. Krauser manufactures strong bags and trunk. In Aluminum ones, these are popular with the adventure/touring set. Read the rest of this entry »

Is there a universal “best” motorcycle boot? Unfortunately, such a boot does not exist on planet Earth. Still, the good news is that the “best” motorcycle boot is relative to each rider’s needs and preferences. Finding the right motorcycle boot, such as those among Harley Davidson motorcycle boots, requires you to do some research and reflection. Nevertheless, here are some basic features of motorcycle boots to consider: Read the rest of this entry »

Motorcycle jackets are for a lot more than just looking cool while on the road, they also offer superior protection from the elements.  Most motorcyclists prefer to wear leather jackets because, as we all know, motorcyclists are exposed to the outdoors unlike motorists.  Wearing a motorcycle jacket protects from the cold (with the wind chill, this can be significant even in warmer weather), and also helps the motorcyclist endure through rain and other adverse weather conditions.  When purchasing a motorcycle jacket, it’s important to not skimp on cost.  Motorcycle jackets with poor stitching or those that use low quality leather will not last, while a motorcycle jacket made from quality materials and sewn by a professional can last for decades.  In fact, there are quite a number of motorcyclists that will wear one motorcycle jacket for a lifetime without even a single thought of replacing it. 

Motorcycle jackets can become just as much a part of the motorcyclist as their motorcycle.  Make sure to take good of a motorcycle jacket, and it will in turn take good care of the rider for several years to come!