Motorcycle rides are fun in many ways. They are the kind of vehicles that don’t close you in. You get to feel the world around you, the elements in your face as you zip past.
However, one undeniable fact about motorbikes is they are super high risk. If you take a fall, you risk severe injuries; even small accidents can be life-threatening.
You see, unlike cars that offer a degree of protection, motorcycles are devastatingly bare, which is why the prevalence of motorcycle accidents has always been higher than that of cars. This page offers more insight on that subject.
Keeping the reality of these dangers in mind, you don’t want to take any chances with your safety gear.
Let’s take a look at motorcycle safety gear you should never go without:
1. Helmets
It goes without saying that a helmet is the most important protective tool you have when riding on a motorbike. Considering you’re exposed from all angles, a good helmet can save your life or greatly reduce chances of a serious head injury in the case of an accident.
To put into perspective just how important helmets are, they lower the risk of fatalities by 37% and the risk of head injuries by 69%.
Some of the things a helmet will offer protection against include:
- Head injury
- The sun
- Precipitation
- Harsh winds
- Dust and sand particles
2. Jacket and Pants
Aside from helmets, many people don’t really mind riding motorcycles with their everyday wear.
Is it safe to do that? Not in the least because if you ever crashed, you’ll sustain a lot of injuries from the impact, let alone the sudden change in speed which will continue to drag you forward on the road, further increasing your injuries.
There are special jackets and pants designed to protect riders from the elements but especially body injuries like abrasions.
You can get jackets and pants separately or as part of a pair, whichever option is best for you. Remember to slip on a reflective vest or strap on top of your jacket to increase visibility while on the road.
3. Elbow and Knee Guards
Few people will wear a full motorcycle suit. For most people, a jacket is more like it. But it’s even less common to see riders using elbow and knee guards. That just shows that the more classic biker look isn’t usually what people go for.
However, while elbow and knee guards aren’t usually as prioritized as helmets and jackets, they’re just as important. The elbows and knees are some of the body parts that suffer the most in a motorbike accident.
You really should make a habit of wearing protection for such high-impact areas as the elbows and knees. Besides, they are the type of convenient safety gear you can strap onto your everyday clothes and remove them once you get off.
4. Riding Boots
Motorcycle boots are a unique and special part of your safety gear. You could never substitute them with normal footwear or other types of boots because they are specially designed to withstand pressure and protect your vulnerable ankles and shin.
Keep in mind that you use your feet the whole time for support and even as part of the braking system. You want robust riding boots that give you a firm grip while offering protection.
5. Gloves
Similar to knee and elbow protection, gloves aren’t always taken seriously as safety gear. But the thing is, with no form of protection like what cars offer, you depend on your hands to control a fall and protect vital organs.
If you fell on asphalt without gloves on, chances are you’ll lose every bit of the skin on your palms. Motorcycle gloves are designed using tough materials that can resist abrasions. They also fit snugly, minimizing the extent of broken bones.
Conclusion
Remember, good gear can be the one thing that stands between you and a really bad situation. While you’re always vulnerable on a motorbike with or without gear, being fully equipped reduces a huge portion of those risks.
Therefore, the last thing you want to go without is the one thing that can potentially save your life.
If you’ve been ignoring your safety gear, try and change that because you really need them every time you get on a motorbike.