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I got a new summer KLIM jacket this week so I thought it would be a good time to talk about motorcycle gear.
Motorcycle gear can save your life in a variety of ways. Helmets reduce the impact of head injuries by up to 90%, while clothing and padding can protect you from cuts, bruises, and other injuries. Additionally, motorcycle gear can help keep you stable on the bike in case of an accident.
Why wear protective gear when riding a motorcycle?
Motorcycle safety is important, no matter what type of motorcycle you ride. Here are some tips to gear up for safety. Check Your Gear and Bike Before You Ride First, make sure that you have the right gear for your bike. You should be wearing a helmet, gloves, boots, long pants and a jacket. Make sure that the gear fits properly to avoid injury during a crash.
Having the right motorcycle gear is not only for protection in a crash but also can help in bad weather. A motorcycle jacket and helmet will help keep you warm in the cold weather.
Helmets: the most important piece of gear for motorcycle safety.
Helmets should always be worn when on the road and when riding. Helmets protect your head in a crash by absorbing much of the impact, so it is important to wear one every time you ride.
Motorcycle helmets are required by law in many states, but their use is not universal. As a result, there is some debate about the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets. However, the statistics show that motorcycle helmets save lives. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2012, 855 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in the United States, and 5 Helmeted riders were killed, compared with 1,645 unhelmeted riders who were killed. That means that helmeted riders were just over one-third as likely to die in a crash as unhelmeted riders. In addition, helmeted riders were significantly less likely to suffer a head injury in a crash.
Why Many Riders Choose Not to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet
There are many reasons why people choose not to wear a motorcycle helmet. Some people believe that it is their right to choose not to wear one, while others say that they feel the helmets are too heavy or hot. Others claim that they do not believe in the safety benefits of helmets.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina took advantage of a unique opportunity to compare the reasons why people choose not to wear a motorcycle helmet. They sent out questionnaires asking motorcyclists who had purchased helmets in recent months to tell them why they did not want to wear them. The researchers found that despite the increased risk of a crash, most motorcyclists still chose not to wear helmets. According to the survey, only about 30% of the motorcyclists wearing helmets claimed that they did so because they believed in the safety benefits of helmets.
Different Types of Motorcycle Helmets to Choose From
When it comes to motorcycle helmets, there are a variety of different types to choose from. The three most common types are:
- full-face
- modular
- open-face.
Full-face helmets offer the most protection, as they cover the entire head and include a shield that protects the face.
Modular helmets have a chin bar that can be flipped up, which allows the rider to have more airflow and increased visibility when needed.
Open-face helmets offer the least amount of protection but are lighter and more comfortable than other helmet types. It is important to consider which type of helmet will provide the best safety for your individual needs before making a purchase.
Motorcycle Jackets: are also Important for Motorcycle Safety
Motorcycle jackets are not just for style, they are also important for safety. In fact, wearing the proper gear can be the difference between life and death in the event of a crash. Jackets made specifically for motorcycles provide extra protection against wind, rain, and debris thrown up by other vehicles. They also keep you warmer in cold weather and cooler in hot weather. If you are involved in a crash while wearing non-motorcycle-specific clothing, you are much more likely to suffer serious injuries than if you were wearing the proper gear. So make sure to invest in a good motorcycle jacket before hitting the open road.
Is One Motorcycle Jacket Good for All Riding Seasons?
It's no secret that motorcyclists like to ride all year long. In fact, many riders will tell you that there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. And while it's certainly true that you need the right gear for the right conditions, does that mean you need a different motorcycle jacket for each season?
In theory, the answer is yes. A summer motorcycle jacket is going to be made of lighter materials and has less insulation than a winter motorcycle jacket. Plus, it's going to be made of a different material than something that is appropriate for wetter conditions.
If you're going to be riding in cold weather, simply add some layers underneath your jacket to keep warm. And if you're going to be riding in hot weather, remove some of those layers or replace them with something cooler.
To determine if you need a winter motorcycle jacket and a summer jacket you will need to be realistic about the different temperatures you will be riding in.
Motorcycle jackets come in all different shapes and sizes, and it can be hard to determine which one you need for the season. The best way to figure out is to be realistic about the weather conditions you will be facing. In most cases, you will need a winter motorcycle jacket for cold weather and a summer motorcycle jacket for hot weather.
A winter motorcycle jacket should have insulation and a waterproof or water-resistant outer shell. It should also have a hood or collar that can be zipped up to protect your neck from the cold wind. A summer motorcycle jacket should have ventilation so that you don't overheat while riding. It should also be lightweight and have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 50.
Gloves: Necessary for Grip and Protection on Your Motorcycle
There are many reasons to wear gloves while riding a motorcycle. Gloves provide grip and help you control the bike, they keep your hands warm in cold weather, and they protect your hands in the event of a fall. In addition, most gloves have reflective material on them so that you are more visible to drivers when you are riding at night.
Armored gloves are fine but the primary reason for wearing motorcycle gloves is for abrasion resistance. Gloves protect your hands from wind, cold, and rain, but they also offer abrasion resistance in the event of a fall. Armored gloves are fine for street riding, but if you're going to be hitting the trails or doing any kind of dirt biking, you need gloves that will protect your hands from scrapes and abrasions. Look for gloves with heavy-duty Kevlar or reinforced leather palms and fingers. They might be a little more expensive than regular motorcycle gloves, but they're well worth the investment.
Boots: Protect your Feet and Ankles on a Motorcycle
Boots are an important piece of gear for motorcycle riders. They protect your feet and ankles in the event of a crash. In addition, they provide insulation from the cold and keep your feet dry in bad weather. There are a variety of boots available on the market, so it's important to choose the right pair for your needs. What to Look for in Motorcycle Boots The boots you choose should provide a good fit, adequate protection, and be comfortable.
Here are some tips to help you find the right pair of boots.
Look for boots that cover your ankle bone, or they won't protect your feet as well. Look for boots that have good ankle support.
Look for boots with a wide toe box and stiff material around the ankle. Boots should also have a slip-resistant sole to keep you from dropping the motorcycle at stops.
Some Motorcycle Boots have steel safety toes and steel shanks to protect your ankles in case of a crash. I have never liked steel toe boots for riding a motorcycle though because I lose feel for the shifter and the broader toe can make it difficult to get your toe under the shifter.
Other gear you might consider when riding a motorcycle: sunglasses and sunscreen.
When you're out for a motorcycle ride, it's important to protect your skin from the sun. Make sure to bring sunglasses and sunscreen to keep yourself safe and looking good.
If your jacket has a good SPF rating then sunscreen is not as important though as your arms will be protected from the sun.
Sunglasses can be worn under a full-face or open-face helmet. My preference is to wear a dark tinted visor on a full-face helmet or to purchase a helmet that has a drop-down internal visor that can be used as needed.
Buy any of the motorcycle gear mentioned in this video and support MCrider.
KLIM Jacket – https://www.MCrider.com/KLIM
Shoei Motorcycle Helmets – https://www.MCrider.com/Shoei
Windshirt/Jacket Liner – https://www.MCrider.com/Liner
Lee Park Sumo Gloves – https://www.MCrider.com/LeeParks
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