Motorcycle Protective Equipment 101: Take Motorcycle Riding to the Next Level

The world of motorcycling is often an exciting one. There’s the wind in your hair, the sense of freedom, and the sheer adrenaline rush that comes with every ride. It definitely beats being stuck in traffic or sitting in an office all day.

But as exhilarating as motorcycle riding can be, it’s also one of the most dangerous activities you can do. Every time you hop on your bike, you’re exposing yourself to potential danger. Regardless of how experienced you are, there’s always the risk of being involved in an accident, which is why wearing the necessary protective gear is so crucial.

What Protective Equipment Should Motorcyclists Wear?

For the most part, the Aussie regulations around the safety gear motorcycle riders must wear are pretty straightforward. Even if you’re just popping down to the shops on your scooter, you’re required by law to wear certain non-negotiable items to keep you safe as well as a few optional accessories, including:

Motorcycle Heated Gloves

As you’re cruising along the open road, the last thing you want is for your hands to get cold and stiff. But when the temperature starts to drop, that’s exactly what can happen. The greater your speed of travel, the more wind chill you’ll experience, which can quickly turn a pleasant ride into an uncomfortable one.

To avoid these inconvenient scenarios, wearing cosy and durable motorcycle heated gloves is a must. Most models these days come with built-in heating elements that are powered by your bike’s battery. And thanks to recent advances in technology, these elements are now thinner and more flexible than ever before, so you can enjoy maximum comfort without sacrificing dexterity.

The battery life for the majority of heated bike gloves on the market is pretty impressive too. They’ll usually maintain warmth for around four to six hours on the low setting and two to three hours on the high setting.

You don’t have to use the complete battery life every time you ride either. If, for example, you only need warmth for your first hour of riding, simply switch the gloves off after that and they’ll continue to hold their charge until the next time you need them.

Cleaning and maintenance for these types of gloves are relatively easy too. Most can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle and air-dried. Just be sure to check the care instructions that come with your particular pair first.

Protective Airbag Pants

Although the technology of motorcycle pants just like heated bike gloves is improving every season, airbag vests have been available on the market for more than ten years. What is novel, though, is that Mo’cycle, a Swedish manufacturer of motorbike accessories, is the first company to sell airbag pants.

This is a significant advancement because a motorcyclist’s legs are most likely to sustain injuries in a non-fatal incident, and up until now, the best you could hope for was to bolster your thigh protection by donning armoured shorts or base layers.

Major gear manufacturers like KLIM, Dainese, Alpinestars, Helite, and others will almost certainly want to update their protective gear lines in order to issue their own versions of these pants as soon as they are released. As the phrase goes, the consumer generally benefits from competition, and having greater protection when riding is always a good thing!

Motorcycle Boots with Boosted Skeleton

The concept of exo-skeletal supports on all sorts of footwear is another relatively new innovation that went into effect in 2021. These boots are designed to avoid tibia/fibula breakage and/or rotational injuries by having a reinforced frame surrounding the boot and a hinge that permits the ankle to move enough to conduct braking and gear changes.

You can now buy boots of practically every type with an exo-skeletal support frame, which was previously only available on the most expensive sport and race boots. This is a perfect illustration of the trickle-down effect from Powersports to consumers. While there are some more understated styles for the neo-retro and cruiser industries, they are swiftly gaining popularity in the ADV boot and motocross boot segments.

Innovations in Motorcycle Helmets

Anyone’s initial thought when considering a helmet is that it is used to protect the rider’s head. But today’s helmets feature cutting-edge technology that helps riders be more aware of their surroundings while also improving their safety and comfort.

For starters, every helmet must have a reliable ventilation system. Due to several technological advancements, including cooling devices with fans and ventilation systems, the rider may now ride for extended periods of time. These inventions are also simple to operate because they rely on solar energy or batteries.

Next, switching between lanes is much easier with a helmet that has rear-view mirrors. They’re normally placed on either side of the helmet, near the rider’s temples. This innovation allows the rider to see what is happening behind them without having to turn their head, which can be dangerous while riding at high speeds.

And finally, LED lights are often built into the outer shell of the helmet. These can be used as a turn signal to indicate when the rider is about to change lanes. The lights are usually activated by a wireless remote control that’s attached to the motorcycle’s handlebars.

Finishing Thoughts

This article would need many more pages to cover all of the different materials used in protective gear if we covered every variety that has appeared in the last ten years. However, some of the strongest, safest, most abrasion-resistant, and well-armoured gear is now a reality thanks to numerous emerging technologies and research initiatives. And luckily for you riders out there, businesses aren’t done innovating and developing new ways to keep you safe on the road just yet.