Riding Gears - What do you really need?

Location: Myanmar Gate, Igatpuri | Pic Credit: Highway Stories

Gear-up for "when I crash" and not for "if I crash" !!!

I learned it the smart way, i.e. from fellow riders and Google-baba rather than learning from real-life experience. That is the right way to go about it because worse case you may not get the chance.

Am I being overdramatic? Not at all. Many a time people correlate the seriousness of injury with the speed at which one ride. While that is true, many a time even slow-speed crashes can leave you bed ridden.

So what all make-up full riding gear. That is easy, and you can easily search it on Youtube or Google. If you have a budget constraint, then prioritize in the following order: 1. Helmet, 2. Gloves, 3. Boots, 4. Jacket and lastly 5. Pant.  

Helmet: I would urge my fellow riders to consider it from safety point of view and not because it is mandated by law. Given that helmet protects the most important part of our body - 'Head', we should buy the best helmet that we can afford as very rightly advised by Shumi of Powerdrift. If you are not convinced about investing in a good quality helmet, please go and watch the Podcast where Shumi goes into details about why you should do so. I don't think I'll be able to do a better job than him, and if that video doesn't convince you then at the end of the day, its your head, you are free to get it smashed!! 

There are a lot of very good options available in all price ranges, one need to do a bit of research and find the right helmet for your head and your wallet. Sizing is easy, measure your head's circumference just above your eyebrows and ears. In my view:

1. Pick a full-face helmet and not modular or half-face for best protection;
2. It needs to be super tight;
3. Prefer the one with an ECE rating, DOT is okay, avoid ISI rated (the requirement is much lower) but it is still better than no helmet;
4. Prefer one which comes with D-ring as against slider ratchet;
5. Normal budget helmets would weigh around 1500gm. Avoid using anything more heavier than that. Lighter is better, if the weight reduction is because of material  and not because the manufacturer used cost-cutting measures to build a sub-standard helmet;

Gloves: It is easy to visualize why one should prioritize Gloves after Helmet. Whenever we fall, we naturally stretch-out our hand to cushion the fall, and hence in my view after Helmet, buying gloves should be prioritized. For sizing, measure your palm's circumference just below the fingers. In my view:

1. Pick full gauntlet gloves rather than short ones;
2. Prefer the one with leather material - as it has the best abrasion resistance; 
3. Prefer the one with a hard knuckle protector, as well as a hard palm protector - enables sliding when you fall, reducing the damage;
4. Pick the one where the pinky finger is attached to the middle finger with additional leather - protect the pinky from tearing up during fall;
5. If budget is not a constraint, go for branded ones as they have been tested and comes with CE rating

Boots: Boots being a higher priority than Jacket and Pants may have surprised many of you. In my experience, I have seen riders not using riding boots or buying them as the last gear. For me too, boots were the last piece of gear I bought. 

The normal sports shoes are completely useless in case of a bike crash, they will tear up like tissue paper. It doesn't protect your ankle from twisting, and your shin area is completely vulnerable to flying stone(s). But proper riding shoes protect you in all these scenarios. Few of the things to consider while buying boots:

1. Pick the full-length boots rather than short one;
2. It need to have a hardened toe (not steel toe), hardened around the ankle to protect against twisting and shin protection;
3. Toe sliders are good to have but not essential unless you are doing track days;

Jackets and Pants: Riders are preferring riding jackets, which is a good thing even if factor driving is looking cool than anything else. Another good thing, today we have a vast variety of riding jackets across the budget range, including few Made in India brands. Just like boots, riding jackets are different from a normal jacket including the leather jacket. Few of the things to consider, preferably:

1. Get the jacket with CE 2 level protectors;
2. Get the jacket with a back protector. In case the jacket doesn't have back protector, buy it separately;
3. Given our country weather, leather is not a feasible option, get textile-mesh jackets made with high abrasion resistance material like 600D PU coated polyester. Don't worry too much about rain or winter liner. These can be easily bought separately;
4. If it come with Chest protectors, nothing like it

Riding Pants, like boots are often neglected. Believe me, your jeans will not hold a second in case of crash. Riding pants not only protect against abrasion, and injury but are decently comfortable. Use criteria of Riding Jackets for selecting riding pants as well. Few additional points:

1. Prefer the pants with a hip protector;
2. If possible buy the same brand of pants as the jacket, it will allow you to connect your jacket with the pant via zipper to increase the protection.

Gears I use:

1. Helmet: Started with Steelbird, presently using HJC CS-15 (bought from Anzen Kawasaki alongwith my Ninja 300);
2. Gloves: Riada short gloves for daily rides and Alpinestars SP8 (gauntlet gloves) for long rides;
3. Boots: Started with Solace but wouldn't recommend it as it didn't lasted even 1 year. Presently using SIDI touring boots;
4. Jacket: Used Riada for last two years (still use it during short rides), recently ungraded to Dianese Super Speed Tex;
5. Pant: Using Solace Coolpro pants, and would highly recommend it;

I hope you guys found the blog useful. Do share your comments/ feedback on the same if any. Safe Riding !!