Although motorcyclists make up just 1% of road users, they account for 20% of fatalities.

Most bikers are aware of the dangers of motorcycling and, in light of these risks, most ride accordingly. They ride defensively in order to anticipate accidents and to try and protect themselves from collisions with other road users.

Without the protection that a car affords its occupants, a motorcycle is especially vulnerable to cars and the actions of their drivers. Driver error is one of the biggest causes of motorbike accidents. Even the most momentary lack of concentration can lead to serious injury. For that reason all bikers need to wear protective clothing from top to toe.

What to wear

Bikers don't have the luxury of side impact bars, air bags or seat belts to protect them. Their only option, in addition to riding defensively, is to wear the very best clothing that they can afford. There are a couple of choices available to bikers, however the main priority is to buy a suit that meets the highest performance standards.

There are a few questions to consider when buying your protective clothing. First of all you should consider exactly what you need. For example do you need additional clothing to keep you warm or to make you visible to other drivers? What time of year will you be riding most?
If you will be riding during the summer months you should look for outfits with ventilation holes. Some suits are lighter but may not offer as much protection.

Depending on the distance you are travelling and the amount of movement you need you should try to get as much protection as possible. You can also buy made-to-measure or off-the-peg clothing. This is entirely up to you and the choice may be down to finance. The final option and maybe the most contentious aspect of buying your biking clothes, is the material you go for.

Leather or Kevlar?

Leathers are the traditional material for protective clothing. Leather is extremely strong and is very good in terms of abrasive resistance. In tests it has been shown that a single layer of denim, like that in a standard pair of jeans, only has a tenth of the strength of leather.
Synthetic materials such as Kevlar also have excellent strength and abrasive resistance. Whatever material you choose, it should be as thick and as heavy as possible, thus providing more protection.

Buying your clothing

First and foremost you should check that the clothing meets European standards such as EN 1621-1 and EN 13595. The suit should have a lining to absorb moisture, preferably in cotton; however nylon is stronger but could melt. You should aim for double thickness of the outer shell in the most vulnerable areas. Some rows of stitching should be covered to protect structural seams from sunlight and general abrasion before an accident.

You should obviously be very sure that the garment fits you well. Simply try it on and check that it is not too tight or too lose. You should have a good range of movement and consider what you will be wearing under the garments.

Helmets

Check that your helmet carries BSI kite mark BS6658 or European Standard ECE 22-05, if not, it is not worth purchasing.

Full-face helmets fitted with a hinged visor are best because they protect the face and the head and offer protection against the weather and debris. If you choose an open faced helmet it will leave the face exposed. Make sure that if you purchase a new visor that it is road legal, many sold on the internet these days can be too heavily tinted and may not be legal.

Comfort and fit

Helmet size and fit can vary with manufacturers, but here is a size guide:  S = 55/56cm, M = 57/58cm, L = 59/60cm,  XL = 61/62cm,  XXL = 63/64cm.

As individuals we all have slightly different shaped heads, obviously its important to choose a helmet that fits properly and is comfortable, so you should ensure you try on different sizes and makes.  You will find that a 58cm (medium) in one model is not exactly the same as another.

When checking comfort and fit you should check you have no uncomfortable pressure points (particularly on your forehead and ears) as these will only get worse during a ride.  Make sure you keep your helmet on for at least five minutes as this will enable you to decide if it is a good fit or not.

Your helmet will soften and mould to your head slightly, so avoid lending it to someone else.

You should not be able to pull the helmet off, or twist it too far round, when the strap is fastened.  Most helmets have a double D ring style strap or seat belt strap, which may be easier to undo.  Both systems offer adequate security when fastened correctly (always give a quick tug on the strap to check it's secure).

Most helmets are fitted with vents to allow air to circulate while riding.  These help to ventilate your head and keep your visor from misting up.  You will normally find vents on the front and sometimes on the back of the helmet to allow air to flow.

Helmet care

Whether you buy a £40 helmet or a £400, helmet you'll need to look after it.  It's not just a cash investment, but also something which may save your life.  Most helmets come with care and use instructions, but here are some general tips.

• Cleaning - a soft wet cloth with one or two drops of washing up liquid is ideal for removing every day grime.  Insects seek revenge, by ingraining themselves into the paintwork.  Cleaning your helmet and visor after use will help increase its life and ensure you can see properly.
• Storage - helmet bags are a great idea, but you don't need to spend a lot, a pillow case will do or anything that will protect it from chipping while it is not on your head.
• What happens if you drop it? Modern helmets are designed to withstand a minor knock, but a high fall; say off your bike could render your helmet useless.  If in doubt contact the manufacturer to arrange an inspection or replace it.
• Remember never sit or stand on your helmet as this may stress or weaken it.
• Never hang it of your handle bars, foot pegs or wing mirrors as this may damage the impact absorbing lining, or may fall off and render it useless.
• Never sit on your seat; if it falls off, it may render it useless.
• You may also find that solvent cleaners, direct sunlight, paint or adhesive from stickers may also damage the construction, so check carefully before use.

Gloves

Don't be tempted to ride without decent gloves; they protect your hands, which are often the first part of the body to make contact with the ground in accident. They also keep your hands warm, dry and protected allowing you to use the clutch and brake easily.

Gloves intended for motorcycle racing typically incorporate precurved finger sections and the best available protection, obtained through additional armour incorporated within the glove.

Although maximum tactility is an obvious starting point for racing gloves, additional protection should not be discarded. Additional protection may involve titanium or carbon panels for knuckles and the joints of the fingers.

Furthermore, racing gloves may and often do incorporate additional wrist and other protection panels to protect the heel of the hand, back of the hand and other easily injured parts of the hand.

Boots

Always wear purpose made motorcycle boots or training shoes, on a motorcycle the feet are vulnerable and you need to good protection of the foot and ankle, modern boots give the best sense of control of the gear change and brake without compromising on safety.

Tough, strong, moderately flexible boots with stiff soles provide the rider protection from a number of risks. Boots with oil-resistant, rubber-based composite soles give a grip on the pavement and help keep the rider's feet on the pegs. If the boots have heels, they should be low and wide to provide a stable base when standing with the bike. In a crash, boots may prevent or reduce foot and ankle injuries.

As with jackets and trousers, boots should be designed specifically for motorcycling, using materials and seam construction that are impact, abrasion, cut, tear and burst resistant. Strong, tough, and flexible leather or synthetic fabrics have suitable properties. Boots should also have energy absorbers and load spreaders on the shin, inside and outside of each ankle. A stiff sole working laterally helps prevent or decrease crash injuries caused by crushing and shear strain.

Clothing

The clothes you wear need to protect you from abrasion both from impact and potentially from sliding along the road. Wearing a t-shirt and shorts is the surest way to end up in A&E. Wearing the correct clothing really can mean the difference between bruising and skin grafts.
Many modern leathers have armour on the inside at major impact regions such as shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and back. The energy absorbers and load spreaders range from high density foam to foam backed hard polymers and carbon fibre. It is designed to spread the impact load and shear strains to prevent and reduce harm levels of injury and disablement.

You don't have to wear leathers, but look for clothing reinforced with Kevlar or Cordura, especially around the knees, ankles, elbows, shoulders, hips and back. You can buy reinforced jackets, jeans and cargo trousers that can look good too. These artificial fabrics are said by some motorcyclists to be more comfortable, particularly in warm weather. The textile garments typically take less time to dry out, whereas leather gear may remain wet (and cold) for some time. However, some textile fabrics offer less abrasion protection than leather gear.

The future

There have been many important advances in motorcycle clothing in the last few years which could make a real difference to you and the way you enjoy riding.

The use of airbags in jackets is now a reality, when the rider's body leaves the bike, a wire that's attached to the jacket activates the triggers, piercing the CO2 canisters and instantly inflating the jacket or vest providing a real improvement in impact protection.

Neck braces are now also carrying over from dirt bike riders, meaning that with a simple brace worn around the neck and soon to be incorporated into jackets themselves, that 'whiplash' and musculo-skeletal injuries to the neck and upper back could be greatly improved.

A new wonder material, D30, is commonly available, and is used in the areas that need the greatest protection, such as the knees, shoulders, elbows and back. It is a soft, gel like substance normally, but on impact the molecular structure causes it to become hard and rigid providing instant crash protection.

 

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All documents should be read and used in accordance with the terms and conditions. This document is for your general information only and is not a detailed statement of the law. It is provided to you free of charge and should not be used as a substitute for specific legal advice. If you require specific legal advice please contact our helpline on 03700 86 86 86.

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