Motorcycle Gear
Many a mother has shuddered at the very thought of their children riding on a motorcycle for fear of what will happen. As with most things in life, the motorcycle does have a bit of a bad reputation from the people who do not take the necessary safety precautions. In fact, most motorcycles are quite safe if the correct motorcycle gear is worn and attention is paid to safety at all times. Most countries in the world require, by law, that people wear certain articles of clothing when on a motorcycle. Whether or not it is law, it remains a good idea.
The main thing about motorcycle gear is that it is there to protect the rider of the motorcycle in the case of an accident or the like. There are four main functions to the gear that a person on a motorcycle should wear and they are improved visibility, abrasion resistance, padding and protection from the elements. The first one, improved visibility, refers to the ability of other road user to see the rider of the motorcycle. Even though most people have this romantic image of a person in black leather on a motorcycle, the truth of the matter is that bright clothing and clothing with reflective strips are safer. A motorcycle is much smaller than a car and other motorists need to be able to see a motorcyclist to avoid them.
Abrasion resistance is another important function of motorcycle gear. Leather has and will, for the foreseeable future, have the best abrasion resistance out there. There is a reason they made armor from it in the Middle Ages, after all. This abrasion resistance is very important in a crash as it can save a person’s life and, literally, limbs. There are other, lighter fabrics that also offer abrasion resistance. The advantages of the fabrics are that they can be made completely weatherproof and are more comfortable. Leather, for example, is all well and good until the temperature outside rises to the high ranges.
On the same level as abrasion resistance is the subject of padding in motorcycle gear. Padding is often places in those places to protect vulnerable joints and such. Padding can take the form of simple foam padding to absorb the impact to involved padding systems that stiffen on impact and use distributing pads to absorb the brunt of the force exerted upon it. Padding is usually quite high in the jacket, but other part of the clothing can also have high degrees of padding in certain places like the knees, for example. Last, but not least is the ability of the gear to protect the rider from the elements. Be it cold, hot, wet or dry, the rider needs to remain comfortable at all times to ensure that their attention on the road does not waver. Adequate gear will protect the rider from rain, wind, cold, and extremely warm temperatures.
A motorcycle remains a dangerous thing. If care is taken, however, and the appropriate motorcycle gear is worn then safety increases by a great degree.
