For motorcycle and scooter riders, clothing and protective accessories are like the body of a car – they form an outer shell which shields the rider from impacts.
Because the gear you wear is the only buffer between you and the road environment it needs to provide the best protection possible.
To do the job well enough your motorcycle and scooter safety-wear needs to meet certain design standards.
In a crash, 7 out of 10 riders have injuries that may have been reduced or prevented by wearing the right gear.
Investing in the right gear can reduce your risk of injury and also provide more comfort when you ride.
The top 10 rules for riding gear
- Cover your whole body.
- Use impact protectors over your joints.
- Protect your skin with abrasion-resistant material in vulnerable areas.
- Check the seams on your gear. There should be more than one line of stitching and at least one line of concealed stitching on exposed seams.
- Check that all fastenings are secure and protected from contact with the road or other surfaces in a crash.
- Avoid external pockets or straps that could become tear points or snag on something in a crash.
- Use insulated, waterproof and windproof materials to protect you from the cold.
- Use reflective or light colours and ventilation to protect you from heat.
- Check that all your gear fits you properly so that it will remain in place in a crash.
- Don’t carry anything in your pockets that could cause injury in a crash.
Europe is currently the only region that has standards for motorcycle jackets, pants, gloves and boots.
Gear that has been tested and conforms to European standards will have the letters CN EN followed by a number.
In Australia, only helmets and visors/goggles are covered by standards:
- Helmets: AS/NZS 1698:2006
- Eye protection: AS 1609 – 1981
Not having standards across the full range of gear doesn’t mean there are no quality products available in Australia – you just have to know what to look for.
Choosing a motorcycle or scooter helmet
By law, when riding in Australia, you must wear a motorcycle helmet that complies with the standard AS/NZS 1698 and is securely fastened.
Remember – price is not an indicator of a helmet’s level of protection so you don’t need to blow your whole safety budget on one. Comfort and fit are very important.
Design
A full-face helmet will provide more comprehensive protection to the face and chin in a crash than an open-face helmet. It will also protect your face from flying stones, insects and bad weather.
Consider a flip-front helmet. You might find it a good compromise between an open-face and a full-face helmet.
Make sure you have a visor or goggles. It is essential to protect your eyes with a visor or motorcycle goggles that comply with the standard AS 1609 – 1981.
Fit
Check that the helmet covers your forehead and brow. Looking up, you should just be able to see the edge of the helmet. It shouldn’t move around or put pressure on your forehead. Keep it on for 5-10 minutes to check.
An open-face helmet is more likely to be pulled off in a crash. Ensure it fits correctly. Get someone to grip the helmet at the back of your neck and pull it up and forward.
Don’t worry about the brand. Choose a helmet that fits. Different helmet models fit different-shaped heads.
Vision
Check your peripheral vision. Make sure the eye-port is wide enough.
Turn your head. How far behind can you see?
If you wear glasses or sunglasses, check that they don’t cause pressure points.
If you are using a tinted visor, always carry a clear visor with you. Never use a darkened visor in low light or at night.
Comfort
Consider a vented helmet. A lot of your body heat is released from your head.
Look for fog shields and chin vents. These prevent your visor from misting.
Choose a helmet with removable comfort padding. Padding that can be removed and washed can help extend the life of your helmet.
Protect your hearing. Helmet noise is affected by the way air flows around it and how close the padding is to your ears. Consider earplugs to protect your hearing, but make sure you use earplugs that don’t block all sound.
Age and helmet condition
Do not wear an old or second-hand helmet. Researchers do not know how long the protective capabilities of a helmet will last.
Never use a helmet that has been in a crash. Once a helmet has been involved in a crash it loses much of its ability to protect you.
Don’t give a pillion passenger a poorly fitting or damaged helmet.
If you drop your helmet and dent or crack the outer shell, get a new one. If the outer shell shows any damage the impact-absorbing inner shell may also be damaged.
Choosing jackets, pants and suits for riding
Leather was once the first choice of riders because of its high abrasion resistance, but today there are many textiles that provide excellent abrasion resistance along with other benefits.
The design of riding garments has become highly specialised and currently the European standard is one of the world’s most comprehensive. Look for the letters CE and the code EN 13595 on jackets, pants and suits.
Where you can’t find riding gear made to the European standard, the following guidelines will help you choose the safest gear available to you.
Design
Avoid straps on external pockets. These become tear or snag points which may catch on your bike or other objects in a crash.
Look for garments made of large panels of fabric with few openings and joins. Joins and seams are potential weak points which can burst under stress.
Avoid decorations and hard or sharp objects. Metal buckles and other decorations can tear the garment and injure you.
Make sure the lining is not attached to major impact points on the garment. The lining should be slippery so that your body can slide within the internal shell to reduce your risk of being cut by sharp objects.
Seams and construction
Look for two or three rows of stitching with at least one row of concealed seams in high impact areas.
Extra layers must be stitched on top of the main protective layer – not inserted as a separate section.
Check the number of stitches in the seams. As a rule, there should be 11-14 stitches for each 5 centimetres of fabric.
Check that the stitching is regular and continuous. Dropped or broken stitches may weaken the seam.
Fasteners
Avoid garments that have zips on the shoulders, elbows, hips, shin and spinal area.
Make sure that zips are sunk below the outer surface of the garment. They should also be covered by flaps on both sides.
Ensure that there are fasteners for the wrists and ankles. These will prevent the garment riding up in a crash.
Comfort and fit
Make sure your gear fits snugly and comfortably while you’re in the riding position. Also, check that you can walk, bend over, climb stairs and crouch comfortably in the gear.
Check that any stretch or mesh panels are used only in low impact areas such as the middle of the chest and upper-inside leg.
Women
Women often have difficulties finding gear that fits well as most of it is designed for men. Jackets may be too wide in the shoulders, while pants may be too narrow around the hips.
Gear with adjustable fasteners can help to get a more snug fit.
Women riders should research and ring around to find out which stores stock garments appropriate or adaptable for women.
Choosing boots and gloves for riding
Ideally, you should look for boots and gloves designed to the European standard and bearing the letters CE.
For boots, look for the code CE EN 13634, and for gloves, look for CE EN 13594.
If you can’t find riding gear made to the European standard, here are some things you should consider when looking for boots and gloves.
Boots - design
Look for boots that fully enclose the foot, ankle and lower shin.
Check that leather boots are at least 2.5 millimetres thick. Soles should be rigid and at least 4 millimetres thick.
Make sure that the boot uppers don’t overhang the edge of the soles.
Boots - fastening
Choose boots that fasten on the inside of your leg.
Avoid lace-up boots unless the laces are fully protected.
Make sure the boots can’t be pulled off your feet when they are fully fastened.
Boots - comfort and fit
Choose boots with oil-resistant, waterproofed, non-slip soles.
Ensure that you can walk normally, climb stairs, bend over and crouch comfortably.
Check that you can operate a bike’s gear lever and brake properly. Do the boots let you feel what you are doing?
Gloves - design
Look for gloves with leather at least 0.9 millimetres thick with webbing between the little finger and ring finger. The webbing may prevent your little finger from becoming twisted.
Choose gloves with multiple layers over the base of your palm, and impact protection for knuckles and wrists.
Look for seams with multiple rows of stitching. Avoid gloves with hard seams or sharp edges.
Gloves - fastening
Try to pull the gloves off when they are properly fastened. If they can be pulled off, they may come off in a crash.
Make sure the fasteners are on the inside of the wrists, where they are less likely to be torn open in a crash.
Gloves - comfort and fit
Gloves should fit snugly. They should be neither too tight nor too loose.
Make a fist while wearing the gloves. Material should not bunch against your palm or fingers when your hand is curved around the handlebar.
Make sure you can easily feel and operate your motorcycle’s controls.
This information was sourced from The Good Gear Guide for Motorcycles and Scooter Riders, produced by LdeR Consulting for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.