Jan 2025
Riding long distances on a motorcycle is not just about the thrill of the open road; it’s also about ensuring safety, comfort, and preparedness for the journey ahead. While your motorcycle is undoubtedly the adventure star, your riding gear plays an equally crucial supporting role. Even the most experienced riders can be exposed to unnecessary risks or discomfort without proper gear. Look at the top 5 essential riding gears every motorcyclist should have for a long-distance tour. Helmet: Your First Line of Defense Let's start from the top: riding gear starts with a helmet. A good helmet protects your head during a crash and from wind, debris, and weather elements in general. Types of Helmets: For long-distance tours, full-face helmets are ideal. They provide complete protection for your face and head. Modular helmets are another excellent option, offering the flexibility to flip up the chin bar when needed. Key Features : Look for DOT- or ECE-certified helmets that meet safety standards. Lightweight options from carbon fibre or fibreglass composites reduce neck strain during long rides. A good helmet should also include adequate ventilation, anti-fog visors, and comfortable padding. Top Picks: Trusted brands like Shoei, Arai, and HJC consistently produce helmets that balance safety, comfort, and durability. Riding Jacket: Shield Against the Elements A reliable riding jacket is more than just a style statement—it’s a protective barrier against injuries and unpredictable weather. Whether riding through blazing heat or chilly winds, the right jacket makes a difference. Material Options: Leather jackets are popular for their durability and classic look, but they can be heavy. Textile jackets, however, often have added features like waterproofing and breathability. Key Features: Opt for a jacket with armour inserts at the shoulders, elbows, and back. Features like removable liners, ventilation zippers, and reflective strips can enhance comfort and visibility. Top Recommendations: Brands like Alpinestars, Rev’It!, and Dainese offer premium jackets tailored for long rides. Gloves: Protection and Grip Gloves may seem minor, but they are critical riding gear. They protect your hands from injuries, blisters, and weather elements while enhancing your grip on the handlebars. Depending on the season, you can wear summer gloves made of breathable material, winter gloves with insulating properties, or even gauntlet gloves, which provide long-wrist protection. Features to Look For: Reinforced knuckles, palm padding, and touchscreen compatibility are some must-have features. Waterproof gloves are handy for rainy conditions. Top Picks: Look for gloves from brands like Klim, Rukka, or Icon, specialising in durable and comfortable designs for touring. Riding Pants: Comfort and Safety Combined While many riders opt for regular jeans, riding pants offer far superior protection. In the event of a fall, riding pants made with abrasion-resistant materials can prevent serious injuries. Materials: Kevlar-reinforced fabrics and textile blends are excellent for their durability and weather adaptability. Key Features: They have knee and hip armour for better protection. The adjustable waist straps and ventilation panels make riding comfortable for hours. Top Recommendations: Explore options from brands known for well-engineered riding pants, such as Klim, Oxford, and BMW Motorrad. Riding Boots: Support and Durability Riding boots are designed to protect your feet and ankles, providing stability and control while navigating challenging terrains. Investing in quality boots ensures safety and comfort throughout your journey. Types of Boots: Adventure boots are great for rugged trails while touring boots prioritise comfort and extended wear. Features to Look For: Reinforced toes, ankle support, and slip-resistant soles are all important. Waterproof boots with breathable membranes keep your feet dry without overheating. Top Picks: TCX, Forma, and Sidi are the best brands, highly recommended for their strength and ergonomic design. Bonus Tips for Choosing Riding Gear Comfort comes first. If the gear is too advanced and hurts your body, you will focus more on that discomfort than the road. First, always try gear before buying to achieve a perfect fit. Adapt to Weather Conditions: Touring often involves riding through different climates. Choose gear that can adapt to varying weather conditions, such as jackets with removable liners or gloves with ventilation options. Invest in Quality: While budget-friendly options may be tempting, investing in high-quality gear is a long-term safety measure. Reputable brands often come with better warranties and proven reliability. Conclusion Long-distance motorcycle tours are thrilling but require proper preparation for a safe and comfortable ride. From helmets to boots, every piece of gear plays a vital role in protecting you from potential hazards and enhancing your riding experience. By investing in the right gear, you can enjoy the joy of the journey without worrying about safety concerns. So, gear up, hit the road, and make unforgettable memories on your next adventure!
Oct 2024
Whether you are an experienced rider or just a beginner, good-quality riding gears are what make all the difference for the rider's safety and comfort on the road. Though riding may bring people excitement and adventure, there is always a risk factor, which can be best guarded against by proper protective gear-from helmets to gloves, each piece counts in one's safety while on ride.For a complete newcomer to the biking, there is a long list of gear that needs to be chosen. With the options available for buying or even renting, it is amazing to know what is considered essential. Here is a comprehensive guide to get you off on the right hoof with the essentials in riding equipment.1. Helmet: The First Defense LineThe helmet is the first safety apparatus that should be considered when it comes to a rider's safety gear. It guards your head and in case of an accident reduces severe injury or death. The helmet has been designed in such a way that it can absorb the impact force, thereby guiding the injury from direct trauma to the skull. The choice of helmet is also essential. It ought to have a rating whether DOT or ECE, which means it has met the industry standards.There are various styles of helmets available. You can opt for full-face, modular, or open-face helmets. The highest level of protection is offered by full-face helmets as they cover the whole face, including the chin guard. One feels a little restricted while wearing them, but it's probably safe to use them for initial ridership. In case you are not ready to invest in an expensive helmet, you can take helmet along with other riding gears on rent to try before buying any.2. Riding Jacket: All-Weather ProtectionA riding jacket is something way more than making you look cool; it protects your upper body and arms in case you fall. Jackets are designed to resist abrasion and impact injuries. They usually come with built-in padding on critical areas such as the back, shoulders, and elbows in order to minimize injury severity.When buying a riding jacket, make sure you find one with CE-rated armor and good quality leather or reinforced textiles. A mesh riding jacket is the best for summer riding because it lets fresh air go through yet protects you altogether. All-weather jackets are often water-repellent features that ensure you don't get wet in bad weather. Like helmets, jackets can also be available in riding gears on rent if you want to try different styles for comfort and utility before committing a purchase.3. Riding Gloves- Better Grip and ProtonationRiding gloves are a must for your hands as they protect it from the elements and in the event of a fall. They protect abrasions and ensure better grip on the handlebars. A good pair should incorporate protection on knuckles, palmed reinforcement, and a snug fit that doesn't interfere with bike handling.Again, select the riding gloves appropriate for the weather. During warm weather, you will choose ventilated gloves, whereas waterproof, insulated gloves are preferred when the weather is colder. The two most common types are leather and textile, each providing advantages related to comfort, durability, and protection .4. Riding Shoes/Boots: Foot ProtectionMany Novice riders have scant attention on proper riding shoes, opting for casual sneakers or sports shoes. Riding boots are actually designed specifically to protect your feet, ankles, and toes from impacts in case of a fall. As if that is not enough, good riding boots provide extra grip on the pedals for riders and absorb the impact forces in a case of falls.Riding boots also have reinforced toes and ankle protection and anti-slip soles. Others even come with shin protection. But if you are a beginner, riding shoes on rent can be taken as part of a riding gear on rent package, especially if you are not sure which style suits your riding habits best.5. Riding Pants: Full Leg ProtectionThough many riders invest in helmets, jackets, and gloves, they often neglect riding pants. Standard jeans or casual trousers may look good, but they don’t provide adequate protection. Proper riding pants are designed with durable materials like Kevlar and come with armor in the knees and hips to protect these vulnerable areas in case of a crash.Most riding pants are abrasion-resistant and may also include waterproof linings. For touring riders, pants with breathable and waterproof layers are ideal. If you're just starting and don't want to spend heavily on gear, you can find riding gears on rent, including riding pants, which are often part of the package for long tours .6. Body Armor and Back ProtectorsIf you're looking for extra protection, especially for off-road or high-speed rides, investing in separate body armor and back protectors is a smart choice. These add an additional layer of security beyond what a jacket can provide, focusing on protecting your spine, chest, and other vital areas.Like other gear, body armor is available in various levels of protection, and some come with integrated ventilation to keep you cool while riding. For casual or city riders, a jacket with built-in armor might suffice, but for those doing more extreme riding, additional protection is advisable.7. Riding Gears on Rent: Affordable SolutionsIf you're a beginner you can take riding gears on rent. This way, the amount needed to purchase all the gear all at once is conserved and utilized properly. The facility of renting is very handy because it helps try all the brands, style, and even intensity of protection without the burden of buying all of them together.Most rental services like Rental wheel offer the full range of riding gears, like helmets, jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. This can come in handy under one roof to riders who are going on short tours or even trying out a particular type of bike on rent. You can just rent the right one for the trip at hand or for your riding style and stay safe without having to spend so much.ConclusionRiding gears are arguably the most important investment for safety, more so when riding on the road for a new rider. Depending on your choice to purchase or rent the gear for riding, ensure every piece-the helmet, jacket, gloves, shoes, and pants-is in safety standards and fit for the riding style you have chosen. With time, you will discover the protection and confidence these gears give make your ride not only safer but also more pleasurable.