Motorcycle riding can be great fun. That’s the good news for motorcycling enthusiasts. The bad news is that it can also be very dangerous to life. From a safety point of view, riding motorcycles is much more dangerous than driving four wheeled vehicles likes cars and buses. That’s mostly because of the exposed nature of motorcycle riders and the fact that the machines only have two or three wheels which compromises balance.
In the US, motorcyclists are 30 percent more likely to die in accidents than motor vehicle drivers. So motorcycle riders need to take all necessary precautions. There are numerous precautions to take and safety rules and regulations to observe. However, the precaution we are going to focus on here is that of safety gear. What different types there are, how to put on and what their particular functions are. You can visit Throttle Buff as they can help you find the best gear.
How to Put Them On
When to Put On Safety Gear
There’s an old acronym amongst motor cyclists, ATGATT, for All The Gear All The Time. That should be the motto all the time. Some make the mistake of thinking that a 200m trip to the local shop does not warrant a helmet for example. Not so at all. No matter the length of the trip, always make sure you are properly geared up.
- Helmets
This is vitally important. It’s mandatory under law too, which means you will be arrested if you are not wearing one. There are three main types to select from: there is a full face helmet, another one is the three quarter and the last one is a half helmet.
- Full Helmet
As the name suggests, the full helmet is going to cover the whole head and some parts of your neck. It gives the wearer full protection when compared to the other two versions. For the rider’s vision there is a visor that can be moved up and down and most designed types are well ventilated. It leaves the ears exposed so the rider can hear all surrounding sounds and to enable him/her to take appropriate defensive maneuvers, it also fits in a way that allows free movement of the head.
- Three Quarter Helmet
This version is almost similar to the full face variety. It provides full and adequate protection for the top of the head, the sides as well as on the back. However, it only provides partial facial protection as most of the chin is left exposed. As in the full face helmet, there is free movement of the head and you can perfectly hear sounds that are close. For vision, there is a fip-visor whose screen is either tinted or clear. This version provides almost adequate protection for the rider.
- Pants
The importance of pants to be worn by riders should not be underestimated. Pants made from leather textiles are recommended. Kevlar also provides good protection from the weather and abrasion in the event that you fall. These materials are good for trousers, jackets, gloves and knee patches. The rider has to consider protection from the weather as well as general comfort when choosing the type of material.
- Half Helmet
This version gives the rider less protection when compared to the other two. There is only full coverage of the top of the head whilst the sides and in most cases the back of the head are only partially covered. As for the face, there is absolutely no cover so the rider has to wear some other type of gear like goggles or glasses as protection against wind or rain. This version does not provide adequate protection and its use is not recommended here.
- Boots
Ideal boots should reach above the ankle, have oil proof soles for a firm ground grip. Laces should be inside the boot to avoid tangling on the wheel and a shifter pad. Some come with fitted toe protectors. Don’t forget to check https://throttlebuff.com/ for more information.
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