SAFETY KIT

Wearing the right kit while riding keeps you comfortable and safe. Here’s what you need... PLAY IT SAFE

HELMET

A helmet is your most important line of defence

when riding. It will keep you warm and dry, and potentially save your life. Wearing a helmet is a legal requirement in the UK, so buy the best you can afford.

Look for helmets tested by SHARP (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme) – sharp.dft. gov.uk. There are several good-value helmets with five-star ratings. Check any helmet you buy meets British Standard 6658:1985 or UNECE Regulation 22.05. This will be on a label inside the helmet.

Buy a helmet from a reputable retailer and never buy used as you don’t know if it’s been in a crash. The HJC IS-17 is a great value helmet that costs from £149.99. It’s available in a range of sizes and has adjustable cheek pads to give a perfect fit. For £179, the AGV GT Veloce that is lightweight and has excellent ventilation, so it’s ideal for city use in the summer.

WHAT IT’S MADE OF

A helmet is made of several protective layers: a thin hard, outer shell typically made from plastic or a composite material, then an impactabsorbing inner, followed by a soft, inner liner for cushioning, often removable for cleaning.

PRICE £149.99

COLOUR

Choose bright colours as these help other road users to see you coming.

EYE COVER

Wear a visor or goggles with an ECE, CE or BSI approval mark. In daylight a tint of up to 50% is okay; a clear visor must be used after dark.

HELMET BUYING TIPS

Try before you buy – wear the helmet for several minutes in the shop to make sure it’s comfy and there are no tight spots. Snug fit – make sure the helmet is not loose or moves when you turn your head. Check the securing strap fits neatly under your chin. Noise – earplugs help protect your ears from excessive noise while riding. Go to UltimateEar.com for a range of custom-made earplugs and earphones. A full-face helmet – gives better protection. Be sure the visor is CE or BSE approved. Only use a dark-tinted visor in daylight. Tough stuff – helmets soften impacts using multiple layers of composite material, foam and padding. A removable inner liner makes cleaning easier.

JACKETS & TROUSERS

There’s a huge choice of motorcycle jackets and trousers, and that’s before you decide whether you prefer leather or textile for the material.

Leather has been the traditional choice thanks to its abrasion-resistance, but modern textiles are now every bit as good while offering better protection from the wind, rain and cold. Textile clothing can also be cooler in warm weather. Look for textile clothing made from Cordura and Gore-Tex.

Whichever material you opt for, make sure the jacket and trousers come with CEapproved armour. This should be a comfortable fit in all of the most vulnerable spots, including shoulders, elbows, back, hips and knees. Also allow for some space under the motorcycle clothing so you can wear extra layers in colder weather – adjustable straps on the jacket and trousers help keep them snugly fitted.

This Weise Ascari jacket costs from £159.99 and is wind- and waterproof. It has removeable armour, vents, and a zip to attach it securely to trousers. The Spada Marakech textile trousers have knee armour and a removeable thermal lining, and a zip to connect to a jacket.

PRICE £139.99

CLOTHING BUYING TIPS

Fit – before buying a jacket or trousers, try sitting on a motorcycle with the kit so you know it’s comfortable. Armour – only buy clothing with CE-approved armour, and make sure the armour doesn’t move around as you wear the kit. Stitch up – only buy clothing that is double- or triplestitched on the seams so it resists splitting if you fall off. Zip it – always zip up your jacket when riding to give maximum protection. Check the zip is not directly touching skin in case it transmits friction heat if you fall off. Leather – leather clothing should be at least 1.2mm thick, but make sure you are happy with comfort and weight. Textile – look for layers that can be added or removed to make the clothing more waterproof or warmer depending on riding conditions. Jeans – armoured jeans reinforced with Kevlar are another option, but offer less protection from the elements.

PRICE£159.99

MATERIAL MATTERS

Jackets can be made of leather or a textile such as Cordura; all should be at least double-stitched and have integral CE-approved armour in the most ‘at-risk’ areas, such as elbows and shoulders. Often, back protection costs extra.

GLOVES & BOOTS

As a motorcyclist, your hands and feet are among the most exposed parts of your body, whether it’s to the wind, rain, or if you come off.

Leather is the most common material for gloves. Extra protection on the knuckles and wrist from plastic or carbon-fibre inserts is desirable. Lighter weight gloves for summer will keep your hands cool, while insulated or electrically heated gloves are ideal for winter. We like these Richa Carbon Winter gloves as they are waterproof, thickly padded, and have a leather outer. They also have built-in visor wipe for riding in the rain, and all for £49.99.

There are 26 bones in each foot, so protecting

PRICE £153.99

FIT AND COMFORT

Shoes must be comfortable as you could be wearing them for hours at a time. Don’t wear regular shoes, however comfy, as they won’t offer enough protection. them is vitally important. Forget trainers or work shoes and invest in good quality motorcycle boots. Most are made from leather or Lorica synthetic leather for excellent abrasion-resistance. There are summer, winter and allseason boots, so just make sure they cover and support your ankles.

We reckon these Held Short Lap Boots offer great safety, comfort and style. They have an anti-slip sole and plastic heel protection for £153.99.

PROTECTION

Your hands are vulnerable in a crash and you can easily lose a finger, so always wear specialist motorcycling gloves – a strong protective layer is essential. PRICE£49.99

GLOVE BUYING TIPS

Fit like a… gloves should feel tailored to your hands, but not tight. Make sure you can curl your fingers, while a wrist strap helps secure the glove. Protection – look for gloves and boots with extra protection around knuckles and ankles to take care of these vulnerable areas. Type of use – choose the right boots and gloves for the riding you do. Racing kit is great on track, but can be uncomfortable on a long trip. Sew good – check any gloves or boots for good quality double or triple stitching as it makes the kit strong in a crash.

HELMET CAMS

Filming your ride can be fun, and it can also be crucial if you’re involved in a collision. There’s a wide range of helmet cams available, differing in size, quality and price, so look for one that’s suited to your needs as well as your budget.

As the camera is going to be used outside, it has to be waterproof. Make sure you can operate it while wearing

Weight – choose a helmet camera that’s not too heavy so it doesn’t cause any strain as you ride. Safety – a study by the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory shows helmet cams pose no additional risk gloves – this is where voice activation or using the camera via Bluetooth on your phone helps a lot.

Look for 1080p cameras, which means they have 1080 lines of vertical resolution to give a clear image. For the same reason, a 60 frames per second (FPS) camera gives much sharper pictures, and check the battery life will last long enough to capture your usual rides.

A memory card is essential to record what you film, so count this into your budget. Check out the editing options, too, as some systems are easier to use than others.

The Innov C5 is a great helmet camera at a keen price. It’s compact, light and easy to attach to a helmet with a sticky pad. It’s small enough not to cause any wind drag or noise, yet it captures high-quality images, has a long battery life, and uses a smartphone app for editing. It costs £179.95.

PRICE £179.95

SAFETY

When they first became popular, there was a question mark over the safety of cameras in a crash. But so long as the camera is correctly mounted that shouldn’t be a problem.

HELMET CAM BUYING TIPS

to rider safety in a crash. Resolution – pick a helmet cam with a high-resolution lens to capture clear, sharp images. Long life – battery life should match your typical ride. Up to three hours of charge time is usual. Hands-free – operating the camera with voice commands or through your smartphone makes life simpler, but always make sure you concentrate fully on your riding.