What gear do I need to ride a motorcycle on the road?

For anyone new to motorcycling on the road, working out what are the motorcycle safety gear essentials from all the gazillion products available can be bewildering. But fear not, because whether you’ve been riding for one day or half a century, the basics of protective motorcycle apparel remain the same.

Importantly, these basics should be the minimum you wear on the road no matter what the conditions – the excuse, “But it was too hot to wear a jacket!” won’t do you much good in the hospital emergency ward, and it certainly won’t change the technique the doctors and nurses adopt to scrub out and sterilize what’s left of your skin…

So, if you’ve just got your learner’s permit and you’re about to get your first road bike, these are the items that should be on your hit list – and on your body each and every time you ride…

Here in Australia, by law you must wear an approved helmet that meets the Australian AS 1698: 1988, Australian and New Zealand AS/NZS 1698:2006, or European ECE22.05 standards. All helmets have that passed these standards must bear the official standards sticker or label. All motorcycle helmets purchased in Australia through motorcycle accessories outlets should uphold these standards, but some available for sale online may not. It pays to check; standards-approved helmets have passed numerous shock and impact tests; those that aren’t have not. And the last thing you want to be worrying about if you have an accident is whether your helmet is going to be up to the job.

A sturdy motorcycle jacket for use on the road is another essential piece of motorcycle kit. Generally available in leather or textile materials, a decent motorcycle jacket should have integrated CE-certified armour, or protectors, in all the major impact areas: the shoulders, elbows, and back. CE certification is a set of European standards that ensures the item to which it is applied has met certain standards for protection. Many protectors in cheaper garments do not have such certification, and generally offer far less impact absorption (or abrasion resistance) as a result. Some entire jackets can meet CE certification, while many (again, often cheaper ones) do not. In any case, look for jackets with extra protection in impact areas, with sturdy stitching (double or triple stitching instead of single, for example). Leather jackets can offer the most abrasion resistance – the reason why motorcycle racers wear leathers – while textile jackets can be more practical, with zip-out thermal liners, waterproof/breathable liners, more pockets etc.

Gloves are an item sometimes overlooked by riders, especially in hot weather. But the reality is it’s your hands that often cop it in a motorcycle accident, as people instinctively put our their arm to try and protect themselves in a fall. A naked hand impacting a bitumen road at 80km/h? It doesn’t bear thinking about… Like other motorcycle apparel, make sure you’re buying and wearing motorcycle-specific gloves, in this instance road bike gloves. Dirt bike gloves won’t be up to the job for spills at higher speed and on the road. Again, look for CE-certified gloves, additional protection in major impact areas (like the palms), sturdy stitching, and – importantly – a snug but comfortable fit. Like jackets and trousers, motorcycle road bike gloves generally come in leather or textile varieties, and summer and winter models. Some summer gloves are vented for cooling airflow, while winter gloves can have additional insulation. Either can be found with waterproof/breathable membranes too, like Gore-Tex, for which you’ll pay more.

Fact is, ordinary jeans just don’t pass muster in a motorcycle accident. That denim might feel sturdy to the touch, but it will tear and disintegrate as soon as you hit the road at any reasonable speed. Also, dress jeans don’t have anything in the way of impact protection – and knees often cop the full force of the impact in a spill. The solution is to ensure you buy motorcycle-specific trousers. These can range from Kevlar-lined jeans with knee and hip armour, to leather or textile trousers. Motorcycle trousers can often be paired with a matching jacket, with a connecting zip to attach one to the other that offers even more protection. Like jackets, leathers offer more abrasion resistance but textile trousers can be more practical, courtesy of waterproof/breathable liners, thermal linings, more pockets etc.

Finally, proper motorcycle boots should be on your list of motorcycle safety essentials. Sure, sturdy ordinary boots are still better than trainers (or, heaven forbid, thongs or sandals!), but only motorcycle boots will (or should) have the proper ankle armour built into them to save you from painful sprains and fractures. Motorcycle engines get very hot too, so proper calf-length motorcycle boots will save you from painful burns (and ruining a pair of regular footwear!). Usually available in leather or tough synthetic material, you can also get waterproof/breathable models, while bike boots come in a wide range of styles, from race boots with replaceable toe sliders, cruiser-style boots with buckles, touring boots, urban-styled models, and more.

So there you have it – five motorcycle safety essentials that every rider should wear to be protected in the event of an accident. From these essentials you can further enhance your safety with items like back protectors, or enhance your comfort in wet weather with rain oversuits, but these are the basics every rider should own.

Buying all this gear certainly isn’t cheap, and you do generally get what you pay for, but this is crucially important kit on which you shouldn’t skimp. To that end, for motorcycle novices, you should budget for this accordingly and purchase it all before you buy your first bike. That way, you won't spend so much on your bike that you won't have enough cash for safety gear. Besides, good gear lasts longer, and it’s hard to put a price on the reassurance that comes with knowing you’re properly protected.

• Helmet: Must meet the relevant Australian or European standards
• Jacket: Leather or textile, with CE-certified protectors (ie armour) and sturdy stitching
• Gloves: Must be proper road motorcycle gloves
• Trousers: Road motorcycle-specific trousers, leather or textile, that preferably can be zipped into a matching jacket. No ordinary casual denim jeans
• Boots: Motorcycle-specific boots, preferably calf height and with integrated ankle armour