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New to Riding? What Are Your Best Choices In Motorcycle Riding Gear?

We cover the essential motorcycle-oriented riding gear items you'll need for specialized protection, and we discuss the superior comfort, warmth, and stylish good looks they also provide.
New to Riding? What Are Your Best Choices In Motorcycle Riding Gear?

Whether you prefer around-town cruising, high-speed racing on closed tracks, or getting airtime bouncing over dirt trails, motorcycle riding gear clothing items are designed around specialized needs you'll face in these kind of situations.

So if you're new to riding and aren't sure what you need or want, read on. We'll guide you through some truly great motorcycle-oriented jackets, pants, vests, footwear, undergarments, eyewear, gloves, head & face coverings, and more. We offer men's and women's clothing variations, along with children's sizes in many cases.

First, they'll enhance comfort by keeping you cool thanks to creative ventilation design or by retaining every last bit of heat when you need more warmth. If that's not enough, many riding gear items can even generate their own heat electrically. Comfort continues on a more deep-seated level as riding gear items rebuff water to ensure you stay dry instead of soggy, and with reinforced support for parts of the body which need it most.

For safety, motorcycle riding gear items protect critical elbow, shoulder, back, knee, and hip areas with strategically-located cushioning pads, and they protect against road burn in the event of a wipeout because they're constructed with sturdy, abrasion-resistant materials. It's fair to say the right riding gear items can literally save your life. And last but not least, motorcycle riding gear apparel will do all these things with great looks and style!

Heated Gear
In our Heated Gear section, we've got heated vests, pants, jackets, socks, and insoles to keep you warm in the cold. Use power from your bike, or wear them anywhere using a portable battery.

Note that while we reference various heated and waterproof items throughout this article, you'll also find them grouped together in our Heated Gear and waterproof Rain Gear sub-sections.

Certifications

When it comes to motorcycle riding gear, you may see a "CE", "CE1", or "CE2" certification on various items. "CE" is a general code signifying an item of clothing meets European reinforced apparel certification rules required for street riding in Europe. In the United States, CE- and/or EN-rated apparel is only required on racetracks. CE level 1 is required on most tracks, while some higher-speed courses may require CE2-rated gear.

Pants

Leather Chaps / Off-Road Pants / Waterproof Pants / Riding Jeans / Heated Pants
From l to r: leather chaps, off-road pants, waterproof pants, riding jeans, and heated pants.

You rarely see motorcycle riders wearing short pants - for several good reasons. Exposed legs are subject to a great deal of kickup from the road at speed. From being sandblasted with fine grit and oil to random hits from rocks or other debris, it wouldn't take long to rack up cuts and bruises without a good pair of protective pants. And if you fall off the bike, forget it. You need long pants, period.

Features Of Various Types Of Pants
Features available with various types of pants include, but are not limited to, ventilated cooling channels, removable armor pads, removable inner liners, and outer rain liners.

While any pair of long pants protects you in theory, we've got heavier-duty Motorcycle Pants in the form of riding jeans, full and partial leather pants, off-road pants (nylon, polyester), mesh pants, and more. In addition, we've got specialty waterproof pants and heated inner pants liners that can be worn underneath other pants. They're available with cords that can be plugged into your bike's electrical system or to a belt-mounted battery pack.

Denim Riding Jeans

Speed And Strength Rust / Redemption Armored Jeans
Speed and Strength Rust and Redemption Armored Jeans.

We'll start with reinforced denim riding jeans with solid levels of protection. Just to name a few examples, the Speed & Strength Rust & Redemption Armored Jeans feature seat and knee areas designed for extra stretch and flexibility that are reinforced with Kevlar. Speed & Strength's Critical Mass Armored Stretch Jeans are reinforced as well, but are made from 4-way stretch denim throughout.

Leather Chaps & Pants

Aside from fully armored SWAT team clothes, a pair of leather pants is one of the best protectors against skin-shredding abrasion and wind chill. We've got full leather pants along with leather chaps designed to be worn easily over other pants - both with deep, convenient zipper pockets. Naturally, these provide excellent insulation and warmth.

Some leather chaps are even reversible with an inner layer of reflective, high-visibility material that can be flipped to the outside for night riding. And because chaps aren't as bulky, they can easily be stowed in your saddle bag where you need them. If you're interested in chaps, we've got great values with Highway 21 Maverick Men's Chaps, and Black Brand Torque Men's Chaps among others.

Mossi Leather Pants / Rukka Aramos Leather Pants
The Mossi Leather Pants (left) and Rukka Aramos Leather Pants (right).

Prefer the more complete warmth of full leather pants with a traditional button waist and zipper? We've got the Mossi Leather Pants for excellent value. For the ultimate in protection, the Rukka Aramos Leather Pants are a thick 3-layer laminate designed to add maximum breathability and water protection along with padded areas for racing-grade crash protection.

Textile Pants

Denim and leather aren't your only choices when it comes to riding protection. In our textile pants section, you'll find a selection of pants made from sturdy knitted polyester, fleece, cotton canvas, Cordura, and more. What these textile materials excel at is versatility - comfortable, breathable protection for a range of temperatures and climates. Textiles naturally excel at repelling water, and many are available with waterproof liners and pockets.

Fly Racing Over Boot Pants / Rukka Kim Fleece Pants
The Fly Racing Over Boot Pants (left) and Rukka Kim Fleece Pants (right).

For best value in textile pants, see the Fly Racing multi-panel polyester Over Boot Pants (for men and women). Or if you prefer lighter pants that effectively keep you warm, the Rukka Kim Fleece Pants feature form-fitting elastic fleece equipped with a windproof microlayer.

Speed & Strength Soul Shaker Armored Moto Pants / Rukka AirAll Pants / Rokker Riding Chinos
Speed & Strength Soul Shaker Armored Moto Pants (left), Rukka AirAll Pants (middle), and Rokker Riding Chinos (right).

Moving up to higher abrasion protection, the Speed and Strength Soul Shaker Armored Moto Pants are traditional-looking pants made from thick cotton-canvas material that's Kevlar reinforced around the knees and seat. Rukka AirAll Pants are Cordura with double-layer reinforcement around key areas. For reference, Cordura is a densely-woven, high-strength nylon fabric originally created for military body armor. Designed for maximum durability, Cordura offers exceptional resistance to tears and punctures while somewhat replicating the comfort of cotton weave. Rokker's Riding Chinos are slim-fit chino style pants made from thick, heavy-duty dynatec material that's a combination of Cordura, elastic monofilaments, and a high-strength polyamide synthetic nylon fiber blend.

For ultimate levels of textile protection, check out the Rukka Amarone Pants with three heavy-duty layers of Kevlar-Cordura fabric blend. Or if you prefer these in suspender style pants (that can be worn over others), see Rukka's Realer Pants.

Off-Road Pants

Answer Racing Elite Discord Off-Road Pants
The Answer Racing Elite Discord off-road pants.

Off-Road pants offer the protection of durable fabrics such as nylon, polyester, and Cordura but are designed to accommodate the more physically demanding challenges of off-road motocross riding. Because they're looser in fit in key areas and have adjustable elastic waistbands, off-road pants stay snug where they need to while allowing a rider wider range of knee and leg movement without binding or pulling up. Strategically placed padding around knee, fly, yoke, and leg areas provides greater abrasion protection from wipeouts which tend to happen more during off-road and stunt riding.

Mesh Pants

The idea behind Mesh motorcycle pants is to provide protection against abrasion with lightweight construction and greater ventilation that keeps the wearer cool in hot climates. Mesh pants can usually be equipped with padding for off-road applications, but they'll generally feature thinner materials that trap less heat. They may also be worn over other pants well if ordered a size or two larger. And since many can be equipped with waterproof or thermal liners, they're quite versatile.

Olympia Dakar Pants
The Olympia Dakar Pants feature bottom sections that can open or be removed to transform long pants into shorts.

Speaking of versatility and lighter weight, the Olympia mesh Dakar Pants feature bottom sections that can open or be removed to transform long pants into shorts once you're off the bike. For more protection, both the FirstGear Sirocco Mesh Over Pants and Fly Racing Coolpro Mesh Pants feature well-ventilated polyester construction with waterproof liners, lots of zippered pockets, and CE-approved impact-resistant knee and hip panels.

Jackets

Reflective / Leather / Denim / Heated / Waterproof Jackets
Shown here are (from l to r) reflective, leather, denim, heated, and waterproof jackets.

In our Jackets section, you'll find a great selection of stylish gear that's easy to look good in - no matter what your preference is. More specifically, we've got classic leather jackets, lightweight mesh material jackets, versatile textile jackets, and denim jackets (in various colors, some with leather accents). We've also got specialty jackets that are made from those materials such as high-visibility jackets (with designs as splashy as you like), waterproof jackets, and heated jackets (heated liners that can be worn underneath another jacket, or full jackets with liner included).

Features Of Various Types Of Jackets
Features available with various types of jackets include, but are not limited to, removable inner liners, vented cooling channels, armor pads, and outer rain liners.

While each style of jacket has their own unique appeal, it's important to remember that all riding jackets we offer are designed with great protection in mind. Naturally, leather jackets have a high level of abrasion resistance thanks to the nature of the material. But our mesh, textile, high-viz, denim, and other jackets also protect you very effectively thanks to fabrics reinforced with Cordura and/or Kevlar that won't tear or shred the way normal clothes would.

All riding jackets include CE-rated impact protection pieces for the elbow, shoulder, and back areas. And while high-visibility jackets specialize in bright reflective colors to ensure you're seen at night, many other jacket types also include some reflective sections.

Classic Leather Jackets

In our classic leather jackets section, we've got great looks for men and women. For great value, check out the Mossi Cruiser Premium Men's Leather Jacket, Highway 21 Primer Men's Jacket, Speed & Strength Dark Horse Men's Leather Jacket, and the Black Brand Enchantress Women's Jacket to name a few.

Classic Leather Jackets

Moving up to jackets with more features such as adjustable sections, pockets, and airflow, some examples are the Olympia Men's Bishop Leather Jacket, Highway 21 Gunner Men's Jacket, Roland Sands Design Walker Perforated Leather Jacket, Trinity Women's Jacket, and Riot Leather Women's Jacket among others.

And for the highest level of comfort and convenience with a heavier grade of leather, take a look at the Roland Sands Design Signature Ronin Leather Jacket with moisture-wicking liner and the Rukka Aramos Corium Platinum Leather Jacket with 3-layer construction that's breathable yet waterproof and wind-resistant.

Mesh Jackets

Heavier jackets made of leather and textile materials are great for riding in cooler temperatures. But for hot summers in the sun, mesh jackets provide the best breathability with lighter weight construction that also protects your body thanks to protective foam pieces around critical shoulder and elbow areas.

Mesh Jackets

For best value, check out Wayloo's Mesh Style Jacket and Solid Style Jacket choices along with the Fly Racing Flux Air Jacket and the Fly Racing Coolpro Jacket for men & women. Moving up to mesh jackets with additional liners, adjustable cuffs, supportive straps, pockets, fasteners, and more, there's the Olympia Dakar 2 Jacket and Rukka Air-Ya Women's Jacket.

Textile Jackets

Textile Jackets

Textile jackets are known for their versatility - providing a rider with comfortable protection in a range of temperatures and climates. If you're going on an extended trip where you'll be facing everything from grueling sun to damp chilly rain, textile jackets are a great choice thanks to their ability to retain heat when desirable, then shed it via ventilated channels that can be opened on demand. Textiles naturally excel at repelling water, and many are available with waterproof liners and pockets. As with other jacket types, textiles include impact protection pads in critical areas.

Jackets Made Of Waxed Cotton
Waxed cotton is a popular waterproof material found on textile jackets.

With a selection of high-visibility designs, you'll find textile jackets commonly include knitted polyester, nylon, fleece, Cordura, waxed cotton, and more - all of which are extremely resistant to becoming torn and shredded against road surfaces. In case you're not familiar with "waxed cotton", it's cotton impregnated with paraffin or beeswax to create a water-repellent or waterproof canvas.

If you're looking for great values in wet weather protection, we've got Fly Racing's Travel Men's Jacket (goose down inside), Fly Racing Butane Jackets for men and women, and the Speed & Strength Fast Forward Men's Textile Jacket for starters.

Moving up, the Olympia Richmond Men's Jacket, Speed & Strength Rough Neck Textile Jacket, and Highway 21 Gearhead Men's Jacket add an insulated removable inner liner. And if you'd like, the FirstGear Kathmandu Jacket adds the convenience of a removable hydration pack with reservoir.

Denim Jackets

In our denim jackets section, all of our jackets include pad, shoulder, and elbow protection pads along with belt loops for hooking together with pants. Men's jackets include shoulder expansion gussets to prevent restriction of arm movement. Starting with solid values, we recommend the Overhaul Men's Denim Jacket.

Denim Jackets

The Roland Sands Design Bronson Indigo Jacket adds a stylish leather collar to contrast nicely with silicone washed denim - a process that softens the denim while adding elasticity and tear resistance. This jacket features a standard zipper and adds a flap over it with buttons for extra insulation. For those that prefer a very luxurious denim experience, the Roland Sands Design Hefe Jacket (hefe is Spanish for "the boss") is a heavier weight waxed denim jacket (Kevlar reinforced) with removable leather sleeves that allow it to double as a vest. It also features a soft satin inner lining, and a multitude of areas that can be adjusted.

Vests

If it's too warm to wear a jacket, a thick shirt and a good motorcycle vest provide a decent amount of protection for your torso area. For starters, we've got leather or denim vests for classic good looks and heavier-duty protection.

Leather / Denim / Reflective / Cooling / Heated Vests
Shown here from l to r: Leather, denim, reflective, cooling, and heated vests.

In the height of summertime or when you're doing some strenuous off-roading, a cooling vest will effectively surround you and keep your core temperature down. Constructed from specialized polymer fibers and fabrics, these vests are designed to be soaked in cold water for several minutes. After wringing out the excess water, the mesh fabric will hold and slowly release moisture through evaporation over 5 to 10 hours. During this period, water is retained inside the fabric to keep you cool, without surface wetness.

Whatever vests you decide on, you can always opt to boost your safety with an additional lightweight reflective vest that fits easily over any other vest or jacket.

Base & Mid Layers

Long Underwear & Underlayers

Long Underwear & Underlayers

When it comes to clothes to stay warm in cold climates, the phrase "long johns" comes to mind - conjuring images of a warm suit worn against the skin underneath other clothes. Technically, these undergarments are known as "base-" and "mid"-layer clothes - and we've got the snug-fitting base layer shirts, pants, and body suits (one- and two-piece) you need for real warmth.

But that's not all. We've got undersleeves that are just what they sound like - pieces that protect only from your hands up to your biceps. These are great in the summer with short sleeve shirts. Choose solid colors, designs, or simulated tattoos.

Should you prefer to add an additional layer of warmth between base layer clothes or other undershirts, check out our selection of "mid-layer" fleece/thermal pants and zip-up jacket liners.

Socks & Underwear

Socks & Underwear

We haven't forgotten core essentials such as socks and underwear. In our Riding Socks subsection, you'll find long, short, and ankle-height socks of varying snugness levels in solid or colorful designs. And don't forget, we've got heated socks & heated insole pieces that can be worn inside any shoe or boot.

Underwear / Bra Support Items
We also offer underwear and bra support items tailored for the road.

In our Underwear section, we've also got boxer- and brief-length underpants as well as bras - all of which are designed to offer the higher levels of support necessary for bouncing on a motorcycle during extended trips.

Eyewear

Sunglasses
Just some of the wide variety of sunglasses we offer.

In our Motorcycle Eyewear section, we've got a great selection of sunglasses, goggles, and replacement goggle lenses that are designed to fit comfortably inside of any enclosed motorcycle helmet. Many are available in a choice of frame colors and lens tints.

Goggles / Goggle Replacement Lens Pieces
We offer a selection of goggles, and goggle replacement lens pieces.

Note that some of the sunglasses we offer are labeled "convertible" sunglasses - this means that both temple pieces are fitted with small hooks at their ends used for attaching an adjustable strap. When the included strap is positioned around the back of your head, the glasses convert into snug-fitting goggles.

BikeMaster Windshield Convertible Sunglasses Kit
The BikeMaster Windshield Convertible Sunglasses Kit is an example of sunglasses that "convert" to become goggles when a strap is attached around the back.

Head Gear

If you plan on riding for a duration wearing any kind of open-face helmet, you'll need some facial protection. Not only does the right headgear shield you from constant sandblasting of grit and debris from the road kicked up by other vehicles (especially trucks), it can help you stay warm in cooler temperatures. You may never have thought about road grit in a car, but on a bike it can make your face feel raw and drain the enjoyment out of any ride.

Half- & Full-face Masks / Balaclavas / Neck Gaiters / Bandanas / Head Wraps / Headbands
In our Head Gear section, you'll find half- & full-face masks, balaclavas, neck gaiters, bandanas, head wraps, headbands, baseball caps, "skullie" caps, and more.

In our Head Gear section, you'll find full face masks, half face masks, balaclavas, neck gaiters, bandanas, skull caps, headbands, head wraps, baseball caps, beanies, and more.

Gloves

If you're new to riding, you also need a good set of motorcycle gloves. That set of winter gloves you've been using to shovel snow won't do, because motorcycle gloves go above and beyond them when it comes to protection. First, they're equipped with built-in padded armor for maximum impact cushioning exactly where you'd need it in the unfortunate event you land on your hands. Along with that, specially designed outer layers such as leather and/or other textile materials are very resistant to shredding and coming apart if the gloves slide along rough pavement. For reference, glove materials mirror the characteristics of other clothing items made from them (see pants and jacket sections further above).

Motorcycle Gloves
In our Gloves section, we’ve got fingerless, extended length gauntlet gloves, waterproof, mesh, off-road, underlayer gloves, heated gloves, and much more.

In our Motorcycle gloves section, you'll find fingerless, short-cuff gloves, long-length "gauntlet" gloves, mesh gloves, winter gloves, off-road gloves, and more. If you live in a climate where spurts of rain can come out of nowhere, waterproof gloves effectively prevent waterlogging. And for cold weather comfort, we've got heated gloves complete with wiring connectors that hook into other heated jackets or liner sleeves, your motorcycle, or an optional battery.

Boots

In our Boots & Footwear section, you'll find a huge variety of boot styles that serve as your final piece of protection along with good riding clothes, face protection, eyewear, and a helmet. And like other motorcycle gear, riding boots must live up to higher standards of impact and abrasion protection. They must be sturdy enough to provide ankle support and stability for holding up a heavy bike at a red light or for standing on both foot pegs while off-roading.

Boots & Footwear
In our Boots & Footwear section, you'll find chopper/cruising boots, off-road boots, sport/racing boots, touring boots, replacement insoles, and more.

For classic looks, we've got chopper & cruiser boots that are right at home on those kind of cycles, touring boots that are more conservatively styled and shorter in height, or tall boots which are essentially taller touring boots.

If you spend a lot of time pounding up and down steep angles on dirt trails, we recommend off-road boots with stronger straps, thicker leather, shin protection, and other shielding pieces that block impacts and high heat. If you race on a track at high speeds, consider racing boots that typically feature useful design items such as abrasion-resistant microfiber heat guards for better grip against the bike frame, slider pieces around the toe and heel for natural sliding in the event of a fall, and more.

Don't buy any boots without visiting our Boot Insoles section to pick up a set of comfort pads. Plus, there's a variety of replacement insoles (also known as "footbeds") - the interior section that supports the bottom part of the foot.

Hydration Packs

"Hydration packs" make it easy to stay hydrated and enjoy liquid refreshment while riding. Similar to a plastic IV drip bag, a hydration bladder features a tube attached to its bottom which the liquid flows through. When the bladder's mounted inside a backpack or carrying pouch, the tube runs up to your helmet and underneath the edge - with the end of it secured near the mouth area. On the tube's end is a durable bite valve that allows liquid to flow only while the piece is being compressed with your teeth.

Hydration Packs
Hydration packs make it easy to enjoy liquid refreshment while riding. We've got individual hydration bladders, backpacks for carrying them, and tubes.

In our Hydration Packs section, you'll find individual hydration bladder reservoirs, tubes, coupling pieces, bite valves, and specially-designed backpacks of various sizes.

Motorcycle Riding Gear Variety

To continue your education on motorcycle gear, we invite you to read other articles on our website regarding helmet styles, materials, certifications, accessories, and more. And if you have any questions, we'll be happy to answer your calls seven days a week!

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