Never wear these 6 things while riding a motorcycle
Rajarshi MITRA/flickr
Getting ready for a trip always involves in-depth gear planning: what to wear, what to pack, what to leave at home. I happen to enjoy the planning part of a trip almost as much as I enjoy the trip itself...almost.
I have to confess that I’m one of those ATGATT guys—you know, "All The Gear, All The Time." So my senses are particularly tuned to pick up what I perceive as real packing mistakes (or lack thereof) by my fellow riders. At risk of sounding like a gear evangelist, here are a few things I’ve actually seen other bikers and their passengers wearing on the road.
1. Flip Flops
Rajarshi MITRA/flickr
Seriously? Flip flops and sandals? I wouldn’t walk across the street in them, and yet, I've seen riders with their toes exposed.
2. Tennis Shoes
Not as bad as flip flops, but still inadequate to the demands of motorcycling.
3. Shorts and/or Skirts
Rajarshi MITRA/flickr
Forget about how little protection your legs have in case of a crash—how about protecting them from your bike? Bikes have hot pipes and exposed metal, both of which are unforgiving to bare flesh.
4. Novelty Helmets
I don’t want to get into the helmet law issue here—that is, unless you want to. But if you’re going to wear a helmet, make it a real, DOT approved one at least. My personal preference is for a full-face model, which may be more of a statement about my appearance than pure safety.
5. Tank Tops, T-shirts, Tube Tops
Actually, these are okay as long as you wear a good quality jacket over them. And zip those jackets closed—a flapping jacket doesn’t do anything for you in a get-off.
6. All Black
Rajarshi MITRA/flickr
Motorcyclists love to wear black, but you’ve got to be seen. Add a splash of reflective material on your sleeve, on your back and on your legs. Make sure that other drivers can see you, especially at night. Plan well. Think about the weather you'll be riding in and wear layers. Dress to be seen, and dress to be safe.
You’ll still look cool. I promise.
NOW WATCH: The best car of the year — the Volvo XC90