Riding gear
What to wear when riding a motorcycle.
Protective gear
The right protective gear can turn what might have been a hospital stay into a minor injury. High-tech materials offer riders greater comfort and protection than ever before, with venting to keep you cool in summer and zip-in quilted linings providing warmth against the cold.
Denim jeans with a kevlar lining provide basic protection, while leather suits are more resistant to abrasion and weather. Riders who wear the right protective clothing are less likely to have permanent physical injuries after a crash
Riding to live starts with choosing the right motorcycle gear
Cover yourself
To improve your safety, aim for the best possible protection, with riding gear that:
- Covers your whole body, preferably with abrasion resistant material in vulnerable areas.
- Has impact protectors over the joints.
- Has seams with more than one line of stitching, and at least one line of concealed stitching on exposed seams.
- Secures and protects all fasteners from contact with the road in a crash.
- Avoids external pockets or straps that could be potential tear points or become snagged in a crash.
- Uses insulated, windproof and waterproof materials to protect from the cold.
- Uses reflective or light colours and ventilation to protect from the heat.
- Fits properly so it will remain in place in a crash.
All these items contribute to an item of clothing’s MotoCAP rating.
MotoCAP – the Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program
MotoCAP is a world first ratings system for motorcycle clothing. It gives Australian motorcycle riders clear, independent information when choosing the clothing they wear while riding.
Because motorcycle riders have very little protection other than their helmet and their clothing when involved in a crash, improving the effectiveness of protective clothing will help reduce the risk of serious injury or even death.
MotoCAP gives clothing two separate star ratings – one for protection and one for comfort. It also assesses waterproof clothing for its effectiveness.
The protection star rating takes into account performance in abrasion resistance, seam strength and impact protection, while the comfort rating is based on how comfortable the clothing is when it’s worn in the Australian climate.