A motorcyclist wearing full safety clothing of helmet, gloves, boots and leathers

To improve motorcycle safety many developed countries mandate the wearing of protective clothing by motorcyclists, especially a helmet. Other protective gear may include certain types of jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of nylon, leather, or Kevlar. These jackets typically include heavy padding on the elbow, spine, and shoulder regions. Gloves are generally made of leather or Kevlar and some include carbon fiber knuckle protection. Boots, especially those for sport riding, include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankle and toe areas. A well-protected motorcyclist will wear boots with heels that fit on motorcycle pegs and provide good ankle support. Pants are usually leather, nylon, or Kevlar. Except for helmets, none of these items are required by law in any state in the U.S. but are recommended by many of those who ride. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (573x698, 80 KB) Motorcycle leathers and other safety gear Author: Steve Parker @ flickr File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Motorcycle safety clothing ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (573x698, 80 KB) Motorcycle leathers and other safety gear Author: Steve Parker @ flickr File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Motorcycle safety clothing ... // Motorcycles have a far higher fatality rate per unit of distance travelled when compared with automobiles. ... Protective clothing is clothing designed to protect either the wearers body or other items of clothing from hazards such as heat, chemicals and infection. ... // A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. ... A jacket is a lightweight, sleeved thigh- or waist-length coat that may be worn by anyone, as jackets are now made for children, adults, the elderly, and even infants. ... // Leather gloves A glove (Middle English from Old English glof) is a type of garment which covers the hand of a human. ... An engineer boot Motorcycle boots are a variety of boot most often associated with motorcycle riders, commonly referred to as bikers. ... Germanic trousers of the 4th century found in the Thorsberg moor, Germany Early use of trousers in France: a sans-culotte by Louis-Léopold Boilly. ... Chemical structure of Kevlar. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ... Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses of this word, see nylon (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ...

"Off road" riders wear a range of plastic armour to protect against injury from falling off, hitting other riders and bikes, debris kicked up from the rear wheel of leading bikes, and from running into track barriers protecting the public. This armour protects the extremities from breakage and dislocation and the back and chest from strain and broken bones. Although fairly efficient, it is of course not always completely effective. Many riders wear "roost protectors" designed specifically to protect against painful debris from other bikes, but are of no use in a fall or collision. A scooter (left) and a cruiser Motorcycles have been produced in myriad different models for innumerable purposes. ... Dislocation (joint dislocation) occurs when bones at a joint move from their normal position. ...

Leathers

The term "motorcycle leathers" describes leather clothing worn by motorcyclists. Leathers provide impact, puncture and abrasion protection to a rider who falls from his bike, and provide additional weather protection beyond what normal clothing offers when travelling at high speed. The most common leather used for motorcycle apparel is cowhide, known for its strength and durability. Kangaroo leather is becoming popular for its suppleness, light weight and strength compared with cowhide. Clothing protects the vulnerable nude human body from the extremes of weather, other features of our environment, and for safety reasons. ... For other uses, see Motorcycle (disambiguation). ... Abrasion on the palm of a right hand, shortly after falling Abrasions on elbow and lower arm, still healing. ... Cowhides are natural products and a by product of the food industry from cows. ... This article is about the animal. ...

Originally, motorcycle leathers were adapted from tank corps gear immediately following World War I. Duster coats, which tended to catch in the wheels, were switched for short coats. Wide-pegged breeches were worn by some motorcycle police (and are still worn in Belgium) and by dispatch riders in World War II, but were largely abandoned in the post-war years because of their association with certain Nazi uniforms. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pants. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... National Socialism redirects here. ...

Currently there are two major styles of motorcycle leathers: the tight fitting and sometimes colorful one or two piece suits based on motorcycle racing leathers; and the somewhat looser fitting leather trousers and jackets, usually black and often decorated with metal studs and tassles. The latter style, the jackets in particular, are also worn by people who are fond of the style but do not ride motorcycles. The classic American Perfecto motorcycle jacket with epaulets and diagonal zipper, made famous by Marlon Brando in The Wild One, (1954) was invented in 1928 by Irving Schott, of Schott NYC in New York City. Leather chaps, adapted from cowboy gear, were used by American bikers starting in the early 1960s. Schott Perfecto steerhide label. ... Epaulette [pronunciation: ĕp-ǝ-lĕt] is a French word meaning verbatim, little shoulders (epaule, referring to shoulder), often describes the shoulder decorations such as insignia or rank, especially in military or other organizations worn on the shoulder. ... Marlon Brando, Jr. ... The Wild One is a 1953 outlaw biker film. ... Schott NYC (Schott Bros) is an american clothing manufacturing company located in New York City. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Chaps are sturdy leather coverings for the legs. ...

A lot of modern leathers have armour on the inside at critical impact points such as elbows, shoulders, knees and the spine. The armour ranges from high density foam to foam backed hard armour, and in Europe much of it is CE marked. It is designed to spread the impact point to minimize injury. Motorcycle Armor comes in a variety of forms, everything from traditional yellow foam to high tech compounds capable of absorbing large amounts of energy. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The constructional details of CE mark The CE mark (officially CE marking) is a mandatory conformity mark on many products placed on the single market in the European Economic Area (EEA). ...

Textile clothing

Armored textile jackets: cordura left and fully ventillated right

Increasingly, motorcyclists are choosing protective equipment constructed of man-made textiles rather than leather due to their improved weather protection, from heat, cold and water, and the increased utility these garments tend to provide in terms of pockets and vents. Common materials include high density (600 - 1000 Denier) ballistic nylon (e.g., Cordura) and Kevlar (or blends of Kevlar, Cordura, and Lycra) and often include waterproof liners made from materials such as Goretex. These artificial fabrics are said by some motorcyclists to be more comfortable, particularly in warm weather. The textile garments typically take less time to dry out, whereas leather gear may remain wet (and cold) for some time. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 500 × 361 pixelsFull resolution (500 × 361 pixel, file size: 42 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photo © by Jeff Dean File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 500 × 361 pixelsFull resolution (500 × 361 pixel, file size: 42 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photo © by Jeff Dean File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Denier is a unit of measure for the linear mass density of fibers. ... Ballistic nylon is a thick, tough synthetic fabric used for a variety of applications. ... Cordura is the registered name of a certified fabric from INVISTA. It is used in a wide range of products from luggage and backpacks to boots, to military wear and performance apparel. ... Chemical structure of Kevlar. ... Gore-tex is a proprietary teflonized textile material owned by W.L. Gore & Associates. ...

Textile protective clothing is also nearly always worn over ordinary clothing, whereas leather suits—particularly those manufactured for racing—are not. In addition, synthetic fabrics generally provide better protection from inclement weather. For these reasons, synthetics are often practical for commuters and can help make motorcycles an attractive alternative to four wheeled vehicles. Commuters on the New York City Subway during rush hour Rush hour at Shinjuku Station, Yamanote Line Traffic jam Commuting is the process of travelling between a place of residence and a place of work. ...

Not all textile clothing is made from synthetic materials. Heavy weight waxed cotton was used for many years before the development of modern materials, typified by the jackets made by companies such as Belstaff. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Performance claims range for textile motorcycle clothing from somewhat less to somewhat better than competition grade leathers. Key elements of performance include:

• strength - the protective clothing must maintain its integrity in the event of a crash
• abrasion resistance
• ability to slide instead of grabbing tarmac or concrete (grabbing would tumble the rider, likely resulting in greater injury)
• heat resistance - whilst sliding the friction with the road can result in enough heat to melt many synthetic materials
• ability to stretch and breathe (for comfort).

Additional protection may be provided by armour (CE approved is desirable) and airbag systems.

Proper fit

Whatever materials one chooses for one's motorcycle gear, it is important to get the correct fit when purchasing it. Incorrectly fitted garments may result in excessive injury if armour shifts out of position during a riding mishap. Flapping due to too loose a fit also creates unnecessary wear and tear, wind drag, and noise, and can distract the rider. In the event of a fall, loose garments may grab the road surface, resulting in a tumble rather than a slide. Two piece suits often come with zips to join the jacket and trousers/jeans together, thus improving safety in the event of a crash. An object falling through a gas or liquid experiences a force in direction opposite to its motion. ...

Boots

Main article: Motorcycle boots

Motorcycle boots are a type of protective footwear used by motorcycle riders designed to protect a rider's feet and legs while riding and in the event of a crash. Sturdy, over-the-ankle boots can protect you from a variety of riding hazards. Boots with oil-resistant, rubber-based composite soles will give you a strong grip on the pavement and help you keep your feet on the pegs. If the boots have heels, they should be low and wide to provide a stable base when standing with the bike. In case of a crash, boots help provide valuable protection against foot and ankle injuries. As with jackets and pants, boots should be designed specifically for motorcycling, using materials (thick leather, abrasion resistant textiles and plastics) that can protect against the forces of a crash. An engineer boot Motorcycle boots are a variety of boot most often associated with motorcycle riders, commonly referred to as bikers. ...

Helmet

Main article: Motorcycle helmet

A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is to protect the rider's head during impact, although many helmets provide additional conveniences, such as face shields, ear protection, etc. // A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. ...

External links

• Tips in Preventing Motorcycle Injuries - Article that discusses about motorcycle safety gear and preventing injuries when riding. (Archived 2006-02-07)
• Motorcycle Leather Chart - Information about different motorcycle leathers and their safety level.
• Eye catching gear may reduce motorcycle injuries, Summary of New Zealand paper studying effect of rider visibility on accidents. (Full paper available at link.)
• A Purchasing Guide for Leather Motorcycle Jackets and Apparel, Explanation of the different types of leather and the protection they afford to Motorcycle enthusiasts.
• Measuring for Motorcycle Protective Gear, Measuring Guide for Motorcycle Leather Jackets, Chaps and Helmets.

• Motorcycle Council of NSW - Road Safety - Jacket and Pants