New York Chapter "W"

Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Rochester, NY

Rider Education Information by Gary Mandak

Riding Educator, New York Chapter "W"

Motorcycle apparel, it does a body good

Now that the riding season is finally upon us and we have practiced our long lost riding skills in the local parking lot, what should the best-dressed motorcyclist be wearing? As we venture out on our rides, it is important to consider what we wear as protection from the elements.

Footwear: Your footwear should at least cover your ankles for the best protection. I am "soled' on leather boots with rubber soles for better footing on pavement. They are also more resistant to slipping on the oily residue left at most tollbooth areas or the center lane of most roads.

Jacket: A jacket or a long sleeved shirt should be worn to keep exposed skin from wind, bugs or un-planned get offs. Your body actually stays cooler by covering your skin rather than being exposed to the wind. Extended riding with unprotected arms will cause dehydration. Leather or the new fabric type jackets can offer the protection needed for all riding conditions. The fabric jackets may also have armor for the arms and back area for additional protection. Keep those attractive muscles hidden by long sleeves and save the skin for the beach, not the pavement.

Pants: Wearing long pants to cover you legs is a must, even in warm weather. Leather chaps, leather pants or the fabric type material can be useful as well. Fabric pants also may include armor for protection. At the very least, jeans should be worn. You may have pretty legs, but when riding your bike keep those gorgeous gams safely covered!

Gloves: You should always wear full-fingered gloves to help protect your hands in the event of an accident as well as protection from the elements. Bugs, wind, stones etc. can hurt which may cause you to remove your hands from the handlebars. There are gloves with "gel" in the palms to help reduce fatigue caused by vibration. These are very "handy" for long rides.

Helmet: A quality DOT or Snell approved helmet is the only type of helmet that should be considered. The full-face helmets offer more protection than a ¾ helmet, but as long as you are comfortable and can see well, then the choice is an individual decision. Check your helmet on a regular basis for stress cracks. Replace it if it has been dropped. While it may not be visible, a dropped helmet may have cracks and will be less effective. It has been suggested that helmets should be replaced every 5-7 years, as the inner liner will lose its effectiveness after that time. The "peanut" type helmet may look fashionable, but are useless for anything other than holding peanuts on your coffee table! How much is YOUR head worth?

Helmet reflective tape: Nighttime brings added visibility concerns; you should wear colors that will make you stand out in the dark. Remember that most of you body below your shoulders is hidden from the rear of the bike by the trunk and saddlebags. Reflective tape on the helmet works for those situations, and it's the law.

Eyewear: Wear "safety" type eyewear to keep the wind off your eyes and help prevent "tearing". They will keep debris out of your eyes. Even though we are behind the windshield on our bikes, debris can come around and hit our eyes. Wear the eye protection like you have no windshield at all. This is "clearly" the way to go.

Raingear: When it rains, we all know enough to come out of the rain, right?! Not for the more hardened motorcyclists! We do know enough to pack rain gear appropriate for the riding environment, right? While black may be "the kewl color", it is not visible in dark, rainy conditions. Stay visible by wearing bright reflective raingear! If the weather becomes too extreme, pull in a safe area and wait out the storm.

Next time you visit your favorite dealer, consider your motorcycle apparel as safety items, not fashion statements. Dress for protection from the conditions you are riding in, it does a body good.

Practice Safe Riding

Gary Mandak

Chapter "W" Educator