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Riding gear you must invest in TODAY

Last updated on: November 28, 2013 16:42 IST
Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3

Never ride your bike without this safety gear

It's always a wonderful experience when we buy a brand new motorcycle. We shell out the maximum possible amount of money from our pockets to bring the dream machine on to our porch. So, is that investment enough? Apparently not, because along with purchasing a motorcycle comes the responsibility of riding safely as well as ensuring safety of others while we take our bikes out on the roads.

Many of us forget or avoid buying the right motorcycle gear, which is unfortunate. The right gear keeps us safe and protected in all the dreadful and awry conditions. We must opt for bike riding gear, that suit our needs best. Apart from this, high quality biking gear, selected carefully according to our needs, can increase our safety along with excellent riding comfort.

Take a look through this list to get the correct idea of the riding gear you must invest in.

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Riding gear you must invest in TODAY

Last updated on: November 28, 2013 16:42 IST

Helmet

Being on the top of the priority list of motorcycle safety gears, the helmet must be compulsorily worn once you mount the saddle of your motorcycle and start the engine. Nowadays, there are various types of helmets available in the market, differentiated on the basis of shapes, colours and sizes and suitable for all types of needs.

The most important factor here, is the comfort level.

The helmet must be the best fit in compliance with your face and sit squarely on your head. Also, do remember that the chin strap should not be either loose or tight, keeping the riding hours in mind.

Riding gear you must invest in TODAY

Last updated on: November 28, 2013 16:42 IST

Gloves

The gloves perfectly carry out two jobs at one time -- first, they protect your hands and knuckles at the time of any crash and at the same time, they protect your hands from any incoming flying materials, which may be a stingy insect or dust particles.

The gloves act as the crash guards for your palms while you ride; so don't forget to check the material of the gloves. They should not be too soft and at the same time, must not be too stiff either, to provide the required comfort.

The gloves too, come in a variety of styles and materials, depending upon your riding preferences.

Riding gear you must invest in TODAY

Last updated on: November 28, 2013 16:42 IST

Riding pants/chaps

Most of the riders don't invest in buying this riding gear as they think that a good pair of jeans or heavy trousers can protect them from all kinds of bugs and dirt. Though these garments have the ability to offer a certain level of protection, under stiffer riding conditions like extra-long highway jaunts or a track day out in your nearest racing circuit, special riding pants/chaps with protective knee caps must be worn to provide the extra safety and comfort.

Riding gear you must invest in TODAY

Last updated on: November 28, 2013 16:42 IST

Boots

These boots are not related to sports shoes or army boots. There are a number of special black leather riding boots specifically built for riding purposes.

A bit of heel has been provided in the classic pull-on motorbike boots to hang on the foot pegs on your bike. These boots are generally capable of supporting the mid-calf on the peg.

As the off roading bikers have to ride on uneven tracks, they are prone to accidental injuries. So the long collar riding boots are a must-have gear for them, as they are made of strong fibre.

These boots provide full protection to your legs from minor scratches to major fractures. They can either be separate or integrated units with your riding suit, to ensure full body protection.

Riding gear you must invest in TODAY

Last updated on: November 28, 2013 16:42 IST

Safety vest

As one of the must-have riding gears in your wardrobe, the riding jackets are also different for different purposes. For normal day-to-day riding conditions, a black leather jacket with an off-center zipper, is the chest protection you should look out for.

More protection is assured by armoured jackets, that are available in a huge selection of styles and colours. These have tough pads at the shoulders and along the spine, which are usually removable if you want to wear the jacket on the street. Though off-road riders need much more protection as compared to the street bikers, chest armour is the best thing to make your ride safer, as it can protect your chest in the event of a mishap.

Chest armour might be in the form of a pad, which covers your chest or it might be a double sided vest to protect both your chest and back.

Riding gear you must invest in TODAY

Last updated on: November 28, 2013 16:42 IST

Knee and elbow guards

The knees and elbows are areas of our body that get scraped during a crash as they are most prone to injury. To avoid such hazards, there are knee armours and elbow guards in the market.

The knee armours cover the knee joint, along with the a bit of surrounding areas of the legs and thighs as well. The function of the elbow guards is quite similar as they have to cope with the joint movements of the elbows. Getting to know how to protect your knees and elbows from injuries resulting from accidents on roads, will go a long way in ensuring an injury-free ride, always.