Riding gear ??

[Bill Hilly]

Other than my helmet, I have no clothing, specific for a motorcycle, except for an insulated leather motorcycle jacket that I have had way before getting my bike. I also have several pairs of boots , so footwear is probably covered. I ride around in jeans, and sweat shirts, and sometimes a wind breaker, or an unlined denim jacket, but I know it is not even close to proper riding gear. I am 54, and have no desire to look out of place. I have saw some riding gear that reminds me of Power Rangers, and I also don't want to look like I'm trying to look like a hardcore biker in black leather pants, and jacket. What do you older bikers wear out on the main roads? I feel that my denim jacket probably offers some road rash protection, but most of my pants are just lightweight denim. I was in Walmart earlier, and almost bought some heavy made Dickie pants that are made from a heavy canvas like material . They came in a brown tan, as well as a greenish color. I thought that they would be better than regular jeans, but still look normal. Do any of y'all ride in normal clothes?

[JerryHawk250]

One thing i do see missing from you list is a good pair of abrasion resistant gloves. You hand are the first thing that will hit the ground. Even a good pair of impact resistant work gloves will work. I'm 63 and don't give a hoot what others think about what I'm wearing. It's my hide and I'll protect it. lol

I have this jacket which works well for winter and summer riding. It has a removable liner and vents for the summer. Also waterproof. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There also matching pants which i haven't purchased yet but need to. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LGWV8VG...v_ov_lig_dp_it

[TxTaoRider]

Mx style DOT helmet, jeans, tactical boots, mx style shirt w/tee shirt underneath and gloves but I usually ride on trails or backroads on the tbr7.

On my street bike it's a similar outfit but a full face helmet and kevlar jacket.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by TxTaoRider

Mx style DOT helmet, jeans, tactical boots, mx style shirt w/tee shirt underneath and gloves but I usually ride on trails or backroads on the tbr7.

On my street bike it's a similar outfit but a full face helmet and kevlar jacket.

Sounds like my gear for off road which i think is good if you are just riding trail and not full blown MX. lol For the street, invest in good gear as TXTaoRider mentioned. Pavement is not as forgiving as dirt.

[bogieboy]

the dickies will be useless for riding protection... i used to ride mountain bike 5 miles too and from trails and i had a few tumbles, the dickies did nothing to protect the skin they covered.....

[Megadan]

Do yourself a favor and stop caring about how you will look. I would rather be a living and uninjured dork than the cool looking guy in traction eating from a straw.

You have to choose protection style based on where you ride.

Off road riding needs to focus more on blunt force protection, aka armor. You don't tend to slide on the pavement at 60mph, but you do slam into rocks and trees.
On road riding focus needs to be more on abrasion protection and a little impact.

This is why Motocross boots have big hard shin guard, ankle, and foot armor while street boots have protection for the ankle bones and some reinforcement for rollover.

[Bill Hilly]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

One thing i do see missing from you list is a good pair of abrasion resistant gloves. You hand are the first thing that will hit the ground. Even a good pair of impact resistant work gloves will work. I'm 63 and don't give a hoot what others think about what I'm wearing. It's my hide and I'll protect it. lol

I have this jacket which works well for winter and summer riding. It has a removable liner and vents for the summer. Also waterproof. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There also matching pants which i haven't purchased yet but need to. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LGWV8VG...v_ov_lig_dp_it

I have a couple pair of regular leather gloves, but nothing specific to motorcycle riding.. I have seen some lightweight summer motorcycle gear on Amazon, but a lot of it reminds me of wind breakers, and athletic warm up pants.. Does this lightweight gear do any good in an accident, or is it just for comfort ?

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Bill Hilly

I have a couple pair of regular leather gloves, but nothing specific to motorcycle riding.. I have seen some lightweight summer motorcycle gear on Amazon, but a lot of it reminds me of wind breakers, and athletic warm up pants.. Does this lightweight gear do any good in an accident, or is it just for comfort ?

The jacket i have is not light weight. It's pretty tough. It has elbow, back and chest protection. Even though it's heavy, with the vents open it stays rather cool in the summer.
Leather gloves will be fine. Better than no gloves.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Megadan

Off road riding needs to focus more on blunt force protection, aka armor. You don't tend to slide on the pavement at 60mph, but you do slam into rocks and trees.
On road riding focus needs to be more on abrasion protection and a little impact.

This is why Motocross boots have big hard shin guard, ankle, and foot armor while street boots have protection for the ankle bones and some reinforcement for rollover.

This is very true. My off road riding is usually open flat land such as the spillyway. No rocks or trees. Lots of mud and sand. Now when I do ride the trails in wooded areas, i do go full gear. Trees tend not to move out the way. lol

[Wild Dog]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

This is very true. My off road riding is usually open flat land such as the spillyway. No rocks or trees. Lots of mud and sand. Now when I do ride the trails in wooded areas, i do go full gear. Trees tend not to move out the way. lol

That's the beauty or the expensive part of off roading, you will need specific gear for the terrain you will ride.

Riding sand you are going to need something that has great abrasion resistance.

[Oldenslow]

Here's the thing -- anything's better than nothing. Of course, you can go for top-tier leather or textiles, and your protection level will be higher than with more lightly-constructed garments; but in the height of summer you will face real challenges from the heat that could actually endanger you more than wearing lighter, ventilated clothes with armor pads in the strategic places would.

And as for how you look -- forget about it! As has already been stated, it's my hide, and I'll dress as I please to protect it, thank you. Looking cool is not why I ride a bike -- BEING cool is why I do it!

[EA]

I have a full set of summer and winter gear.
Armored pants. Armored jacket. Armored gloves. Mx boots. And a snell full face helmet for on road. And a snell mx helmet with polarized goggles.
I also have an armored shirt (chest, back, shoulders, elbows, and forearms) for the off road trail stuff.

My street jacket is high vis yellow. As Dan said, I would rather look like a nerd and survive than look cool smashed and grated on the road.

[Bill Hilly]

I broke down, and ordered a jacket, and pants... https://www.amazon.com/JAYEFO-ALPHA-.../dp/B07SKDV3S2. https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Mo.../dp/B08TVBQSRZ Both evidently have a removable liner. Let me know if you don't think this is a good choice in gear. I tried to be thrifty, as well as get a product that would work well in all my riding situations. I saw several similar products but these were on the less expensive side, and each had 10% off coupons ,making the pants $45.00, and the jacket $52.00

[EA]

I have an alpha jacket. It is super warm. Is my winter jacket.