Flip-up helmets are a compromise between the protection of a full-face helmet, and the convenience of an open faced helmet. If you suffer with claustrophobia and can't stand the thought of a full-face helmet because of glasses, or being able to talk to people with your helmet on, a flip-up may be a good choice for you. They are becoming unceasingly popular with motorcyclists that are touring or commuting.

Full-face helmets wrap fully around your head, and offer the best protection. All full-face helmets have a flip-up visor and the majority now come with a built in internal sun shield which saves you fighting with your sunglasses on a sunny day. There is a selection of different shell compositions to choose from which all vary in style, shape, venting, weight, interiors, fastenings and most importantly price. It is advisable to not just pick the best looking or the most reasonable priced helmet. A bit of research is highly recommended.

MOTORCYCLE TEXTILE CLOTHING:

When it comes to wet weather riding, you can’t beat textile clothing to keep you dry and warm. Textiles are in fact, becoming increasingly popular all over the world as riders are beginning to note the improved weather protection that they offer from all extreme conditions – heat, cold and water. Textiles also offer increased usability in terms of pockets and vents. It is well regarded that leathers offer more protection than textiles; however this is not to say that textiles don't offer the rider protection. Motorcycle textiles are light and have an all-weather capability: vents for when it is warm, liners for when it is cold and water resistance for rain. It breathes more easily than leather, and water slides off it like a ducks back. If you are into commuting then textiles will be right up your street.

Textile can be easily washed - just wash it in a domestic washing machine and if your gear gets a hole in it - just send back to the manufactures - most will offer a repair service but maybe at a small cost if out of manufactures warranty.

Good motorcycle textile gear will come with approved CE armour in all the crucial areas and will have impact protectors in the jackets. Just check that the impact protectors don’t move around – if they do they will not provide much protection in a crash.

Always try and choose motorcycle textiles that have vents for when it is warm and liners for when it is cold. The all-round weather compatibility of textiles is one of its greatest advantages.

Make sure that your textiles are the right fit – if they are too tight they will restrict your blood flow and if they are too loose they will billow in the wind which can be very distracting.

MOTORCYCLE LEATHER CLOTHING:

Motorcycle leathers actually originate from tank corps gear just after World War I, and today are probably one of the most atypical associations made with the riding culture. There is a very logical reason for this -leathers offer some of the best abrasion, impact and puncture protection all of available riding materials. The most common leather used for riding is cowhide because of its well known strength and durability. Buffalo hide, is also increasingly popular leather made from the water buffalos found in Asia.

TEXTILES VS. LEATHER:

The textiles vs. leathers debate is all about trade-offs and so it depends on how much you value individual trade-offs and ultimately, your intended use and riding conditions. Is safety above all the most important thing to you, or are you more interested in finding a balance between comfort and safety? Does your gear need to be waterproof, or waterproof and breathable? Does it need to be well insulated or do you want it to have max abrasion resistance?

The trade-off between these questions have had great rider minds in a muddle and increasingly so over the last couple of years as the quality of textiles have improved so much making the debate that much harder! Just type in “leather vs. textiles” into Google and you will find that 90% of the results are from forums with the argument going back and forth between riders with the answer ultimately resulting in the fact that it depends on your personal preferences. The problem is that this does not help those new to the biking world who have not had the time or experience to develop their own, well-guided preferences… and so the argument goes on.

TEXTILES VS. LEATHERS: PRICE:

Textiles are cheaper to buy than leathers, however imagine you have a crash the first time you wear your new textile suit. You will hopefully survive the crash – but your textiles won’t! It is widely accepted that your textile suit will probably only survive one crash (depending on the speed of the crash) and then you will have pay out for a new set.

Another disadvantage to purchasing leather is that it is harder to judge the quality of the leather, while man made fabrics are more consistent in quality. The quality of the leather in different level of thickness as well as the stitching and construction of the item will have a lot to do with how well it holds up in an accident.

TEXTILES VS. LEATHERS: MAINTENANCE:

This one is simple – textiles can be thrown in a domestic washing machine, whilst leathers will need to be sent to the cleaners.

TEXTILES VS. LEATHERS: COMFORT:

Textile has an all-weather capability: vents for when it is warm, liners for when it is cold and water resistance for rain and it breathes more easily than leather. However, although it can be sweltering inside leather during the summer, you can buy underclothes that will absorb moisture and keep you cool. You can also buy leather vents or perforated leather to keep you cool. Now you are safe and not suffering from the elements.

MOTORCYCLE GLOVES:

MOTORCYCLE SUMMER GLOVES:

Summer gloves will give you added protection and ventilation to keep your hands cool. Always go for leather summer gloves or medium weight textile gloves as any other material without padding will just tear in the case of a fall. 
Always keep rain gloves with you when you go out riding, this is recommend as summer gloves have hardly any water resistance at all.

MOTORCYCLE WINTER GLOVES:

Winter gloves are designed to keep out the cold and wet, providing extra insulation. 
It is important to look out for the padding of the glove. If it is too padded you will end of losing feeling in your hands, but if your glove is not padded enough your hands will freeze and you’ll lose feeling as well.

MOTORCYCLE RACE GLOVES:

Racing gloves are usually medium weight, between summer and winter gloves. Some are lined, some aren't. These days they have special protection areas and are really comfortable. You can get them in all sorts and styles.

MOTORCYCLE TOURING GLOVES:

Motorcycle gloves are important - you have more nerve endings in your digits than elsewhere on your body. Cold, wet or over heated fingers really can ruin your ride. These days the materials used to make motorcycle gloves are so high tech that there really is no excuse not to have water resistant, well ventilated and well protected gloves. Those extra few pounds on good gloves will make all the difference.

MOTORCYCLE BOOTS:

RACE MOTORCYCLE BOOTS:

Racing boots are specifically designed for three things: the hard pavement; maximum flexibility for racing control and added protection and resistance to crush in the danger of injury at the high speeds needed for racing. The armoured protection on the boot is greater than other motorcycle boots and this extra padding can be found on all impact areas. The boot’s heel is not more than 1/2-inch, and the sole of the heel and foot is generally smooth. There is usually some kind of shin guard in the shin of the boot. Racers or street riders generally prefer black; otherwise riders generally opt for a colour combination that matches the rest of their riding gear.

MOTOR-CROSS BOOTS:

This boot is specifically designed for off-road, motocross (MX) or all-terrain vehicle riding. It is most like the racing boot in that it is highly technical and designed for protection at high speeds, but otherwise the motocross boot is much stiffer than the others to offer further protection to the rider’s feet and legs. The boot is nearly knee high and the uppers are set at an unusual angle for the riding position- these boots are certainly not built for a comfortable off-bike experience! Again, to help the rider get these snugly fit boots on and off the shaft is designed to open lengthwise. Usually multiple straps line the side of the boot so that the rider can tighten the boot further once on. Most boots have a metal plate on the sole to protect it from rough terrain. There is also a shin pad at the front of the boot to protect the riders shin’s from injury. Motocross boots come in a variety of colours to match the rest of a riders gear. You may have noticed however, that trick riders often wear white boots to make their feet more visible. 

CRUISING MOTORCYCLE BOOTS:

If you are going to cruise, do it in style and find a pair of motorcycle boots that match your personality – and if you have had a custom bike built – well then even more reason to maintain that individuality! Most boots designed for cruising are black. In the past, cruisers wore a variety of multi-functional boots but there are boots specifically designed for cruisers these days. Unless custom built, cruisers generally have limited performance and turning ability because of a low slung design. As a result, cruiser boots are not built with as much extra protection as racing or touring boots, and the most important thing to consider when buying boots for cruising is comfort and style.

TOURING AND COMMUTING MOTORCYCLE BOOTS:

When you are riding through exquisite country side, free as a bird, hanging out with your mates at stops on the open road, or even making the daily trip to work - the last thing you want to be concerned about uncomfortable feet! The most important factor to consider when buying motorcycle boots for touring or commuting is on and off bike comfort. Touring boots are designed to be form fitting and comfortable. These boots also come with added protection around high impact areas but are not as extreme as the racing boots. Like all good motorcycle boots they are designed to prevent accidents while riding and so for example, do not have laces that could get caught around the gear shifter. The heel and foot is usually smooth, but not to the extent that the racing boot is. Unlike racing boots that come in a wide variety of colours, touring motorcycle boots are typically black.