Must-have clutch motorcycle gear for all riders

For a safe, stylish, and comfortable ride.
Moto gear for all Ilham Hanifa via Unsplash

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Quality accessories for you and your motorcycle can make a difference in how you ride—and how comfortable you are. The following list of gear will help keep you safe and address problems like storage, heat regulation, bike maintenance, and hydration.

Head protection: Shoei RF-1200 Full Face Motorcycle Helmet

Head protection

Must-Have

 Shoei RF-1200 Full Face Motorcycle Helmet
Some states don’t require helmets, but you should always wear one.

In addition to protecting your precious brain during a fall, a helmet can keep you safe from bugs flying in your face, allow you to attach Bluetooth devices, and make you look super badass.

The Shoei motorcycle helmet features multiple ventilation slots, is aerodynamically designed for riding at speed, and keeps the noise down as you ride. (You should still wear earplugs too.) The lightweight helmet—just 5.8 pounds—comes in several colors, but this yellow model is hard to miss on the road. It is approved by both the Department of Transportation and Snell M2015 safety standards.

Body protection: ScorpionExo 1909 Men’s Leather Motorcycle Jacket

Body protection

Beat The Breeze

 Motorcycle jackets
Even when it’s hot out, an armored option is worth wearing.

If your body makes contact with the ground, your jacket will take most of the drag instead of your skin. This Scorpion Exo leather jacket features armored elbows and shoulders, two zippered vents, and four pockets.

Tough: O’Neal 0325-110 Men’s New Logo Rider Boot

Tough

Solid Footing

 O'Neal riding boots
Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, your feet are going to make contact with the ground. This means you want a sturdy pair that will help keep traction and won’t wear easily.

You’ll also want to make sure that your boots have ankle protection in case they take a blow during a crash. If your bike falls over—with you under it—an exposed ankle is going to take the hit first. These O’Neal boots are designed for Motocross and offroad adventures, but they’re tough enough for any kind of riding. They have metal toe guards, cover your shins, and use four adjustable buckles to keep everything tight. If your boots aren’t waterproof, you can also pick up a pair of boot covers.

Stylish: Maxler Jean Biker Jeans for men – Slim Straight Fit Motorcycle Riding Pants

Stylish

Upgrade Your Daily Wear

 Maxler jeans with kevlar fiber protection
Regular pairs are comfortable but aren’t made of the thickest or most protective fabric. If you’re going to wear them, grab these for extra protection.

These Maxler motorcycle jeans are made of a mix of spandex and cotton and have air vents on the sides. The pants also come with hip protectors, have built-in Kevlar protection on your butt, and Kevlar protector pockets on your knees with slots for knee guards.

Must-have: CruzTOOLS RTH3 RoadTech H3 Tool Kit for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

Must-have

Fix Your Ride

 CruzTOOLS RTH3 RoadTech H3 Standard Tool Kit
You’ll inevitably need a set.

The CruzTOOLS RoadTech H3 tool kit includes combination wrenches, an Allen socket set, Torx wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, cable ties, and more. It comes in an organizer roll.

Secure: Roam Universal Premium Bike Phone Mount for Motorcycle

Secure

Holds The Corners

 Roam phone bike mount
While it’s important to keep your eyes on the road, it’s just as important to know where you’re going.

This universal phone mount from Roam attaches to your bike’s handlebars. Pair your phone with a Bluetooth headset and you can hear directions as you drive—without looking down.

Safety upgrade: Sena 20S-01 Motorcycle Bluetooth 4.1 Communication System

Safety upgrade

Hands-Off

 Sena Bluetooth communication system
Be able to carefully answer your phone while riding.

The Sena 20S-01 communication system connects to your smartphone over Bluetooth 4.1 and allows you to listen to music, carefully answer phone calls if you must, and talk to people you’re riding with. The device even lets you use audio “multitask,” meaning you can use the intercom system, listen to music, and get directions from your phone’s GPS at the same time. As long as you stay aware of your surroundings and don’t get distracted, the Bluetooth device can help you navigate and keep tabs on your friends.

 

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Billy Cadden

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Billy Cadden is the Director of Commerce for the Camden Media tech group. He was part of NYC indie rock band The Postelles, and currently releases solo music under his name. His latest work is available on all streaming platforms.

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