Motorcycle gear: how to pick protection and not overpay
Gear is not about looks
Riding gear is not bought for style: it decides how a fall at speed ends. So first decide how you ride: in the city on a scooter, on a touring bike over long distances, on the track or off-road. This decides the type of helmet, the jacket material and whether you need armour.
The basic minimum is a motorcycle helmet, riding gloves, a riding jacket with protection and sturdy footwear (riding boots and shoes). After that come riding trousers, and for sport and fast riding, a one-piece suit.
What to put in the request
- Item and riding style: helmet, jacket, boots; city, touring, sport, enduro.
- Size: for a helmet, head circumference in centimetres; for jackets, height and chest.
- Helmet type: full-face, modular, open-face, off-road.
- Season: summer with mesh, in-between, winter with lining or membrane.
- Protection: armour on shoulders, elbows, back and knees; CE level (1 or 2).
- Material: leather or textile, whether it has a membrane.
- Brand or level: a specific one or “any, as long as it is certified”.
- New or used, city and budget.
Where to find value and where not to
A helmet is the one item you should not skimp on, and it should be new. It should carry the safety certification required where you live or another recognised one and must never have been dropped. Do not buy a used helmet: damage to the inner foam cannot be seen from outside.
Jackets, trousers and suits in good condition can often be bought used at a saving, if the armour is in place and the seams are intact. Gloves and footwear are also better new: they shape themselves to your hand and foot.
How to compare offers
On BlaBlaPrice, gear sellers write to you with the price, available sizes and delivery terms. BlaBlaPrice compares the replies and shows the best one first, with reviews of each seller. Sellers can see where they stand among the offers and may improve their terms to win the request.
- Look at certification: CE on armour, a safety mark on the helmet.
- Compare size charts: they differ between brands.
- Ask whether you can exchange the size if it does not fit: with gear this happens often.
- Check whether the armour is included or sold separately.
Protection and season
Think separately about protecting your back, neck and knees: it is often a separate item, and budget jackets have minimal armour or none at all. A helmet liner and a rain suit are not small things either: in cold or rain they decide whether the ride is comfortable. Gear is often cheaper at the end of the season.
Mistakes that are easy to avoid
The commonest mistake is buying a helmet “by eye” without measuring. It should fit snugly, not turn and not press. The second is taking a city jacket without armour and hoping it is enough. The third is ignoring the weather: a membrane keeps out rain, but without ventilation you will be hot in such a jacket in summer.
If you can, try the gear on in the riding position: sleeves should not ride up, and trousers should not pinch. If you buy online, ask whether the size can be exchanged.
Look for related items in motorcycle accessories. Your contacts stay hidden until you choose a seller.
