World Motorcycle Day may be celebrated for everything about motorcycles, also falling on the longest day of the year, or the Summer Solstice. But apart from the love of motorcycles, it's also about responsible and safe motorcycling. And safety begins at home, with you, the rider, both with responsible riding, as well as taking care of your own safety. Responsible riding begins with following traffic rules, not indulging in dangerous riding which puts yourself and other road users at risk, and also wearing the right safety gear.
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Always wear the right protective gear, and do not compromise on quality. Get the best budget that you can afford for your riding gear, and go for the very best that you can afford. Good quality riding gear will not just provide the best protection, but will also last longer, in some cases, for years.
Always wear the right riding gear, depending on the kind of riding you do; even if you can't afford head to toe protection, at the least a good quality helmet, a good pair of riding gloves, and boots are must-haves to keep you safe. As the saying goes, when you're on two-wheels, it's not a case of "if you will fall," it's always better to be prepared for "when you take the tumble" or an unexpected spill.
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Always wear a good quality helmet, which should be the best you can afford. While choosing a helmet ensure that it fits you snugly, without the helmet being ill-fitting or loose. A helmet which is loose may not provide the right amount of safety and may in fact be harmful in case of an accident. Most importantly, always ensure that you strap on your helmet tight while wearing it. An unstrapped helmet is almost as useless as not wearing one.
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Wear a pair of sturdy riding boots, which have ample protection for your foot, and heel. Depending on the kind of riding you do, your boots should be made for the purpose. Pick a pair of sturdy adventure boots, if you're into slightly hard-core touring. For regular street and occasional touring, a good quality pair of street boots, like the ones features above will meet all your requirements. For city use, there are several models which look like casual wear shoes, but have built-in protection. These boots can be worn on a daily basis, along with riding denims or riding pants, with built-in armour which can be taken off when needed.
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Always invest in a good pair of riding gloves. The fit has to be snug, the material abrasion-resistant, and stitches which are strong, and the very best build quality, with suitable protective armour for the palm, knuckles and fingers. Depending on riding style and usage, pick the right kind of gloves, for regular road use, for off-road use, and for track use. A good pair of gloves will go a long way in keeping your hands protected.
Choose your riding jacket according to the kind of riding you will do, and on the weather. All-weather jackets like the one featured above may be good for cold days and in rain and high-altitude weather, but will be uncomfortable to wear on a hot summer day. In India, a mesh riding jacket will meet 80 per cent of your regular riding requirements. You will need a heavier, warmer jacket only when venturing out to the high mountains, or riding in North India or North East India during winter.
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Pants
At the very least, a good pair of riding denims with armour inserts will be the perfect motorcycling pants for regular use. Pick a good brand, with good cordura denim for added protection, and good quality armour. Dutch brand Rev'it has a very good pair of riding denims, and have lasted me several years now, even though the initial investment was on the higher side. Regular textile riding pants offer more protection, with better abrasion resistance, but they are usually bulky and heavy and not quite comfortable for regular use, particularly in the hot summer months. For longer rides, and multi-day trips, always pick a good pair of textile pants over riding denims.
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