If the car owner does not have to think long about what to wear on a trip, then for motorcyclists this question is of supreme importance. First of all, it applies to the lower part of clothing. We mean pants, of course. It’s clear that too slippery or tightening motorcycle pants will interfere with the handling of the bike. So, in addition to the responsible choice of a helmet, you should also carefully approaching choosing motorcycle pants. Well, picking up this accessory has a slew of nuances besides the size. So, let’s consider them in detail.

Key types of motorcycle pants

Perhaps, you think that this accessory is fairly universal for all bikers but it’s not so. Before you get down to choosing the best motorcycle pants of the right size for your fascination trips, you need to get familiar with the main types of them. As you might have already guessed, the main criterion of this classification is a material of which motorcycle pants are made.

Textile pants turn out to be the most common option for bikers. As a rule, they are made of cordura.

These motorcycle pants often come with pockets for built-in protection for the hips and knees. Recently, new textile motorcycle pants emulating jeans fabric have shown up in the market. Despite their casual look, they boast decent protective properties.

Another vivid representative of durable textile products for bikers are so-called enduro motorcycle pants used for various off-road trips. As a rule, they act as part of multilayer protection and are worn over knee braces. These motorcycle pants feature rubber inserts on the hips and knees in addition to suede pads on the inner surfaces of the lower leg. The given protection enables the biker to drastically reduce the wear rate of the pants, by simply generating greater friction in these places.

When cycling through various types of this bike accessory, don’t overlook anti-rain motorcycle pants. Well, it can be either part of the biker’s jumpsuit, or act as an independent element of clothing. Such rain protection for this accessory is made of a thin and waterproof material and worn over regular pants.

Chaps are another widespread type of this vital motorcycle accessory, the history of which brings us to Mexico. Mexican workers and shepherds were used to wearing chaps to protect their legs from prickly plants and dust. Later cowboys recognized the true value of those pants and started to wear them on a regular basis. Cowboys wore chaps not only to protect their legs from mechanical damage but also to considerably increase the service life of the pants over which they are put on.

The invention of Mexican workers was highly praised by modern bikers and now you have an excellent opportunity to purchase motorcycle pants with a very rich history. Just don’t forget to choose the right size.

Extra tips on choosing this accessory

Mind the size of your motorcycle pants. They should have sufficient length to reach your boots, even if the legs are bent at the knees.

The space around the upper part, hips, and waist should be optimal for a comfortable seat.

Regardless of size, really good motorcycle pants have the following distinctive features:
• Durable zipper;
• Internal lining;
• Knee protection;
• A comfortable belt;
• A durable, waterproof top layer;
• A large amount of material on the back of the pants (it should be enough to cover the back when riding the bike).

Unfortunately, regardless of whether a person is professionally engaged in motorcross or just likes to exhibit the very fact of his belonging to the motorcycle world, leg injuries are inevitable. Knees are the most vulnerable body parts here. Such injuries are always associated with expensive treatment and a fairly long recovery period. That’s why even the most experienced bikers prefer to use special motocross knee braces. In case of a road incident, these protective shields can help the owner of the bike to prevent joint displacement as well as other injuries.

However, it doesn’t mean that plastic protection is suitable for use. When choosing motocross knee braces, you need to pay attention to many nuances. First, let’s determine the best design.

Based on the preferred type of ride and the professional level of the biker, there are four categories of motocross knee braces.

Pads for newcomers

These are the simplest and cheapest pads. Unfortunately, it results in their awfully low durability and reliability. Avoid buying this stuff, just following the principle “it’s better than nothing.” These motocross knee braces can let you down at any time.

Semi-professional pads

These pads provide fairly sufficient protection. As a rule, these are hinged motocross knee braces (the hinges are plastic here). They are sold both in pairs and separately. Moreover, they often differ for the left and right legs.
Professional motocross knee braces

These pads feature a more complex and well-thought-out design. In this case, hinges are made of light aluminum or carbon fiber used in aircraft construction. More elastic parts of knee braces are made of heat-resistant plastic, which ensures the highest level of protection.

The best motocross knee braces stabilize the knee joints, thus preventing them from twisting, over-stretching and other hazards. Such models are usually sold individually. They differ for the left and right knees. The best producers of professional motocross knee braces include such brands as FoxPod, Oneal, Evs, and Alpinestars.

Road pads

Such motocross knee braces stand out from others. They are primarily utilized when driving down an asphalt road surface. As for the key design features of these motocross knee braces, we should note their durable material - refractory plastic. Besides this, they are fairly compact, so bikers can wear them under their trousers.

These knee braces are fastened with three straps, one of which is located above the knee joint, on the biker's thigh. As for the remaining two fasteners, they fix the protective equipment on the calf muscle.

When talking about hinged knee braces, they can generate a number of inconveniences for city use. Well, if you put on such pads under your pants, then they will constantly wrap up and wrinkle. Therefore, you’d better opt for standard knee braces made of more durable material.

Finally, you need to pay attention to the substrate of the knee braces you are interested in. Earlier, soft EVE foam was considered the most reliable material. However, today, it has been replaced by more modern SAIF, D3O as well as Forcefield compounds. These materials are capable of absorbing up to 90% of shock loads, thus drastically increasing the overall reliability of your knee braces.

Before you start choosing moto gloves of the right size and according to your preferences, get familiar with the most common types of this accessory.

There are the following major types of motorcycle gloves:

Textile: They are versatile and comfortable. They are made of durable textiles. They can be either very light for hot weather, or have a warm lining and a waterproof membrane.

Leather: They are made of durable leather. These motorcycle gloves are resistant to abrasion and tear, thus ensuring the highest level of safety.

Combined: These motorcycle gloves combine the best characteristics of leather and textile ones. Genuine leather inserts provide sufficient strength and durability, while textile inserts ensure excellent ventilation.

Motorcycle gloves: types of use

Here above we’ve just mentioned the basic types of this accessory. However, it’s not the only classification of motorcycle gloves. Besides the size and material, we should also consider their use.

Sports motorcycle gloves

As a rule, they are made of leather due to its resistance to abrasion and have many plastic protection elements in the most vulnerable areas. They effectively protect the wrists, palms, and knuckles thanks to the protective inserts.

The ring finger and little finger in these bike gloves are often sewn together for greater reliability. They ensure great safety but you should pay for this by the lack of comfort.

Tourist motorcycle gloves

They are made of leather, textile or combined materials. Such gloves are comfortable in any weather thanks to a waterproof breathable membrane such as Gore-Tex, Drystar or similar. Some models feature a removable warm lining, expanding the temperature range of their use from cool spring and autumn to hot mid-summer.

Motocross and enduro motorcycle gloves

Motorcross gloves are fairly comfortable. They are often made from suede and other materials. Ensuring great ease of handling, they don’t protect against damage.

On the contrary, made of dense fabric and leather, enduro bike gloves outperform motocross ones in terms of protection. Special attention is given to knuckle protection.

How to choose the right size

Of course, when choosing bike gloves, it’s crucial to choose the proper size. For this purpose, you require measuring the widest part of the palm at the base of your thumb. Thus, you will find out the exact size of your motorcycle gloves. With this knowledge, it will be much easier to choose the accessory fitting your arms.

Bike gloves care

Motorcycle gloves should be washed on a regular basis. Constant pollution leads to their rapid wear and tear. You require washing them carefully. Avoid twisting the wet glove because it can tear. Instead, you’d better soak it in a soap solution. After that, wash the dirt off the outside of the glove under the running water. Wash the inside with hands in the same solution.

Extra tips on choosing bike gloves
• To prevent fingers from freezing, pay attention to the quality of the seams. High-quality bike gloves have double seams.
• The presence of a cuff will be a great advantage when used in cold weather.
• Gloves should be reliably fixed on the hand. They shouldn’t be loose.
• If you are looking for the most versatile gloves, consider those in which the lining is removed. It’s very convenient to remove it in hot weather or for washing. Needless to say, it greatly increases the seasonality of their use.
• Put them on to assess how comfortable. The fingers should have the proper length. They shouldn’t restrict handling. Otherwise, it can provoke a road incident.