Starting your motorcycle journey can be exciting and scary at the same time. I remember the first time I hopped on a motorcycle. I was super excited but was also scared because I didn’t know what to expect.
Weeks or even months before I had my first driving lesson, I was already looking into motorcycle gear. I wanted to know what the best motorcycle gear for beginners is. I ended up getting a pair of gloves and a helmet for my birthday, to start my first lesson only weeks later.
This guide will guide you in finding the right motorcycle gear for you, as a beginner. There are so many different types of gear, that it can be hard to find out what you really need. I’ll help you with answering questions like ‘what do I need’, ‘how much should I spend’, and ‘can I buy it second hand’?
List with the best gear for beginners
I’m gonna tell you everything about motorcycle gear for beginners, but let me start with a short list with great gear for beginners. This gear is inexpensive, will fit any type of rider and are overall the best value for money.
| Product type | Product |
| Helmet | The best helmet for beginners is the AGV K1 Helmet (Amazon). It’s inexpensive, safe, has loads of airflow and looks really nice and aggressive! Most cheap helmets look very big and round and will make you feel like the squirrel from Spongebob, but this helmet is a whole different kind of cookie! |
| Jacket | If you are looking for a good textile jacket which gives you value for money, you should consider the Joe Rocket Atomic 5.0 Jacket (Revzilla). It’s comfortable, has a nice fit, has flex panels, a thermal liner, and large vents. I would advise to combine it with a Forcefield Pro Lite K Black Insert, to protect your spine to the max. |
| Boots | Do you have regular sized feet? Then there is no question about the best boot. For me, the best boot is the Alpinestars SMX 6 v2 boot (available at Revzilla and Amazon). It has a great fit, loads of protection and it’s very durable. If mine were to break for whatever reason, I’d buy them again. |
| Pants | I own a pair of textile pants, leather racing pants and a pair of motorcycle jeans. I wear my jeans 95% of the time, so that’s what I would recommend getting as a beginner. They are super comfortable and also very affordable. I wear a pair of REV’it motorcycle jeans (Revzilla). I was lucky to get them half price straight from the factory, but I would definitely pay the full amount for them if I need a new pair. They are like no other! |
| Gloves | There are different types of gloves, but I would advise to start off with a gauntlet glove. In that case, I would advise getting the same pair as I’ve got. It’s the Alpinestars SP-1 glove (Revzilla). Perfect fit, great protection, highquality and very affordable for such a nice glove. |
Why good gear is so important
Why is good motorcycle gear so important? It seems obvious, but there are still people who think they don’t need motorcycle gear.
Motorcycle gear for protection
Let me ask you this; would you run into a wall as fast as you can? Or would press your knuckles onto the road surface and pull your fist back, scratching the road? I don’t think you would.
And that’s only going 8 mph. You’ll be doing much higher speeds once you hop on your motorcycle. Even just around town, you’ll be doing 40 miles per hour at some point. On highways, you might exceed speeds of 80 mph. Your body isn’t built to withstand crashes or falls at those kinds of speed.
Seriously, you’ll be hurt when you fall. They say you lose about one millimeter of flesh for every mile per hour you are going over 30 when you crash. Imagine doing 70 miles per hour and crashing, without the proper gear on. That’s life-changing injuries, only due to abrasion.
Motorcycle gear for comfort
Comfort is another reason to wear motorcycle gear, besides comfort. It keeps you dry during the rain, warm in the cold and protects your body from sunburn as well.
Your gear can even help you when it’s hot out there, allowing sweat to evaporate, keeping your body cool in hot conditions.
Define what type of rider you are
Before jumping into the best gear for beginners, you should first define what type of rider you are. There are different types of riders which all have their own type of needs for good motorcycle gear.
Somebody who rides a superbike on a track typically needs different gear than somebody that rides his Harley around town.
It’s hard to make ‘groups of riders’, but I gave it a try. You’ll be able to define the following types of riders;
- Sport riders:
These are the people that own a powerful sport bike or naked bike and like to ride around the track. They have a sporty driving style and like to put those knee’s down in the corners. - Cruisers:
These type of riders like to cruise around. They are not in a hurry and enjoy the sight of the landscape around them. They usually ride touring bikes, cruisers, Harley’s, etc. - Adventure rider:
These riders mainly ride on the road, but they like to go off-road every now and then. They use Adventure bikes like the BMW GS, that is suitable for the road as well as the off-road work. - Mud masters:
These are your dirt bike riders. They love the mud, gravel, and forest. Off-road is life! - Casual and leisure riders:
Casual and leisure riders are those that ride their bike around to enjoy the weather. They are in between cruisers and sport riders. They enjoy the acceleration of their motorcycle, but they won’t go flat out in corners on a track. Personally, I belong to this last group of riders.
How much does beginner motorcycle gear cost?
Motorcycle gear isn’t cheap. Depending on your needs, you must expect to pay between 600 and 1,600 dollars for all your gear.
The price is depended on the type of gear you’re gonna buy. Some helmets cost you 170 dollars, whiles other cost you 600 dollars. Same goes for jackets and boots. Then there is also the choice between new and second-hand motorcycle gear.
Does price equal quality?
No, price doesn’t always equal quality. There are three things you’ll pay for when you are buying motorcycle gear.
First of all, you pay for quality. Sure, quality is a part of the price for motorcycle gear. You cannot expect too much quality from a 100 dollar motorcycle jacket. But is a 600 dollar jacket of higher quality than a 200 dollar jacket? No, not necessarily.
The second thing you pay for is the design. The more expensive jackets usually have a great look and fit. Fashion designers put time and effort into making a jacket that looks great. These designers have to be paid, which make the jacket more expensive than a jacket that has a more standard design.
And last, you pay for the brand. As with anything, a known brand is more expensive, just because it’s a known brand. Expect to pay more for a known brand like Dainese, Alpinestars or REV’it. This doesn’t mean that they have better gear than a smaller brand, they are just better known.
Is second hand gear any good for beginners?
This is a question I get asked alot. Is it smart to buy second hand motorcycle gear? And I think they answer is yes, partly. Buying second-hand motorcycle gear can be smart, especially when you are starting out.
First of all, you don’t know what kind of gear fits you best. You don’t know how certain gear feels, and you might not even know what type of motorcycle you are going to drive. That’s a good reason to start off with second-hand gear. However, you shouldn’t just buy any type of second-hand gear. Allow me to explain:
- Jacket and pants
It’s fine buying a used jacket and pants. As a matter of fact, my first leather jacket was a second-hand jacket. The previous owner only used it for one season and it saved me 200 dollars, compared with a new jacket. - Gloves
I wouldn’t advise you to get second-hand gloves. It’s not very hygienic since people use gloves with their dirty hands. The gloves are full of dirt, grease, and sweat. Gloves also form to the shape of your hands, so a new pair will shape to the shape of your hand, instead of the shape of the previous owner. And gloves aren’t that expensive after all so you won’t save a big load of cash. - Helmet
You SHOULD NOT buy a second-hand helmet. It’s not very hygienic, but above all, it’s not safe! I wrote a complete article explaining why you shouldn’t wear a second-hand helmet. - Boots
You could buy used boots. I decided to buy them new since I have quite wide feet. I also found it more hygienic to buy them new.
Buying all at once, or one at a time?
So you decided to buy your first pieces of gear, but you are wondering if you should buy everything at once? That’s a good question.
I started out with just a helmet and gloves. I got them for my birthday as a present from my parents. I think the helmet was 200 dollars and the gloves were 70 dollars. I used the jacket, pants, and boots from my driving school, which was fine at the time.
During my period of taking driving lessons, I bought a pair of Alpinestars boots. These cost me around 200 dollars at that time.
I only bought a jacket and motorcycle pants after purchasing a motorcycle. The second-hand jacket cost me 200 dollars and the pants were 100 dollars on sale. So in total, I spent 500 dollars (+270 as a present for my birthday).
1-Piece vs. 2-piece suits
When you start looking for gear, you’ll find that you have the option between a suit or a jacket with pants. But what’s best?
It depends on what type of rider you are and what you are going to do with your motorcycle. A suit is best when you plan on driving sportive and maybe even on a track every once in a while.
A jacket with a pair of pants, however, is more versatile. You can take the jacket off on a stop, or pull your pants down in case you need to go to the bathroom.
I personally prefer having a jacket with a pair of pants for these reasons. I don’t plan on doing any track days and I like to have little stops on my tours, sitting down at a restaurant for a beverage or so.
Do you want to know more about the differences? I wrote a complete article comparing a 1 piece and a 2 piece suit. You can read it by clicking here.
Motorcycle jackets for beginners
Price range: $150 – $600 dollars
How much I paid for my first jacket: $150 dollars (Outlet)
So we start off with finding the best motorcycle jacket for you as a beginner. I’m going to tell you about the different kind of jackets, their (dis)advantages and things to look for.
But first, let me tell you that you should always look for jackets with armor. Armor is super important and will protect your bones in case of an emergency. I would advise you to only look into jackets that have shoulder and elbow protection (most do).
Armor comes in different levels, level 2 will do. Most jackets have the option to insert a back protector. Please do, since it protects your spine. Your spine is the most important part of your body since it connects the brain with the rest of the body. You better protect it well!
Second, you should know something about sizing. Motorcycle jackets are meant to be short and tight. A jacket that is too loose will start flapping around in the wind. It will drive you crazy, trust me!
As said, jackets are also meant to be short. I wrote an article explaining why motorcycle jackets are short. In short; They are short for increased safety and comfort. It will keep the jacket from pressing the belly, flapping in the wind, or shifting up your body during a crash.
Leather jackets
Some say that there is nothing like leather jackets. They swear that leather is the absolute best, and I have to agree.
Leather gives some great protection when you slide over the road during a crash. As a matter of fact, you can even fix the leather in case it was just a minor crash. That’s the reason that all the racetrack drivers wear leather suits.
Another advantage of leather is the fact that it’s quite stiff. It’s thick, hard and won’t move in the wind. A leather jacket increases your feeling of safety because it feels so solid. The downside to this, however, is that you’ll be less agile in a leather suit. It’s fine when you are riding, but getting off your bike and locking your bike can be challenging.
Leathers are also only good during dry days. Leather jackets aren’t waterproof, so you don’t want to wear them on a rainy day. It’s fine for those that only ride for fun during sunny days, but leathers aren’t a good pick if you want to use your motorcycle for commuting for example.
They are also quite narrow since the jacket has to be tight against your skin. This means that there aren’t many pockets in those leather jackets. There are usually two or three, but they are very small. A textile jacket will offer more and bigger pockets to store stuff on the way. My leather jacket has enough space for my phone, bankcard and driving license. But I can’t take my whole wallet without feeling like a bloated whale.
Textile jackets
Textile jackets are your second option. They are a great pick for beginners who plan on using their motorcycle on a regular basis and those that ride in different weather conditions.
Textile jackets are usually just a little bit wider than leather jackets. They often have an inner jacket, that you can zip in and out. This means that textile jackets can usually be worn 3 or 4 seasons a year.
My textile jacket has an inner jacket that I use during fall and winter, although I don’t really ride my bike during winter times.
I also take my textile jacket every time I need to bring some stuff with me. The pockets are big and I can even put a huge disk lock in one of my pockets. I prefer doing that over riding with a backpack or tank bag.
My jacket isn’t super waterproof, but I used a spray to protect it from the rain. Are you planning on riding in wet conditions as well? Then you should consider buying a Gore-Tex jacket.
Gore-Tex
So you want to have a waterproof motorcycle jacket? Well, something like a raincoat won’t do. Why? It does block the train from getting into your jacket, but it doesn’t breath. Your transpiration isn’t able to get out of the jacket, which means you’ll still end up wet (from your own transpiration).
Gore-Tex is a brand name and a material at the same time. It’s an invention by W. L. Gore & Associates. They use Teflon, making the material both water resistant and breathable. This is great for those that ride their bike in bad weather as well.
Gore-Tex isn’t cheap, a Gore-Tex jacket will definitely cost you more than a regular textile jacket. But it can be worth the money when you ride in the rain. There is nothing as bad as arriving soaking wet on your destination.
Summer / Mesh jackets
Last but not least, you have the option to buy a mesh summer jacket. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure if I should add this to this article since mesh jackets are usually not your first jacket.
Mesh jackets are meant for hot summer days when you need extra breathability to basically not die of heat on your bike.
I’m in love with my mesh jacket. I wrote a complete article about it and even made a video, which you can both find by going to the mesh motorcycle jacket page.
I would recommend buying a mesh jacket if you drive in temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. But you’ll need a bit of a budget since this will be your secondary jacket. Mine was under 200 dollars, so that’s a plus.
Motorcycle pants for beginners
Price range: $100- $400 dollars
How much I paid for my first pair: $100 dollars (Outlet)
Next up are the pants you’ll wear on your motorcycle. Whiles some ride their bikes with their regular jeans on (please don’t), most riders wear motorcycle specific pants. You could choose either a leather pair, textile pants, or a pair of jeans. They all have their own (dis)advantages.
For pants, the same goes as for jackets. Only look into pants that have decent knee protection! Most pants have level 2 rated armor on the knees, but some jeans may have level 1 or no armor at all.
I have a pair of leather and textile pants, as well as some motorcycle jeans. The leather and textile pants have level 2 rated armor, whiles the jeans have level 1 armor on the knees.
Leather motorcycle pants
As with jackets, some riders say that leather pants are the best you can get. And again, they are probably right. Leather offers some great protection. The downside is that, at least for me, leather pants aren’t as comfortable.
They are tight and the armor pushes itself into my knee when I bend my leg, which is all the time whiles driving haha.
The downside of leather, however, is that it isn’t waterproof. I would suggest leather pants if you are a sportive rider that goes out on dry days, but I wouldn’t suggest it if you use your motorcycle for transportation or commuting.
Leather pants can become quite cold during spring or fall, so you better buy a pair of underpants with them as well. It’s actually good in the summer as well, as the underpants absorb your sweat, keeping your leathers clean. Leather pants aren’t cheap, so you better treat them with respect.
Textitle motorcycle pants
Textile jackets are great because you can wear them over your regular pants. I started out with a pair of textile pants, but I have to admit that I barely use them.
I only ride my bike for fun so I don’t really travel with it. However, if I do, I wear my textile pants. I can just wear it over my jeans and take it off at my destination.
Textile pants are somewhat waterproof, which makes them better than leather if you ride on a wet day.
Are you going to commute on your motorcycle? If you can, spend that extra money on Gore-Tex motorcycle pants. It will be worth it as it gets you to your work without getting wet.
Motorcycle jeans
Motorcycle jeans. I love them and I hate them at the same time. Why? Because they are super versatile and comfortable, but they don’t offer me as much protection as a pair of leathers.
I wear my motorcycle jeans 9 out of 10 times and I just love it. But they only have a level 1 protector in the knees and I don’t think they will help much if I fall on my hips.
Not that my leathers or textile pants help much whiles falling on my hips, but they just feel a bit thicker and more sturdy.
I wouldn’t suggest jeans as beginners gear, because I feel like you should at least have a pair of leather or textile pants. Jeans are a great second pair, which you can wear around time or whenever you are going somewhere where you shouldn’t look like a biker.
Motorcycle helmets for beginners
Price range: $150 – $600 dollars
How much I paid for my first helmet: $200 dollars
Motorcycle helmets come in many different types. They all have their own advantages. The most important thing to remember is certifications.
To be legally worn in the US, a motorcycle helmet must be marked with a DOT sticker. They are shown on the back of the helmet. Just keep in mind that this is a minimum legal standard. Do you want to be sure that you have a safer helmet? Go for the European standard, which is the ECE 22.05 certification. It’s a higher standard, which you should prefer. Your head is the most important part of the body, so you better protect it well.
Helmet shape and sizes differ. The cheaper helmets look a bit bulky, whiles the more expensive helmets look fast and aggressive.
Things to keep in mind when buying a helmet
- Safety certifications
As said before, the DOT certification is a bare minimum. Want to go for a little bit safer? Choose the European standard which is an ECE 22.05 certification. They won’t cost you much more, but you’ll be happy you spent a couple of extra pounds in case you would crash. - Helmet shape
Every head has its own shape. The trick is to find a helmet that fits your head. Some heads are wide and round, whiles others are narrow and long. Try to find out what shape your head is, and what type of helmet fits you best. Motorcycle clothing stores are trained to help you with this so you might want to visit one to find out what helmet works best for you. - Inner sizing
A helmet is supposed to be tight. There should be no space between your head and the helmet. Especially in the beginning, when the helmet still has to form to your head. - Outer sizing
Some helmets are bigger than others. The more expensive helmets have a bigger shell for the bigger sizes. The cheaper helmets have one or two size shells and just add extra stuffing inside to make the helmet fit smaller heads. It’s not a huge deal, but you could end up feeling like an astronaut. - Wind noise
One of the important differences between a good and a bad helmet is the amount of wind noise. This is an important one since you won’t be able to tell the difference when you are trying on helmets in the store. Wind noise causes fatigue so you would want to have a helmet that is as silent as possible. - Air vents
Last but not least, you should look into ventilation. Do you live in a place which gets quite hot during the summer? You better find a helmet that has sufficient air ventilation, keeping your head cool on your rides.
Open-face helmets
Did you know that 45 percent of all impacts to motorcycle helmets occur around the face, in an area not covered by open-face helmets?
As fancy as they might seem on a certain type of bikes, you should really, really wear a full-face helmet. You don’t want to end up looking like Golem from Lord of the Rings, only because you fell with an open-face helmet. It-is-not-worth-it!
I could write a whole paragraph about open-face helmets, but I won’t. Just don’t buy them! Want to know more? Read my article about open-face vs full-face helmets.
Full-face helmets
Full-face helmets are a good pick for a lot of riders. I wear a full-face helmet myself. Full-face helmets go with any bike, but you mainly see them on sport bikes and naked bikes.
A full-face helmet is a helmet that covers your whole head, including the face. It has a visor that can be opened and often has a build in sun visor to protect your eyes from the sun on summer days.
A full-face helmet provides you with the maximum amount of protection, and I would suggest this helmet to any new rider. It’s no wonder that they wear full-face in the Moto GP right?
The downside of a full-face helmet is the fact that you have to take your helmet off when you are getting gas, having a conversation or when you want to drink along the ride. That’s where modular helmets come into play.
Modular helmets
Modular helmets are essentially the same as a full-face helmet, but you are able to open it by opening the chin compartment.
A modular helmet offers the most versatility when it comes to riding your bike with the face shield and chin bar in either open or closed position.
We see more and more adventure touring riders on the road, which also raised the popularity of the modular helmet in the last couple of years.
Modular helmets are mostly worn by adventure and touring motorcyclists.
Dirt bike helmets
The name says it all, these helmets are meant to be worn by dirt bikers.
Anyone that likes to get dirty off-road should consider one of these helmets. These helmets are also known as motocross helmets, and they are specifically designed to perform and protect under the conditions of off-road riding. So what differs them from other helmets?
First of all, they don’t have a visor. Dirt bike helmets are worn with goggles, which protect the rider’s eyes from dust and debris. They also have a peak visor, which deflects roost from other dirt bikers and also offers some protection from the sun. There is also a lot of space in the chin area, offering much better ventilation on the go.
These helmets are usually only worn by dirt bikers and adventure bike riders.
Motorcycle gloves for beginners
Price range: $30 – $200 dollars
How much I paid for my first gloves: $100 dollars
Now that we know more about jackets, pants and helmets, we’ll hop into gloves. I’ll try to keep this part as simple as possible. There are essentially two types of motorcycle gloves. There are gauntlet gloves and short cuff gloves.
Gauntlet gloves offer alot of protection and cover the wrist. They are your safest pick.
Short cuff gloves are, this will not surprise you, short! They leave the wrist unprotected and usually have less armor.
Gauntlet gloves are more expensive than short cuff gloves. I would always advise going for gauntlet gloves though since they offer you that extra bit of protection.
Gauntlet motorcycle gloves
As said before, the gauntlet type of gloves offers you more protection. They usually have knuckle protection, protecting your knuckles from breaking in case you hit your hand.
Most of them also protect your pinky finger. The glove does this by connecting the pinky finger with the ring finger. The pinky finger can snap/break easily because it’s on the outside of your hand and has very little strength, but this prevents it from doing so.
Short cuff motorcycle gloves
The short cuff gloves are great when it’s really hot outside. They allow maximum airflow through the gloves themselves, but also allow wind to blow into your sleeves.
The gauntlet gloves block the wind around your wrist, but the short cuff gloves allow the wind to blow around, keeping you cool. They are less safe, but they are a blast if you get hot during your rides.
Motorcycle boots for beginners
Pricerange: $100 – $500 dollars
How much I paid for my first boots: $195 dollars
Footwear finishes your whole biker outfit. Some ride a motorcycle with working boots, which doesn’t have to be bad. However, I like to wear my boots, since they offer me maximum protection.
They say that shins are very likely to damage on a crash because the body naturally tries to get the feet to the impact zone. That’s why I wear boots with shin protection.
You have a few options if we look into footwear. You can either go for racing or touring boots, or you go for motorcycle shoes. I’ll tell you something about all of these options.
Racing boots
Racing boots are the most protective footwear you can buy. They have armor in all impact zones and they offer hard protection around the ankle, shinbone, and toes.
I prefer this type of boot because of its protection. It also goes good with my other gear.
A downside of racing boots is the fact that they aren’t very versatile. They are stiff and hard to walk with. You won’t wear these boots to walk around town or in the office.
Touring boots
Touring boots will protect your feet from injuries because of its abrasion resistance, but they are less protective on impact.
They don’t have hard protection on the shinbone, for example, making them less protective than a racing boot.
The plus side, however, is that a touring boot is more versatile. You can walk with them and wear them when you go shopping for example. That’s one of the biggest reason to choose for a touring boot.
Motorcycle shoes
Motorcycle shoes are for those that want an urban look on their motorcycle. Please keep in mind that shoes don’t offer the amount of protection that a boot does.
Sure, they are better than wearing your favorite pair of sneakers, but they lack in protection your feet compared to real motorcycle footwear.
I’ve been thinking of buying a pair, but I haven’t. The main reason is that I’m afraid that they will be comfortable and that I’ll end up riding with these shoes the whole time, jeopardizing my safety.
Motorcycle suits for beginners
Last but not least, motorcycle suits. Motorcycle suits are great for those that ride their bike in a sportive way, and those that want to enjoy track days as well.
As said before, I don’t prefer 1-piece suits because they aren’t very comfortable. I don’t have much experience with them, except trying some on in a store.
I would advise you to go to a specialized store to buy a motorcycle suit since fitment comes very precise. Don’t buy it online if you don’t know your sizes, because it can be hard to find the exact correct size.
Motorcycle underwear for beginners
Underwear is great in both hot and cold weather conditions.
First of all, I would advise you to always wear underwear if you are wearing leather. Leather isn’t very comfortable on the naked skin for starters. Sweat isn’t a positive thing for your leather eighter, so that’s another reason to go for underwear.
Underwear can keep you warm during cold days, and keep you cool during hot days. Just make sure you wear the correct type of underwear.
I’ve bought my underwear on a sale at Walmart once, so I can’t reffer to that since it’s not for sale any more. But underwear doesn’t have to be expensive.
I hope this helped
I hope this complete buying guide for motorcycle gear for beginners helped you to understand the many varieties in motorcycle gear.
Don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comments, I’m more than happy to help you. Good luck making your first miles and keep the right side up. See ya!