What to wear on a motorcycle: plain advice on the gear

What the law says

In Estonia the rider and the passenger must ride in a fastened helmet. The law asks for nothing more. But the Transport Administration advises riding in full gear, and that is the right advice.

The helmet

Look for the mark ECE 22.06 on the helmet. That is the new standard.

Get a closed helmet, a full face. An open one does not protect the chin.

The helmet should sit tight, but it should not press until it hurts. If it rocks, it will not protect you.

Check it at home: fasten the strap and turn your head. The helmet should not shift.

Change the helmet about every 5 years. After any hit, change it at once, even if it looks fine outside.

Do not buy a helmet second-hand. You do not know whether it has been dropped.

Prices: from €25 on Hind.ee, from €90 at Avaruosad, about €160 for a Shark Ridill 2 on Autodoc.

Jacket and trousers

Look for the mark EN 17092. Class A suits town, AA is better for long trips, AAA protects the most.

The jacket should have armour at the shoulders, the elbows and the back. Without it, the protection is weak.

Jeans and an ordinary jacket will not save you from the tarmac.

It helps if the zips are covered and the pockets have rain flaps.

Prices: jackets from €89 at Moto24 and from €60 at Motozem.

Gloves

In a fall the hands meet the tarmac first, so you need gloves always, even in the heat.

Get motorcycle gloves with knuckle protection, not builder's gloves and not ski gloves.

For cold weather keep a second pair, a warmer one.

Prices: from €18 at Moto24, from €20 at Motozem.

Boots

You need motorcycle boots that cover the ankle.

Trainers will not do: the foot is not protected in them.

The sole should grip, and the toe should be reinforced, so changing gear is easy.

Prices: from €66 at Motozem, from €99 at Moto24.

The back and an airbag

A back protector in the jacket gives basic protection.

Choose an airbag vest with the certificate EN 1621-4.

Prices for such vests were not found in Estonian shops.

So that you are seen

Choose bright clothes or a bright helmet.

If the jacket is dark, wear a reflective vest over it.

In the evening and in autumn this matters especially.

Estonia: autumn, spring and summer

In autumn and spring it is cold and damp. A jacket with a membrane or a rain suit, thermal underwear and warm gloves all help.

Cold hands react worse, so do not put up with the cold.

In summer a jacket with ventilation, a mesh one, helps. Heat is not a reason to take the protection off.

On wet leaves and in the cold, ride slower.

How to choose the size

Try things on in the clothes you will ride in, and while sitting on the motorcycle.

For the helmet, measure your head above the eyebrows.

The jacket should not ride up, and the armour should stay on the shoulders and the elbows.

The gear should be neither tight nor baggy.

How to save money wisely

First the helmet, the gloves and the boots, then the rest.

Seasonal sales and last year's models are often several times cheaper.

Do not save money on the helmet.