Helmet.

New bikers won’t be surprised to learn that wearing a skid lid is compulsory in the UK and the chin strap must be fastened to stop it coming off. All motorcycle helmets sold through reputable outlets will do a good job of protecting your crown from injury, though it is worth forking out more for a comfortable, light and quiet one. Expect to pay £150 to £300 for a decent helmet though an ultra-light carbon fibre bone dome can set you back £500 or more. The main choice is between an open-face helmet and the full-face version. At first glance this may seem an obvious choice - only the full -face helmet provides protection for the jaw area. However the fully enclosed helmet gives a slightly restricted field of vision and some people feel claustrophobic wearing one. Flip-up versions, where the jaw section can pivot upwards, can be bought but these are designed primarily for convenience when off the bike and are not intended to be flipped up when travelling. Perusing the ads for gorgeous bike kit is one of the great pleasures of biking...

 

 

 

 

Gloves.

Even in warm weather the wind chill factor on a bike will make your hands feel very cold very quickly without a pair of gloves. However you want to retain a good feel for the controls which means enormous mittens are out. In the end it is a trade off between insulation and dexterity, but with modern fabrics a good pair of warm and waterproof gloves need not be unduly bulky. The other function of gloves is to protect your delicate fingers from abrasion and injury and virtually all motorbike gloves have some built-in protection these days. We believe it is worth buying good quality gloves - you will appreciate it every time you put them on.

 

Boots.

Your footwear needs to give you good feel for the controls while keeping your feet warm and dry. The sole should be grippy to stop your foot sliding on a slippery road surface while armour at the toe, ankle and shin will offer some protection to the vulnerable lower leg in the event of an accident.

Clothing.

New motorcycle riders will want to buy some proper bike gear sooner or later. A one-piece set of leathers is ideal for track use while a two-piece set is more popular for the road. Leather is not waterproof and can get very hot in summer, so some riders prefer an outfit made from man-made fabrics which are light, waterproof and have abrasion resistance near, but not matching, that of leather. Either way, chose clothing which has armour at vulnerable points: the shoulders, elbows, knees, back and hips. These shock-absorbing inserts don’t add much to the cost of the gear and are light, unobtrusive and very useful in an accident. A good place to check out kit in the flesh is Hein Gericke, a national firm of kit makers who have a branch in most cities in the UK. Their stuff is well-made and reasonably priced. For the denim look, jeans re-enforced with Kevlar for extra abrasion resistance can be had from Draggin’ Jeans, an Australian bike gear company.