What factors should I consider when looking for riding gear?

First of all, let us be clear about one thing: crashing is an unplanned event, and that's why vehicular mishaps are called "accidents." Therefore, you should assume that a crash could happen at any time, whether you're in the corkscrew at Laguna or riding down to the corner for the proverbial quart of milk.

What all this means is that if you swing your leg over your machine, you need to dress as if you are going to crash at 80 mph (because that's about as fast as most people ride) as soon as you start moving. That gives you a little margin.

Protective gear should be a balance of protection, comfort, style and value. These four factors should be balanced according to your needs and tastes. Let's examine each factor.

First, and most heavily weighted, should be protection. It should resist abrasion to 80-100 mph, and should provide impact protection at all the likely and fragile impact points- head, spine, hips, elbows, hands, ankles and knees. The best materials are heavy cordura nylon, kevlar fabric, and leather. The leather should be something specifically made for motorcycling, not fashion leather. Fashion leather is selected for softness and light weight, not abrasion resistance. A well-selected piece of leather offers more abrasion resistance than a thicker, lower-quality piece.

The armor in your back protector should have a CE label on it, or should be made to that standard. CE is the European agency that writes standards for thousands of consumer products, like our Underwriter's Laboratories. But the USA has no standard for motorcycle armor. What that means is a lot of "armor" in the cheaper gear is actually just flimsy foam rubber of limited use in an accident. Good armor will save you weeks of pain and suffering, and may even save a limb or your spine.

The next most important factor is comfort. If your gear is unwearable and impractical, it won't do you any good because it's hanging in the closet or strapped to the back of the bike. You can break down comfort into two categories, fit and temperature control.

The fit should be comfortable when you are on your bike. The tiniest irritation can swell into a big pain after a few hours in the same position. Also, the clothing should not "balloon" at high speeds- that can add to fatigue. Leathers need to be skin-tight for the best abrasion resistance, since the leather can give you a burn when it moves on your skin in a crash.

Your suit should be comfortable over the range of temperatures you ride in- again, your gear won't protect you if you don't wear it. Leathers should be perforated to flow air, and nylon suits should have lots of vents. Buy your textile suit loose enough for a layer or two underneath in cold weather, and you can layer over your leathers with a windbreaker or raingear for those chilly Sunday mornings.

Why is style important? Pick gear that reflects your tastes and fashion sense. This is less important for most guys, but it's important for our riding partners of the fairer sex.

Lastly, buy the cheapest gear that meets all the above requirements. Buy gear that is made in Japan, the U.S, or Europe if you can (good luck.) You quite often do get what you pay for when it comes to gear. Sometimes spending a little more money on a quality product is cheaper.