When Riding a Motorcycle Make Sure You Have The Necessary Safety Accessories

Riding a motorcycle comes with a lot of requirements. You often have to attend a motorcycle riders training class and pass a test to ensure that you understand laws and safety requirements of driving a motorcycle.

Beyond the class and the test, the most important way to prepare for your first motorcycle ride is to purchase the necessary safety equipment. There are some motorcycle accessories that are required by law depending on what state you live in. Others are just a smart safety choice that anyone riding a motorcycle should make.

1. A Helmet

Seems like a no-brainer right? Surprisingly many states like Illinois and New Hampshire do not require that those riding a motorcycle wear a helmet. If you are involved in an accident or happen to fall off your motorcycle without a helmet, the injury can be life changing, or even deadly.

When buying a helmet consider:

• All helmets sold in the United States are required to have a Department of Transportation sticker on it. This sticker tells you that the helmet meets the required safety standards.


• If you are in an accident with your helmet or drop it onto a hard surface that results in a hard blow to the helmet you need to get a new one. Helmets are only designed to take heavy impact one time.


• By a helmet with a face shield. This will help protect your eyes and face in an accident as well as your head.

2. Protection For Your Eyes

Think of all the pebbles or debris that hits your windshield while you drive your car. No imagine all of that hitting you in the face and eyes while you're on a motorcycle. As you can imagine it only takes on tiny rock or pebble to cause a serious eye injury for a motorcycle rider. Wearing a helmet with eye protection or safety goggles or glasses while you ride is the best protection for your eyes.

When choosing eye protection consider:

• Acceptable types of eye protection include: helmet shield, shatterproof glasses or goggles.


• Never wear eye protection that is scratched or dirty.


• If you have tinted (daytime) eye protection you will also need clear eye protection to wear in the dark or on cloudy days.

3. Heavy Jacket

Many motorcycle riders resist the idea of wearing a heavy jacket in the warm summer riding months. The heavy jacket is for safety, not warmth.

When choosing a heavy jacket look for these options:

• Choose a jacket that is made of a strong fabric or material. Leather, denim, nylon or corduroy are all good options.


• Make yourself comfortable and safe by choosing a jacket that is well ventilated but will still keep you safe.


• If possible opt for leather. It offers the most protection from abrasions.

4. Be Seen

Other motorcycle riders and car drivers need to be able to see you when you're on the road.

There are a few things you can do to make sure it's impossible to miss you:

• Wear clothes that are bright and easy to see. Colors that make you blend in make it harder for you to be seen.


• Consider a special vest designed for visibility.


• Add reflective strips to accessories like boots, helmet, and jacket. Reflective strips can make a tremendous difference in visibility at night.

When you make the decision to attend a motorcycle safety class and take a test for a motorcycle license it comes with the responsibility of your safety and the safety of other drivers. There is a much higher likelihood for bodily injury with a motorcycle accident than a car accident. This makes the safety precautions more involved but extremely important.