The importance of safety when it comes to riding your bike is something that we often take for granted. That’s true for riding, as for any other sport in fact. But then the question is: why are so many of us not wearing protective apparel regularly? We still see too many riders wearing unsafe gear, not only in our cities but on country roads and motorways as well. As passionate motorcyclists and proud owners of a motorcycle gear brand, we have asked ourselves and our friends this question many times. The answer is not straightforward, and it is often a combination of different things that pop into our minds before we get on our bikes – small things that could potentially make a big difference in our lives.
Riding is searching for freedom, living fearlessly, pushing boundaries and so much more. Protective apparel, as the name says, was born from the need of keeping us all safe while we do what we love. Every piece of clothing, or accessory, was engineered with different scenarios in mind, many of which we have never even imagined and don’t want to think about! Behind the creation of a motorcycle jacket or a pair of boots, but also items such as t-shirts and sweatshirts, there has to be a long process, which is often complex and takes into account many variables. What you see is the look of the final piece of clothing, which often appears simple to the naked eye. What is behind it, it is another story.
When it comes to riding apparel, the focus is so much on endurance and safety that often the aesthetic element is left behind. Jeans, jackets, and boots have to keep you safe no matter the conditions you are riding in. The obsession with the engineering and technical aspects of motorcycle gear means that its designs can be bland or obsolete. This might put off some people who then decide not to wear the gear on every ride. Some riders, particularly those just starting to embrace their new passion for motorcycles, will be excited at the very beginning and get the full gear from day 1, but as time passes by they might end up not using it regularly. Perhaps they don’t like the look of it, so they choose to wear it on long rides only. Truth is, you can’t make exceptions based on the length of the journey, the weather conditions, terrain, or anything else which you think may be important or not. Every ride is a new one. Every ride has its own story. Nobody has ever planned to have an accident, so when you get on you never know what is around the corner. And that is not just for riding, it’s a rule for life!