Apart from the obvious legal and essential equipment, such as of crash helmet, jacket and motorcycle gloves, what more can we do as riders to protect ourselves?
At Zenith Motorcycles, we are advocates for anything that can go towards making our journey safe and our riding nothing short of perfection, so let’s delve into some of the best safety equipment for riding a motorcycle outside of the norm that may help to make you safer.
Airbags
As far as we and our research know, there is only one make and model of motorcycle that has airbags fitted. That is the Honda Goldwing. Honda introduced airbag technology to its Goldwing range way back in 2006, and to this day, it is still the only production motorcycle with an airbag system fitted. You can delve in depth into the details of this Honda airbag innovation on their site.
Airbag Clothing
In the absence of airbags being fitted to our vehicles, recent years have seen the innovation of safety motorcycle clothing with airbags fitted internally. Motorcycle airbag jackets work by rapidly inflating a protective shell around the rider’s core during a crash to absorb impact energy. They use either a mechanical system, activated by a lanyard that pulls a trigger when separated from the bike, or an electronic system that utilises sensors, such as gyroscopes and accelerometers, to detect a fall and trigger inflation. The airbags deploy in a fraction of a second, covering vital areas like the chest, back, shoulders, and neck, significantly reducing impact forces to critical regions of the body.
As well as airbag jackets, riding trousers, and even backpacks with airbag technology are available that also work similarly to motorcycle jackets. If you would like to know more about airbag clothing, do your homework and use trusted brands like RST and Dianese and look to invest from £250 upwards. EN16214 is the safety standard for airbag clothing to look for.
Boots
Motorcycle riding boots are crucial for safety and comfort because they are specially designed with reinforced protection against impacts and abrasion, unlike regular footwear. They offer superior ankle support to prevent sprains and fractures, and have specialised soles for better grip on the footpegs and on wet surfaces. These motorcycle boots also protect your feet from road debris and can be waterproof for comfort in bad weather.
Take it from someone who has made the mistake of riding in normal shoes, riding boots are essential and had I been wearing them when I had an incident, I would not have crushed my foot when my bike fell on top of me. Now I will not get on a bike without them.
High Visibility Vest/Bibs & Clothing
Wearing high-visibility (hi-vis) gear may make motorcycle riders more visible, especially bright fluorescent colours during the day and reflective materials at night. While some studies have found a significant reduction in crash risk for riders who wear hi-vis gear, others have found no significant link, and visibility can be affected by factors like the background and individual driver inattention. So, in conclusion, it doesn’t hurt to wear it, but statistically, there isn’t much evidence to show it actually helps. My opinion is, it can’t hurt. I have found that there is a real element of snobbery in the motorcycle world around hi-vis gear because it doesn’t look “cool”, I say (and sorry for being morbid), no one looks cool in A&E. Riding is about prevention of an accident before it happens, and it is down to the individual to decide weather hi-vis equipment is for them.
First Aid Kit
This is a piece of safety gear that is not generally for you, but for others. As bikers, we follow an unwritten code, and part of that code is to never leave a biker down. This is why we should all carry a first aid kit where and when possible. Hopefully, it might be (in my case) something we carry for years and never have to use, but you just never know when it may become a life-saving bit of kit. Obviously, you should also have some basic first aid knowledge on what to do in the event you are required to administer first aid to anyone, but especially as a biker, knowing when and when not to remove a helmet is vital (and for another blog). If you don’t carry a first aid kit, please seriously think about it, as it may help you save a life. One of the best-equipped kits at the moment (and they look good as well) is the Rider Trauma Kit.
Finally, one of the best things you can do to keep safe is to make sure your motorcycle is in a safe and roadworthy condition. Don’t leave your motorcycle safety to chance; keep up with regular servicing and maintenance with us at Zenith motorcycles to ensure the safest ride.
