The case for commuting by motorcycle

Summary

What exactly constitutes "All the gear?" To start, you need a full-face helmet, ideally with a Snell or ECE safety rating. It doesn't have to be expensive; there are plenty of great helmet companies out there making very safe lids in the sub-$250 range. Depending on where you live, a helmet may be legally required, but even if it's not, you need one. A good CE-approved jacket is the next thing on your list. Leather is best, but a quality textile jacket will serve you well enough. Armor at the joints is nice, but slide resistance is the key here. Crashing a motorcycle, even at low speeds, can cause serious abrasion damage (aka road rash), and it's damage you don't want. Always wear protective gear. Credit: Can-Am Next, you need gloves. Real motorcycle gloves are important because they'll do a better job than simple leather work gloves of protecting against slides and impacts, thanks to armor at your finger joints and wrist. Again, these don't have to be expensive; there are many fine options under $100. Pants are also critical. Regular denim, like the stuff you wear every day, has effectively no abrasion resistance, and during a crash, the pavement turns into a big, dirty belt sander. I've seen photos of people who have had slides in jeans, and it's not pretty. Motorcycle pants (even motorcycle jeans) will do a much better job of protecting you, and there are many options now that barely register as motorcycle gear, visually speaking. Finally, boots. Work boots are OK, but dedicated, armored motorcycle footwear will protect your feet and ankles from all kinds of impacts and generally keep you safer. To ride or not to ride Ultimately, the decision to ride a motorcycle, especially to commute on one, is personal. Whether it makes sense for your life and whether the risk-to-benefit ratio is something you can live with is something every potential cyclist should weigh out. Still, I can say from a great deal of personal experience that once you start riding past all those ...