Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive

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HELMETS

This is indisputably the most important piece of protective gear you’ll buy. It serves the vital protective function of shielding your head from impacting the roadway, so make sure to buy one that’s Department of Transportation approved and that provides full-face coverage. You may also want to look at helmet choices that are approved by the Snell Memorial Foundation. What’s the difference? Generally the DOT tests for the most typical impacts and Snell tests for the more severe impacts.The best helmets pass both tests.

HJC CL-15 Solid
$119.95 from HJCHelmets.com
What we like: It has a removable liner you can wash, eliminating that locker room smell that can set in after extensive use. What we don't: The vents do so little to introduce any air into the helmet that most riders will probably forget they’re even there.

Scorpion EXO-1000
$299.95 from ScorpionUSA.com
What we like: The retractable sun visor proved more effective than sunglasses. There are lots of little features—like two tabs on the visor for left- or right-handed opening—that seem insignificant individually. But when taken as a whole, they add up to a very practical, well-engineered helmet. What we don't: Gaudy details on the outside like fake Allen-head bolts cast into the plastic and vents that felt like they would snap off cheapened the helmet’s otherwise durable feel.

Shoei Multitec
$482.99 from Shoei.com
What we like: Shoei executed the flip-front concept flawlessly with a design that’s strong and reliable. It’s also lighter and quieter than a vast majority of one-piece helmets. What we didn't like: The unconventional chin-strap snap attaches directly to the D-ring, eliminating the clean clicking feedback of a metal snap and making it more difficult to buckle or unbuckle with gloves on.

13. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
An excellent, albeit expensive alternative to in full motorcycle suits (available in one piece or two) is the Motoport woven Kevlar suit. Maximum protection, AND it flows air so you can wear it in hot weather. I wear one (on my Victory Kingpin), along with a full-face helmet. If you're looking for the best, check out Motoport (stupid website, but excellent personal service).

12. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
You forgot hearing protection.

11. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
as a kid in upstate ny i wanted to ride motorcycle i got marry early when in service next 30 years work two jobs now retire going to try to learn how to drive motorcycle very good astory hope i can learn this at 57 harry

10. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
re: #5. Yeah, the Fieldsheer suit costs half as much, its also made overseas. The Aerostich is made in America. The only one piece "touring" suits that compare for durability are the BMW suits, and they're even more expensive, and imported. A $100 helmet isn't going to be as quiet, as comfortable, or as light as a $500 lid, nor have customizable fit and removable liner for cleaning. The Shoei Multi-Tec is a "flip face" helmet, which is the ultimate in helmet practicality. No, I don't have one, they don't fit me quite right, and no, I've never spent $500 on a helmet, but I have had (and will be getting again) a flip face. Once you get past about $350-400 dollars, you're pretty much paying for graphics. But having used $100 helmets and a $250 helmet, I can tell you there ARE differences in comfort. As for "practical gear" for a Harley, Victory, Star rider, well, tell me what's practical about leather vests, aside from the ease of sewing on patches and pinning on pins? What's practical about black leather pants when its 100 degrees outside, or 40? What, exactly, is practical about a puddin bowl helmet that leaves you eating bugs constantly, and provides essentially zero protection in the event of an accident? If you want "practical" gear, then DO take a look at what BMW sells. You'll find that the most impractical gear is oriented at cruiser riders (i.e. Harley, Victory, Star). For crashing, the absolute best gear (i.e. most "practical") is going to be what the racers wear. For a balance between protection during a crash and protection from other elements (rain, cold, sun, kicked-up rocks, bugs, etc), look at what the sport-touring riders and commuters wear. For what's most practical at the local bar, where you'll find most Harleys, Victorys and Stars, look at what the guy TAKING A TAXI is wearing!

9. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
boy!!!!! thesr items will cost nearly as much as a bike. If i were a professional racer I might cancider a $500.00 helmet but fot road enjoyment my less than $100.00 will do. if it is my time to go nothing is going to stop it???????

8. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
All of this is fine and dandy and you can find armor for whatever you ride. That said - armor is NEVER a substitute for safe and sane riding!

7. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
While you CAN see light through the FirstGear Mesh-Tech shell material, it provides a surprising amount of protection. Think of it as 21st-century chain-mail. It also lets through lots of air-flow, which is why people can actually wear them in the summer without burning up.

6. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
re:#1 I don't ride a sportbike, but I still wear full gear - Joe Rocket textile jacket and leather pants, a full face helmet, boots and First Gear gloves. Drop your bike one time, and suddenly how you look comes a distant second place to walking away. There is gear for everyone, Wear it!

5. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
There are more than one riding suit available. I own a Fieldsheer Highland II that is similar to an Aerostich in that it uses two zippers that allows you to quickly step into and out of the suit. The Highland comes standard with a back pad and hip pads plus a detachable quilted liner, the Aerostich does not. The Highland also has a list price less than half the cost of an Aerostich Roadcrafter.

4. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
Re Comment Number one: "Rice Rockets" I Love That term! "Crotch Rocket" Is a good one too. Apparently having racebike quality handeling, stopping and acceleration is a bad thing. Not everyone likes 60 year old tachnology and a coke head image to be standard equipment on our bikes. Idiot.

3. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
Re comment #1: Why not? I wore a textile armored jacket and a full face helmet on MY cruiser, and they saved my life (or at least my face, arms, and leg) when I went down. The road doesn't care how fashionable you are- it cares how much damage you can take.

2. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
have you tested the air bag jackets? I would like to see reviews on them. My wife and I both ride and I am thinking of purchasing one for each of us.

1. RE: Must-Have Motorcycle Accessories: The Ultimate Gear Test Drive
These are all well and fine for rice rockets.... but what about practical gear for Harley, Victory, Star & BMW riders??? Yea, I can see them in a one piece suit with a full face helmet right now, cant you???

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