I bought a motorcycle with no riding experience – and I had no idea what motorcycle gear to get. The New Rider Course I took through my local Harley Dealership gave a list of what I had to have. Here’s what motorcycle gear I bought as a beginner and how it worked.
You bought a motorcycle – now what?
When I bought my motorcycle, I was an absolute beginner – I didn’t even know how to start it. I knew nothing about motorcycle gear, other than I would need a helmet. In the beginning, I used a 3/4 helmet someone had given me – though I didn’t know it was called a 3/4 helmet then. I wasn’t even sure where to start.
Read: Learning to ride a motorcycle as an older woman
Motorcycle gear requirements for the Learn to Ride course
I signed up for a Learn to Ride class from my local Harley Davidson dealership and they sent this list of required motorcycle gear for the MSF class:
- Jeans
- Sturdy over-the-ankle boots
- Full-fingered motorcycle gloves
- Heavy long-sleeved shirt or jacket
- Protective eyewear
- Helmet that meets DOT specifications
Keep in mind the motorcycle gear requirements may be different in your state or where you take your class – always check.
Also, one thing I want to mention that I didn’t know as a beginner motorcycle rider – if the gear says “mesh”, it’s made for warm weather. Mesh gear has good airflow to keep you cooler on hot days.
Read: 5 things no one told me about the MSF course
Motorcycle pants
The requirement for my MSF course was simply ‘jeans’ and jeans are what I wore. I’m still riding in jeans, though I’m shopping for motorcycle pants. I want something with knee and possibly hip armor. I bought a pair but they didn’t fit right and I returned them, so I’m still looking. I’d really like something I can wear over other pants, rather than wear them just as pants.
There are lots of options for pants: Motorcycle jeans (more protective than regular jeans), motorcycle leggings, mesh pants, waterproof pants, and more. But, as I side, the Basic Rider Course I took only required regular jeans.
Motorcycle boots
There are lots of styles of motorcycle boots to choose from. Leather ankle boots, touring boots, and more. I got a pair of Forma Adventure/Touring boots and I LOVE them. Which is good, because I spent a lot of money on them! (There’s a men’s version of these boots, too.)
What do I love about my motorcycle boots? Mostly I love how they look! (Maybe that doesn’t matter as much to you – but I want to like how they look!) They have reinforcements on the toes for shifting, and they have this sort of ‘accordion’ section on the front of the ankles so they bend easily. These are my favorite motorcycle gear purchase!
I bought the boots from Revzilla. If you are a new customer, you can sign up for their emails/texts and get 15% off. I did that when I bought the boots – buy all your gear at once for bigger savings!
When I first got my motorcycle, I wore an old pair of military combat boots. They were sturdy with good protection, but they did not flex well in the ankles like these boots do. That’s definitely something to pay attention to when shopping for motorcycle boots as a beginner.
Motorcycle gloves
I bought a basic pair of motorcycle gloves with knuckle protection. They are Fly Racing Coolpro Force Gloves. Lots of mesh, good knuckle protection, and you can still use a touch screen.
There are other options for motorcycle gloves, too, like cold weather gloves, waterproof gloves, and more.
These gloves I bought as a beginner ride are what I use now, though as the weather gets colder (I live in Michigan, USA), I’ll need to shop for something I can wear in cold weather.
Motorcycle jacket for a new rider
I chose a motorcycle jacket with a zip-out heavier liner. My reasoning for this was that I would then only need one jacket – not separate motorcycle jackets – for warm weather and cool weather.
The specific jacket I bought was the Fly Racing Street Butane Women’s Jacket. (There’s a men’s version of this motorcycle jacket, too.) It’s waterproof and windproof, has lots of venting zippers for hot days, plus has a zip-in liner for riding in cooler weather. My favorite feature is that there are two zippers on the front. The outer zipper is used in colder weather. If the weather is hot, only zip the inner zipper. The inner section is mesh, allowing for lots of air flow. The jacket also elbow and shoulder armor, and a back pad that can be replaced with armor.
I love the jacket but when it’s really hot – as in 90º F (32º C), I feel like I’m melting as soon as I stop moving. It’s great when moving – the vents are awesome. But as soon as I stop moving I’m overheating. I ended up getting a mesh jacket to wear on those really hot days. I love the mesh jacket, too. It has elbow and shoulder armor and a back pad, just like the heavier jacket.
Motorcycle eyewear
My helmet has a visor, so that’s my eyewear. I nearly always wear it down. I have forgotten to put it down a couple of times, but it’s easy to remember as soon as a bug pegs you in the face!
During the Basic Rider Course, I wore sunglasses for part of it. I don’t normally wear the sunglasses while riding because it’s too difficult to take them off and put them somewhere if the sun ducks behind a cloud. My helmet has a sun shield I can put down, though it’s not as clear to see through as sunglasses.
Motorcycle helmet
There are many different types of motorcycle helmets. Be sure you know what helmet laws require where you live and/or ride. The only requirement for the helmet for my beginner rider course was that it had to be DOT (Department of Transportation) certified. If it is, there will be a DOT label on the back.
Half helmets
Half helmets only cover the top of your head. They are sometimes called brain buckets:) Some people like the freedom of it – it’s the closest to not having a helmet at all. But it also doesn’t protect your face, so keep that in mind.
3/4 (open face) helmets
A 3/4 or open face helmet has a little more coverage around the back and sides of the head, with the face open. When I first bought my motorcycle, I used a 3/4 helmet that someone had given me.
Shop 3/4 helmet / open face helmet
Modular helmets
Modular helmets are great if you want the convenience of an open face helmet with the safety of a full face helmet. There’s a bar in front of the chin (like in a full face helmet) but it can be lifted up and out of the way. I considered a modular helmet, but I heard the wind noise was louder and it may have interfered with microphone when making YouTube videos. Check out my YouTube channel
Full face helmets
Full face helmets offer the most protection, and have a chin bar that does not raise up. I bought an LS2 Citation II helmet, and I love it. It looks great, I like how it buckles, and it has a sun visor I can lower.
Shopping for a helmet
I’ve including lots of shopping links and you should definitely go see what’s out there for helmets, BUT I don’t recommend buying your first helmet online. I went to a local store and probably tried on ten helmets before selecting one. They all fit differently. I tried that squeezed my forehead, and others with uncomfortable padding. You need to get the right fit for you, which means trying it on. Yes, you can generally send online orders back but while figuring out the right fit for the first time, it’s easiest to try on a bunch of helmets.
Beginner motorcycle gear for a new rider
There are lots of styles of motorcycle gear to choose from, and you can help define what kind of rider you are by your gear. For the class, I didn’t wear a motorcycle jacket (it was over 90º F / 32º C) and we were only in a parking lot at slow speeds. I wear a jacket on all my rides though.
Motorcycle pants weren’t needed for the class either – just jeans – but I’m definitely buying some motorcycle pants in the near future.
The gear you buy as a new rider should be gear that you continue to wear, so choose wisely. Get what you like and what’s comfortable (and safe)!
I hope you find the right gear for you – there are lots of great choices out there. Good luck on your journey to becoming a motorcycle rider!
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