Common Motorcycle Accessories
Posted by Team Motorcycle on May 3rd 2016
| Often people say that the only reason we buy a motorcycle is so that we can buy stuff that goes with it. These accessories can be anything, and granted, at times we just buy gear because it makes us feel good. | ||
| But some gear for your motorcycle is a must. Here is a list of the minimum accessories you will need to have for riding your motorcycle. | ||
| This part of the article looks into the rider accessories. The next part will detail the motorcycle's accessories. | ||
| Rider Accessories | ||
| Helmets | ||
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This is probably the most important item. Even if you ride in a place (or country) where helmets are optional, they really are a good thing. Use your head! Your safety, and your life, will be greatly enhanced by using a helmet, preferably a DOT approved on. Also your comfort during the ride will be great enhanced. If football players, cyclists, kayakers, mountain climbers, etc wear them, why don't you? |
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| Jackets | ||
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The next item on the list should be jackets. First of all, just for the comfort of riding. Once your speed picks up, wearing thin and loose fitted clothing will become not so comfortable. The wind will blast your body, and even when it's warm, your body will cool down. And then there's the matter of falling from your bike. At a slow speed of 30 mph, your body will still slide over the asphalt, creating asphalt rash on your body. At 60 mph, you will be ready for skin graft. | |
| Leather jackets are best, but often the most expensive, so proper textile jackets are a good alternative. | ||
| Boots | ||
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Boots are a good purchase you might want to think about. Riding in sneakers is fun, I grant you that, but having sturdy boots protecting your ankles and toes will make things a lot easier for you. Imagine standing at a red light when a car drives over your shoes. Don't think that happens? ... think again. Having protection for your toes can avoid that trip to the hospital. |
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| Sturdy boots will also make it easier to hold your bike upright when stopped or on uneven ground. Sneakers don't work too well then; It's like skiing with sneakers on; no one does that, right? | ||
| Gloves | ||
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Gloves are a pretty good purchase option when riding motorcycle. Although not essential, especially if your motorcycle has hand protectors/guards like many long distance or off-road bike have, but if it doesn't, think about bug strikes while riding. Your hands are the most exposed when riding, and bugs are always out there. If they can, they will find you hands are target, and it hurts. Imagine a big bug hitting your knuckles at 60 mph! | |
| There's also that little thing called a crash. If you go off your bike under no matter what circumstances, usually one of the first body parts that gets to sample the ground are your hands. No gloves means skin graft. | ||
| Obviously in the winter, gloves are a must. | ||
| Trousers | ||
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Motorcycle trousers are nice to have. Basically, if you want to be protected properly while riding, get proper pants. Riding in jeans is easy and fun (plus you don't have to change), but jeans are not as tough as you think. Once you go off, the jeans will last a second of sliding on asphalt. Unless of course they are special motorcycle jeans. Wearing proper trousers for your motorcycle can also avoid you from the dreaded bug strikes. Plus good trousers will be rain resistant. |
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| And remember this, riding around with wet pants is not fun. Most motorcycle pants are rainproof, abrasion proof, have body (knee and hip) armor and don't mind strong sun on them (normal trousers will start discoloring eventually). | ||
| Eyewear | ||
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Get a good pair of glasses. If you have prescription eyewear, get sunglasses made up for you. The problem with prescription glasses is that you can't wear glasses that wrap around, preventing turbulent air from hitting your eyes from the side. That's an issue with prescription lenses, they can't curve too much. Whatever glasses you buy, normal or sunglasses, make sure they fit inside a helmet. Some helmets have grooves for glasses, making it easier to wear any type. |
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| If you ride with an open face helmet, glasses are a must. A bug that hits you in the eyes are 60 mph will make your eye explode. | ||
| Motorcycle Accessories | ||
| The following list, though not exhaustive, are some of the things your bike needs. | ||
| Locks | ||
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The last thing you want is to go out to your bike for a ride to discover that the motorcycle is no longer there. It got stolen! There is virtually no other feeling that will give you a feeling of despair. I've seen grown men cry when their ride was stolen. | |
| Best are locks with thick chains or bars (U-Locks). But they are heavy and quite voluminous to take with you, so if you don't have the space, get a good solid disc lock. | ||
| Best are those with an integrated alarm, so when someone is messing with your motorcycle, a very loud alarm sounds. | ||
| Covers | ||
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Another good item to have is a motorcycle cover. Even if your motorcycle sleeps at night in a closed garage, dust and dirt will blow onto the motorcycle and into small crevices which you will need to clean at a later stage. Placing a good sized cover over the bike will keep your ride in pristine condition: ready to ride. Obviously if |
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| the bike is outside, it's even more important to keep the bike away from the elements (sun, rain, snow, wind). But then make sure you can lock the cover to the bike, if not someone might walk away with it. | ||
| Cargo Tie-Downs | ||
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Motorcycles aren't exactly known for being able to haul a lot of stuff (although many people, particularly in Asia do try). But at times you don't have a choice but to try to bring stuff with you that doesn't fit in your topcase or saddle bag (most sport bikes don't even have those). That is why there are tie-downs. These flexible nets do | |
| not take any space on your motorcycle (or inside your pockets), but expand to hold down items on your bike. | ||
| This way you can bring, for example your partner's helmet on the pillion seat, or any other cargo you may want to bring along. Attache case, shopping bag, anything goes (no, not golf clubs). | ||
| Battery Chargers | ||
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If your bike stays alone in the garage during the winter, or at times is not ridden for weeks on end, get a trickle charger, or a normal battery charger. Trickle chargers are the best; just plug it into the bike and the charger keeps the battery topped up. No worrying about over-charging or heating up. |
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| Or just get a battery charger which you'll use a few hours before setting off to ride your motorcycle, making sure your battery is ready to fire up the engine. | ||
| There's nothing worse then getting on your motorcycle and pressing the starter and hearing clunk, clunk, clunk. | ||
| Cleaning Products | ||
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| Believe it or not, but motorcycles do tend to get dirty when riding (and even when not riding). Unless you are riding a rat bike, you will want the bike to be pretty clean and well maintained. One of the first items that needs to be regularly maintained are your leathers. Saddle, grips and your jacket or trousers will need a regular leather cleaning. Keep the leathers in perfect working condition so that you can keep using them for years, even decades. |
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| Backpacks | ||
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| As I've stated before, motorcycles don't exactly have a lot of space to haul stuff. Sports bikes have the least while touring bikes have the most space, but not matter what you ride, wearing a proper backpack will increase the amount of stuff you can carry. Make sure that either the backpack is rain proof, or that it has a rain cover. Many of the backpacks are aerodynamic, but if this is the case, they usually can carry less stuff. Easy access to pockets, back protectors, hydration packs (aka camelbaks) are all options that you can consider when looking for a backpack for your motorcycle. Remember if you want to carry your laptop or tablet, that it can accommodate the right size. |
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| Communications | ||
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And finally. If you plan to ride with a pillion and/or with other bikes, having communication equipment can be the difference between a good ride and a great ride. Being able to talk to other while riding is an enormous advantage. Bluetooth wireless gear has become of age. You can now talk with HiFi quality sound to your pillion and to other bikers (not to mention talking on your mobile phone, and listening to music and/or your GPS). |
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| Want to know where the next gas station is, or who needs to stop for a bathroom brake? Which way shall we ride? All questions you can ask while riding! | ||
| These are some of the accessories you can get for your motorcycle. Obviously it's a short list, we can go on for hours and hours. Use your common sense and always remember that safety should be your primary concern. | ||
