With the newer motorcycle safety gear, everyone can ride safer and more comfortable.

Some of the newer designs and features in motorcycle safety gear can make your trip more safe and enjoyable. High Tech boot and materials for pants and jackets make them light weight, cooler and will provide better protection.

Okay, so I try to save a buck just like everyone else does so I ride wearing hiking boots. They have a good stiff sole that are oil resistant and a steel shank. The boots come up over my ankle and provide great support. Best of all, they're waterproof and only run me about $60.00. They may not be considered as top of the line motorcycle safety gear but I think they are a great alternative if you're looking to save money. But if you really want to get a great boot for touring, go with some of the newer touring boots that offer Velcro closures over the laces, high tech materials and reinforcement of stressed areas. They'll take you up into the mid $200.00 range, but will last a long time and provide you with the comfort you'd expect.

Most folks opt for jeans when it comes to riding. Jeans are great and they are tough, but don't expect them to hold up to a high speed slide down the road. For that you want to get into the leather or textiles that will provide more abrasion resistance. Simple leather chaps will go a long way and you can pick them up almost anywhere. Make sure they have a lining and when you measure for them, measure with pants on that you'll be riding with. You can step up to a full pant that is made of textiles and reinforced at the knees. Most you can wear right over your street clothing and they zip up similar to chaps. They're waterproof and breathable so that you remain comfortable as you ride.

Jackets have made some big leaps over the past years. The "classic" leather jacket still has it's popularity today, but more and more, for long touring comfort, riders are moving to textiles. They are much lighter, they breathe well and provide protection with the addition of removable padding. They come with liners for colder weather and some are even heated for extreme cold weather riding. They are waterproof and have no loose flaps or strings that can whip at you in the wind.

Gloves are another motorcycle safety item that bares talking about. Hands, just like feet, will be very exposed in an accident. Being at the end of our arms they will flap around and take a beating. Most of us rely on our hands to do our jobs and bring in money to the household so treat them as if they are that important. Typing and working with small computer parts would be difficult for me if my hands were all scared up from an accident. I try to wear long fingered gloves as much as I can when I ride. Gloves with gel padding helps that much more. Either way, a fine line between protecting your hands and "feeling" the motorcycle should be maintained.

Helmets, okay so we all know the argument between wearing helmets and not. I for one will always wear a helmet since one protected me when I was first learning to ride. Since then I've considered a helmet the number one motorcycle safety gear. Others many not want to use one and that's okay by me. Let's look at the benefits of helmets and then you can decide. Helmets today are becoming more high tech as are other things. They use to be heavy and hot. New materials now allow them to be lighter and the ventilation systems keep them much cooler today. The design and structure are keeping hot spots down to a minimum and with the advancement of communication devices, they are allowing for better communication between riders and passengers. All in all, for me, it just makes sense to wear a helmet. The last thing I want to do is have my spouse or myself in a vegetative state because I wanted the wind in my, well what's left of my hair. Make your own choice, and make sure it's a choice you can live with.

The bottom line here is make sure you use all the right gear so that you can enjoy not only the ride you are on, but all the rides to come.

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