Sport Bike Equipment tips

Sport bike racing is an adrenaline-pumping activity. Flying down the track, weaving in and out of other racers, watching the track turn to a blur is a real rush. Another aspect of riding fast is it isn't just exciting, it's also dangerous. Racers protect themselves with the right equipment for the job. You need the best equipment to protect yourself from the road and to protect your bike during maintenance. Some essentials include a well-made helmet, protective boots, gloves, and armor, and well-made shop equipment like a bike stand to support your bike.

Motorcycle racing can get expensive fast. You need protective gear for safe riding. Even for non-racing, street riding many countries have made wearing of personal protective equipment the law. Protective clothing includes jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Many of these items are typically made of nylon, leather, and even Kevlar. Kevlar is an expensive material but can prevent things from piercing into you if you fall on it hard, such as when you fall off your bike and land on a sharp object. You can see that the cost of riding can escalate quickly.

Racing jackets combine style, comfort, and protecting. Most of these jackets have armor in the shoulder and elbow area. Some have armor in the back and other high impact areas. Brands that are popular with motorcyclists include First Gear, Icon, Moose, Shift, Alpinestars, and Joe Rocket. All the aforementioned companies offer jackets made up of textiles or leather, in different sizes and types.

Motorcycle boots have motorcycle specific features such as air flow enhancements and reinforcements on the shifting foot. Many of them provide extra protection not found in ordinary boots. Popular bands include Alpinestars, Sidi, ICON, Puma, TCX, and AXO.

You'll need gear designed for use during cold weather or warm weather, depending on when you race. Cold-weather gear could be uncomfortable and much too warm if you race in it during the summer. It's bad enough that the wrong gear could be uncomfortable and affect your performance, but it could also make racing less safe.

Sometimes overlooked in the motorcycle safety area is the equipment used to work on a bike. Many accidents actually happen in the shop while performing maintenance. There are plenty of statistics showing heavy bikes falling over and causing injury. Your motorcycle is heavy, and if the motorcycle stand fails your bike will fall and possibly land on some part of your body. I suggest you look into a well-made, heavy-duty stand.

Inspect your equipment often and always make sure it's in good working condition. If something you are wearing is involved in a crash, make sure to doublecheck it's in working order. Having your body armor plat slip at just the wrong time can be devastating, painful, and possibly deadly.

Motorcycle riding and racing is a blast. You need to do it responsibly; make sure you know what you are doing, get training, and practice safe racing. Research and own the right equipment to keep you and other racers safe on the track.