By I’ve spent quite a bit of money on motorcycle gear since I started riding just over 5 years ago, and in that time I feel like I’ve learnt quite a bit about what works and what doesn’t for motorcycling in the uk. Here’s my guide to the perfect set of gear I would buy if I was starting again, from the beginning, knowing what I know now.
These kit’s are based on typical riding in the UK and what you can expect from the UK’s weather and riding conditions.
We’ve got a super budget option, which is about as cheap as I reckon you can go and still have a full kit. We’ve got a set for the all weather rider, and we’ve got the ‘buy it once, keep it forever’ option for those that just want to get the right kit for the job straight out of the gate, and not worry about it again for the next 10 years.
I’ve linked to sportsbikeshop.co.uk for my choices – these aren’t advertisements or affiliate links at the time of writing – same goes for prices, they’re what I could find at the time of writing.
As with all things – this is just my experience. Don’t blame me if you buy this stuff, and then crash and it doesn’t give you the protection you thought you’d get. Anyhow, on we go…
A word on helmets
I’m not going to cover specific helmets in this article. When it comes to helmets, you need to pick a budget, and then find a helmet that fits you in that budget. What I am going to do is write a separate article on buying a motorcycle helmet because there is some important advice to give new riders so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
A word on leather
There’s no leather suits on this list. Mainly because I don’t think it’s very practical for the average rider and for everyday riding conditions in the UK. It’s too hot in the heat, it’s not water proof in the wet, it’s uncomfortable to walk around in, and totally impractical for doing basically anything much at your destination. There are plenty who will disagree – but I’d argue leather is not a ‘one set of gear’ option. If you buy leathers, you’ll probably buy some jeans or textiles within the first 12 months of owning it to give yourself some other options.
Super budget – £349.35
Need the best balance between protection and cost? try this selection:
Jeans – Bull-it Covec 17 Cafe Straight SR6 Jeans – £70
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/342320
Motorcycle specific jeans offer a good level of protection and there are absolutely stacks of them around.
Motorcycle jeans are a great option, particularly when you’re starting out for a couple of reasons:
Number 1, they look pretty casual. When you get to your location, you can take your helmet, gloves and jacket off, and walk around looking like a relatively normal member of society.
Number 2, they’re actually decently protective. A lot of modern jeans claim to be even as protective as leather – this is debatable, and will come down to the type of accident you find yourself in. But they are at least as protective as most textile riding suits, and often tested to a much higher standard. (You can check the level of protection on any gear these days by looking for an ‘A’, ‘AA’ or ‘AAA’ rating on the CE label – ‘AAA’ being the highest)
These types of jeans have been around for a while now, and technology seems to be improving all the time. What this means is that there are usually a lot of previous season models available at heavily discounted prices. These from Bull-it would have been market leaders a few years ago, and will offer a decent level of protection for the money.Just make sure they’re wide enough to go over your boots! don’t be the guy who wears his boots over his jeans.
Jacket – Oxford Delta 1.0 Textile Jacket – £99.99
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/464570
This straightforward jacket gives you a decent, smart looking motorcycle specific jacket, without going too heavy on the power ranger vibes. Oxford are a well established make of motorcycle gear. While at the budget end – all of the oxford gear I’ve had over the years has been pretty solid. This jacket has basic waterproofing, and will keep a shower off you. I’d expect if you’re in the rain for a longer period of time, the water will eventually make it’s way through, and you’d want some rain gear to wear over the top.
Boots – RST Tractech Evo 3 CE Waterproof boots – £119.99
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/366582
You’ll see these boots in all categories. Boots are probably the most important part of your gear after your helmet. The majority of motorcycle injuries occur in the bottom half of your body. There are cheaper boots available, but honestly, they’re all ugly and the protection is mediocre. These are a solid boot with enough protection that they’d let you use them on a track day without batting an eylid. They’re properly water proof, and have plenty of feel allowing you the fine control a new rider needs of the rear brake and gear shifter. I honestly believe if you buy a cheaper boot, you’ll buy another set within 12 months. I’ve had a set of the previous version of these boots for about 4 years, and they are still going strong.
Gloves – Oxford Ontario Leather gloves – £37.49
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/464676
Gloves you can more or less make your own personal choice on. Hands are different shapes and sizes, so like helmets – fit is quite important. These are your main point of control for important things like brakes and indicators. So make sure they fit you properly, and you can use your digits.
For starting out, and normal day to day riding – I’ve suggested these Oxford Ontario Leather gloves. I’m a fan of leather for gloves. If you do have a spill – you’re going to stick your hands out, and they’ll likely be the first bit that touches the ground. You need your hands for lots of things, so if you do have to recover from an accident at least you’ll be able to doom scroll through your phone while you recover.
Back protector -Oxford Level 2 Back Protector – £21.88
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/394098
It’s boring, but my firm recommendation would be to purchase some kind of level 2 back protector. Most jackets at the cheaper end of the spectrum don’t come with them. There are better protectors with more coverage, but they are a lot more expensive, and this one will fit straight in your jacket and make life easy for you.
All weather rider – £646.84
If you are going to commute on your bike, or ride it all year round in the UK, maybe you are going to to some touring and need a flexible, all weather solution- this is my suggestion to you for staying dry, safe and comfortable all year round in the UK.
Jacket – Oxford Mondial Jacket £269.00
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/433492
For value and waterproofing, I honestly can’t find a better option on the market that the Oxford Mondial suit. It’s a laminated waterproof suit, which means the waterproof layer is bonded to the inside of the outer textile shell – making it completely waterproof. I’ve ridden in this suit in all weathers including torrential rain in Scotland and it has never let me down.
The other advantage of a laminated suite is that when you open the vents, the air goes direct to your body without being blocked by a waterproof membrane, as is the case with non-laminated suits.
Trousers – Matching oxford Mondial trousers £199.98
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/433609
Top tip: always buy the matching trousers to the jacket of a textile or leather suit. This is because you want the joining zips to match up. I made the mistake when I first started riding that thinking a matching suit was somehow dorky looking – it’s actually the opposite. Wearing trousers and Jackets that don’t match is really quite obvious. Having that connecting zip to make sure the gear doesn’t ride up if you go for a slide is really important, so stick with the same suit, and at the very least, the same brand.
Boots – RST Tractech Evo 3 CE Waterproof boots £119.99
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/366582
We’re going for the tractech evo’s here again for a full waterproof set. These are a decent boot that go beyond the entry level and will last a decent amount of time. I’ve toured these for 4 years or so and they have never let in water, and are super comfortable with great protection.
Gloves – RST Storm 2 CE Textile Gloves – £35.99
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/511731
As always, gloves are going to be personal to you – for this stream we’re going for the RST storm gloves. These should give could coverage for different seasons, while being waterproof for those inevitable showers. Gloves are one of those tricky things to find for multiple seasons. My ideal is a thin, waterproof glove paired with heated grips on your bike to cover all bases.
Back protector -Oxford Level 2 Back Protector – £21.88
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/394098
We’re throwing in the back protector again here – gotta have it!
The buy it once ‘money-no-object’ option – £2,796.35
I reckon if I added up all the gear I’d bought over the last 5 years – I could’ve have bough this next set up and had some change to spend on petrol and travel. If you are in a position to spend the money, and want a decent set of gear that you won’t need to change for a very long time – here’s what I’d go for
Jacket and Trousers – Klim Badlands Pro A3 Gore-Tex – Jacket £1,499.99 – Trousers £899.99
Jacket –
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/503077
Trousers –
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/503093
So this suit costs a few quid, but this is a buy it once option, it really is. The Klim badlands pro is fully Goretex lined giving a lifetime guarantee of being perfectly waterproof. It’s AAA rated for safety, the highest rating you can currently get for a riding suit. And you’ll look like a serious motorcyclist at the same time as well. Competing brands exist, such as Rukka, but the won’t give you the bad ass adventurer look that Klim gear gives you.
Gloves – Richa Atlantic Gortex £129.99
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/454075
My perfect glove for riding in the UK is a thin, comfortable protective but waterproof glove. Most waterproof gloves pitch themselves as winter gloves, meaning you can only really use them when it’s cold. The Atlantic from Richa on the other hand is goretex lined for guaranteed waterproofing, while still being thin enough that your hands don’t overheat when it get’s a little warmer. But what do you do when it’s cold? heated grips! This set up will give you options for all but the hottest or coldest of weather conditions. These gloves also have soft flexible d30 armour making them very comfortable to wear, and have a good leather construction, along with super fabric on the palm for a great protective package.
Boots – Sidi adventure 2 Goretex – £266.38
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/333269
These boots from Sidi are arguably some of the best all round boots you can buy. Fully waterproof, protective enough for off road riding, a decent sole for walking and comfortable enough to wear all day. These much coveted boots will last you many years and different styles of riding. They also have the plus point of not being too thick, meaning they won’t cook your feet quite as much as other similar boots in the category when the temperature rises. The only downside is that they are sized narrow – personally they don’t fit my feet, but many many other riders find them excellently comfortable. So if you’ve got the right feet and the right money, these boots would be my recommendation to you.
Optional extras for safety
Airbag jacket – Helite – Turtle 2 £499.69
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/447461
These days it’s becoming more and more common to see people riding in airbag jackets of various different types. Motorsport such as moto gp or Dakar rally’s now mandate them and they are quickly becoming recognised as a no-brainer for the ultimate in protection.
There are lots of different options available – but my choice is the Helite Turtle 2. (The non-electric version) the plus sides to this air vest are that you don’t have to remember to charge it, you can put it over any jacket and it offers the best volume of air protection (according to the manufacturers) of any air bag jacket. For me, that makes this the easiest to use, most reliable option. It does add an extra layer to put on, and can make your overall set up that bit warmer on those hot days. Once you’ve owned it for a while putting it on and clipping in becomes like putting a seat belt on in a car – just something that you do.
