When you are riding a motorcycle, there is no motor carriage protecting you from the pavement and other objects in an accident. That is why responsible motorbike riders know the importance of protective gear like motorcycle clothing and helmets. While focusing on protecting vital body parts with these, one piece of equipment gets overlooked by many: motorcycle gloves. Here is why you should never leave them at home, even during brief rides.
What Are Motorcycle Gloves?
A good pair of motorcycle gloves is built like a small tank to protect some of the most fragile parts of your body. While there are many types of gloves that are more flexible, armored motorcycle gloves offer the best protection. They can be made from many different materials. A good leather glove protects you from superficial injuries, but they won’t keep your fingers from breaking on impact.
Typically, they have a breathable inner lining and a robust outer fabric that protects from abrasions and cuts. At the base of the palm is a padding, made from EVA foam or similar materials, that will lessen the impact if you try to catch yourself when falling.
The upper side of the glove is covered with protective plating made from plastic, carbon fiber, steel, or titanium. It protects your knuckles and fingers from impacts and scraping. Many gloves have armor protecting your wrists as well. They are susceptible to twisting and breaking and are better off stabilized, even if you trade off some of your flexibility.
Why Do You Need Motorcycle Gloves?
There are three good reasons for wearing motorcycle gloves:
- They protect you from injuries.
- They shield you from weather influences.
- They help you control the bike.
Injury Protection
When you are riding a motorcycle, your hands are always at the front. When you fall or are in an accident, in most cases, the first thing that has contact with the pavement is your hands. You use them to catch your fall or shield vital body parts from impacts.
It isn’t hard to break the bones in your hands, especially your fingers. And yet they play a huge part in our day to day live. Injuries like shattered hand bones and knuckles can have a long-lasting impact on the control and flexibility of your hands and often need months of physical therapy.
Weather Protection
Leaving your hands uncovered makes them come into direct contact with the sun, cold, rain and air flow. You need to keep your hands on the handles at all times, which leaves them exposed to these influences. In the winter, the gloves keep your hands warm. Even before glove season, they cover your hands and protect them from cooling down too much because of the air flow created by your acceleration.
They are just as helpful on sunny days. Especially during long rides, your hands are continuously exposed to the sun and can easily get sunburned without proper protection. Good gloves are waterproof and keep your hands dry. Wet hands are uncomfortable and even more susceptible to the cold air flow.
Cushioning & Control
Newcomers to motorbiking tend to underestimate the effect the vibration has on your hands, especially during long rides. A tight grip and the movement being transferred to your hands will leave them numb after a little while. And numb hands are not very effective at operating a motorcycle.
Additionally, the rubbery gloves add grip and keep your hands from slipping off the handles. When you are looking for motorcycle gloves, try to find a good compromise between a good padding that still gives you a good feel for the throttle.
Conclusion
There is no way to predict when an accident will happen. Other vehicles aren’t the only danger when it comes to potential accidents. Bad road conditions can be equally hazardous. It might be on a long ride across the country or when you’re just running a quick errand.
Even if you feel like your hands won’t need the insulation to protect you from the weather influences, you are leaving yourself open to injuries if you skip out on wearing motorcycle gloves. Make sure you find a pair that fits and offers good protection, while also allowing you good movement and control over the bike.
