If that sounds like the sort of thing you’d like to have strapped over your squishy bits before you ride, then I have good news for you—there are now dozens of companies building and selling motorcycle armor. It’s the sort of gear that significantly improves your chances of ending up in the pub after a motorcycle accident, rather than in the hospital.

Spidi Defender Back&Chest Evo This Italian company has its own in-house Safety Lab and a strong pedigree in motorsport. The $220 Evo offers protection for touring and everyday commuting, and weighs a smidge over 700g (1.5 lb). It’s fitted with a CE Level 2 back protector and a CE Level 1 chest plate, and is designed to be as open and airy as possible. [Buy]

Icon Stryker This is the vest I picked up for myself last year: It’s an excellent option for anyone living in a warmer climate. With an airmesh chassis and a HydraDry™ moisture wicking liner, breathability is excellent. It also has CE-approved D30™ intelligent foam to protect your back, adjustable shoulder and waist straps, and a chest plate. And the low-profile design means it fits easily under most jackets. Choose from black, black/red and black/green colorways, from $130. There’s also a $250 long-sleeved Stryker Rig that includes elbow armor for complete upper-body protection. [Buy]

Leatt Body Vest 3DF Leatt is best known for its high-tech neck braces, but also produces motorcycle armor for the body. The $150 3DF is designed to be worn next to the skin for maximum moisture-wicking effect, and is distinctly form fitted. The back protector and chest-plate are both certified to CE Level 2, and the armour is removable—which means you can toss the 3DF in the wash with the rest of your clothes after a long ride. Needless to say, it’s also compatible with Leatt’s renowned neck braces. [Buy]

Dainese Hybrid Impact Guard This is a classic example of an off-road oriented vest. The chest protection is designed to deflect stones and impacts with hard objects, and the back protection is very substantial indeed—featuring an inner core made from an aluminum and honeycomb structure, and articulated outer plates. The Hybrid Impact Guard is a good choice if you venture offroad and costs €150. It comes in any colour you like, as long as it’s nero. [Buy]

Forcefield Pro SL1 Combo Since 2003, this English company has been making a name for itself with high-end armor for motorcycling, snow sports and mountain biking. The SL1 Combo is one of the safest armor systems you can buy, and combines Forcefield’s Pro Shirt with the Sport Lite back protector. It’s constructed from machine-washable BeCool™ fabric—complete with “Humidity Discharge Function”—and the armor panels are low-profile CE-approved Nitrex Evo. Not cheap at £200, but good insurance. [Buy]

The sheer volume of motorcycle armor currently on the market is both overwhelming and reassuring. If you rate a vest that you don’t see here, let us know what about it in the comments below. Chris and I are interested to see what you’re all wearing.—James.

© Bike EXIF 2013. The world authority on custom motorcycles, brought to you by Icon 1000.

1 Get panniers.
2 Get a sidecar.
3 Hold stuff in your hands. (Note from the legal department: not condoned.)
4 Get a motorcycle backpack.

Some bikes can’t be fitted with panniers, most bikes can’t take sidecars easily, and option 3 is likely to send you straight to your local emergency healthcare facility.

Unless you ride a Ural, this leaves option 4 as the best for most riders, myself included. So with this in mind, Chris and I put together a list of our current favorite motorcycle backpacks.

Kriega R20 A staggeringly versatile piece of kit, the 20-liter R20 includes space for a hydration reservoir and a pocket for an optional CE-approved back protector. Constructed from tough 420 D nylon RipStop, it’s fitted with 3M reflective areas on the front and back. A ‘QUADLOC-lite’ harness keeps the straps away from your underarms for a more relaxed fit. Costing $130, the R20 is guaranteed for ten years. [Buy]

Icon Squad 3 Compact and sharply-styled, this $100 backpack is offered in three colors: black, hi-viz orange and hi-viz yellow. Like the Kriega, it’s made from nylon RipStop. You also get mesh panelling to increase airflow next to your back, and a compartment designed to hold a laptop of up to 17 inches. The Squad 3 is fitted with 360-degree reflective materials and uses the rugged Icon Tri-Fit Closure System, making it a great choice as a daily rider bag. [Buy]

Dainese Backpack-R An exceptionally clean, minimalist motorcycle bag. It’s designed to be a low-profile, aerodynamic choice for sport bike riders but wouldn’t look at all out of place on an enduro, cruiser or supermoto rider. The $100 bag has an internal waterproof polyurethane coating, reflective inserts, and a padded laptop pocket. It’s also an expandable design, allowing it to hold a full-face helmet. [Buy]

Alpinestars Slipstream The most weatherproof of the backpacks listed here, so if you live in London, Seattle or Mordor, you might want to take a closer look at it. The $160 Slipstream Backpack is made from 840D polyester with a weatherproof coating. It has sonic-welded seams, water-resistent zippers with rubber pulls, and a simple, streamlined design. If the hi-viz yellow is too bright for you, choose black or a subdued gray. [Buy]

OGIO No Drag Mach 5 A $170 bag that wouldn’t look out of place on the back of a Stormtrooper piloting an Imperial Speeder Bike through the forests of Endor. The streamlined ‘single shot molded’ exterior is nearly waterproof and resists wind shear. Inside, you’ll find an adjustable load divider and multiple interior storage compartments, a padded sleeve for laptops up to 15″ and an iPad/tablet sleeve. There’s even a fleece-lined pocket for your smartphone and personal electronics. [Buy]

Hammarhead Industries Day Pack The most classic of all the bags listed here, it’s made from waxed cotton and leather, and uses parachute hardware for the hard fittings. With a roll-top closure it’s designed to be water-resistant and can hold a 15 inch laptop and an iPad or Kindle, as well as your other day-to-day supplies. The $290 HHI Day Pack is made by hand (and to order) by d’Emploi in Brooklyn, and has a 22-liter capacity. [Buy]

As always, space limits the number of items we can feature in one post. If you own a motorcycle backpack that you love and think should be listed here, jump into the comments and tell us about it.—James.

© Bike EXIF 2013. The world authority on custom motorcycles, brought to you by Icon 1000.

I’ve seen a staggering number of riders decked out in a full-face helmet, an armored jacket, armored pants and armored boots—and then no gloves at all. Or a pair of thin gloves designed for nothing more strenuous than light gardening on a Sunday afternoon.

But I’ve become quite attached to my fingers and thumbs, and you probably like yours too. So this week’s selection is focused on leather motorcycle gloves: the type that’ll keep your digits attached to your palms, while looking good at the same time.

Spidi Summer Leather gloves This Italian company has been in business for over 30 years: They were supplying gloves to Kenny Roberts back in 1977, their first year of production. The $65 Summer Leather gloves are made from a combination of goat leather and ‘Clarino,’ a fabric consisting of ultra-fine fibers impregnated with polyurethane. There’s extra padding on the palm, and thermoformed polyurethane knuckle protection. Choose from the tan color shown here, or Black or White. [Buy]

Icon 1000 Beltway gloves The bright red Beltway Glove by Icon 1000 is made from French cowhide and is fitted with state-of-the-art D3O® impact protectors across the knuckles. For $130 you get a beautifully styled, well-ventilated glove with a mid-length wrist and a strap to keep it bolted to your hands. The color might not be for everyone, but I like it. Anything that makes me more visible to half-asleep, texting drivers is a good thing. Also available in Black and Bone colors. [Buy]

River Road Taos gloves A throwback in design to the sort of gloves motorcyclists were wearing in the 70s. The $60 Taos gloves are 100% leather and have a ‘Hipora’ waterproof and windproof coating on the outside, and Thinsulate insulation on the inside. The wrist straps are solid and there’s a rubber ‘windshield wiper’ on the index finger of the left glove. Readers in the southern hemisphere who are now heading into winter might want to take a good look at these: the insulation should stop your hands from turning into frozen blocks of ham after a long ride. [Buy]

Tour Master Deerskin gloves These classic gloves by Tour Master are made from aniline deerskin leather, with a dye that penetrates the whole hide. Outseam stitching means fewer internal ridges and extra comfort, and the gloves are designed to mould to your hand’s shape over time. They also have perforated fingers, a velcro wrist strap and padded knuckles. These $75 gloves come in both black and tan, and are recommended for wear in warmer weather. [Buy]

Speed & Strength Strip Search gloves These gloves have a look that I think will come to define our current era: thermoplastic knuckle protectors, hook and loop wrist closures, and pre-curved fingers. The Strip Search also offers a reinforced palm, a leather covering on the knuckle protectors, and a clean design that’ll never go out of style. The gloves cost $70 and are widely available: Speed & Strength is actually owned by the giant US motorcycle parts distributor Tucker Rocky. [Buy]

Roland Sands Design Diesel gloves RSD’s reputation is building as a manufacturer of gear that’s both good looking and well-made. The $90 Diesel is one of three RSD glove designs, and sports an unusual styling motif: flexible ribbing that stretches right across the back of the hand. The Diesel also has padded fingers, a padded palm, and a wrist strap to keep it fastened when you need it most. Choose from either Black or Tobacco colors. [Buy]

The number of leather motorcycle gloves on the market at the moment is huge: any list is little more than an exercise in personal preference. If space wasn’t a factor, I could easily have included a dozen more gloves. So tell us in the comments which gloves you own now, or have worn in the past. What would you add to this list?—James.

© Bike EXIF 2013. The world authority on custom motorcycles, brought to you by Icon 1000.

I currently live in Hong Kong, a sub-tropical city on the western shores of the Pacific Ocean. Summer temperatures regularly surpass 104 °F (39 °C), with humidity hovering between 99% and 100% for months on end. It would be a feat of superhuman endurance to wear full protective leathers in temperatures like this, and there are plenty of stories of new motorcyclists getting carted off to hospital in the back of a taxi after passing out from heatstroke, simply because they spent an hour sweltering in stationary traffic.

But there’s good news for those of us who live in places with summers like the 9th circle of Hades: There are now some genuinely fantastic textile motorcycle jackets out there. Designed specifically for warmer weather, they’ll reduce the chances of you turning into a squidgy lump of sweat on two wheels.

REV’IT! Tornado This brand has been highly recommended to me by several people I trust, with this jacket in particular being singled out for commendation. The $330 Tornado is built from a mix of rib-weaved polyester, abrasion-proof Polyamide yarns, mesh and cowhide. It’s fitted with Knox Flexiform CE-approved protection at the shoulders and elbows and has a detachable, waterproof liner. The Tornado is available in either white or black, and comes in both ‘tour fit’ and ‘regular’ cuts. [Buy]

Icon Device Sleek and unfussy, the $190 Icon Device comes with a removable wind-resistant liner, so you can regulate the breeze according to the weather. The fit is distinctly sporting, with stretch panels for comfort. Safety gets a boost from CE-approved elbow and shoulder protectors, and there’s also a dual-density foam pad to watch your back. With eight sizes available from XS to 4XL, fitment is not going to be a problem. You also get five colors to choose from, including a stealthy black, but our favorite is the unusual Canteen Green shown here. [Buy]

Dainese G. Air-Frame The $270 Air-Frame sports a quick-dry fabric and shoulder, elbow and back armour, as well as a double layer of mesh front and back. It’s fitted with press studs above and below the elbow and at the wrist, allowing the wearer to tighten or loosen the fit. You also get subtle reflective panels on the sleeves and a removable ‘Sanitized’ liner. There’s even a zipper along the bottom that allows you to attach it to a matching pair of Dainese motorcycle trousers. [Buy]

Alpinestars Viper Air Alpinestars is trusted by some of the quickest MotoGP riders, so the quality of its gear is hugely respected. And the $200 Viper jacket is no exception. It’s made from 600-denier poly-fabric and has a double-mesh front and back. It also gives you built-in shoulder and elbow armor with pockets for additional armour in the chest and back (sold separately). There’s a removable windproof inner vest should you find yourself in a cold snap, Neoprene edging on the collar and cuffs, and an adjustable waist. Take your pick from nine sizes. [Buy]

Joe Rocket Reactor 3.0 Joe Rocket has a large fan base in the USA: It creates gear that bridges the divide between sportbike and cruiser genres. This $240 jacket is a hybrid of sorts; it’s made from a combination of 1.2mm leather, ‘FreeAir’ poly mesh and a ‘RockTex 660′ outer shell, giving it the benefit of leather with the breathability of a mesh front. It’s fitted with shoulder and elbow armor and has a back pocket for an optional spine protector. You also get a six-point custom adjustment system to ensure a close fit. [Buy]

Aether Apparel Canyon Aether has made a name for itself with high-end technical outdoor clothing, and this is the company’s first foray into motorcycle apparel. The $750 Canyon is classed as a ‘mild weather’ jacket; It’s made from seam-sealed Schoeller-Dynatec, an abrasion-resistant fabric designed for motorcycle use. The fabric is treated with Coldblack, a textile coating that reduces heat absorption. Multiple vents allow cool air to circulate around the mesh liner, and reflective JRC Reflex piping is stitched into the outer shell. It appears matte black in daylight, but reflects brightly when lit by headlights at night. D3O armor provides elbow, shoulder and back protection. [Buy]

If you live in a warmer part of the world, jump into the comments below and let me know what you’re wearing to stay safe without overheating. Feel free to link to the manufacturers’ websites so we can compare your recommendations to the six listed above.—James.

© Bike EXIF 2013. The world authority on custom motorcycles, brought to you by Icon 1000.

Ask anyone who’s ever tried this and they’ll tell you that it doesn’t tickle and it isn’t much fun.

The solution to this potentially skinless scenario is a pair of reinforced, armored motorcycle jeans. They are designed to handle the extreme wear and high temperatures you’ll encounter when sliding down the road in an inelegant fashion on your posterior. Some of these jeans have the added benefit of looking almost exactly like regular jeans. So you can wear them around on laundry day and no one will be any the wiser.

Dainese D1 Jeans Dainese are well-known for making serious moto gear, and their Kevlar jeans are no exception. A pair of D1s cost $250: For that, you get CE-certified soft-armour and an almost bullet-proof Kevlar lining. From a style perspective, they aren’t going to fool anyone by pretending to be “normal” jeans, but then again, you didn’t want to be normal anyway. [Buy]

Icon Hooligan Jeans Icon’s latest pants boast a heavy-duty denim chassis, reinforced Aramid knees, and Field Armor knee impact protectors. You get the choice of two colors, and a neat touch is the additional of external zippers—so you can take out the knee armor before you walk into the bar. The fit is relaxed, and so is the price: a suggested retail of $120.00. [Buy]

Resolute Cruiser Jeans Resolute is an Australian company that produces single-piece DuPont™ Kevlar® lined jeans with full European CE certification. The single piece of Kevlar covers the backside, hips and knees, and removable CE armour is fitted into knee pockets. I’ve spoken to a few guys who own and wear the $160 Cruiser jeans and I haven’t heard a bad word from any of them. One of the guys mentioned that he tried to get married in them but his fiancée wouldn’t let him … [Buy]

Kyrano C6 Jeans Despite the somewhat Asian-sounding name, Kyrano is a British company owned by Hood Jeans. They started Kyrano as a new label to sell a highly advanced line of ‘Para-Aramid’ reinforced motorcycle jeans fitted with flexible D3O™ armor in the hips and knees. I picked up a pair of these £140 C6 jeans last year before a motorcycle road trip to Vietnam, and I have to say, they’re exceedingly well built. The added security of having D3O™ armor in common impact areas is a huge plus—despite the armor they look like a regular pair of around-town jeans. [Buy]

Draggin Drayko Drift Jeans Draggin are widely regarded as one of the best motorcycle jeans manufacturers in the world. They submit all their products to strict European CE testing, and the company founder tests new models by being dragged on his ass behind a superbike. Additional knee armour is an option with the $230 Drayko Drift jeans and the boot cut fit is ideal for people with hefty protective footwear. [Buy]

Maple Jeans 1941 Maple has been stirring up a huge amount of interest in the US and European motorcycle communities. The company is relatively new on the scene, but has made a splash due to its focus on aesthetics. The £250 Maple 1941 jeans are fitted with DuPont™ Kevlar® over the knees, thighs and backside; there’s also the added benefit of Forcefield CE-approved knee and hip armour. They look exactly like the jeans all the cool kids are wearing, and are made from 13.5oz raw selvedge denim. [Buy]

Check out our other gear guides, covering classic motorcycle boots, the best motorcycle jackets and textile jackets for warm weather riding.

© Bike EXIF 2013. The world authority on custom motorcycles, brought to you by Icon 1000.

The open-facers fire back with gusto. Motorcycle riding is dangerous and, to a degree, that risk needs to be accepted by the rider. Who should be free to wear whatever gear he or she wants, as long as they understand the potential for injury.

I fall somewhere in the middle. I have both full-face helmets and 3/4 motorcycle helmets, and I’m tolerant of people’s safety choices. (Except for cowboys who wear bandanas whilst hammering down the highway at 80mph: Those people are halfwits.)

This selection of eight full-face motorcycle helmets represents the collection I’d like if I had the necessary space. Not to mention the ability to convince the Mrs that helmets make far better living room decorations than a three-years-old’s finger paintings. Or those crystal Swarovski animals with the creepy little eyeballs.

Tachibana GT-750 Grand Prix A design instantly reminiscent of the classic Bell Star II. For those who want a properly retro full-face helmet to match their bike, the Japanese Tachibana is probably the best choice. The only problem is the difficulty you might encounter when trying to buy one: There aren’t many international suppliers, so you may have to order directly from Japan. Which means it’s very important to get your sizing information correct. And in case you’re wondering if it’s a ‘novelty’ helmet, the ¥30,000 ($320) GT-750 has been certified with the Japanese SG safety rating, which is similar to both the ECE and the DOT ratings. [Buy]

Shoei Neotec Like Arai, Shoei owners are passionate advocates of the brand. The quality of Shoei’s helmets is widely respected, but it’s a surprisingly small company—with just over 500 employees. This is the $750 Neotec modular helmet, designed for long tours. It has ample venting, a built-in sunvisor and an impressive noise-reduction system. [Buy]

Icon 1000 Variant Battlescar The Variant series has become hugely popular since its release last year. The helmets are an interesting hybrid of motocross and street design, with a little Halo Master Chief influence thrown in for good measure. As with Icon’s other helmets, this one scores heavily on safety. It’s ECE, DOT, SG and SAI certified, making it a good choice for the safety-conscious. The $400 Variant also boasts a ‘Hydradry’ wicking liner and a very wide yet distortion-free shield, complete with an anti-fog coating. Making it perfect for heavy traffic, inclement weather, and off-road riding. [Buy]

Schuberth S2 This German company is best-known for making the helmets worn by F1 drivers Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. And Schuberth has worked closely with Schumacher to create helmets for his automotive and motorcycle racing activities. From a technological perspective Schuberth is ahead of the game: the $750 S2 was developed in a wind tunnel, and is fitted with two antennas and optional communications equipment. Handy if you need to make calls on the go. [Buy]

Roof RO21 Panther The French company produces slightly unusual-looking motorcycle helmets with a strong following in western Europe—although they’re not so well-known in the US. The curvaceous Roof Panther was designed with a ventilation-first approach, making it ideal for warmer climates. Costing £249, it’s available in seven sizes and four colors—with add-on visors available for customization. [Buy]

Bell Revolver Evo As far as DOT-certified modular helmets go, the $200 Revolver Evo by Bell is one of the best examples I’ve come across. You can ride with the front up or down, making it a convertible of sorts. And it comes with an internal flip-down sunvisor for those occasions when you ride over the brow of a hill and cop a face-full of direct sun. [Buy]

Arai Corsair-V Arai helmets seem to have an almost pathological following. They’re worn by MotoGP racers and Formula 1 drivers, and the company has come out on top in all thirteen J.D. Power motorcycle helmet ‘Satisfaction Studies.’ The Corsair-V (‘Mamola-3′ model shown above) is built to the Snell M2010 safety certification which, depending on who you talk to, is either far better or nowhere near as good as DOT/ECE. [Buy]

Les Ateliers Ruby Castel The €930 Castel is the French company’s first foray into the world of full-face protection. The design seems to split opinion, with a minority hating it and most people wanting to sell an organ to buy one. Each Castel has a carbon fibre shell, a Nappa lamb leather interior and front mounted vents—and can also be customized with a series of OEM visors. You can choose between yellow, black, grey and white—though there isn’t yet a fire-engine red option. Which I really think Ruby should add. [Buy]

Check out our other gear guides, covering classic motorcycle boots, the best motorcycle jackets and reinforced motorcycle jeans.

© Bike EXIF 2013. The world authority on custom motorcycles, brought to you by Icon 1000.

So here’s a list of motorcycle-specific footwear that will protect your toes from kerbs and your ankles from asphalt. You’ll also be able to wear them into the pub at the end of the day—without looking like you fell off the set of J.J. Abrahms’ latest cinematic effort.

Lewis Leathers Westway No.W10 Lewis Leathers is recognised as the oldest still-operating motorcycle gear manufacturer in the world. The company started out in 1892 and it’s still going strong today, 121 years later. We’ve chosen the £385 ($580) Westway boot, based on the Motorway boot but a little more suitable for wearing both on and off the bike. The vintage-styled Westway is constructed from premium heavy cowhide; it also has heel and ankle straps to ensure a good fit, and a replaceable Goodyear welt sole to ensure longevity. [Buy]

Dainese Cafe These boots from the Vicenza-based company, est. 1972, look like they just popped out of the 1960s. Costing €189 ($250), they have polyurethane armour inserts in the heel and toebox, nylon ankle guards and are made from thick cowhide leather with a rubber sole. From personal experience, Dainese gear tends to be bulletproof—so you can reasonably expect these boots to easily outlast the popularity of Justin Bieber. And if you don’t know who he is, I envy you. [Buy]

Icon 1000 Elsinore This is the most hardcore of the current Icon 1000 motorcycle boot line-up: Its inner zipper is inspired by paratrooper boots and the side is fastened with five alloy straps and buckles. The Elsinore has a steel shank in the Goodyear rubber sole, a stamped heel plate, a thick leather upper and a design that harks back to the classic motocross boots of yesteryear. Available in ‘Oiled Brown’ or ‘Johnny Black,’ a pair is yours for $230. [Buy]

Alpinestars Alpha Touring Alpinestars is renowned for making solid yet lightweight gear that’s prized by serious motorcycle racers, both on the tarmac and off. Most Alpinestars gear is a little heavy on the flashy graphics, but the Italian-based multinational also caters for those of us who wear slightly more understated gear—with products like this, the Alpha Touring Boot. For $170 you get an internally molded shin, toe and heel counters for impact resistance, and an accordion flex panel in front of the ankle. Plus a waterproof liner for those days when the weather refuses to play nice. [Buy]

Stylmartin Legend R Another Italian with classic good looks: Stylmartin is a moto-centric footwear manufacturer that’s seen a surge of popularity in recent years. The $275 Legend R boot comes in dark brown and has a thick leather upper with two straps, a zipper, an anti-slip oilproof sole, and internal protection on both sides of the ankle. And this is another motorcycle boot with a waterproof internal lining, making it extra-practical as well as stylish. [Buy]

Check out our other gear guides, covering full face motorcycle helmets and the best motorcycle jackets.

© Bike EXIF 2013. The world authority on custom motorcycles, brought to you by Icon 1000.