Motorcycle riding is an exciting hobby and means of transportation for many who cherish the freedom and thrill when riding a bike. Wearing the right protective gear is an important part of responsible motorbiking. For many that include motorcycle clothing, boots, and a helmet. The value of a good pair of motorcycle gloves gets overlooked frequently, especially during short-distance urban trips. Here is why you should never ride your motorcycle without protective gloves and how to find the right pair.
Why do you Need Motorcycle Gloves?
There are three good reasons for wearing motorcycle gloves:
- your hands are fragile
- your hands get impacted first
- your hands control the bike
When you are riding your motorcycle, your hands are at the front at all times, which puts them in a vulnerable position. If we get caught in an impact, our instincts tell us to catch our fall or shield critical body parts with our hands. Hitting any object or the pavement with a certain velocity causes road rash, open wounds, or broken bones.
With our hands out of order, our daily life is heavily impaired. Recovery and physical therapy to regain full control can be long and painful.
Additionally, our hands rest on the throttle and control the bike. The glove gives us additional grip. They also cushion our hands and lessen the numbing sensation caused by the bike’s vibrations. This way we regain tighter control and flexibility.
The listing of gloves by ChromeBurner shows us the many different motorcycle gloves with differing lengths, textiles, and amounts of armor.
Types of Motorcycle Gloves
While you should never forgo wearing your motorcycle gloves, there are several types of gloves that are suited for different circumstances. All of the gloves are made from robust and often abrasion-resistant textiles. Most of them add armor around vulnerable parts like the knuckles, fingers, and wrists.
Gauntlets
Motorcycle gauntlets offer strong all-around protection. The fingers and knuckles are protected with multiple reinforcements. Extra leather and padding shield the palm and wrist. The most recognizable part of a gauntlet is its length. It reaches halfway up your forearm and stabilizes your wrist to keep it from twisting or your hands from getting torn off.
Short/Summer Gloves
In the summer heat, you won’t be looking forward to wearing massive gloves. Summer gloves are shorter and focus more on ventilation. They are made from lighter but robust textiles like Kevlar, carbon, and plastic and include vents and other ventilation methods like perforation. A good summer glove that still offers protection should have protective plating and padding over knuckles, fingers, and palms.
- Do not pick fingerless gloves, as they provide no protection to the most fragile part, your fingers.
Waterproof Gloves
Most motorcycle gloves are water-resistant since they are made from leather and other tough materials. Some are additionally coated in proofing. When they come into contact with heavy rain, they can still get soaked. Waterproof gloves are made from waterproof membranes to guarantee dry hands.
Heated Gloves
Winter gloves and heated gloves are very thick to provide additional warmth to your fingers during the cold months. While regular winter gloves are made from thicker materials and better insulation, heated gloves include a battery-powered heating system. Since they lessen your dexterity, you should only use them if the weather makes it absolutely necessary.
Racing Gloves
High speed races cause crashes with a high velocity. You hit the road and other objects harder and need the most advanced protection to lessen impacts and injuries. Racing gloves are gauntlets with additional armoring made of Kevlar or carbon fiber. They also allow a good control over your bike and have venting to keep your hands cool and dry.
Touring Gloves
Touring gloves focus on protection against a high-velocity fall on hard pavements. They are made from abrasion-resistant materials like leather and add extra protection around the knuckles, fingers, and palm. Since they were created for long-distance rides, they have good protection against weather influences.
Off-Road Gloves
Off-road gloves are made for rides through terrain made of dirt and mud. Since there is little concrete, the gloves concentrate more on tight control and less on abrasion-resistant materials. They are light, vented, and breathable and offer a good grip on the handles during jumps and bumpy rides. They still protect your fingers but would not do well in protecting your skin from road-rash.
The Right Pair of Gloves
To find your pair of motorcycle gloves, you need to determine:
- your riding habits – Do you use your bike in the city or on long-distance tours? Do you race or ride off-road? Whatever you use your bike for, there is a pair of gloves best suited for that purpose.
- your surroundings – Where do you live? Is the area warm, cold or rainy? The gloves should be able to handle the weather and climate in your area.
- your budget – There are good solutions for many price ranges, but the best protection does not come cheap, nor should you be stingy when it comes to your safety and health.
The Importance of the Correct Fit
A loose glove can get ripped off in an accident, get caught on objects or impede your movement. When the armor plating does not reliably cover the areas it is meant to protect, because the glove is too big or small, the glove looses most of its effectiveness. When the glove is too small, it restrains your movement and puts unnecessary strain on the stitching and your hands.
A good clove should fit snug but comfortable enough to ensure free movement and give good feedback from the handlebar.
Conclusion
The many different types of motorcycle gloves can give you the most appropriate and comfortable protection for your hands according to your specific needs. Since they are important instruments in our lives, you should never forgo protecting them. Good, well-fitted gloves protect them from impacts, cuts, and other injuries.