Motorcycle Helmets, Jackets and Boots
ATGATT stands for “all the gear; all the time.” While no one is clear on exactly who coined the acronym, ATGATT is a golden piece of advice for all motorcycle and scooter riders. We’d love to help you get outfitted. For more information, visit us in Carson, CA, where we gladly serve Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Helmets
Motorcycle helmets come in a wide array of sizes and colors. However, from a safety perspective, there are really only three types of helmets:
Full helmets offer the most protection. They fully cover your head and face, and around to the base of your skull. There's a visor that protects your eyes but can also be rotated up and out of the way. The visors come tinted and untinted.
Three-quarter helmets are similar to a full-face helmet but they don’t offer the same degree of protection for your face. Three-quarter helmets breathe a lot better than full helmets since they allow air to travel. They are easier to wear for longer rides.
Half helmets fully protect on the top of your head, with limited coverage on the sides. Your face, however, will be completely exposed. You’ll want to wear sunglasses or safety goggles.
The protective linings inside helmets come in different shapes and sizes. Always choose the lining that fits your head snugly but comfortably.
Jackets
Jackets are a must when riding a motorcycle. For one thing, at highway speeds, it can get quite chilly when the air temperature drops even a few degrees below room temperature.
However, the jacket’s main purpose is to protect you from the road, in the event that you go sliding down the highway. Jackets should fit you snugly but not enough that they restrict your movements or aren’t comfortable.
Leather is always a popular choice, especially among the riders of cruisers and scooters. However, modern synthetics are also a great choice. They are lighter than leather, more breathable and, thanks to abrasion-resistant fabrics, almost as protective.
Boots
You need above-the-ankle footwear when you ride a motorcycle. One of the more common motorcycle accidents is getting your foot trapped under the bike if it falls over. Boots are stiff and help to protect your ankles from being broken.
Cycling boots are also slip and oil resistant, helping to keep feet on pegs and clutch. Proper cycling boots have their laces on the inside to prevent dangerous snags.
Never go for a ride unless you've got the gear to ride safely. Here at SoCal Honda Powersports, we can help get you outfitted with the proper protective equipment. We have a huge selection of motorcycle gear. Contact us or come check us out today in Carson.