Motorcycle gloves
Motorcycle gloves are a lot more than a fashion accessory, gloves can look good, that's for sure but motorcycle gloves are one of the most important accessories you can wear when you ride.
Motorcycle gloves have some very utilitarian functions, they keep your hands warm when it's cold and add to your grip all of the time. If that was all they did, you could skip these gloves and buy something cheap at any mall store, but gloves designed for motorcycle riders do something far more important and no thin leather glove will measure up.
We don't like to think about it but anyone can have an accident, sometimes you're riding hard and pushing your limits when you go a little too far or other times you're riding at a leisurely pace and some daydreaming driver turns in front of you. That's when a motorcycle glove, specifically designed and manufactured for you, the rider, comes into play.
Motorcycle Gloves Protect Your Hands
Think about going through life without the use of your hands, look at any anatomy book and count the number of nerves and blood vessels in the palms of your hands and then imagine your bare outstretched hands hitting the concrete and sliding at speed. Look at your knuckles and notice how little there is between your bones and the surface of your fingers. Think of those knuckles grinding away as you slide down the street. It's not a pleasant thought but gloves can take the hit instead of those precious hands of yours.
Even a rider that never pushes it needs a good glove and if you ride hard you need a lot more glove. Next time you're at the races, check out the gloves the racers wear, those are designed for heavy duty protection and look the part but a 70mph slide on the highway will do just as much damage as any crash in a road race so don't think you're somehow immune. Motorcycle gloves are your friend and sometimes they're the best friend you could ever have when no other will do.
What kind of motorcycle gloves do you need?
When shopping for gloves, think about the riding you do, are you a warm weather rider? Do you ride in the rain? Are you a cruiser guy or a sport bike corner carver? Do you get into the urban street scene and ride hard and possibly stunt? The more you demand of yourself, the more you need to demand of your gloves.
If you ride a lot in warm weather, look for a mesh or perforated leather glove. Ventilation will keep your hands cool and you won't be tempted to ride gloveless. Look for good knuckle protection in any glove you consider, you should have more than a piece of leather over the knuckle area, metal or plastic armor will add to the time before your knuckles meet the asphalt. A heavy duty palm with Kevlar, metal or thick leather reinforcing will allow your hand to slide, sacrificing itself and saving your skin.
If you find yourself riding a lot on the rain, you may want ot look at the more water resistant models. Some are waterproof, some are not. There are even waterproof rain gloves that cover your regular glove when those downpours hit. You decide what you need.
Think of a your gloves as a kind of motorcycle jacket for your hands. Everything you demand of your jacket you should demand of your gloves.
Motorcycle gloves - looks count, too!
Of course, let's not forget about looks. Gloves come in many styles, colors and materials, it's not all function, sometimes it's how they look that means a lot. If you're buying a new jacket, that's a great time to consider new gloves, too. You can get a pair to coordinate with the jacket and they won't look like an afterthought. Some gloves look really good, some you won't like at all, it's a matter of taste once you get past the basics of finding gloves that provide the protection you need.
No matter which glove you finally decide to purchase, make sure you decide to wear gloves all of the time. Remember, you're not always on your bike and someone else might want some gentle touching, make sure your hands are ready!