Getting the rest of the safety gear

One cannot over emphasize the need to be safe. Thus more and more safety gears are being introduced (airbag jacket, helmet with rear view cam, etc). Its funny though that some riders still don’t wear the correct protective gear (for one reason or another). Some would even splurge on blings and upgrades and de-prioritize safety gear. Basic is your helmet but it should NOT stop there. Gloves, knee and elbow pads are also a must. A good padded jacket will be a good investment as well. As these would obviously run up your credit card bills, can slowly build up your gear starting from your helmet.

It's best to get good gloves, they offer protection in case you suddenly need to break a fall or skid. Try getting padded gloves on the palm area as it will help absorb the shocks from the handle bars. Your gloves will also help prevent your sweaty hands from slipping off the handlebars and levers or keep them warm and dry depending on the weather. As these wear over time, a sturdy pair made of leather will last you longer. I recommend though that you wash them well prior to use to rid of excess dye as my hands turned black after a very wet ride that left my gloves soaking wet. (and the dye stained my jacket too) Lastly, my gloves are also labelled "smart tip" which makes my fingers responsive to touch screen gadgets. Now that's a big help when taking on calls from your mobile. Texting may not be that easy though.

A riding jacket was next on my list. I was fortunate to be able to catch one on sale, so even if I was not exactly looking for one that day, I jumped on the opportunity. Mine is a meshed version to keep me somewhat cool on rides (when I'm moving that is). It had integrated pads on the back, shoulders and elbows that are neatly tucked in the lining via pockets which can easily be taken out prior to washing. It helps if your jacket has reflective strips on it to make you more visible at night, if not - a reflective vest will do the job.

For knee pads, I suggest you get the ones that flex with your knees so your movement is not restricted. I got a pair of Scoyco knee pads that flex very well on the knee area. Some even have sliders on them that are attached via velcro so they can be easily taken out when not intended to be used. Sliders come in handy when ""leaning in" turns. You can also get riding pants that have pads embedded on them already. They come in different materials but if you wanna keep a casual low key look, there are some made of jeans. I saw some imported ones but are quite pricey but I heard some enterprising riders are able to make them locally at a fraction of the cost of the imported ones.

Get the correct footwear. Closed toe shoes are a must. it is also recommended to use shoes that extend to above the ankles (boots) to minimize foot and ankle injuries. Some shoes have reinforced uppers to withstand stress from the shifting levers. There are also casual looking boots that don't make you look like you just came from track day and straight to the mall. And you may want to consider getting waterproof shoes, whilst this means no air goes into your feet, the shoes will keep your feet dry in the rain.