Many people mistakenly think that they can just pick up any safety gear and go ride on a motorcycle. However, the type of motorcycle that you are riding will greatly influence the kind of safety gear that you need. For example, people who ride on racing bikes will need to make sure that they wear full face helmets to help protect them from the fast winds. These helmets are usually aerodynamic and have a mouth shield to prevent bugs from getting in the riders? mouths. You can wear another type of helmet, of course, but it doesn't have the necessary components that you will need at faster speeds and may not protect you during a crash.
Also, many people who ride racing bikes have gear with safety pads built into the legs and arms. There are also heat shields that are built into the shins of some of the racing pants. This is designed to help prevent heat burn from the exhaust. When you ride a racing bike, you are curled up with your knees leaning down lower than usual, and if you get too close to the exhaust in inappropriate gear, you could easily get burned.
When you ride on a cruiser bike, you need a leather jacket and thickly padded riding pants. The reason for this is to prevent road rash if you should fall off the bike and skid on the pavement. You'll want something to protect your skin, and leather is generally considered best, although there are Kevlar substitutes. To prevent problems, make sure the safety gear you choose is intended for the kind of riding you do. If you need to spice up your plain gear, you can always add motorcycle patches and other decorations to it.
