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 Motorcycle Suits

Article by Walt R. Eader

The most important protection when driving your motorcycle is your motorcycle suit, don't try to save money on that one.

Adventure and glory are two emotions closely associated with the motorcycle enthusiast. The feeling of the brisk, open air against your face as you speed effortlessly down the highway can be almost supernatural. You aren't enclosed by doors, or caged in by giant steel frames.

However, with the absence of these frames and doors comes the possibility of danger. Many great riders have met their end on a cross country road trip when they spilled off their motorcycles. Leather jackets look magnificent, but aren't quite as tough and rugged as they look.

At best, they can protect from abrasions and bugs. Know that simple leather won't help protect you in a motorcycle collision. The solution for safety may be found in motorcycle suits. Motorcycle suits are made of an armored material specially designed to protect against broken bones or severed spines.

Some people wear them only during professional competitions, while others wear them every time they get on the highway. Motorcycle suits are like body armor modern day Lancelot costumes. First, a stiff shell is created using extremely thick cow hide.

This hide has undergone many processes to make it hard and resilient. Designing a suit in this way lowers the chances of hard, sharp materials penetrating to the skin level. Next comes the armor itself. Hard plastic or metal plates are installed in various parts of the suit to protect the wearer.

Most notable are the shoulder pads. These are anywhere from inch to 3 inches thick. These have also been known to be impressive to the ladies, because they create an attractive profile that Lancelot element. The chest protector is the most important of all features in motorcycle suits.

This is just like a gladiator' s breastplate. So strong are the chest pads that a wearer could conceivably survive being thrown a few hundred feet from his bike. Ribcage protection is always a must. In motorcycle accidents, rib cage injuries and complications are the usual the cause of fatalities.

Plastic or metal plates are strategically placed beneath the armpits, extending to the bottom of the ribcage. While ribcage plates are available, they are not used as much as they should be. The spine is the most vulnerable part of the body in any motorcycle accident.

Because of this, a motorcycle suit has thick, dense padding all the way down the spine. Arm, leg, and shin armor are always included with basic motorcycle suits. Motorcycle suits with plastic armor can be as resilient as metal plated suits.

Compared to metal, plastic plated suits are not as heavy, and don't collect as much heat. Never wear motorcycle suits for a prolonged time in hot weather, as you can pass out unexpectedly. To prevent chafing, every suit should be worn with a liner.

Motorcycle suits resources:

Aerostich motorcycle jackets, rider gear and riding clothing catalog.

Motorcycle Superstore carries a complete selection of Street Bike Motorcycle Riding Suits - Men.