A Beginner's Guide to Motorcycle Gear

Riding down the open road, wind in your hair, chasing the sun. There's simply no better feeling. Well, maybe there's one—knowing you're fully safe and protected on your motorcycle.

From your head to your shoulders and knees to your toes, here's a checklist of all the essential motorcycle gear you need. Let's jump in!

Grab the Essential Motorcycle Gear

From the open road to the grand prix, there are a few basic things every motorcyclist needs! Check out what motorcycle gear you need to keep you safe and sound.

Motorcycle Helmets

You're gonna need more than a regular cycling helmet to keep your head safe. Motorcyclists are more exposed to neck injuries, and motorcycling is 34x more dangerous and risky than driving a car. Invest in a good-quality helmet; it will be worth it! How do you know if your helmet is good quality or not? A good helmet is neither too loose nor tight, so make sure it's not moving too far up and down but isn't squeezing your head too tightly.

Motorcycle Boots

Sneakers just aren't gonna cut it! Motorcycle boots are an essential piece of gear. Invest in some solid boots that give you enough support and are comfortable enough to move around, and make sure they're not too tight.

Motorcycle Gloves

It's not just the cold wind; motorcycle gloves help cover your skin in case of sudden falls or unpredicted incidents. Your gloves should be well-stitched and, depending on the weather, thick enough to stop you from getting too cold. They should also have a good grip so your hands don't slip off the handlebars and allow enough movement.

If you're looking to record videos while riding, look for gloves that are compatible with a touchscreen. Even if you're not a motovlogger, you might need to answer an emergency call, so it's something to think about!

Motorcycle Jackets

Motorcycle jackets are a key piece of motorcycle gear. They can protect a large portion of your body from accidents and wind.

Leather and denim are the classic materials— they're flexible enough to allow you to move properly while riding. If you don't like wearing leather or denim, or the weather doesn't allow you, try a vest instead.

Motorcycle Pants

Never mind your everyday jeans; you need a solid pair of pants to provide resistance to road friction and avoid ripping after a fall.

Knees and hips are considered pain points of every motorcyclist, so motorcycle pants often have armor pockets that protect them from serious injuries. As for the fabric, look for motorcycle denim, leather, or ballistic nylon. They provide better resistance and flexibility and are thicker and stronger than regular jeans.

Motorcycle Camera

When you're living life on two wheels, capturing the ride is an essential part of the journey. If you want to record your journeys, make sure your camera is rugged, has easy mountability, long battery life, and good stabilization to cancel out bumps in the road. Depending on when you're going to use it, you might need to look for good low-light image quality and good audio if you're vlogging. Some camera, like Insta360 X4, have nifty features specifically for motorcyclists, too! Check out Plate Blur for complete privacy when you’re filming your rides. It automatically detects and blurs license plates in your footage, ensuring your info isn’t visible. Head to Pro Edit in the Insta360 app to try it out.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Insta360 (@insta360)

Try motorcycle gear shops to buy all your gear. In-person stores are a good way to make sure your gear is fitted correctly, especially if you're a first-time buyer. Online is quicker if you already know what you want. If you're looking for a good motorcycle camera, Insta360 has partnered with Revzilla to sell the Insta360 X3 Motorcycle Kit online and in-store, a top choice for riders around the world.

Capture Unforgettable Moments with Insta360 X3

There's a reason Insta360 X3 is an essential piece of motorcycle gear. This powerful 360º action camera allows motorcyclists to set it up almost anywhere on their bike or body for endless angles of every twist and turn. Even with gloves on, the touchscreen is easy to use, so you've got easy operation as you ride. Or, give a comman with Voice Control to avoid pulling over!

With 5.7K 360º videos, you'll never have to miss a moment again. You can easily reframe your footage after filming—swipe around the image in the Insta360 app or Studio to see what you missed! X3 is the perfect blend of quality and ruggedness. It's waterproof and ready for any track or road, plus leading FlowState Stabilization keeps every bump in the road smooth. It's also super lightweight for easy mounting for dynamic shots—helmet, chest, handlebars, you name it.

When it's time to edit, all your Insta360 X3 motorcycle videos and photos can be edited on the go with the Insta360 app. It's packed with useful tools and AI templates that completely transform your footage.

Mount up, burn rubber.

X3 has tons of incredible accessories that let you mount your camera virtually anywhere you want. That means more time riding and less time setting up the perfect angle. Fit it to your helmet, wheel, fuel tank, or wherever you can think of.

Invisible Selfie Stick

This is a great accessory that lets you capture incredible third-person shots. Simply mount your camera onto the pole, and it's automatically removed from your 360º footage! It's basically an invisible cameraman! Mount it to the tail or handlebars.

Helmet Mount Bundle

Mount your Insta360 camera on the side, under the chin, or even on top of your helmet, allowing for unbeatable quality shots that show off the action like nothing else.

Chest Strap

Get immersive onboard POVs as you ride. The Chest Strap is adjustable and comfortable, and with a quick-rotatable mounting base, you can switch between vertical or horizontal filming. Get that perfect shot with this reliable strap.

Motorcycle Bundle

Hands down the best kit for motorcyclists. Avoid any shakes in your footage when you hit the road with the new and improved Heavy Duty Clamp Mount, plus two Flexible Adhesive Mounts for even more epic views.

You can also add the Sticky Lens Guards to protect from anything the road throws at you— dust, dirt, and more! Ride with confidence and protect your X3 while you're at it.

Looking for more ways to mount your camera? Check this out.

Insta360 X3 has a dedicated Motorcycle Kit with everything you need to capture impossible views of your rides. It includes the camera, the Action Invisible Selfie Stick, one Motorcycle Mount Bundle and a Lens Cap.