Ladies, do you ever feel like motorcycle content is explicitly geared toward guys? It’s not your imagination.
Because the majority of motorcycle riders are of the male persuasion, the needs of women aren’t always adequately represented. But our female numbers are on the rise. In 2003, women made up just 9.6% of bikers. Fast forward to today, and we’re now 20% of the rider population.
Now that it’s a new year, it’s time to take a close look at our gear and see if it’s time for an upgrade. And, if you’re new to the scene, you might be buying gear for the first time, which can be both exciting and overwhelming. To help you find equipment that’ll keep you safe (and comfortable), we’ve put together our top choices for motorcycle gear for women riders this year.
Best Women’s Helmet
Generally speaking, there’s nothing that distinguishes motorcycle helmets for males and females. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. Some manufacturers design female helmets to be lighter, and they may also come in additional colors. However, if there’s a man in your life who has an extra helmet, you can get by with wearing his. Conversely, a guy can wear your helmet too, even if you bought a “female” helmet. The most important thing is the fit.
Gender differences aside, our top pick for a female helmet is the Shoei RF-1400 Helmet. It combines a lightweight, sleek design that keeps road noise to a minimum. And, spoiler alert: the helmet is unisex, so anyone can wear it. It comes in six sizes, so women concerned about fit can choose a smaller size. And with six colors available, everyone’s preferences are covered.
Best Women’s Jacket
Women’s motorcycle jackets give you a chance to add some style to your gear ensemble while keeping you as safe as possible.
There are so many choices in this area, but our top pick is the Street & Steel Athena jacket. It has an ultra-feminine silhouette and with the adjustable waist buckles, you can achieve the perfect fit.
Plus, it has a removable lining, giving you the option to rock this beauty year-round.
Best Women’s Pants
There are different pants for different purposes. For example, if you’ve got a touring motorcycle, you’ll probably opt for different pants than a racing bike.
For the purposes of our list of top picks, we picked our favorite pants for street bikes and everyday riding. In this case, the clear-cut winner was Pando Moto’s Slim Kissaki jeans. While we don’t recommend everyday jeans for riding, these were made with motorcycles in mind. The denim has plenty of stretch, and there is reinforced armor at the hip and knee to protect your skin from abrasions. There’s also a reflective cuff that can be rolled up to increase visibility.
What we love about these jeans, besides the protection, is that the sleek style can take you anywhere. These classic black jeans feature a slim cut and are available in ten sizes to accommodate all body types. The only constant is the 32” inseam, but your boots will hide the hem if that ends up being too long or short for your legs.
Best Women’s Gloves
Though all motorcycle gloves have a similar look, women’s motorcycle gloves have the distinction of being made to better fit the hand of a female rider. The most important thing to remember with gloves is that you want ample protection without losing your ability to grip and handle controls.
You also want to ensure that you retain tactile feedback, which can be compromised if the gloves are too thick. Our top choice in this area is the REV’IT! Xena 3 Women’s Gloves. Available in four sizes and two different colors, you can get the perfect fit that also matches your style.
These gloves are also adjustable to allow you to achieve the perfect fit while also accommodating hand swelling at different times of your cycle.
New Year, New Gear
Though shopping for gear isn’t as fun as being on the open road, it can feel great to get new stuff that will keep you safe and protected! If you have any questions about the gear we use and recommend at Law Tigers, please feel free to contact us at 1-888-863-7213 or visit our website.
