The right clothing for your CBT
Well it’s certainly not high heels and a fancy dress, that’s for sure! But joking aside, if you turn up for a motorcycle CBT wearing the wrong clothes you will not be able to take your CBT, meaning that you will lose all that money you spent booking it! CBT courses are regulated by the DVSA and have to start on time. So even if you rush off to get the correct gear you will not be able to take the CBT you booked and paid for. Don’t be one of those! Get your gear sorted in advance so you can turn up on time properly equipped. Here’s our checklist of items:
The specific items of clothing for motorcycling
- Safety helmet. A good quality helmet that fits well and carries an ECE rating (see below)
- Footwear. You must wear boots that cover your ankles. The reason is that if you are involved in an accident ankles often get trapped between the bike and the road. You may not be pleased about the accident but you will be pleased that you protected your ankles. This is why trainers are not suitable, they do not cover your ankles.
- Trousers. They must be strong and cover your legs completely, no tears or gaps. Thick denim or leather motorcycle trousers are fine, leggins or jogging bottoms are not as they will tear easily in the event of an accident.
- Jacket. A strong motorcycle specific jacket that covers your arms (and body!) completely is essential. Leather and Gore-Tex are the most popular materials as they are strong, with Gore-Tex having the added advantage of being waterproof and breathable too.
- Gloves. Full fingered gloves that cover your wrists, there should be no gap between your glove and your jacket. Some have knuckle protection built in too, this makes the gloves a bit stiffer but they will protect your hands better.
Check the protection rating
All motorcycle clothing is considered to be personal protective equipment (PPE), and so carries a CE rating. Make sure the clothing you buy has the ‘CE’ mark and rating (ECE rating for helmets). For an indepth description of CE and ECE ratings please take a look at this really good article on MCN. CE and ECE ratings explained
Dress for the weather
If you are uncomfortable in your clothing you will not be able to ride safely. Here in the UK the weather varies considerably, so make sure you dress appropriately. In cold weather add plenty of layers under your motorcycle clothing to keep you warm. You can get thermal undergarments too that will help keep the warmth in.
Being too hot can be equally uncomfortable. Once you are moving on the bike the breeze will help cool you down, but sitting at the traffic lights you’re still likely to overheat on a hot day. Wear minimal layers of clothing and even better get summer specific jackets and gloves that allow you to lose heat quickly.
Rain can be a problem, not only does it reduce visibility but being wet on a bike can make you very cold. You can either buy waterproof over garments to put on over your existing motorcycle gear or buy gear that is already waterproof. Staying dry will help keep you warm.
Where to get the right gear.
The easiest way to get all the right gear is to go to a shop that has motorcycle specific clothing in stock. There are some very good shops that sell just motorcycle clothing, so it’s worth checking in your local area to see if there is one. Motorcycle dealerships sell clothing too, along with some motorcycle training schools. They will all be selling gear with the correct CE and ECE ratings, so you can be sure you will be properly protected.
Although buying online is easy, if you are new to motorcycling then it’s worth visiting a place where you can try on clothing. Comfort is essential to rider safety, if you’re distracted by a poorly fitting helmet or uncomfortable boots you will not be able to ride properly. Not only can you try on clothing for fit and comfort, you should be able to get some good advice if you tell the staff how you intend to ride.