Riding Gear Buying Guide: Jackets, Gloves and What Matters

Riding gear in India is a tricky purchase. You need protection for the highway, but you also ride in 40°C summer heat and monsoon rain. The good news: you don't need the most expensive gear — you need the right gear for how you actually ride. Here's what matters in jackets and gloves.

What protection actually does

Riding gear protects in two ways:

• Abrasion resistance — the outer fabric that stops your skin from shredding if you slide.
• Impact protection — armour (pads) that absorbs the energy of a blow to elbows, shoulders, and knuckles.

CE armour: the thing to check

In India, look for CE-rated armour in elbows, shoulders, and (for jackets) the back. CE Level 1 is fine for most riding; Level 2 is stiffer and offers more impact absorption. A jacket with removable, adjustable armour is ideal — you can upgrade or reposition the pads for your body.

Riding jackets: textile vs leather

Textile jackets

• Best for: city commuting, touring, and Indian weather.
• Pros: breathable, lighter, usually waterproof (with a rain liner), cheaper.
• Cons: less abrasion resistance than good leather on a long slide.

Look for: mesh panels for airflow, a detachable thermal liner for winter, and a waterproof layer for the monsoon. Mesh-textile jackets are the sweet spot for Indian summers — they flow air at speed while still carrying armour.

Leather jackets

• Best for: track days, aggressive riding, classic style.
• Pros: the best abrasion protection; looks great with age.
• Cons: hot and heavy in Indian heat, expensive, needs care, no water protection.

If you mostly ride in city traffic, a textile mesh jacket will serve you better than leather. Save leather for the track.

Jacket fit

• Slightly snug when worn over a thin base layer — armour must stay in place, not slide around.
• Sleeves should reach your wrists when your arms are stretched forward in riding position.
• Shoulders shouldn't pull when you reach for the bars.
• Never buy too big "to layer up" — loose armour is ineffective armour.

Riding gloves: more than leather gloves

Proper riding gloves have knuckle armour, reinforced palms, and a padded cuff. Regular leather gloves have none of this — they'll shred on asphalt and your palms will pay for it.

Glove types

• Summer gloves — perforated leather or mesh; airflow for city riding. Best for most of India.
• All-season gloves — a balance of airflow and insulation; good for commuters.
• Winter gloves — insulated and windproof; for hill riding and winter nights.
• Gel-palm gloves — extra comfort for long touring days.

Glove fit

• Snug but not tight — no loose fabric at the fingertips.
• You should be able to operate indicators, horn, and brakes without straining.
• The cuff should sit over your jacket sleeve, not inside it.

Buying used gloves

Gloves are the hardest gear to buy used — they wear at the palms and knuckles and pick up sweat and odour. Buy used only if the palms are intact, the armour is present, and the leather isn't cracked. See the depreciation guide for what used gloves are worth — and price used pairs accordingly.

The monsoon factor

Indian rain makes gear decisions different:

• Waterproof is not breathable, breathable is not waterproof. Choose based on season.
• A jacket with a stowable rain liner handles both worlds.
• Gloves dry slowly — carry a spare pair on tour.
• Boots with a waterproof membrane are worth the extra cost. See our boots buying guide.

Budget guide (new gear, typical India pricing)

• Entry-level mesh jacket: ₹3,000–6,000
• Mid-range textile jacket with armour: ₹6,000–12,000
• Leather jacket: ₹12,000–40,000+
• Summer gloves: ₹1,000–3,000
• All-season gloves: ₹2,000–5,000

New or used?

Buy new: armour is cheap these days and new mesh jackets are affordable. If your budget is tight, a new entry-level jacket beats a worn premium one.

Buy used: good for premium jackets — a well-kept leather or textile jacket at 40–55% of retail is a genuine bargain, and jackets hold up far better than gloves.

What to avoid

• "Riding jackets" with no CE armour — these are fashion items.
• Gloves without knuckle protection, however cheap.
• Buying the wrong size to save money.
• Non-branded "leather" that's actually synthetic-coated fabric.

Your first kit, in order

1. Helmet (non-negotiable) — see our helmet buying guide.
2. Gloves — cheap and save your hands.
3. Jacket with CE armour — protects torso, shoulders, elbows.
4. Boots — for ankles and feet.
5. Pants/riding jeans — when the budget allows.

Browse used riding gear on Biker Bazaar to build a full kit for a fraction of new prices. Every piece of gear is a step closer to riding home safely every time.