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2 July 2024·, ,

Is motorcycle clothing mandatory in Belgium?

What clothing should you wear to comply with the law when riding a motorcycle and what is the importance of wearing protective gear?

ECE-gekeurde-helm-motorjas-en-handschoenen

Which motorcycle clothing is mandatory according to the law?

Every rider and passenger of a moped or motorcycle is required to wear an ECE approved motorcycle helmet. For riders and passengers of mopeds class A and B, a helmet is sufficient. Although it is recommended to also wear safety clothing here, you are not obliged to do so.

For everyone who rides a motorcycle or scooter with a cylinder capacity greater than 50cc, it is legally required to also wear a jacket with long sleeves, a pair of gloves, long trousers, and a pair of boots or shoes that also protect your ankles. It is not stated anywhere that motorcycle clothing is mandatory.

You can interpret this freely and hop on the motorcycle with a jet helmet, lab coat, rubber gloves, sports leggings, and a pair of All Stars. You probably won’t get fined, but whether you have adequate protection, is questionable. There is, of course, a reason why protective motorcycle clothing has been developed, as we are not safely tucked away in a car equipped with airbags.

Complete motorcycle clothing outfit

All The Gear, All The Time (ATGATT)

Among riders, there are two extremes. There are riders who want to be as free as possible and don’t like to feel that they are being limited in any way, including their choice of clothing. And there are riders who want to be protected. The latter group can be classified under ATGATT, short for “All The Gear, All The Time”. We can do our best to pay attention, ride responsibly and safely, but we are also aware that we have no influence on the driving style and skills of other road users. For this reason, they always wear protective clothing.

This is not about two absolute truths. Just like everything in life, everyone is at a different place within the spectrum. Determine for yourself how much protection you want to wear and what you feel comfortable with. It is our own responsibility to pay any fines and live with the consequences of serious injury. Personally, I tend more towards ATGATT, even though I do not specifically choose a full leather motorcycle suit and an airbag jacket, I always wear a full set of motorcycle clothing when I ride.

Full motorcycle suit with protection

What does a complete set of motorcycle clothing include?

A Safe Motorcycle Helmet

You already knew that a helmet is mandatory, but do you know all the different types of motorcycle helmets? RAD only sells ECE approved helmets, these can have the ECE 22.05 label or the updated ECE 22.06 label. Each is suitable for use on public roads.

Motorcycle helmets and gloves

An abrasion-resistant motorcycle jacket with integrated protectors

A motorcycle jacket is made from abrasion-resistant fabrics or leather and is equipped with elbow and shoulder protectors. The back protector is optional for many jackets, but we always recommend it. Those who expect a lot of rain should opt for a Gore-Tex motorcycle jacket, and those who find it too hot during summer would be best off choosing a mesh motorcycle jacket.

A pair of motorcycle gloves

Motorcycle gloves are made of abrasion-resistant material and are designed to give you extra grip. They often come with knuckle protection and cushioning on the fingers and underside of your hand. We have a gigantic range of summer gloves equipped with ventilation, mid-season gloves that are lightweight and waterproof, racing gloves for the sporty riders, thickly padded winter motorcycle gloves that protect your hands from the cold, and even heated gloves for those who always have cold hands.

Safe motorcycle clothing

Motorcycle pants with integrated protectors

Motorcycle pants are made of abrasion-resistant fabrics and/or leather, come with standard knee and hip protectors. For some motorcycle pants, such as the motorcycle jeans or kevlar jeans, hip protectors are optional. There are Gore-Tex motorcycle pants for those who expect rain and there are ventilated motorcycle pants to wear during the summer.

A pair of sturdy motorcycle boots or shoes

Motorcycle boots/shoes typically rise above the ankles and are equipped with extra ankle protection. They have anti-slip and oil-resistant soles to prevent slipping, and often feature a shift reinforcement to prevent premature wear from your shifter pedal. Those who are unsure about whether to purchase motorcycle boots or shoes can find more information in the motorcycle boots VS motor shoes blog.

Shoes above the ankle are mandatory

Ever considered a motorcycle airbag jacket?

A motorcycle jacket with a back protector will protect you well, but do you want to experience multiple times this level of protection? Then it’s interesting to consider the purchase of a motorcycle airbag. Read everything about motorcycle airbags here.

Motorcycle Clothing in Combination with Visibility

You already know what good motorcycle clothing is, but there are still a few things we can do to increase our visibility. Due to our narrow profile in combination with our speed, the unobservant eye may still forget to register us. The human eye automatically fills in our environment when we quickly look from left to right. Certain parts, just on the edge of our vision, are filled in at those moments based on our own experiences. As a result, you will see motorcyclists less well, leading to a higher chance of collision.

Fortunately, motorcycle clothing often comes with reflective strips. You can help your surroundings by wearing a reflective vest, choosing motorcycle clothing in conspicuous colors, and being a little less static on the bike when you know you’re approaching a busy point. This way, there’s a higher chance you’ll be spotted by other drivers.

Choose safe motorcycle clothing, make sure you stand out and be careful on the road.

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