Best motorbike kit for beginners and new riders

Staying safe on your bike doesn’t always mean getting trussed up in a leather suit and spending thousands of pounds. In fact, there is a huge amount of entry to mid-level motorcycle kit for beginners and new riders that’s still perfectly safe and and won’t break the bank.

• Buying your first big bike? Read MCN’s expert guide first

Here is a collection of motorcycle kit for beginners and new riders in three different styles, cool and urban casual kit for under £500, a touring or all weather option for under £600 and finally a £1500 outfit that gives the best protection for your buck in 2023.

Best casual riding kit for new riders

Casual riding kit can be a perfect option for nipping to work or college as you won’t always need to get changed when you arrive. Modern riding jeans and urban riding boots look increasingly like normal jeans and boots but with the added benefit of CE ratings.

This motorcycle kit for beginners and new riders is an example of what you could choose and it comes in at less than £500 for the whole lot. It’s from Sportsbike Shop, too!

Touring or all-weather riding kit for new riders

Not all riders wheel their bikes out on sunny days. Whether you’re a year-round commuter, an intrepid bike tourer or a Deliveroo rider, kit that keeps you warm and dry is an absolute must.

This set will do the trick for less than £600 all in, which is incredible when you consider that top-end textile jackets can run to £1500 on their own.

Best sportsbike kit for new riders

Being a new rider doesn’t always mean life at 15bhp. If you’re over 24 and you’ve taken a full licence, or even if you’re planning some trackdays on your A2 legal sportsbike, you’ll want to consider some proper leathers.

This outfit comes in at under £1200 (or under £900 if you opt to forgo the airbag vest) but will keep you safe on any Sunday blast or track session.

Things to keep in mind

There’s plenty of tempting offers online for motorcycle kit for beginners and new riders but just remember that if there’s no mention of CE ratings then steer clear.

The same thing goes for counterfeit kit, too, if you find a brand-new piece of the latest kit from a top brand for peanuts on a random eBay account then probably give that a swerve, too. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

And finally, watch out for some unscrupulous sellers who list the CE abrasion rating of the fabric used for a garment but not for the garment overall. This means that the stitching, seams and fasteners haven’t been tested and they may fail when you need them the most.

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