Lots of people actually wonder about this question.
Because the climate here is different from that in the northern hemisphere like US, UK and Europe. If you try riding in a full leather suit here, like those riders in the motorcycling magazines, you will surely chao tah.
Well, here is the all authoritative Endless guidelines...
If you are a chio bu (babe) riding a motorcycle, my suggestion would be to wear:...
- a hot skimpy white bikini...
- a pair of high heels...
- a full-faced helmet...
- a pair of sunglasses...
- and absolutely nothing else.
Thank you. Now that I have got your attention, here is what you should really wear...
My Helmet
I strongly recommend a full-faced helmet (FF) because it offers better protection. Surprisingly, the chin is the most often injured part during a motorcycling accident, based on studies.
And yes, you can still wear a FF in the equatorial climate here. If you feel warm, just raise the visor.
If you are still concern, thanks to technology advancement, there is a new solution that offers you the best of both worlds of an open-faced helmet and a full-faced helmet. It is a flip-up helmet.
A Flip-Up helmet is a ideal for daily riding in Singapore as well as for touring in Malaysia and Thailand: .
For me, I wear a Caberg Rhyno flip-up helmet.
Me with a Caberg flip-up helmet with the chin guard down.
Side-view.
Caberg with the outer visor lowered. In this mode, it behaves like a full-faced helmet.
Why is a flip-up helmet suitable?
- For smokers.
- For people who wear glasses. And there are many people in singapore that wears glasses (study too hard and watch too much porn).
- If you ride with a pillion or in a convoy, it is easier for you to get heard without your words being muffled in the case of a FF.
- When you feel warm in a traffic jam, you can ride slowly with the chin guard up.
- Is it safe enough? A FF definitely is safer. But unless you ride like MotoGP speeds, a flip-up should offer good enough protection for commuting and touring speeds.
Plus my Caberg has an extra useful feature....
Caberg with the inner sun shade lowered. Looks like a fighter-pilot hor?
So I can raise or lower the inner sun shade during early morning and evening rides.
Real handy.
But a flip-up within inner shade may not be suitable if you are riding very very fast. Because the helmet will have a bigger cross-section and it will catch more wind resistance.
I also recommend a very useful accessory...
A coolmax helmet liner is a very useful accessory to wear in the hot climate here.
I wear this under my helmet. It keeps my hair in placed and also keeps my helmet clean and fresh longer. The coolmax is easy and fast to wash and dry.
Me in action on a touring trip. Helmet, riding jacket, glove, boots.
Me, taking a quick break by the NorthSouth Highway.
Shows you the usefulness of a flip-up: I don't have to remove my helmet to enjoy a conversation with my mates. I just flip up.
I bought my Caberg Rhyno helmet (S$250) and Coolmax helmet liner at Regina.
My Gloves
I want to update you that I have changed from RJays glove to this Apine Stars leather glove.
Wah, Endless, you strike 4D ah? Upgrade to branded stuff siah?
No lah. Cheap and good. $120 from Regina.
I like it because it is very comfortable and compact to store.
Unlike other gloves with kevlar guards, this alpine stars gloves' knuckle guards are padded in between, so my knuckles remain very comfortable.
My Boots
Of so many riding boots of all shapes and designs available in the market, I still prefer my good old SAF army boots.
My trusty SAF boots that I also used for touring.
I actually have bought a proper riding boots. But after a while, I decided the SAF boots is still better.
Why?
- The SAF riding boots is very light and comfortable, even more so than riding boots. I can wear them all day long.
- The SAF is fully Gore-tex lined. So it is very cooling. Most riding boots are high leather and I find them warm to wear.
- It is water proof. Able to withstand the torrential downpours in Malaysia and Thailand.
My Riding Jacket
After 3 years, I am still wearing my RJays riding jacket.
On my touring trip on top of the moutains on the Thai-Malaysia border with my RJays.
Some people go and buy the Goretex/Condura material riding jackets. Because they think they are waterproof whereas mesh riding jackets are not. But I tell you, it is too hot to wear the Goretex-Condura riding jackets through out the whole day in the hot climate here. And many such jackets are not able to withstand heavy long down pours. Like that suffer when weather is hot. And suffer when raining.
It is better to wear a mesh jacket that is cooler than even a wind breaker. And should it rain, simply wear a rain coat over it.
When riding in cooler places like northern Thailand and high up in the mountains, to keep warm, wear your rain coat over your mesh jacket.
Choose a mesh jacket that has soft armour in the shoulders, elbows and spine. My mesh jacket is available at Regina at $150. (I really not related to Regina.)
My Rain Coat
My rain coat is still the ProGrip rain gear. But I heard from people who said that its quality has dropped (Pro Grip are you listening?)
If I find a better rain gear, I will keep you posted.
Oh, and don't expect rain coats to last forever. I have to change mine every 1 to 2 years. Why? Because they will leak from wear and tear. The threaded areas pull and water seaps through the thread seams. Or the water proofing wax deteroriates over time.
This guy can sing 霍元甲 even better than original Jay Chou. Meet new kid on the block and powerhouse, 蕭敬騰.
Ok, I have introduced to you all the lobang on what to wear from head to toe, whether you are riding to work/school or for touring in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
May you enjoy motorcycling as much as I do.
