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.
21 comments:
Hi there,
It's very nice to see more singaporeans using gear for protection nowadays.
However, I just want to point out that there is something really important that you have missed out in your review -- motorcycle pants. I mention this because statistics show that quite a few people actually get trapped under their motorcycles if they skid. So just like your boots help to protect your ankles and feet, the pants will help protect your legs and hips. Don't assume that your jeans will be enough. They wear out very quickly when they are abraded on the road.
I hope you will get yourself a pair of pants soon and review those too.
Stay safe
Hi Sojourner,
You hit it spot on!
I agree with you that pants protection is very important.
I did leave out the pants...rather deliberately.
In this article, I only want to recommend gear that I have personnally used. I have a very good pants--made of leather and yet still looks fashionable as its cut is like a casual pants. Unfortunately, I got this from a friend who bought this from a stall somewhere somewhere in India. So I don't think it is available in Singapore so it is not so useful to others in knowing something that they can't get.
Sometimes I do wear jeans and I know how easy jeans tears apart on the road. I am eyeing mesh pants. I had the Condura/Goretex pants last time. Again, they are too warm and causes heat rash on me on long rides. When I get them, I will share my opinion.
Good point Sojourner :)
If you got good recommendations, drop a few lines here.
I totally agree with loudexhaust on Condura pant which I own and use when travelling up North from Singapore.
After every trip, I too get heat rash, on my bum, thigh and leg. Really dont know what to do, I do apply body powder to the lower part of the body but it only help temporary. Thought of giving wearing the armor pant and just wear a pair of jean, but thinking of safety just got to endure.
Please give a review of goretex pant. Wanted to get but the price,,,,ex.
Mesh pant, I try it on but the armor parts tends to move around,in case of accident will it stay in place where it is needed?
Lao Uncle.
Hi loudexhaust!
Tahnks for the tip on the bike gear. I like the flip-up helmet although $250 is kinda ex. Can you tell me the address of Regina so I can go down and take a look at their collection there? Thanks
This is the address of Regina which I found from searching yellowpages:
Regina Specialities
152 Jln Besar #01-01 Enterprise Bldg Singapore 208870
Thanks loudexhaust for the info.
And thanks for sharing your touring stories too. They're an enjoyable read.
*ALL THUMBS UP* :)
Hi loudexhaust, cool article, came out at the right time when I'm sourcing around for a helmet. I have a few other questions:
1. Whether if you use or heard of any one using a kind of jacket with a built-in inflatable air pocket. It has a small canister, such that at the very instance when accident happens, the biker is likely to fall away from bike and the gas will be released, inflating the jacket like a car air-bag.
2. Do you wear the mesh jacket even travel locally? I wonder if you wear it over a office shirt, will it quickly become jiao-jiao (wrinkled)? :)
3. Your helmet looks like black in color. Do you think it's better to have lighter color or glossy helmet for better visibility at night?
Appreciate if you can share your views here. Thanks in advance!! :)
Hi BK,
Glad I can be of possible help.
1. Yes, I have heard and seen the "air bag" riding jackets.
It is a little more expensive and bulkier than the normal jackets, understandably. I have not used it personally and know any of my friends using it. So can't give personal comment on it other than what is third-party said.
2. Yes, I wear my mesh jacket locally.
In fact, half the reason I wear the mesh jacket even in daily commuting is I "hiao", want to keep my ironed-shirts from going wrinkled jiao jiao. The mesh jacket does help to keep you shirts from flapping in the air like a parachute.
And that is the advantage of mesh jacket. You will still feel windy and it keeps you cool. If you wear a Cordura jacket, you will perspire inside. I don't want to reach my destination, unzip my Cordura jacket and find my pressed shirt soaked like I just dropped into a swimming pool :)
3. Yes, my Carberg Rhyno is matt black in colour. Not the most visible colour. I know. But I hiao leh. Cannot help it.
The only other colour available is grey which is not much brighter. So my idea is to look so cool until all the car drivers cannot resist but sure look at me one.
Yes, it is better to have a helmet that is brighter as it is the highest point and the most visible part.
My personal style of riding somewhat allows me to get away with a less visible helmet (the hiao me talking here). I keep myself visible to car riders (eg: I occupy the middle, I ride with space in front and behind).
In touring in Malaysia and Thailand, I avoid riding at night. If had to, over there, even with a white helmet, no one can see your helmet because it is too darn dark.
So your bike's tail light must be obvious and bright. Or you can go with luminous reflector strips on your helmet, jacket or bike.
I ride a STX. My rear taillight is already brighter than many bike's main headlight :)
I also ride in a pack. So if lorry want to langa will also go langa the last bike, which wouldn't be me :)
My previous helmets are all fitted with reflected strip. My OGK FF has a big spiderman logo cut out of a 3M reflector, you can see from previous posts. Cool hor? ;)
You can try Transformer shape. Batman shape. Or the simpler one is MacDonald shape.
Hi Loudexhaust
Thank you for taking the time to reply my questions. I like your humour touch too! Keep writing! :)
finally a long break from your last blog - you are writing again!
frankly, I do agree with your write-outs. and do get to see more and more riders fitting themselves with proper attire on the road.
of course, there are some odd ones seen even on the HSHW which I had regarded as not safe. For some, may feel we are paranoid and kicking a big fuss.
but having you fitted with proper attire and headgear do make a difference on the road - road handling, your speed and not forgetting the style! (joke aside)
thanks for sharing! keep your blog alive!
thanks for your extremely helpful review. i was looking around for jacket & pants (preferably that's waterproof & more importantly affordable). the flipup helmet looks great too, yes matte black is coolz! :)
care to share something about the leather pants u got from india? if it's good & cheap, I see if I can ask my colleague there to buy for me :P
wonderful travelogues too *woot* makes me want to pickup 2 wheels again. thanks!
Wow! that's awesome....but that's really important to be in complete gear when riding motorcycle specially in a long run...Good luck in your next trip!
nice
I think these products are very important for biker.
These things are very important to biker specially leather jacket keep you save and protect yourself.
Reflective Motorcycle Vests
Flip Front Motorcycle Helmets is suitable than every regular helmets.I also use only this helmet for not only safety but also comfort..
hi, may i know where can i get the SAF boots? please advise.
peng
hi where can i get those SAF boots. Please advise
thanks
peng
Hey encik,
agak2 how much is the coolmax liner?
I went to Singapore for a vacation a couple of months ago and did some motorbike riding with my friends. I am from Australia and I brought with me a pair of kevlar jeans that I got from here: http://www.s3performance.com.au/shop/apparel/road-bike-gear/kevlar-jeans/120303 It is amazing, I totally recommend it.
What would really be important is to have MOTOAID MALAYSIA's contact number in your phones. They offer a nationwide coverage where 24 hour motorcycle assistance is concerned; especially towing services to the nearest workshop or your house. Really dangerous to be stranded in the Kampungs or even on the highways alone in the nights. Do keep their numbers 03-20969101/ 016-3778183/ 011-26407873
Post a Comment