Riding gear · criteria, not brands
Riding gear that works in Indian heat and rain
A helmet is the legal minimum. The rest of your gear decides how much skin and bone you keep in an ordinary low-speed fall, the kind that happens at a junction or on a wet speed breaker. The trick in India is choosing gear you will actually wear at 38°C in traffic, so this guide puts wearability next to protection.
Why bother on a short commute
The UK Highway Code's advice to motorcyclists puts it simply: strong boots, gloves and suitable clothing may help protect you if you are in a collision, and a light or brightly coloured helmet with fluorescent clothing or strips helps others see you in daylight, while reflective clothing or strips help in the dark. None of that depends on how far you ride.
Source: The Highway Code — Rules for motorcyclists (83 to 88) (Department for Transport, GOV.UK), checked 26 October 2026.
Reading the labels
India's mandatory standard for riders, the IS 4151 quality control order, covers helmets only. For gloves, jackets and boots you will mostly meet European test standards on imported gear. The European Commission's list of harmonised standards for personal protective equipment includes:
- EN 13594:2015 — protective gloves for motorcycle riders
- EN 17092 parts 2 to 6 (2020) — protective garments for motorcycle riders, in classes AAA, AA, A, B and C
- EN 13634:2017 — protective footwear for motorcycle riders
- EN 1938:2010 — goggles for motorcycle and moped users
- EN ISO 20471:2013 — high-visibility clothing, and EN 17353:2020 — enhanced-visibility equipment
These are not Indian legal requirements, and a label that names one is a claim by the seller, not something we have checked. A useful label names the standard and, where the standard has them, the class or level. If a listing only says "CE" with no standard number, you cannot tell what was tested.
Sources: Summary list of harmonised standards — Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment (generated 4 September 2026) (European Commission); Helmet for riders of Two Wheeler Motor Vehicles (Quality Control) Order, 2020 — S.O. 4252(E), 26 November 2020 (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, hosted by the Bureau of Indian Standards), checked 26 October 2026.
Gloves
Your palms and fingers are exposed in any fall, with nothing between bare skin and the road. In summer, ventilated gloves with a reinforced palm are the realistic choice; in the monsoon, waterproof gloves keep your hands warm enough to work the brake lever with feel.
Look for
- Reinforced palm (leather or a stated abrasion-resistant textile) and protection over the knuckles
- A wrist strap, so the glove stays on in a slide
- Pre-curved fingers that let you cover the brake lever without effort
- EN 13594 on the label if you want a recognised test
- A cuff that goes under your jacket sleeve in summer, over it in rain
Skip
- Cycling, gym or fashion gloves with no palm reinforcement
- Gloves so long in the finger that you fumble the indicator switch
- Stiff new gloves on the first long ride; break them in on short trips
On the gear list: Ventilated riding gloves · Waterproof riding gloves
Jackets
For most commuters the choice is between a mesh jacket for heat and a textile jacket with a removable liner for the rest of the year. What matters more than the fabric is the armour: shoulder and elbow protectors that stay on the joint when your arms are stretched to the handlebar.
Look for
- Removable impact protectors at shoulders and elbows, with a pocket for a back protector
- EN 17092 on the label, with the class letters, if you want certified gear
- Bright colour or reflective panels on the back and arms
- Sleeves that meet your gloves and a hem that covers the lower back when you lean forward
- Vents you can open in traffic
Skip
- "Riding-style" jackets with no protectors or pockets for them
- Loose fits that let elbow armour slide round the arm
- All-black jackets with no reflective detail if you ride at night
On the gear list: Mesh riding jacket with armour · All-weather textile jacket with removable liner · Back protector insert
Trousers and knee guards
Few commuters will wear riding trousers to the office. Strap-on knee and shin guards over ordinary trousers are a practical middle ground, and riding trousers or overtrousers make sense for longer rides.
Look for
- Hard outer cap over a padded inner
- Straps that keep the guard on the knee when you bend it at the footrest
- Fits under or over the trousers you actually wear
Skip
- Guards that slip down the shin when you walk
- Straps that dig into the back of the knee on a long ride
On the gear list: Strap-on knee and shin guards
Boots and shoes
Feet and ankles meet the road, the footrest and the gear lever. Riding boots give the most protection; ankle-covering riding shoes are an easier daily habit. Either beats sandals, which can slip off the foot or the footrest.
Look for
- Covers the ankle bone, with a stiffened toe and heel
- Oil-resistant sole that grips wet footrests
- EN 13634 on the label if you want a recognised test
- Zip, buckle or tucked laces, so nothing catches on the footrest
Skip
- Slippers, sandals and loose canvas shoes
- Long laces near the chain or gear lever
On the gear list: Riding boots or ankle-covering riding shoes · Waterproof shoe or boot covers
Rain gear
A two-piece rain suit over your clothes keeps you dry enough to stay comfortable and focused on the road. Ponchos and capes are tempting because they are quick to throw on, but they flap, block mirrors and can catch in the wheel.
Look for
- Separate jacket and trousers, sized to go over your riding jacket
- Taped seams and a storm flap over the zip
- Cuffs and ankles that close; a hood that tucks away or fits under the helmet
- Bright colour and reflective strips, because rain also hides you
Skip
- Long ponchos and capes
- Dark rain suits with no reflective detail
On the gear list: Two-piece rain suit (jacket and trousers) · Waterproof shoe or boot covers · Roll-top dry bag or waterproof backpack cover
Reflective and high-visibility gear
Fluorescent colours work in daylight; retro-reflective material works at night, when other vehicles' headlights reach it. A vest over your jacket does both jobs and is easy to stuff in a bag for the ride home.
Look for
- Fluorescent background plus retro-reflective bands
- EN ISO 20471 or EN 17353 on the label if you want a recognised test
- Adjustable sides so it does not balloon
- Reflective material on the parts headlights reach: back, arms, lower legs
Skip
- Brightly coloured fabric with no reflective bands, for night riding
- Tape stuck to the helmet shell; at least one helmet maker warns stickers can damage the helmet
On the gear list: Reflective or high-visibility vest · Reflective arm or ankle bands · Reflective tape for luggage and the vehicle body
Sources: The Highway Code — Rules for motorcyclists (83 to 88) (Department for Transport, GOV.UK); Summary list of harmonised standards — Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment (generated 4 September 2026) (European Commission); Care & Maintenance (Studds Accessories Ltd (helmet manufacturer)), checked 26 October 2026.
Making gear wearable in summer
These are our suggestions rather than rules. Keep the jacket on the scooter rather than at home, so it is never left behind. Choose mesh and open the vents in slow traffic. Carry water. Wear a thin liner under the helmet so the pads stay cleaner, and wash your gloves often enough that you do not dread putting them on. Gear you wear on every ride does more than better gear left in the cupboard.