Gear Guide 2026: Before You Buy Another Motorcycle, Buy This FirstAutoweekMark VaughnThu, September 24, 2026 at 8:47 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleBefore You Buy Another Motorcycle, Buy This FirstHearst Owned"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."You love riding motorcycles - the freedom of the open road, leaning into a corner and powering out, the happy comaradery of your fellow free-two-wheelers. To keep riding, you want to be sure and have good gear in case - God Forbid - anything should happen. You don't have any control over a tire blowout, a deer leaping in front of you, or some moron on a cell phone who "Didn't see you." So you have to be ready for anything.Here is some gear that will get you through the riding season and back again.Dainese Smart Air Motorcycle Airbag VestDainesePros: Offers protection for your collarbones, back, and ribs, all of which you'll be needing.AdvertisementAdvertisementCons: A separate system that requires some charging maintenance, and you have to register it before it'll switch on, and their registration and activation methods can be a little maddening. Plugging it in via USB-C cable to recharge it is awkward, as the receptacle is hidden inside the vest.Back when you and I started riding, it was just acknowledged that we were going to sacrifice collarbones and ribs whenever we crashed, maybe even a back. That is no longer necessary. In addition to a full-face helmet, an airbag system should be on the top of your list of motorcycle gear to buy.The Dainese Smart Air system is a vest you wear either under or over your motorcycle jacket. Onboard sensors constantly monitor your status using data from three built-in gyroscopes, three accelerometers, and one GPS unit. All in the vest! When the algorithm detects a high-side or low-side wipeout, the vest inflates like a mini-Michelin man to protect your chest, back and collarbones.The new vest is an evolution of the Smart Jacket (which I've been wearing for about a decade, with a few maintenance stops along the way). The vest allows you more versatility, in that you can wear it with seasonally appropriate gear: a flow-thru jacket in summer, rain gear in the winter, everything in between.AdvertisementAdvertisementThere's a zippered expansion panel on each side if you need more space for a jacket, or to cinch it up if you're wearing the vest under an outer layer.The new vest can deploy three times, and you can replace the gas inflator tube yourself. But you also have to partially disassemble it to initiate it when you first buy it, which may be a bold move for some.The sticker may look a bit pricey but is a bargain considering how much protection is being offered, and Dainese will let you pay it off over time. So no excuses, get an airbag! And wear it!Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 SystemAlpinestarsI only tried this on at Alpinestars headquarters, I did not ride with it, but it looks like a fairly complete system with good coverage. A-Stars says its Tech-Air 5 autonomous airbag system "delivers comprehensive upper-body coverage, including shoulders, chest, ribs, and full back." That sounds like it covers more surface area than competitors. "With its unique shoulder protection—critical in street crashes—Tech-Air 5 significantly reduces the risk of injury, redefining road safety."AdvertisementAdvertisementAlpinestars adds that the Tech-Air 5 can be worn under any proper-fitting textile jacket or Tech-Air compatible jacket, or any leather jacket with 4 cm (1 and a half inches) of space around the circumference of the rider's chest. If I get one for a loan soon I'll let you know how it went, but this looks good and you should consider it when shopping for moto pro.Dainese Vintedge Leather Motorcycle JacketDainesePros: In addition to Class A certified Pro-Armor protectors on shoulders and elbows, it looks stylish and offers all-day wearability on or off your bike.Cons: Price is steepish but not out of reach - and they offer payment plans.Hoodies are all the rage among a certain youthful demographic. That mentality has crept into moto-protection wear with a number of hooded offerings from not only Dainese but competitor Alpinestars, too, a selection of which I viewed at A-Stars' headquarters about the same time I got this fine Dainese Vintedge hoodie. Wear one of these and the wheelie/stoppie kids will think you're one of them. Right now, they think you're a narc.AdvertisementAdvertisementNot only does it offer protection up to and including Class A certified to EN 17092 standard, the bomber jacket features removable Pro-Armor protectors on shoulders and elbows (EN 1621.1 lev. 1), and is designed to accommodate chest and back protectors, for complete protection without neglecting comfort. You can wear the D-AIR airbag vest underneath it for even greater security on the road, the latter which I did and felt particularly safe as well as stylish."The perfect jacket for those looking for a garment with a thrilling texture that combines ease, a bold look and technical protection," Dainese says. "To stand out every day and flaunt your unique personality."Alpinestars Moflow Air Tech HoodieAlpinestarsPros: Follows the current style while allowing cooling breezes in and out.Cons: A little bulky.I didn't ride around in this, just tried it on down at Alpinestars headquarters. I'm impressed with the quality of the construction. The zipper was big and meaty and would likely hold up if you were sliding around on the pavement. Likewise, the seams looked and felt strong.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis one is made for the current heat of summer and is "engineered and optimized for maximum airflow for superior warm weather riding performance," A-Stars says. They also say it's lightweight but I felt it was a little heavier than that, and the weightiness suggests good wear and tear survivability. It sports "Nucleon Flex Plus CE Level 1-rated" shoulder and elbow armor "for superior impact protection." So this is a daily usable garment that'll protect you when it counts. Fully CE-certified to CE–Category II EN17092-4: 2020 standard–A Class, all good things to have in a riding jacket.Dainese Metrax Air Men's Textile GlovesDainesePros: Fit is fantastic, very comfortable, protection in all the right places, reasonable price.Cons: Velcro closure difficult to open, a little flaplet sticking out would be nice.Dainese gear has a reputation of fitting well, and these gloves are formed to my monkey-like hands. The size I ordered was 10 XXL. I might have even gone with a XXXL. Maybe Europeans have small hands. I have another pair of cheap gloves that I bought from Cycle Gear, and while those are even more comfortable, I worry they don't offer the protection of the Dainese mitts. Dainese adds Comf-Tek Knuckles to its gloves, "a technology used to protect knuckles while enhancing comfort and freedom of movement." Elasticated Inserts are positioned in the most strategic locations that improve the glove's ability to adjust as you open and close your meaty paw.NBT Guardian EndurTec Slim Cargo PantNBTPros: Fit and comfort are unsurpassed, cost is affordable.AdvertisementAdvertisementCons: These look a little baggier than the old pair of NBTs I have.I've been wearing these for years and have never found a better-fitting, more comfortable pair of pantalones anywhere. But they're not just comfy, they offer great protection, too - AAA certified to EN 17092-2:2020: "Maximum protection, proven to the highest standard," NBT says. That includes seams, abrasion, and tear standards that all earned AAA ratings. NBT calls the material "Durable Single-Layer Innovation: Tri-core EndurTec" woven fabric built for maximum abrasion resistance, reinforced seams, what they call "certified strong seams, designed and tested for safety with proven durability for every ride." The Impact Armor includes CE Level 1 removable pads at knees and hips (which are included free, naturally).I haven't slid along the pavement while wearing them (thank God) but all the specs are lined up to suggest they'd protect my hide if I did.AGV K7 Sports Touring HelmetAGVPros: Does everything, fits wide variety of heads, sun shade added.AdvertisementAdvertisementCons: A bit on the pricey side, fancy chin lock takes getting used to, cheek pads awkward to reinstall.AGV has been making motorcycle helmets since 1947, when they started with a "leather protector" modeled on a wooden buck and left to dry for an extended period to obtain "a rigid, protective shell." Rigid was relative back then. AGV made the first fiberglass helmet in 1954, and the first full-face helmet in Europe in 1969. It became part of Dainese in 2007.So there's a lot of history behind the K7, an excellent all-around sport touring full-face helmet that may be the only helmet you need. The big news with the new model is its slide-down sun shade, a new feature in this line. Just flip forward a slider button under the edge. Ratchet chin strap takes some getting used to, especially if you're used to traditional D-rings. The scratch-resistant face shield is thick and strong—it locks in place when down, released by a simple button-push.The carbon composite aramid shell sports five vents on the front to let cooling air in, with three venturi-effect exhaust ports at the rear. The interior is molded for communication devices like the Cardo, with cubbies molded in for the ear pieces and battery as well as pre-wiring to plug it all in. No more external electronics with loose wires that leave you looking like a Star Wars character after Alderon. It also accepts glasses on your head in comfort.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe quick-release cheek pads can be removed by EMTs at an accident (God forbid) or by you for cleaning.It meets both DOT and more difficult ECE European safety standards.Ruroc EOX 2.0RurocPros: Looks great, light weight, both DOT and ECE certified.Cons: Fit is tight so you might want to go a size up.Ruroc is a UK-based helmet maker founded in 2008. The EOX 2.0 is heavy on style and rises to meet most of your needs as a fully functional all-around brain bucket that looks great.Ruroc says the shell is made of carbon fiber, nylon, fiberglass, and kevlar. The lining is as soft as your favorite couch, and the foam liner has nooks for comms earpieces and a spot on the chin bar for a microphone piece. It's set up for Shockwave Bluetooth or you can get "Shockwave Mesh powered by Cardo" to speak with your pillion (passenger) and everyone in your rider group while underway.I had no trouble wearing glasses with the helmet on, but the size was smaller than I'd have liked. Skull measurements said I'd need an XL, but in reality I had to cram it onto my noggin with a large hammer (jk), so you might want to aim one size larger than you think you need. Maybe British heads are smaller?AdvertisementAdvertisementThere are three intake vents for cooling, one in the chin bar and two above the eyebrows. I liked the clever vertical slider to open the chin bar vent from the inside of the helmet, while the two vents atop snapped open and close with solid clicks via a single lever. The visor sealed well, with a meaty gasket all around the thick, clear face shield. Field of view was 215 degrees, which might be more than you can even see with two human eyeballs.My unit was the Delta model, a three-color exterior with exposed carbon fiber on the right side, white on the left, separated by a bright red stripe. It looked like a work of art, and I may just park it on my desk and stare at it all year.But that'd be a waste—get out and ride!Comes with a three-year warranty, which is more than some competitors.