What Clothing Do You Need To Wear For Motorcycle Training?

One of the most frequent questions we hear from new riders booking CBT motorcycle training or any other course is "What do I need to wear for motorcycle training?"

To make things easy for new riders, we put together the below infographic on what clothing you need to wear for your CBT or any other form of motorcycle training.

What will I need to bring or buy to wear at training?

This will depend on your training provider. Most schools provide riders with a pair of gloves, a jacket and a helmet, however since COVID-19 it has become more common for trainers to require you to bring your own kit.

If you have booked with RideTo, we make it clear when a school doesn’t provide gloves, jackets and helmets to learners. You will have seen during checkout that the school you booked had an ‘Own Kit Required’ image if this is the case, and received an email laying out what you need to bring.

You do have the choice to wear your own kit either way, as long as it meets safety standards and is in good condition. 

Helmet

A certified, well-fitting helmet is the single most crucial piece of protective equipment when riding a motorcycle, moped or scooter. Whether your school provides this or you bring your own, the helmet will need to comply with one of the following safety standards:

• BS 6658:1985 (British Standard) with a BSI Kitemark.

• UNECE Regulation 22.05 or the newer 22.06, which is the most current European standard.

• Snell M2010 or M2020: a high-level certification from the Snell Memorial Foundation, known for rigorous safety testing.

Want to know more? Read our beginners guide on buying a motorcycle helmet.

Boots

Protect those ankles! You’ll need over-the-ankle boots that offer protection for your feet and ankles. The gold standard would be motorcycle boots designed specifically for protecting your feet, but work boots or over-the-ankle walking boots would also be acceptable. Steel-toed shoes won’t be accepted since they have the potential to do a lot of damage should you strike the front of your foot.

Dress boots won’t be suitable, as you’ll need good grip on the bike pegs and they don’t offer up enough protection. Trainers aren’t good enough either, including high-tops, as they’re not rigid or protective enough. 

Ultimately it will be up to the instructor if they accept you onto the course with your boots, so if you’re not sure they’re up to muster - it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

You can buy motorcycle boots for as little as £69 in various styles to suit you, from traditional looking motorcycle boots, to armoured sneakers. 

Trousers

Ideally you would wear motorcycle trousers, specifically designed for motorcyclists. These offer abrasion protection, as well as padding in vulnerable areas such as your knees. You can get these in textile, leather or jean style.

If you’re just starting out and don’t want to part with your cash, just make sure you wear a good pair of strong jeans. Jeans with rips, joggers or any other thin trousers won’t be accepted. 

Jacket 

As mentioned earlier, your school may or may not provide this for your training. If they don’t, or you want to wear your own, opt for a heavy denim or another heavy duty jacket type.

Again, the best option would be a motorcycle jacket, priced as low as £45.

Gloves

Gloves are often overlooked but we'd argue this is the second most important gear item. Not only will a good pair of gloves protect your hands from the cold and wet, but they'll also allow you to have a better grip on the bike which is immensely helpful.

As with helmets and jackets, these may or may not be provided by the training school.

Either way, your gloves will need to be CE approved - any other glove type could stop you from being able to take your training. The good news is that gloves are the cheapest item to invest in, with CE-approved motorcycle gloves going for as little as £29.99.

Dressing for the weather

It goes without saying that someone taking their training in December, will have very different clothing needs than someone taking theirs in August!

Training in the winter

In the winter months, you’ll want to have suitable waterproofs, whether that’s purpose-built motorcycle rain gear, or a waterproof jacket and trousers you can wear over your protective clothing. CBT training takes 6-8 hours (with higher-level training running over several days) so being soaked for that time could dampen your experience.

In terms of keeping warm: layers, layers, layers. You’ll be surprised how cold the wind is when riding, so don’t get caught out. You can bring any combination of the following to give yourself extra warmth, and take off what you don’t need during indoor training or standing still:

• Thermal trousers (to put under your jeans or motorcycle trousers)
• Thermal top (to go under your motorcycle jacket)
• T-shirt, to layer over thermals
• A fleece to layer over the above
• Thermal socks (or multiple pairs)
• A neck warmer/face cover or balaclava
• Undergloves (as the name suggests, these go under your gloves for extra warm)

The RideTo store stocks a few options for motorcycling base layers, including gilets, trousers, or full suits.

Training in the summer

You won’t need much layering here, but it’s worth bringing some extra layers given the weather can always surprise you, particularly the rain.

You may want to opt for clothing that has more breathability, with features such as vents or mesh. If you’re bringing your own helmet, you might consider an open-face helmet for a cooling breeze, or use one that offers seasonal versatility such as a flip-front helmet. There are ‘seasonal’ motorcycle gear, for example riders may opt for a summer jacket and a winter jacket, but ‘all-season’ gear (that have removable rain layers, high ventilation and room for layering) is a more economical option.

Wrapping It Up: Plan What You’ll Wear to Motorcycle Training ASAP

It’s your responsibility to dress appropriately for your training, and if you don’t educate yourself on what you need to wear, you risk being turned away from your training and potentially being out of pocket.

So first, make sure you know what will and won’t be provided by your trainer. From there, you’ll know what you need to bring, in addition to what you’d prefer to wear of your own.

Take the weather into consideration, and do what you can to control your temperature and stay dry.

If you’re just starting out, it may seem like a large upfront cost to get good motorcycle gear, but we heavily recommend getting your kit before training. Not only will it fit you better, but you’ll need to wear motorcycle kit when you get your CBT certificate regardless! 

A CBT certificate is an entry-level qualification that allows you to ride, which means you're still in the early stages of developing your skills. As a less experienced rider, mistakes are more likely, making it crucial to wear gear that offers protection from impacts and slides. Having the right equipment is essential for your safety as you gain confidence on the road.

If you are not sure if you have the right clothing for your motorcycle training, please contact us and a member of the team will be happy to help.

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For more advice on what to wear for riding a motorbike, check out these other helpful guides:

5 Step Guide to Buying a Motorcycle Helmet

Essential Guide To Gear for New Motorcyclists

Instructor Advice: Top Tips for New Riders