Tips to Choose the Best Motorcycle Gear

A helmet is a mandatory requirement for two-wheelers in India. The bike rider and pillion have to wear an ISI-certified helmet that is strapped to the head. Failure to do so can attract a penalty of up to ₹2000. Moreover, if you get into an accident, and claim bike insurance, the insurer will investigate whether you were wearing a helmet or not. They reserve the right to accept or reject the claim based on their finding.

Apart from the mandatory requirement, a helmet also protects the rider’s head from grave injuries during an accident or mishap. Head injuries are dangerous, and a helmet can reduce the impact during an accident and save you from severe injuries.

Here is a look at the different types of helmets available to bikers:

• Full Helmet – A full helmet offers protection to your head and face. It has a visor and air vents to keep things cool under it.
• Three-fourth Helmet – This is similar to a full helmet, with the only difference being that the visor does not cover your face completely. It usually includes a flip-down visor that goes about three-fourths the length of your face. While these helmets are good for short drives, they are not recommended for longer rides.
• Half Helmet – This helmet covers only the top of the head and some portion of the back of the head. While these helmets are light in weight and easier to carry around, they offer the least protection among the three.

Many bikers consider gloves to be an unnecessary bike accessory. However, depending on the riding conditions, gloves can be an important part of your biker gear. There are different types of gloves available that you can choose based on your riding style and conditions.

Gloves tend to offer a better grip on the handlebars and protect your fingers, knuckles, and palm during an accident. You can opt for long gauntlet gloves if you are a long-distance rider or waterproof gloves if the conditions are wet.

The right boots can protect your feet from injuries and offer better riding performance. Most bikers prefer ankle-high boots with Velcro fasteners. Make sure that you pick the right size and fit. There are different types of riding boots available for bikers. If you are riding a supersport motorcycle, you may need to include a premium pair of riding boots in your collection to complete the riding gear full set.

For regular commute and cruising, ankle-high leather boots work just as well.

Jackets are a necessity in extreme weather conditions like rain or snow. The right jacket can keep you comfortable and focus on riding. Make sure that you pick a jacket based on your driving conditions. Here we should mention that jackets are very important and a good quality jacket can save you from tarmac burns if you ever crash.

One of the most overlooked elements of motorcycle protective gear – riding pants are usually made from denim, leather, or Kevlar. They protect your hips, shin, and knees from injury. Many riding pants also have a waterproof lining that keeps your legs comfortable regardless of the weather conditions.

While getting a bike protective gear is essential, without a bike insurance policy, you will always be exposed to the financial risks of managing third-party liabilities or damages to your bike. Hence, it is important to purchase Comprehensive Bike Insurance Online with the right add-on covers based on our requirements.

At Tata AIG, we offer a range of bike insurance policies like third-party liability-only policy, standalone own-damage policy, and comprehensive insurance for bikes. You can also choose a long term two wheeler insurance plan to save yourself the hassle of renewing the policy every year. Further, bike owners can choose from a range of add-on covers to get better protection from accidents and mishaps. To make the process of buying and renewing policies hassle-free, we offer bike insurance online. Hence, you can purchase a two-wheeler insurance policy from the comfort of your home.

• Protects you from elements like rain, dust, air, and other external elements that can be a distraction while riding
• Reduces the severity of injuries during an accident or crash
• Riding without a helmet is illegal in India and can also result in the rejection of a bike insurance claim

Many bikers tend to ignore the significance of protective gear and consider it to be an unnecessary cost. While you might not want to invest in a comprehensive riding gear set, make sure that you include a helmet and other accessories based on your riding style and use of the bike. Also, choose the bike insurance plan and add-on covers carefully and get your bike the optimum protection it needs.

Q1. Does using a bike protection gear impact my bike insurance claim?

It is illegal to ride a bike without a helmet in India. If the insured bike meets with an accident and the report specifies that the rider was not wearing a helmet, then the insurer can reject the claim for non-adherence to traffic rules. Hence, it is important to ensure that you use all the legally-required protective gear while riding your two-wheeler.

Q2. Do I need a Comprehensive Bike Insurance policy?

In India, bikes are mandatorily required to have a third-party liability insurance policy. These policies offer coverage for any damage to third-party property or injuries to a third-party person due to an accident involving the insured bike. However, they don’t cover damages to the insured vehicle.

Hence, if your bike gets into an accident and damages a third-party property and itself, then these policies will only cover the cost of repair of the third-party property. You will have to bear the costs of repairing your bike.

However, if you opt for Comprehensive Insurance for Bike, then the insurer covers the cost of repair of the insured bike too. Hence, if you are looking for exhaustive coverage, opt for a comprehensive bike insurance plan.