Walk into a bike shop with a budget for the motorbike and you may walk out with a second bill for the things you need to ride it. Gear is not an optional extra, and it is often the part of the budget people underestimate. A little planning helps.
Start with the helmet
A helmet is the single piece of gear you should not compromise on. In Australia, helmets sold for road use are expected to meet an Australian or equivalent standard, commonly seen as the AS/NZS 1698 marking, and some other international standards are recognised. The consumer protection regulators publish guidance on what to look for, and Product Safety Australia is a useful place to check for recalls. The ACCC also explains consumer guarantees if a product fails to meet reasonable expectations.
Fit matters as much as price. A well-fitting helmet is snug without hot spots. Try several brands and shapes before deciding, and ask the retailer to help with sizing.
Jacket and pants
Look for abrasion-resistant fabric or leather, removable armour at shoulders, elbows and knees, and a fit that stays in place on the bike. Adventure riders often choose textile jackets with ventilation and waterproof liners, while road riders might prefer leather. Whichever you choose, it should suit the climate where you ride; heat is a real factor in much of Australia.
Gloves and boots
Gloves and boots protect the parts of you most likely to meet the ground first. Choose pairs designed for riding, with reinforcement in the places that matter. Many riders keep a second lighter pair of gloves for hot days and a waterproof pair for wet ones.
Wet weather and visibility
A wet weather suit, a high-visibility layer and clear visors or anti-fog inserts can make a day's riding far more comfortable. Touring riders in particular should budget for these, since changing conditions are the norm over long distances.
Comms, mounts and electronics
Intercoms, phone mounts, USB chargers and navigation units are popular. They can be genuinely useful, but they add up. If you are not sure you need them, buy the essentials first and add later.
Putting numbers on it
Instead of quoting prices that date quickly, gather real quotes from two or three retailers for each item. Write them into a list with a column for essential and a column for later. The essentials total is the figure to add to your bike budget.
A rough approach many riders use is to treat the gear as a percentage of the bike's price, but there is no rule, and your own quotes are more reliable than any rule of thumb.
Should you roll gear into the loan?
Some lenders allow certain accessories to be financed with the bike and some do not. Even if they do, consider the trade-off. Gear typically wears out well before a multi-year loan ends, and financing it means paying interest on something you may replace while still repaying. For small items, paying from savings may keep your total cost down, though your choice depends on your own circumstances. ASIC MoneySmart has calculators that let you see how interest builds over time.
A simple buying order
- Set the bike budget and the gear budget together.
- Buy the helmet, jacket, gloves and boots before collecting the bike.
- Add wet weather and comms gear over the first few months.
- Keep a small reserve for the first service and replacement of any items that do not suit.
You can use our gear and extras checklist as a starting point. If you are ready to see what finance might look like for the bike itself, you can start a free, no-obligation enquiry. We are not a lender, and this article is general information only. Figures in this article are not offers or advice.
