Types of Motorcycle Gloves
No Gloves: Some people aren't aware that you should wear gloves when riding a motorcycle, but i'm sure after a few rides they will realize the protection it offers. Leather gloves look great and they also protect you against the cold wind and the vibrations of the motorcycle. Also in the unfortunate event that you do crash, most people try and catch themselves with their hands, its just a gut reaction. On a motorcycle you could be going 20, 30, 60+ miles per hour when you crash, and your hands will take a lot of the damage. For those of you that are still skeptical, you should try running as fast as you can (probably less than 20mph for most people), and then throwing yourself onto the ground while bracing yourself with your hands. You will find that your hands are scraped up and bloody, and thats only at running speed! So wear gloves!
Fingerless Gloves: I play the guitar so my fingers are very important to me, they need to be tough and also sensitive for me to feel the strings of the instrument. Fingers are also great for picking up things like pencils, grapes, and even small mammals. Therefore to have a glove that only protects your palms but it leaves your most delicate tools unprotected is just foolish to me. Without fingers hands would suck! Protect your whole hand, not just your fingers. In my opinion fingerless gloves are only slightly better than no gloves at all.
Moto-cross Gloves: These "moto cross" style gloves are perfectly acceptable, especially on the street. The protect the palm of your hand, your fingers, and have reinforcements on the knuckles which look very intimidating if you were ever to get in a fight with something besides the pavement. Gloves like these would serve most people well, although the one thing that can happen is if you crash your jacket could ride up which would leave your wrists exposed to the grind stone. Gloves like these also work really well as 'summer gloves' if you get them with perforated leather.
Gauntlet Gloves: Finally my favorite types of gloves, the gauntlet style gloves. They have multiple reinforcments on the knuckles and the fingers as well as extra leather on the palm and wrist. They go about halfway up the forarm over the jacket when you wear them and prevent your wrists from being torn to shreds in case of a fall. I've crash tested a pair of gloves like this and they held up really well so I would definitely but something in this style again.
Comments
Gloves
I use gauntlet gloves in the winter, but when it isn't cold I just use plain leather gloves with no lining. I had a small accident a couple of years ago (the SUV making a left turn in front of me) and sure enough, I put my hands down to catch myself. I was thinking of protecting my head more than anything, and I don't think it ever touched the ground even though I was wearing a helmet. When I stopped rolling, my head was up like a turtle. I remember putting my hands down as I dove to the pavement, but luckily I rolled, so there was no scooting and no road rash. It did make me realize that I should always wear gloves though. (I never thought about getting in a fight with the motocross gloves - good idea. LOL)
Motocross gloves for street
Motocross gloves for street use?? PLEASE...this advice will get you seriously hurt! DO NOT wear motocross gloves as street gloves! There is a reason why street gloves are not as comfortable as MX gloves. Being an MX and street rider, I can tell you.
To start with...MX gloves are made for grip. MX riders are pulling and pushing with hands much more than street riders and under adverse conditions (rain/mud/loose gravel). MX gloves are made to endure ONLY moderate speed impact and have VERY little abrasion resistance (they are made for loose dirt!). MX gloves are also usually "mesh backed" for breathability and since they are not meant for "hard surface impact" (such as pavement, as such they usually have little armor). As an MX rider I'm not concerned with abrasion resistance, I'm concerned with grip and dexterity.
Now on to the street glove. They are armored to help prevent broken bones upon hard impact. They have THICK leather for abrasion resistance (you're hands are usually first to hit pavement and will probably slide on asphalt). Street gloves are not as well vented as any holes in glove (non matter how small) compromise structural integrity of leather in slide (little holes become big ones during a crash). As a street rider, abrasion resistance is my #1 concern, then armor for impact.
MX and street gloves also use different leathers. MX is usually "clorino" (thin synthetic leather made to FEEL like leather, not protect as such) and street gloves will usually use cowhide (thick and strong), kangaroo (thin and strong), or deerskin (flexible, not quite as strong).
Dirt and asphalt are two different animals. Please use STREET gear for the street.
Agreed
MX gloves are good for playing in the dirt or playing paintball. Pavement is not where those belong.
moto-cross gloves for street
I could be wrong, but I think he meant the style of motocross gloves. There are alot of street grade gloves that are styled after motocross gloves, and these are the ones you should buy if you want that style of glove. Make sure any pair of glove you buy for riding is made to withstand a crash on the street