Buying the best gear you can afford is the right way to go for getting proper motorcycle riding gear. If you are on a budget, you may need to shop around a bit more for the best budget cruiser gear.
I’ll show you options that cover you from head to toe for your budget.
Gear up and protect your body so you can ride for many years to come.
What is cruiser gear?
My understanding as a cruiser rider, is that your gear can be functional gear that you can wear during your ride as well as at your destination. You’ll look great and protect your body.
For shoes, these would be more stylish boots that protect your feet and ankles while also looking inconspicuous around the office.
Pants will be styled as padded jeans. If chaps are more your style, got for it.
With jackets, you have a lot of flexibility. There are great mesh jackets equipped with the padding you need and stay comfortable during the hot days of summer.
A leather jacket can be another great option. It will get warm during the summer since they don’t provide a lot of airflow, but they will provide you with better protection and look great.
Cruiser gloves can range in price depending on the safety features. A pair with palm protection and wrist coverage may cost around $80. A cheap pair of Amazon that only offers knuckle protection and minimal padding at the palms will be about $20.
Brain damage and head injuries are no joke, so I recommend an ECE or Snell rated helmet. With improvements in helmet protection, the price of high quality helmets has come way down.
I think each of these pieces of equipment should be worn when you ride. If cost is a problem, buy what you can afford. I would buy in the following order:
- Helmet
- Gloves
- Boots
- Jacket
- Pants
Time to get to the good stuff.
What kind of budget cruiser gear do I recommend? Here it is:
Budget Cruiser Helmet
Protecting your brain should be your number one focus. When buying a helmet, finding one that meets the highest standards.
There are many budget cruiser helmets on the market, they may just be limited in features for audio and heavier than a high quality Arai or Shoeii helmet.
The DOT stamp on a helmet meets the minimum standards set by the United States’s Department of Transportation. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.218 focus on three performance requirements:
- Absorb minimum impact from a station object
- Prevent penetration of the outer shell from a spike dropped from 3 meters above
- The helmet must stay in place during testing
A DOT is the minimum requirement of a helmet to ride a motorcycle.
Buying a Economic Commission of Europe (ECE) or SNELL approved helmet I’ll give you the best protection on the market.
An ECE 22.05 or 22.06 have both been independently test from impact and abrasion damage. Until the DOT certification, companies are not allowed to self certify their helmets.
Snell certified helmets go through even more thorough testing. They test for four major factors:
- Impact with large objects
- Helmet positioning following impact
- Chin strap testing
- Extent of protected area
Snell even tests the visor of helmets to test the strength against dirt and stones.
I am a big fan of Ryan at Fortnine. Here is his video on the Snell standards:
Despite these certifications being expensive to obtain, there are still a number of budget helmets that have earned them.
ScorpionEXO R420
This is a full face helmet with multiple styling options and certified by Snell. The helmet is well received across Amazon and on YouTube.
Here is RevZilla’s review of the newest version of the R420:
If you can afford the cost, I highly recommend this helmet for a budget shopper.
VCAN VX Helmet
For less money, you can get this ECE 22.05 certified helmet, the VCAN VX. There aren’t as many styling options as the Scorpion but it does come with a tinted visor as well as a clear one.
For a budget purchase, it’s solid. If you decide to upgrade to a lighter helmet with a Snell certification, this one can be used by any passengers you decide to ride with.
When shopping for a helmet, fit is just as important as the safety features. If a helmet is uncomfortable, you won’t enjoy riding.
Make sure to buy a helmet that you’ll feel comfortable wearing for hours potentially.
Budget Cruiser Gloves
Protecting your hands while controlling your bike is just as important as saving your hands in the event of a crash. Keeping your fingers warm ensures you can adequately pull the front brake and clutch lever. Frozen and stiff fingers will affect your ability to react quickly.
When shopping for gloves there are a few features you want to look for. Here is the list:
- Material
- Knuckle protection
- Pre-curved fingers
- Palm slider
- Pinkie and outer palm protection
Many riders have multiple gloves. They may have a summer riding glove as well as a pair for the winter. As a budget rider myself, I only have one pair that meets all my needs.
Generic Amazon Motorcycle Gloves
They are one of the many generic motorcycle gloves on amazon. The knuckle protection is nice, but occasionally rubs the wrong way and is irritating. I think I have broken them in enough to get a better fit as the rubbing has stopped.
The pointer and middle fingers work with touch screens though I don’t use them during rides.
These gloves will protect your hands from the slowest and softest of falls, but I think you need to upgrade as soon as you can afford to. The JAG or the Dainese MIG C2 gloves would be a better choice.
JAG Gloves
This budget set of leather gloves has a lot of features. Finding the right size may be tough. Leather does have the ability to form to your body.
These gloves are ventilated, work with touch screens, and have a protection across the knuckles and palms.
A lot of the reviews mention how thin the leather material is and lack of CE level protection.
Dainese MIG C2 Gloves
For a bit more money, you may want to consider this set of gloves from Dainese. Dainese is an Italian company that has been producing protective gear since 1972. Their jackets have been winning awards for the last 20 years.
Legendary riders like Valentino Rossi wear Dainese.
These gloves have pre-curved fingers and high quality CE protection across the knuckles. They have added padding in the palms.
Budget Cruiser Boots
Going with an old pair of ankle high leather boots will work for a while, but you’ll want to get motorcycle specific boots eventually.
Motorcycle boots have padding on the top portion of the toes of the left boot. This is going to save the base material from wear and tear when you shift gears. A great set of motorcycle boots will also have stiff protective padding in the ankle area.
While boots will protect your feet in a moving crash they are designed to protect your ankle and lower leg during slow speed drops.
At some point, you’ll drop your motorcycle. This is when the padding of the ankle will serve its purpose. Taller boots like the Fox Comps will take the brunt of the weight of your bike instead of your tibia.
Street & Street Oakland
For a stylish boot that will protect your ankles, I recommend the Steel & Steel Oakland boots. I found this pair at my local Cycle Gear. They are affordable, look great for date night, and have solid ankle protection.
They are comfortable on the bike. They are stiff due to the padding around the sides and ankle, but that is a huge plus.
I wouldn’t want to run out of gas on the side of the road with these on, but a quick trip to the grocery store in these isn’t a big deal.
Workland 77415
These Workland 77415 boots cover your calves a bit more, giving your tibia the protection it will need in a fall.
The majority of motorcycle injuries occur of the lower body, especially the lower legs and feet. These injuries aren’t deadly but they are painful and will keep you from riding.
Protecting your foots and ankles is very important for having a long successful riding career.
Budget Cruiser Jacket
The proper upper body gear will serve multiple purposes. Motorcycle jackets are designed to be comfortable in a riding position.
These jackets allow for your arms to reach the controls in front of you without any tightness in the shoulders. Some have compatible pants that you can connect, providing you with a complete set of gear.
HWK Mesh jacket
My go-to jacket has been this mesh one from HWK. It’s definitely a budget jacket at under $100, but I like the fit, padding, and visibility it provides.
Since it is mesh, it is breathable and great for all riding seasons. During the cold morning commutes, I layer it with a light sweatshirt and I’m good.
It has two pockets on the front and three inside the jacket. It’s got protective padding in the back, shoulders, and elbow. The pads are of okay quality, so I am debating about upgrading the pads themselves since I like the fit of the jacket itself.
BILT Abbot Leather Jacket
If leather is more your style, here is an option for you. The BILT Abbot Leather Jacket doesn’t have a lot of features. If the jacket doesn’t fit well at the wrist or waist, there aren’t options to make adjustments.
Being leather, the jacket will protect you from rain and wind. It looks sharp and it has a low profile all around.
The CE armor in the shoulders and elbows are nice. The jacket looks great enough to wear out for a date night or around the office.
If you want a leather jacket with more options for adjustments, I really like the Street & Steel Outlander Jacket. It has a thermal liner, back padding, and loop’d system for connecting to a jacket.
Just be aware darker clothing will make you are difficult to see during low light conditions.
Budget Cruiser Pants
If you are on a tight budget, your jeans will work in a pinch. They won’t last long in even a slow speed crash, but they are something.
After getting your helmet, gloves, boots, and jacket, I think your next purchase should be a pair of riding pants. As with everything on this list, fit is most important.
The correct fit will allow you to be focused on your riding and your surroundings instead of constantly adjusting your gear or shifting positions.
HWK Mesh Pants
I am clearly a fan of HWK and their budget riding gear. I think it’s a great place to start if you are trying to get out riding as soon and for as cheap as possible.
These HWK mesh pants are breathable, perfect for summer riding, on or off road. The outer shell is made with 600-D Cordura. They include CE armor for their knees and hips.
If you have the HWK mesh jacket, these pants have a waist connection zipper that connects the two, forming a full suit.
Just like the jacket, the pants have a lot of pockets and highly reflective materials. I feel safer wearing these since it increases my visibility to other road users.
CTBQiTOM Jeans
These HWK mesh pants look like a decent option if you can wear jeans around the office. I am thinking about buying a pair for myself.
I like that they have CE padding in the knee and hip areas. They are made with cotton and spandex, so they will flex and fit more comfortably.
I will give you update my findings after I’ve logged some miles in these. The other option I am considering are these Iron Workers Harden Jeans.
Conclusion
Going budget doesn’t mean you can give up protection. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous as it is.
Be safe, be smart.
Imagine reaching your 80th birthday and looking back at all your wonderful riding years. Being a safe rider and wearing your gear will increase your odds of celebrating this milestone. Shoot, maybe you’ll go for a ride with your grandkids to cap off the day and pass on the legacy.
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