We know the importance of helmets already and most people that ride motorcycles are likely to wear them. However, how many times have you seen a rider go out for a casual cruise wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops? They still have the helmet on so it it's ok right?

Unfortunately it is not. I won't lie and say that I always wear full protective gear but that doesn't mean I, or anyone else for that matter, shouldn't. Protecting your head is obviously important but what about the rest of your body? Think for a second about just running your knuckles even slightly against a brick wall or concrete. Doesn't sound too appealling right? Well imagine what happens in even the slightest motorcycle accident if your skin is exposed.

While wearing a fully padded, racetrack approved get up isn't always an option there are still several ways to drastically protect yourself while riding. If you don't want to spring for a couple thousand dollar complete set then try some of these cheaper, but still more protective than what most wear, options:

Protect Your Hands

A simple pair of motorcyle gloves (or any protective glove for that matter) are fairly cheap and your hands will thank you if you ever take your bike for a spill. The hands are always exposed and can suffer serious injuries to the thin parts of the skin if not protected. Plus, you want to keep your hands usuable right?

Protect Your Arms and Legs

Even if it is hot outside you should probably consider wearing even a light jacket over your t-shirt and some sweatpants or jeans over your shorts. While not nearly as effective as good quality motorcycle jackets or leather pants it is much better than having bare skin meet a hard surface.

ALWAYS WEAR SHOES

There really is no excuse for this one and I don't even see how some people ride without them. Your feet are down and around lots of moving parts and constantly having to brake, shift gears, and keep your bike balanced at low speeds/stopping points. If you have to use an older pair of shoes for riding and keep your flip-flops or other pair in a small backpack. Heck, the blisters that will form on the top of your foot from shifting should be reason enough to want to wear shoes while riding.

Again, if you are riding you should always be prepared and by wearing the proper equipment you can greatly improve the outcome of any mishap on the road. If you know that you are going for a ride just take a minute to assess what ways you could better protect yourself even if it means just making a few small changes, they may help in a big way.