Motorcycle gear is expensive. A decent jacket can cost hundreds of dollars, riding jeans aren't cheap either, and we're generally willing to pay because there's an assumption baked into the transaction: this stuff is designed to save our skin. And if it carries a recognized safety certification, surely somebody has checked that it actually does what it says on the label. Well, researchers in Australia have some uncomfortable news about that last part.
According to a recent report by Australian Motorcycle News, Australia's independent Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program, better known as MotoCAP, has now tested around 1,100 products since launching in 2018. Unlike certification, which essentially determines whether a product clears a prescribed standard, MotoCAP independently rates how well different pieces of motorcycle clothing perform. And after eight years of testing jackets, pants, and gloves, its researchers say they've noticed a worrying trend.
