What Type Of Clothing For Supermoto
Supermoto clothing tends to be either motocross gear or road race gear and sometimes a hybrid of both.
Although motocross gear tends to look the business there is no substitute for leathers if you come off on the road.
Normal road race leathers are OK. However, these are designed for being hunched over a sports bike and not for being sat upright on a Supermoto.
There are plenty of options to choose from. You just need to decide on the correct type of clothing to suit your riding style.
Some manufacturers now produce specific Supermoto jackets, trousers and one-piece racing suits.
Impact Shorts
Generally the first thing to hit the road if you come off is your backside and a broken coccyx is extremely painful.
Impact shorts are designed to offer protection for the hips, thighs, tail bone and backside.
If you’re ever unfortunate enough to highside the bike then wearing impact shorts will give you the best chance of not getting a broken hip.
Look for CE EN 1621-1: 2012 built in protection. Impact shorts can be worn underneath leather or textile trousers.
Base Layers
Managing your body temperature whilst riding is essential and having effective layering helps do just this.
Summer base layers will keep you cool and dry in the the warmest of weather and thermal base layers will keep you warm in the winter months.
Base layers will provide warmth whilst pulling away sweat from your skin; this process is known as wicking.
Base layers that wick effectively provide comfort because they help keep you dry and free from chills. They are to be worn under leathers or textile garments.
Upper Body Armour
For the Supermoto riders that prefer the freer movement and ventilation offered from motocross gear, purchasing upper body armour is essential. There are 3 main options to choose from.
The ‘Hard shell chest protector’, which is favoured by dirt bike riders and offers chest, back and shoulder protection.
Then there is the ‘Body pressure suit’, which incorporates back, chest, elbow, shoulder, arm and kidney protection.
And finally the ‘Roost guard protector’, which is the lightest option and offers just chest and back protection. This armour tends to be favoured in the warmer months.
All body armour should adhere to the latest CE certification.
Neck Brace
A neck brace may seem a little OTT for Supermoto riding as generally they are associated with motocross or enduro.
However if you’re taking the Supermoto regularly on the trails then there is always the risk of neck injury.
Neck braces work by restricting the movement of the head and neck in a crash. They also deflect the effect of impacts onto other areas of the body, usually the shoulders or chest.
If you are purchasing in store then take your helmet and body armour to make sure the brace sits comfortably. Ensure the neck brace has CE certification.
Knee Brace
Supermoto riding is all about having fun and when you go off onto the trails this is especially the case.
The knee brace is designed to absorb the compacting and lateral forces felt by the knee when you’re riding hard.
When you land a jump, grip the bike or take a hit to the leg, the knee brace will absorb the shock and cushion the knee from impact.
Think of the knee brace as a layer of scaffolding around your knee joint preventing hyperextension or lateral forces.
What to look for – Lightweight, low profile, anatomically designed hinge, adjustable stops for hyperextension and adjustable width fitting. CE tested and certified as impact protection EN 1621-1:2012.
Leather Trousers
Most sports motorcycle trousers will be OK for Supermoto. However, it’s worth looking at trousers that are specifically designed for the Supermoto riding style.
These trousers tend to be much more flexible than normal race leathers. All trousers should feature CE knee armour or have spacious knee compartments to facilitate knee braces.
Good quality trousers should have a leather thickness of 1.1mm or over. Leather construction will always be superior to any textile construction in the event of a crash.
What to look for – Full grain leather with reinforced seams, CE certified knee and shin guards, hip protection, stretch panels for comfort and movement, zipped gusset for calves, adjustable waist and zipped pockets.
Textile Trousers
Riders tend to opt for textile trousers over leather because they are lighter in weight, more flexible and offer better ventilation on a warmer day.
Although it may sound obvious having trousers that fit correctly is really important. A bad fitting pair could dig in, ride up or even drag on the ground.
What to look for – CE certified knee protection, CE certified hip protection, high strength perforated textile, 4 way stretch for comfort, connection zipper for jacket, zipped hand pockets, reflective inserts, waist adjustment and soft mesh lining.
Leather Jacket
The traditional leather jacket is still favoured over textiles by the majority of bikers mainly due to the superior abrasion resistance.
But it is heavier and hotter than textiles and will require conditioners and cleaners to keep in good shape.
What to look for – Perforated or ventilated jacket, fixed or removable CE armour in the spine, shoulders and elbows, zipper for trouser connection, waterproof lining and zipped pockets.
Popular brands: Alpinestars, Joe Rocket, Klim, Dainese, Icon and Revit.
Textile Jacket
Textile jackets tend to be favoured over leather when ventilation and movement is more of a priority.
There are also more designs, colours and styles available. Textile jackets are better for staying dry and keeping cool.
What to look for – CE certified shoulder and elbow protection, abrasion-resistant shell and mesh, ventilation panels, zipper for trouser connection and zipped pockets.
Popular brands: Alpinestars, Joe Rocket, Klim, Dainese, Icon and Revit.
Supermoto Riding Suit
Manufacturers are now making specific racing leathers for Supermoto which ticks all the boxes.
Supermoto riding suits feature a straight cut torso and curved sleeves for a more upright riding style.
The extensive use of textile panels help for improved cooling and weight reduction.
These suits are normally triple stitched with reinforced seams at all of the main stressed areas making them ideal for street riding and track days.
What to look for – High quality supple full-grain cowhide, perforated design for cooling, integrated CE hip, shoulder and elbow protection, detachable CE back protector, knee compartments for knee braces and adjustable waistband.
Supermoto Clothing Top Picks
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The Alpinestars Bionic Freeride Short are advanced protection shorts which provide excellent protection for the thighs, hips and tailbone.
The Lycra and mesh base construction make the shorts extremely comfortable yet protective.
With ventilated bio-foam padding on the hip, thigh and tailbone area that provide comfort and impact protection.
Further protection is provided through Cordura reinforcement in the seat and crotch area and the hard PU inserts for extra impact and abrasion protection.
Features:
- Lycra and mesh construction
- Cordura reinforcement on seat and crotch
- Foam padding on thighs, hips and tail bone
- Ventilated
- Hard PU inserts for additional impact and abrasion resistance
- 40% Polypropylene
- 31% Nylon
- 16% Polyurethane (PU)
- 13% Polyethylene
These ultra-lightweight base layers offer moisture-wicking and cooling comfort while their flatlock seams and a tubular construction provide a compression fit and unrestricted movement on the bike.
Features:
- Ultra-lightweight, technical base layer anatomically optimized to be worn under outer garments
- Comfortable moisture-wicking fibre aids all-round body temperature control and performance
- Fully body-mapped with strategically positioned open mesh inserts for ventilation
- Seamless tubular construction allows for performance compression fit
- Flat-lock ergonomic seams allow unrestricted movement and an enhanced range of motion
The versatile and modular Bionic Chest Protector incorporates Level 1 CE certified protection on the back, chest and shoulders.
With hard shell protector plates and soft bio foam interior padding, the Bionic Chest Protector is extremely comfortable, with a lightweight design that allows for high levels of breathability and airflow.
Protector plates feature embedded grid technology under the shells which absorbs and dissipates impacts forces. Grid technology cell system enables greater flexibility and air ventilation while allowing for significantly reduced weight.
Features:
- Hard shells are constructed from a high performance polymeric material blend for optimized flexibility and excellent weight saving properties
- Shells feature perforation zones and air channeling for excellent breathability and ventilation
- Removable upper back padded panel for BNS compatibility
- Side adjustable kidney belt allows for various fit sizes and ensures protection remains close to the body at all times
- The front side wings are connected to the main chest protector with three bridge fixings allowing the wings to move independently and take the shape of the body
A light, rigid and non-flexible structure that offers revolutionary protection that is great value for money
The Leatt neck brace is tested and proven to reduce neck forces and severe injury chances up to 43%.
The rigid and non-flexible structure of the GPX 3.5 model, the latest addition of the Leatt range, is made of reinforced polyamide and EPS interior and offers cutting-edge protection without sacrificing comfort.
The neck brace is adjustable to fit most of the physical structure of motorcyclists, with a collarbone shape that protects this delicate bone from the neck, arms and the helmet in case of impact.
All Leatt neck braces have been tested and certified as personal protective equipment.
Features:
- Certified to reduce neck forces through independent tests
- Up to 43% reduction in the risk of serious neck injuries
- Semi-rigid structure that adapts to the shape of the body
- Independently tested and proven to reduce neck forces
- Rigid, non-flexible polyamide reinforced EPS platform for lowest possible neck forces
- CoreFlex split rear thoracic strut is more comfortable and designed to work with the body’s natural movements
- Thoracic rear strut is engineered to snap off before applying excessive pressure to the back
- Optimal helmet rim striking platform design for a biomedical balanced head and helmet freedom of motion
- Adjustable rear thoracic strut to fit most body shapes
- Sculptured, split front for improved comfort and fit
- Engineered collarbone cut-out to help keep your helmet and brace away from your most fragile bones
- Air flow ribbed body padding for optimum ventilation
- Free, optional clear chest strap included
- CE tested and certified as Personal Protective Equipment 89/686/EEC
Acerbis continues to develop innovative and protective products with the same enthusiasm and passion that the founders of Acerbis had in previous years.
Three elastic straps with velcro keeps the guards in place. Dual joints that give you even more mobility than the cheaper single hinged covers.
These are fastened with four high-quality aluminum screws. The guards are ergonomically designed to provide the ultimate fit.
The main structure is made of polycarbonate, which is a strong and lightweight plastic.
The inside is made of a thermo-expanded fabric lycra-padding which is removable and washable.
Features:
- Knee, tibia and femur protection in plastic and EVA padding
- Air vents to increase ventilation of knee and shinbone
- Pre-shaped, asymmetrical design for comfort and fit
- Double pivot system to facilitate movement of the knee
- Removable padding, soft and comfortable fabric, hypoallergenic and breathable
- Adjustable, elastic straps with Velcro closure
- One size, fits all
- Approved and certified according to EN 1621-1/2012
MVD SX-Classic Supermoto Jacket
The SX-Classic Supermoto jacket is made of 1.33mm thick high-quality cowhide. This is a wear-resistant material that offers you essential protection of the upper body.
Accordion stretch and wear-resistant Kevlar panels on the arms and armpits immediately increase your comfort. The added stretch enables you to have more freedom of movement and allows more control over your Supermoto.
The internal shoulder and elbow protection is ergonomically preshaped, lightweight and CE approved. Meaning the jacket will offer excellent protection whilst wearing it, whilst not feeling to heavy.
The low-cut neck enables you to move your head freely. Moreover, it makes this jacket extremely suited to wear in combination with a neck-brace.
All seams are double stitched with an extremely strong nylon yarn. This will protect your jacket from ripping should you crash at high speed.
Visit MVD Racewear for further details – www.mvdracewear.com
Features:
- 1.3mm supple and wear-resistant cowhide offers a great protection
- Comfortable fit for a flexible racing posture
- CE-approved inner protection
- Multiple tear-resistant stitch seams
- Integrated kidney band
- Smart perforation for optimally cooling and moisture-wicking properties
- Kevlar stretch increases your agility
- Integrated foam protection
- Connection zipper and detachable safety flap
- Detachable back protector
- Low-cut neck for a supple turn of your head
- Without a high neck, suited for wearing a neck brace
- Reflective striping for visibility in the dark
- Secure outer compartments for keeping e.g. your keys
- For Supermotard, Sport and Naked-bike rider
MVD Pro-S1 Supermoto Suit
The PRO-S1 supermoto One-Piece Leather Suit is a racing suit that combines safety and protection with agility.
The MVD PRO-S1 suit is a high-performance full leather suit especially designed for an active style such as Supermoto.
The base of these one-piece leathers is supple and firm, as it is made from 1.3mm full-grain leather cowhide.
The base of the leather is perforated for 60% so that the air can directly escape from your Supermoto leathers.
Combined together with the unique air-knee ventilations system, this can offer you maximum cooling in order for you to ride focussed.
The PRO-S1 Supermoto suit is superbly suited for use during the summer and more intensive circuits.
The combination of leather and high-end fabrics makes this PRO-S1 racing suit extremely lightweight.
The adjustable waistband puts the centre of gravity on your hips, instead of your shoulders.
You will notice you are able to focus better and will experience less fatigue.
Visit MVD Racewear for further details – www.mvdracewear.com
Features:
- 1.3mm supple and wear-resistant cowhide offers a great protection
- Comfortable fit for a flexible racing posture
- CE-approved inner protection
- Multiple tear-resistant stitch seams
- Integrated kidney band
- Smart perforation for optimally cooling and moisture-wicking properties
- Kevlar stretch increases your agility
- Integrated foam protection
- Connection zipper and detachable safety flap
- Detachable back protector
- Low-cut neck for a supple turn of your head
- Without a high neck, suited for wearing a neck brace
- Reflective striping for visibility in the dark
- Secure outer compartments for keeping e.g. your keys
- For Supermotard, Sport and Naked-bike rider
Final Thoughts
Motorcycle clothing is big business and there are hundreds of different brands to choose from. With so many different options, styles and materials it can all be a bit mind boggling.
Wearing the right Supermoto clothing is essential not only for comfort but for protection.
Clothing that is not comfortable or ill-fitting will be a distraction whilst riding and potentially unsafe.
Always try and buy the best quality clothing that you can afford as generally this will give you the highest level of protection.