For regular motorcyclists, having gloves are not at the top of their list for must-have accessories when on the road. You can, however, bet that if you ask any experienced rider, gloves are at the top of their list along with a helmet, jacket and a pair of sturdy boots.
Hand injuries are a serious injury that can occur when in an accident. Given that people tend to instinctively throw their hands forward to cushion their landings when in an accident. The first thing to check when getting gloves is to ensure they have Palm Sliders.
First added by a British company called Knox who specialize in body armor, they are two independent sliders placed on each side of the lower palm. They called this the Scaphoid Protection System (SPS). The palm sliders are placed to protect the small bones and ligaments on the hands and wrists that are easily fractured and torn in accidents. The palm sliders on your gloves offer up extra protection to your hands and wrists. No matter how tough the leather chassis of the glove is, without the palm sliders, the rider risks hands catching and binding against the pavement in a get-off or tumble/slide.
Most gloves are also made with hard knuckles. This is to offer up knuckle protection during a fall as well.
Motorcycle gloves provide comfort when riding. This is seen since they prevent abrasions from moving elements such as dust, soil or small rocks. This is helpful considering the speeds that motorcycles drive at, a rock was thrown by a car ahead of you can hit and hurt the hand when on the road. This causes abrasions that can damage the skin. Best way to avoid such is simply wearing gloves that can prevent or cushion your hands from such elements on the road.
The grip is another safety feature provided by gloves. On most occasions, your hands will probably get sweaty from the heat your grip can slip at any time and when you are riding on the road, this isn’t a great position for you to be at. Most gloves have silicon hands that ensure a safe grip even if you are hot and sweaty in the palms and during the cold season they provide insulation on the road.
If you’ve ever ridden for an extended amount of time, you may have noticed your hands are becoming numb from the cold or the vibrations of the motorcycle. This can cause you not to even feel your hands when on the road. This is not only uncomfortable but can be dangerous as well. Gloves with padded hands cannot only protect your hands in a fall, but they can also help keep the feeling in your hands and shelter them against the vibrations from the bike.