Getting your first bike or scooter is exciting, and then you realise you also need to kit yourself out, and the choices are overwhelming. This guide cuts through it: what you actually need, in what order, what the safety ratings mean, and an honest budget pick for each, so you can get protected without overspending.
A quick principle the whole community lives by: dress for the slide, not the ride. In the UK the only gear you are legally required to wear is a helmet, but skin does not grow back the way denim does. The good news is that protective kit has never been cheaper, and you do not need to spend a fortune to be properly covered.
The ratings, in plain English
Two systems matter, and they take 30 seconds to understand:
- Helmets: ECE 22.06. This is the current European safety standard (it replaced the older 22.05). Any helmet sold new in the UK should meet it. For extra reassurance, the UK’s SHARP scheme star-rates helmets from 1 to 5.
- Clothing: EN 17092 + CE armour. Jackets, trousers and jeans carry an abrasion rating from AAA (best) down to AA, A, B, C. Separately, the impact armour is rated CE Level 1 (minimum) or Level 2 (better). Look for both. A garment with no CE armour, just foam padding, is not protective kit.
What to buy, in priority order
1. Helmet (around £80 to £150 to start)
The one non-negotiable, and the one place not to cut corners on fit. A well-fitting ECE 22.06 helmet is the priority purchase. Budget full-face lids like the HJC C10 punch well above their price. We cover the best options in our best first motorcycle helmets guide, and reviewed the sport-touring step-up in our AGV K6 S review. Fit matters more than price, so try before you buy if you possibly can. Check helmet prices at Amazon UK →
2. Gloves (around £25 to £50)
The gear you will use on literally every ride, and your hands are what hit the ground first in a fall. Look for CE Level 1 with hard knuckle protection. You do not need to spend big here. We break down the options in our best budget motorcycle gloves guide. Check glove prices at Amazon UK →
3. Jacket (around £80 to £180 to start)
A textile jacket with CE armour at the shoulders, elbows and back is the sweet spot for a first jacket: cheaper than leather, more practical in British weather, and often waterproof. See our best budget motorcycle jackets guide for honest picks, and our Oxford Montreal 4 review for a popular all-weather option. Make sure the back protector is CE-rated, not just a foam pad. Check jacket prices at Amazon UK →
4. Trousers or riding jeans (around £100 to £180)
The most-skipped item, and the one new riders regret skipping after a low-speed spill. Single-layer armoured riding jeans are the comfortable, wearable choice: look for an AAA or AA rating with Level 2 armour at the hips and knees. Our best motorcycle riding jeans guide ranks the options, but the Bull-it Covert Evo (around £100, AAA) is the easy first pick. Avoid “fashion” biker jeans with no rating. Check riding jeans at Amazon UK →
5. Boots (around £60 to £120)
Sturdy boots that support and protect the ankle are the goal. Look for the EN 13634 motorcycle boot rating. Brands like RST, Spada, Oxford and Forma all do solid budget options. Ankle protection is the bit that matters most, so trainers and work boots are a step down even if they are allowed for your CBT. Check boot prices at Amazon UK →
What it adds up to
A sensible, properly-rated starter kit comes in somewhere around £350 to £600 all in, depending on how much you spend on the jacket and boots. You can do it cheaper by buying summer gear first and adding winter kit later, and prices move around constantly, especially on Amazon, so check the live price before buying.
Where to start
If you have a date booked, read what to wear for your CBT first, since that tells you the minimum you need on the day and what your school will provide. Otherwise, buy in priority order: helmet, gloves, then build out the rest as budget allows.
More beginner guides: What to wear for your CBT · Best first helmets · Best budget gloves