The dream of motorcycling is an open road, a rumbling exhaust, and a supermodel on the back with flowing blonde hair. With this image in mind, you buy a bike and then go on the lookout for a companion for the back. Often times, you may be successful, but although your girl’s high heels and dress may be suitable for a night out, they aren’t for riding a bike. So, what’s a person to do? Icon has the solution. They make the gear that your girlfriend will not only want to wear, but will keep her safe too.

There is extra pressure when someone is your passenger, but that’s no excuse not to include them. Riding pillion opens your significant other to the why behind the ride. They can experience for themselves the rush of riding a bike. We don’t just buy bikes because they are good to look at, but others don’t understand how fun they can be if they don’t experience it for themselves. Plus, once your passenger is comfortable, there will be no need to take the car out. They’ll be begging for the bike. But first, make sure they’re properly geared up.

Helmets for Her

For helmets, they have a variety of liveries and designs with females in mind. For this test, we used an Alliance helmet. You may recognize this piece from the last article we did, reason being is that it is a perfect all-around helmet for street use. It’s cheap, it’s protective and it’s light. This time around, we picked an Alliance helmet that has been slathered in Barbie pink from front to back.

The design is Chrysalis, but from my girlfriend’s reaction, they should call it OMG PINK!!! If your girlfriend is the glitter and pink type, get the helmet. It’s Disney princess approved and offers the same protection and comfort as the helmet on your head too.

Plus, the design will make her want to wear a full-face helmet. No complaints about their hair getting messed up, or how hot it may be. Get a design they like, pink or not, and they will want to wear the lid. Girlfriend’s not a pink fan? Have her pick out a design from the dozen of choices Icon has.

Suit Her Up

Icon’s jacket choices take their female options past just making it pink, however. Case in point: the One Thousand Federal Jacket. Part of the One Thousand collection, this jacket leaves off flashy graphics and logos for a subdued, vintage vibe. All leather, this jacket is more Black Widow than Disney Princess. The best part is that the jacket has D3O armor in the shoulders, elbows and back.

For those unfamiliar, D3O is a special type of foam that is soft when at rest, but upon impact, firms up. Because of the dual nature of the material, the armor can be slimmer and more comfortable – just another example of form and function combining at last.

Remember to get you girlfriend involved in the decision process, though. For as much as I loved the jacket, my girlfriend found it heavy and ungainly. Forgetting that she isn’t used to motorcycle gear, it will take her some time to adjust, but comfort is a top priority in order to keep your passengers to feel confident on the bike. That’s why she loves her Contra jacket that is lighter, made of fabric, but does not offer the D3O.

The One Thousand Federal is a premier motorcycle jacket with a cost to match, but you don’t need to spend a lot to make your girlfriend happy. She’ll be happy with the gear she chooses rather than the choice you give her.

The Extras That Make a Difference

Helmets and jackets are important, but it’s the extra little bits that make a huge difference for riders. For example, the Sacred Tall boots are a mid-calf option that offers protection and excellent looks. Their slim profile allows the wearer to tuck jeans into the boot or out without looking too bulky. It’s the little things like this that make the gear protective and good looking enough so the wearer wants to use them.

Pursuit gloves are another example. They are not full gauntlets (they are available), but offer protection for the knuckles and have a reinforced palm. Finish off the outfit with a pair of Hella Heartbreakers and your passenger will be full protected while still looking suitable for a night out.

Final Tips

Remember, a passenger may not be familiar with the dynamics of riding a motorcycle, so be smooth. No wheelies, stoppies or drag launches; you are not impressing her, only scaring the living shit out of her. Good luck getting lucky if you nearly give your date a heart attack.

Also, include her in the gear selection process; she will be wearing it after all. The gear she likes the look of will be the gear she wants to wear, but don’t let her scrimp on the protection for the sake of looks. And this is where Icon’s product line shines. Their gear is both protective and looks good. Plus, they don’t treat girls like one homogenous group. Some love pink, others are more punk, and Icon offers plenty of choices for your passenger’s preferences.

Riding bitch is an unfairly harsh term for riding on the back of a bike. In many ways, it takes more courage to ride on the back of the bike than to ride it yourself. Not only do you have no control, but you also must fully trust the rider to not do anything stupid as they try to impress you. Not to mention, many modern bikes give you little more than a passenger seat the size of a deck of cards to sit on. Riding bitch is courageous stuff; protect your passengers accordingly with gear from Icon and they’ll thank you later.

So yes, gear is necessary while riding a bike, but just because it protects you doesn’t mean it has to look stupid. In fact, with modern constructing and materials, motorcycle armor is both attractive and safe. Working with Icon, here are five misconceptions you may have about motorcycle gear, and why they just aren’t true.

5. Motorcycle gear is uncomfortable

One misconception about motorcycle gear is that it’s uncomfortable. Regardless of if it’s safe, people whine that it’s too hot and too bulky; they just feel more comfortable without it. Icon’s Compound Jacket and Strongarm 2 pants say otherwise.

The Compound jacket is a hybrid, but not the nerdy car kind. Leather where you slide and textile to keep the weight down; you barely feel the jacket at all. It also has a bevy of adjustable vents to keep the cool air flowing. Most importantly, the Compound has armor on the elbows, shoulders and back. This jacket has the protection you need and the comfort you want, all in one package.

For the other half of your body there are the Strongarm 2 Enforcer pants. Rather than full motorcycle pants that are unbearable to wear any time off the bike, the Strongarm 2 Enforcers look and feel like normal jeans. And aside from the Aramid reinforced knee plates, they basically are. This is good for comfort, but I would recommend purchasing the optional kneepads for more protection. But still, the comfort and style of jeans with the protection of traditional motorcycle pants is a fantastic bargain.

4. Motorcycle gear is ugly

No one wants to wear clothes that look stupid. Luckily, if you want to be protected on a bike, you can choose not to look like a rolling safety cone. Icon’s mission is to get people to wear gear, regardless of their tastes and preferences. Because of this, they design gear that will appeal to everyone from the guy looking for something subtle, to those looking to make more of a statement.

For instance, the compound jacket is firmly in the former category. Aside from the red logo on the small, exposed armor plate on the back, the all-black Compound jacket is subdued and stylish. The fit is spot on – snug but not tight – and the quality is top notch. Being all black, it’s as if the classic leather motorcycle jacket was updated for the 21st century. It makes a statement, without screaming it, or sacrificing safety for style.

In the latter category are the Strongarm 2 pants. If you are a firm extrovert and want everyone to be able to spot you from a mile away, buy these jeans. The wash is dark, and the fit is straight, but that’s where the subtlety ends. These pants are packed with embellishments. Fake stiches, contrasting colors on the pockets, and the cherry on top, a giant skull and crossbones on the back pocket. These pants are not for shrinking violets.

The Alliance Torrent helmet continues this theme. Skulls, stars, slashes and streaks are all over the place on this piece. It’s a basically a fireworks display on your head. It is a bit subtler because the black graphics are set against a dark silver background, but it definitely isn’t a piece that blends with the crowd. The best part, though, is that both the jeans and helmet can be had in more subtle colors and design schemes. So if you want to ride under the radar, or into the spotlight, pick whatever armor suits your taste and ride on.

3. Helmets aren’t comfortable

All too often you will see a motorcyclist fully geared up with their helmet hanging off the back of the bike. This choice has always baffled me, but it goes with the line of thought that helmets are too cumbersome to ride with. It is just more comfortable to have your bare face in the wind than it is to wear a helmet. This is patently false.

The Alliance helmet is a perfect example of a helmet that is comfortable, stylish, and of course, protects your head. Yes, a full-face helmet is comfortable. For example, the Alliance has plenty of ventilation to keep your head cool, and Icon’s HydraCool inner lining to keep you from stanking it up with sweat. Also, it’s light enough to not wear on your neck like many cheaper helmets. Plus, as mentioned before, it comes in just about every color scheme you want. Stop making excuses, start wearing a helmet; your head needs a helmet a lot more than the back of your bike.

2. Gear is expensive

This isn’t a myth as much as it is an excuse. Why people all of a sudden become scrooges about gear but not the motorcycle their buying is beyond me, but at the end of the day, you can have full protection on a bike for a reasonable price. For example, here’s a breakdown of all of the gear in this review plus a few extras:

Alliance Torrent Helmet: $225
Compound Jacket: $320
Strongarm 2 Pants: $115
Stryker Knee Armor: $105
Justice Mesh Glove: $60
Superduty 4 Boot: $120

Total: $945

That comes out to just under a grand for quality gear that you can use season after season. That’s a deal not only for your face, but also for your wallet.

1. Gear isn’t cool

The main reason people don’t wear gear is that they think it’s not cool. But let’s name a few professions that require helmets: jet fighter pilots, football players, astronauts, medieval knights and racecar drivers. Now, let’s name a few professions that don’t need helmets or armor: ballet dancers, pastry chefs, clowns, and figure skaters. Not having a helmet isn’t so bad now, is it?

Don’t be a squid; wear your gear. No, you do not look cool on your bike with shorts and flip-flops. Plus, the pavement will gladly wipe that douchebag smirk off your face. With Icon offering gear that is affordable, comfortable and stylish for whatever your style may be, there are just no more honest excuses anymore to not wear your gear.