When it Comes to Motorcycle Maintenance, Watch those Hands!

Whether you take your bike out for a ride on a daily basis or save it for those long-term adventures where you can really wind down on the road, safety is key when it comes to protecting yourself on your motorcycle! However, while most motorcycle drivers are well aware of the rules of the road and how to take care of themselves along it, many forget what it means to be protected while performing motorcycle maintenance

But, whether you happen to be on your bike and using your hands for grip or you’re trying to get into all those tricky nooks and crannies for cleaning, taking good care of your hands is one of the most important things you can do when performing routine maintenance. From changing oil filters to keeping things lubed, it’s important to have the right gloves for the job.

There’s something to be said for the rules of the road but avoiding unsightly scrapes on your hands is too! Depending on the type of motorcycle maintenance you’ll be doing, there’s a wide variety of gloves to choose from. Fortunately for you, we have a little guide for the types of gloves that are available and what they can do to protect two of your most precious assets.

Dealing with Chemicals

The more skilled you are at doing your own motorcycle maintenance, the more likely it is that you’ll be coming into contact with a lot of chemicals that can be potentially damaging to your skin. As a result, having a stock of nitrile exam gloves on hand for the occasions when you don’t want to get your hands dirty is ideal. Not only are these gloves a great alternative to vinyl gloves given their durability and comfort, they’re also available in a variety of synthetic materials so you don’t have to worry about waste. Conveniently enough, if you happen to be dealing with a more robust chemical, you can also choose a thicker glove in this style for a bit of added protection. The only downside with these gloves is that they don’t give your hands a lot of room to breathe, but there is the benefit they won’t become uncomfortable after a little wear. Even better, whether you want to use them once or a few times, they will last more than one wear!

Getting Your Grip

A sturdy pair of leather gloves is important on the road to avoid calluses and deal with rapidly changing temperatures, but it’s equally important to find your grip in the garage when it comes to maintenance. Dealing with all of the small pieces and parts of your motorcycle can be a bit tricky without the right grip, so protecting your hands from lesser-known pieces that can exact their revenge is key. When it comes to all the little elements, make sure you have a pair of woven cloth gloves that feature rubber grips so that you can get into the areas that will need grip and require give. But, keep in mind that if you’re dealing with a lot of chemicals, cloth alone won’t do the trick. Fortunately, if you have some disposables on hand, you can always work with these by wearing a pair of nitrile exam gloves under your cloth ones. This will give you great dual protection, whether you’re polishing your B & B bash plate or working on the chain.

Doing the Heavy-Duty Work

There are moments when you’ll really be getting into the down and dirty that will require more than a pair of disposable plastic or cloth gloves. And, for the work of getting into those really tough places that are likely to tear through fabric and plastic, you’ll want to make sure you have a pair of automotive work gloves. Also known as mechanics gloves, these are good for everything from tanks to jets to your very own two-wheeler. While you have the option of going for a thinner or thicker version, depending on how much dexterity you require, these gloves will be vented for hot weather and are good for standing up to the beating they’ll probably take. If there’s one pair of gloves you’re going to spend a small fortune on, it should be these.

Motorcycle maintenance may be something of an art form to the initiated, but when taking to the task of cleaning your bike, it’s important to be prepared for the dirty work and protect your hands. While disposable gloves can help when it comes to the simple stuff, for those harder jobs you’ll want some automotive work gloves to protect from scratches and scrapes. Whatever glove style or brand you decide to go with, your hands and your bike will be better for the protection.

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