Motorcycle Riding Gear
Gear for a Passenger: What a Pillion Rider Needs to Wear and How It Differs From the Rider's Kit
What a motorcycle passenger needs to wear: the five pieces, feet and hot parts, loose items, sizing mismatches and state helmet rules, piece by piece.
A passenger needs the same five pieces as the rider: a helmet, a jacket, pants, gloves and boots. Sources from an Australian state government and two US insurers all say a passenger faces the same conditions and risks, so the protection should match. What differs is fit, reach and snag points: a passenger's feet must reach the pegs, boots must have no laces to catch, nothing should flap, and the gear has to be sized to the passenger, not borrowed from the rider.
Part of our motorcycle riding gear guide. It covers what to wear, not how to ride two-up.
Key takeaways
- Same five pieces as the rider; shorts, a swimsuit and flip-flops are not suitable.
- Feet stay on the pegs, so check the passenger can reach them before the ride.
- Choose boots without laces that could catch on pegs, the gear lever or the brake lever.
- No loose scarves, backpacks or accessories that can flap or snag.
- Helmet rules for passengers differ by US state; check your state code.
The same five pieces, piece by piece
The Australian rule is shown as one government example; the US sources are insurer guides, not standards. For what a helmet label means, see helmet standards explained.
| Piece | What the sources say for a passenger | Where it differs from the rider's kit |
|---|---|---|
| Helmet | A properly fitted DOT or ECE-certified helmet; eye protection, especially with an open-face helmet. A US DOT helmet carries a label with DOT, FMVSS No. 218 and CERTIFIED | Needs its own proper fit, not the rider's helmet. Law may differ by age or state |
| Jacket and pants | Durable, abrasion-resistant, textile or leather; covering arms, legs and body and secured at wrists, waist and ankles so it does not ride up in a fall | Sized to the passenger's body (see below) |
| Gloves | Full-fingered with grip; a gauntlet style with strengthened palm, knuckle protection and a zip or Velcro wrist closure | Same protection as the rider; grip is listed for passengers |
| Boots | Over-the-ankle; leather with zip or Velcro fastening, overlapping the pants over shin, ankle and instep, and no laces | Laces can catch on pegs, the gear lever or the brake lever |
Where a passenger's kit really differs
Feet and hot parts. Ask the rider where to put your feet, confirm you can reach the pegs, and keep your feet on them. Know where the exhaust and engine get hot before you get on. Check that pants and boots still overlap and nothing rides up when you sit on the bike.
Loose items. Scarves, backpacks and dangling accessories can flap in the wind or snag on bike components.
Weather. Dairyland says to be ready for whatever the weather brings, whether staying cool, warm or dry. The layering ideas in how to layer motorcycle gear for cold rides apply to a passenger as well.
When sizes do not match
A passenger may be a very different size from the rider, so the rider's spare gear may not fit. MotoCAP's fit advice applies to any wearer: protectors must stay over the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, so try gear on, and loose clothing flaps and lets cold in.
Use the same method for a passenger as for a rider: see how motorcycle gear should fit as a set and motorcycle boot sizing.
| Situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| Passenger much smaller than the rider, wearing the rider's spare jacket | Do the protectors still sit over the joints? Does the sleeve flap? |
| Passenger larger, wearing a spare | Is anything restricting arms or knees when seated? |
| Boots in the passenger's size, pants from a different set | Do the pants overlap the boot top when seated on the bike? |
| Passenger's hand falls between two glove sizes | Measure the widest part of the palm; one store says to pick the larger size between sizes |
Rules differ by state
There is no single US state law on passenger helmets. Seventeen states and DC list helmets for all riders. In other states the passenger rule may depend on age or the operator: Colorado lists passengers 17 and younger, Nebraska passengers under 21 or riding with an operator under 21, and Michigan lets passengers 21 and older ride without a helmet if they carry additional insurance. The table says to verify independently, so check your state code. Our required motorcycle equipment section covers the law by country.
Before the first ride
- Fit the helmet snugly and check the eye protection.
- Sit on the bike and reach the pegs.
- Ask which parts get hot.
- Remove scarves and loose items; zip pockets.
- Check boots have no laces that could catch.
For the whole-kit checklist, see how to choose proper motorcycle riding gear. If the passenger is heading to a course, see what gear to wear for a rider-training course.
If you are fitting a second person into a leather kit, Leather Collection's motorcycle riding gear range includes jackets with a Custom Size option; read each product page for what a piece includes.
FAQ
What should a passenger wear on a motorcycle?
A helmet, jacket, gloves, riding pants and boots, with no shorts, swimsuit or flip-flops. Avoid loose scarves and backpacks.
When carrying a passenger on my motorcycle, I must?
Check the passenger can reach the footpegs and keeps their feet on them, and that they wear protection. Helmet law for passengers differs by state.
Does a passenger need the same gear as the rider?
Sources say the protection should be equal, because the risks are the same.
Motorcycle Leather Superstore Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Superstore articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.