You have a crazy variety of gear to choose from.
My rule of thumb is comfort and protection are equally important, style and price are secondary. Alas, that's left me with some ugly and expensive gear over the years :joke:.
These are just some basic considerations when gear shopping:
-- You're on a Spyder, not a sportbike. Which means clothing cut for cruiser or touring wear will generally "fit" better sitting on a Spyder then clothing optimized for the sport rider.
-- Leather is generally the most protective, and often best looking, both on and off the bike. Textile is generally less protective but usually more versatile and comfortable.
-- Leather varies widely in quality and thickness (thick = protection). Cheap-o Pakistani discount leather is affordable, but usually doesn't last long, and may not hold up in an accident. Expensive European or American leather will last for decades if treated well.
-- One hot summer and you'll appreciate mesh gear like an oasis in the desert. While I'm sure some are fortunate enough to save money and closet space with just one "year round" jacket, I've never been so lucky. Perforated leather isn't as cool as mesh, but far more protective (albeit more expensive).
-- Rain gear. Leather isn't waterproof, mesh isn't waterproof. You'll need some sort of rain gear (most folks like Frogg Toggs, YMMV). Textile gear will have varying degrees of waterproofing-- rule of thumb is that the more waterproof, the hotter it is, i.e. the less likely you'll want to wear that stuff once it warms up.
-- Armor. I won't ride without it in my jacket-- elbows, shoulders, and back. Note that many otherwise-quality manufacturers skimp on the "stock" back protectors (*cough* Firstgear *cough*) forcing you to upgrade if you want anything more substantial than a floppy foam pad.
-- Don't forget pants. You'll have leather, textile and even Kevlar-reinforced denim options. All have their place, but again, armor is recommended no matter what-- knees and hips are easy things to bruise & break once off a bike.
-- Gloves. All kinds, all varieties. I admit I'm a bit of a gloves whore :joke:. I've got winter gloves, waterproof gloves, mesh gloves, leather gloves, you name it. I always choose gloves with some kind of knuckle protection, and as much leather to protect the palms as possible. Always the right tool for the job!
One consideration for Spyder riders: it's not a motorcycle. Barring a catastrophic screwup / genuinely reckless riding, the chances of a solo accident are insignificant when compared to a bike. Thus, I admit to considering comfort a little more than protection when I'm on a Spyder, with the reverse true on a bike. On two wheels, I'll armor up like a Power Ranger because I know there's always the risk of me washing out a wheel, or hitting some invisible oil slick and wiping out. I can be just plain unlucky on a bike and thus end up on the pavement, hence why I'll wear my leather jacket, my high boots, my armored pants, my aftermarket full back protector, etc., etc. Anything to avoid the bumps, bruises, and road rash I could get just by being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
On the Spyder, the risk is, unfortunately, a bit more catastrophic: an accident involving a major wreck / major get-off. There's really not a whole lot of gear you can wear to protect yourself against that sort of thing (a Hit-Air inflatable vest/jacket would be a great investment if you think that's for you), so I tend to wear "just enough"-- still good gear, still armored, but stuff that's more comfortable for touring. I figure the chances of me getting into trouble on the Spyder are lower, but the consequences of getting into trouble are greater-- thus, I want to be as comfortable, and thus focused, on my riding as possible to *avoid* trouble rather than trust some cowhide and plastic to save me after-the-fact.
Good luck, and safe riding! :doorag:
