Is knuckle protection important?

[ajwhipple]

I've noticed that a lot of the gloves recommended by the members have little if any knuckle protection beyond the leather itself. Is this more of a racing feature that's not needed for touring?

[Rob Hephner]

Depends upon how much you like your knuckles....

Sort of like the choice between 3/4 and full face.

BTW, all my glove recommendations have knuckle protection.

[ChipSTer]

Ever been hit in the knuckle by a rock gently tossed in your direction (read: shot out like a bullet from a rear tire)? I have... Trust me.... You want knuckle protection... :22yikes:
:cool:

[NCrider]

The knuckles will normally get the brunt of any hand trauma, especially if you "tuck".

I would recommend having extra protection there.

[ajwhipple]

I'm thinking of the Held Steve gloves. They seem to have a lot of recommendations, but I don't see the hard knuckle shells that I see on other gloves.

Do they have protection that just isn't as visible as other styles?

[Rob Hephner]

They have a double section of leather, but for me that is not enough.

[John Anthony]

You might want to check out RevIt's glove. They have an H2O "something" that's really comfortable and seems to have good protection.

John

[killerST6]

I have Joe Rocket phoenix 4.0 Gloves.
They are a summer glove with good leather finger protection and hard knuckle protection.
I really like them.

[ajwhipple]

So I bought the Alpinestars GP Plus gloves yesterday and took them for a short test ride. Overall I'm very happy with the fit. They're a little stiff, but I'm sure that will work out as I break them in. They have hard knuckle protection on the upper hand and most fingers, and a web to prevent separation on the 3rd and 4th fingers.

[half_a_tiger]

If you're thinking of getting new gloves anyway, a little added protection in the knuckles will always be on the plus side!!

[stickman]

From my experiences crashing on the track, knuckles get beat up easily. I would assume it's the same on the street, probably worst.

[gnorts]

Lee Parks DeerTours from Fox Creek.

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/127.html

Deerskin, with a double palm layer and elkhide knuckle patches. Absolutely the most comfortable gloves I have ever worn. Worth every penny.

[Mark]

Lee Parks DeerTours from Fox Creek.

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/127.html

Deerskin, with a double palm layer and elkhide knuckle patches. Absolutely the most comfortable gloves I have ever worn. Worth every penny.

Since the price is the same you might just get them direct from
leeparksdesign.com

Mark

[sherob]

If I'm just riding up the street, I wear a pair of leather gloves that have extra padding over the knuckles.

When I ride a distance further than say 5 miles, I put on my Held Phantoms... major knuckle protection... major everything protection! :bow1:

[gegundez]

Knuckle protection and mesh is what I am looking for, I have ICON Merc gloves with carbon fiber knuckle protection, though I need something cooler in Muggy Miami.

[juddspaintballs]

My winter gloves have very thick soft knuckle protection. I trust it is so thick that I have nothing to worry about. My summer gloves (first gear mesh tex) have hard knuckle protection and leather palms. When I wrecked I went over the bars and my palms took the brunt of the "damage" (though my gloves protected me). I don't trust gloves without knuckle protection though. If you screw up your hand even a little, you may never have full function of it again.

[juddspaintballs]

Knuckle protection and mesh is what I am looking for, I have ICON Merc gloves with carbon fiber knuckle protection, though I need something cooler in Muggy Miami.

http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/bargain_basement/first_gear/mesh_tex_motorcycle_gloves.html

Hard to beat the price

[racer1735]

Normally, the first thing that hits the ground (on your hands) is the palm/wrist area. Then you start your tumble, and whether you need knuckle protection depends on whether you plan to slap your knuckles on the asphalt. Simple truth is that you have no control, nor any idea, how your body is going to flail about. Whether you want gloves with this extra protection is up to you. Some people wear half boots and what amounts to golf gloves. Others suit up in armored jacket/pants and full-on race-style boots. It all depends on what level of security you desire.

[cmguerrero]

All three sets of gloves that I own have hardened knuckle protection.
Peace of mind...

[John OoSTerhuis]

I'm betting that everyone that rides with armored knuckle gloves also rides with full armored/padded pants instead of jeans... right?

John [Elkskin Ropers and RC 2-pc w/hip&back pads; ATTGATT]

[STPaulK]

I'm betting that everyone that rides with armored knuckle gloves also rides with full armored/padded pants instead of jeans... right?

John [Elkskin Ropers and RC 2-pc w/hip&back pads; ATTGATT]

Certainly! However I made the point in the other glove thread that hand protection is underrated. Ground down knuckles and tendons have the potential of making a hand almost useless for the rest of your life. IMO, hand protection is not something to overlook. I place more priority on hand protection over leg protection anyday.

BTW John, I was wondering if you are concerned about those elkskin gloves falling off in a crash. I don't see any sort of wrist cinch to keep them on your hand if you have an arm whip.

[John OoSTerhuis]

My good friend Paul Kolbo writes: Certainly! However I made the point in the other glove thread that hand protection is underrated. Ground down knuckles and tendons have the potential of making a hand almost useless for the rest of your life. IMO, hand protection is not something to overlook. I place more priority on hand protection over leg protection anyday.

BTW John, I was wondering if you are concerned about those elkskin gloves falling off in a crash. I don't see any sort of wrist cinch to keep them on your hand if you have an arm whip.

Point taken, Paul. And I agree about protection priorities: hands first, legs second. However, I think my heavy-weight elkskin Ropers would resist abrading all the way through quite well. Probably as well as most glove materials. But I concede that they are obviously less able to ameliorate knuckle impacts than padded and/or armored knuckle gloves. I accept that compromise for the time being, but I respect your opinion and I will consider it when I next buy summer gloves. And yes, my Ropers have a cinch strap and won't come off if I 'get-off.'

BTW, my son sent me pics of his reconstructed left knee taken right after the skilled surgeons saved his leg by patching the gaping hole on the outside of his knee with a muscle taken from his own back. You may remember Douglas passed out in the heat on I-90 near Hudson, WI, and ground off a whole bunch of flesh between the bike and the concrete when he fell over at 45mph in a construction zone. Helicopter ride to, and three weeks in, the burn ward at St. Paul Ramsey. No outside knee ligament now and looks like Frankenstein's handywork, but he can walk. I've thought about posting the pics to the forums to encourage wear of proper lower body protection, but they're pretty disturbing...

I've worn my Stich anytime I swing a leg over the GhOOST ever since, and use a hydroweave cooling vest and stay hydrated.

Sorry for the highjack folks...

John