Commuting by motorcycle in Singapore means dressing for 32°C traffic jams, sudden tropical downpours, and highway speeds, often on the same ride. While an approved helmet is the only gear required by law, choosing the right breathable jacket, gloves, and rain layer keeps you protected without overheating.
The helmet is the legal gear duty
An approved helmet, properly fastened, is the one legal duty. The rest of the kit below is advice.
Under Singapore's Road Traffic Act (outlined in the Traffic Police Riding Theory Booklet, paragraph 47), every rider and pillion must wear an approved safety helmet (with a stated legal exemption for male Sikhs wearing a turban).
Always fasten your chin strap before moving off. Riding with an unfastened helmet is both illegal and useless in a crash.
A brand name is not an approval and an old booklet picture is not one either. Check the SS9 sticker or the ECE 22.06 mark on the helmet itself. Check our helmet guide and helmet approval page to verify which PSB/SS9 and ECE marks are road-legal today.
Wear what the booklet advises
Two minutes before you pull off: visor clean, jacket zipped, gloves on, laces tucked.
Start with a visor you can see through
Your visor or goggles protect your eyes from wind, rain, and road debris. Wipe your visor clean regularly for an unobstructed view, and replace it once it gets badly scratched. Deep scratches distort your vision and cause blinding glare from oncoming headlights at night.
Jacket or long sleeves, and trousers that clear the controls
Gear covers the parts a slide reaches first: arms, chest, legs and feet. While full protective gear isn't mandated by law, wearing an abrasion-resistant riding jacket and proper trousers protects your vital areas in a slide. Choose gear that fits comfortably without restricting your reach, opt for bright or reflective accents for visibility, and avoid baggy or flared trousers that can snag on your foot pegs or levers.
Gloves: grip and hand protection
Sweaty hands in Singapore traffic can easily slip on the throttle or brake lever. A good pair of breathable riding gloves gives you a consistent, comfortable grip on the bars and protects your palms and knuckles if you go down.
Footwear: the gear lever is the trap
Always ride in sturdy, covered footwear or riding boots that let you work the shift and rear brake levers cleanly. Never ride in slippers or sandals, and tuck away loose shoelaces so they never wrap around your gear lever or footpeg when coming to a stop.
For the ride home after dark, check the outer layer
Visibility drops sharply at night, especially in rain spray. Always verify your headlight is working, and choose gear with light-coloured panels or reflective piping so drivers can spot you early.
Airflow for the dry ride, rain cover to carry
A mesh jacket that flows air at a traffic light turns into a sponge in a downpour, and a rain shell over it traps heat at the next light. You need both.
With daytime temperatures hitting 31–33°C and humidity regularly above 80% (per NEA's Climate of Singapore data), heavy non-ventilated gear will quickly leave you exhausted. You need high-airflow mesh for dry heat, plus a dedicated waterproof outer layer stowed on the bike for sudden storms.
No single jacket handles 33°C sun and a monsoon downpour equally well. The smartest setup for Singapore commuting is a breathable mesh riding jacket paired with a packable raincoat in your box or bag, especially during the wetter Northeast Monsoon months from November to January.
When picking a rain layer like the Maxfly MR10 Raincoat Grey Camo, look for practical features like a 10,000mm H2O waterproof rating, 3M Scotchlite reflective trim, and a cut sized to fit comfortably over your armored jacket. For tips on handling wet tarmac, check our Singapore rain-riding guide.
Read the standard, class and armour wording
Two jackets can both say Class A and still differ by what is in the box. Check the class, then check whether the back protector is in the pocket or sold separately.
Here is how to read product specs so you know exactly what is included and whether you need to add a separate back protector:
| Field to read | Attributed listing wording | What it leaves open |
|---|---|---|
| Garment standard and class | REV'IT Eclipse 2: CE-certified Class A (EN 17092). LS2 Breeze Black jacket: EN 17092-4:2020 Class A rated garment. |
The listing names the class but not what protection it gives you in a crash. |
| Armour level and position | LS2 Breeze Black jacket: Removable CE Level 1 shoulder and elbow armour (EN 1621-1:2012). |
A level describes the armour, not the outcome of a crash. |
| Pocket versus supplied insert | REV'IT Eclipse 2: Back protector pocket included, SEESOFT CE Level 2 insert sold separately. |
A pocket is not a supplied insert. |
| Airflow feature | LS2 Breeze Black jacket: air mesh panels. |
The listing gives no airflow or breathability figure. |
Jacket, gloves and a carried raincoat
Here are three commuter-ready options from our catalogue that balance airflow, protection, and wet-weather prep:
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LS2 Breeze Black jacket
$99.90. Built with high-airflow mesh panels, removable CE Level 1 shoulder and elbow armor, and reflective strips for night visibility.
View the listing -
RS Taichi RST-462 Stone Black gloves
$59.90. Breathable polyester/nylon mesh construction with a genuine leather palm, dual TPU/resin knuckle armor, perforated back, and touchscreen fingertips.
View the listing -
Maxfly MR10 Raincoat Grey Camo
$79.90. 10,000mm H2O waterproof protection with 3M Scotchlite reflective trim, designed to fit cleanly over your riding jacket without restricting movement.
View the listing
Drop by the shop or message us to check what is in stock, and test the fit over your gear.
