An approved helmet, securely fastened, is a legal requirement, unless you are a Sikh wearing a turban, so that’s a given.
Next on my list of essential items is gloves. Good quality motorcycle gloves that won’t burst should I be unfortunate enough to need them to protect my hands. Remember, if you fall over, you instinctively put out your hands to protect yourself from the fall – come off your bike and you’ll do the same. Before you consider riding without gloves, ask yourself this: “If I needed skin grafts on my hands because I was knocked off, who would I get to whipe my arse?”. Still need convincing to wear gloves every time?
Then comes boots, with over the ankle protection, because foot injuries are very common amongst riders unfortunate enough to have an incident and who need to take a dab to try and save themselves from falling. These don’t need to be bike boots – although these would offer greater protection – but need to be sturdy and if they have laces, these need to be tucked away so they can’t get caught when you try to put your foot down (that’s just very embarrassing!).
For my body and legs, I want good protection from the weather and in case of an accident. See the “What should I look for in clothing” question for more information on what to look for.