Riding gear & helmet law
Helmet and Gear Requirements
Sample content — expert review in progress. These lessons and questions are drafted in-house against official sources and are still working through verification. Nothing here is marked verified or published yet.
Helmets are required by law
Ontario's Highway Traffic Act requires every motorcycle driver and passenger to wear an approved motorcycle helmet, properly done up, whenever the motorcycle is on the road. This applies on every trip, no matter how short.
Protective gear matters, even when it's not required
Beyond the helmet, Ontario law doesn't require specific jackets, gloves, or boots — but the Motorcycle Handbook strongly recommends them. A sturdy jacket, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, and eye protection all reduce injury if something goes wrong, and they protect you from wind, debris, and weather on every ride.