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Message started by dv8savagerider on 10/13/10 at 16:23:52

Title: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by dv8savagerider on 10/13/10 at 16:23:52

I was just wondering what everyones opinion of different styles of jackets are and maybe some of the pros and cons of them. I am in the market for a good riding jacket and have the option of a leather one and an a fabric or synthetic one that has the Kevlar pads inside for protection. I would love to hear everyones view on this because among my friends in the area they seem to be split evenly and pretty strong in their opinions. Thanks everyone

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by verslagen1 on 10/13/10 at 17:22:29

have both and a mesh.
leather will be better in a fall
fabric is one of those and it's done
I assume the same for the mesh.
leather is warm but heavy.
so can be the fabric and it's light weight.
mesh is cool in the hottest weather, well at least it's vented.

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by buttgoat1 on 10/13/10 at 17:54:19

all have good points and bad

I have a leather jacket that weighs a ton, but it isn't very well vented so it is pretty much a cold weather only. for when you want the real biker experience lol

I just got a denim cortech with armor, arm, chest, and back vents, works well except when it gets really warm. doesnt give the "look" like the leather does

hot weather brings out a mesh jacket, in silver and black.
This is may actually be the most versatile with a good insulated jacket underneath. I actually wore it a lot in cool weather.

btw, all came off of ebay prolly $160 for all

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by thumperclone on 10/13/10 at 18:28:34

bought a "cheap" water buffalo jacket on line $30 had the local seamstress install a ykk zipper$25..
you can have your siny gfabrics theres nuttin like real "leather"

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by kimchris1 on 10/13/10 at 19:58:54

I have 2 different leather jackets. One is heavier weight than the other for different temps. The heavier one allows me to wear several layers under as well.
Then I have my lighter weight leather for spring and summer riding.
I also have a mesh that has the body armour and is great for those not too cold days.
Then I have a wool coat that I wear. Now your talking warm...I also wear crocheted scarfs that my Mom makes tucked into my shirts under my jackets.
O and then their is the Balcalava that I wear at times too..
Here we have to be prepared for not only temps that can dip suddenly but rain as well.
O and then their is all my other insulated gear, coveralls and snow pants...
Sorry to get a lil off topic, just figured I would throw in some other ideas for the cooler weather.. :) kim

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by Skid Mark on 10/13/10 at 20:05:54

I have a fabric jacket with a zip in lining. Waterproof and warm. I use it for trips out of town. It is quite comfortable to wear. I have a mesh which is great in the hot weather. Once in a while on the rare hot days I wear boots, jeans and a tee shirt around town. Its great, but ....

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by Southpaw on 10/13/10 at 21:21:24

I wear my leather most of the year, but keep a mesh Joe Rocket Ballistic for long trips in the summer. The pads include a kidney belt and camel hump that comes in handy on the Savage for highway comfort on windy days.

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by BurnPgh on 10/13/10 at 21:40:21

thick leather. If it's just too freaking hot for leather I just wear a shirt. Leather isnt awesome for "falls". If you take a high side and get tossed you're leather is doing less than the pads in synthetic jackets but they're probably not doing a whole lot either. It's better for low side scraping and saving your skin. It'll take a few downs when your more expensive fabrics will only take one, maybe two.

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by mick on 10/13/10 at 21:54:59

the higher the price you pay ,the more likely you are to have a crash. ;D

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by babyhog on 10/14/10 at 05:23:44

dv8, as you can see, there are many different choices and opinions. Some here are "all the gear, all the time", and some will wear t-shirts and shorts.

Personally, when its cold, I wear my insulated leather jacket. I highly recommend chaps if you live in a cold climate. They make an amazing difference. I wear mine if its below 50°, although I'm naturally cold. I have a thin, long sleeve, form-fitting, breathable fabric jacket for cool temps. T-shirt is my favorite, as I prefer to ride when its warm and sunny!

The key is comfort! Wear what you are comfortable wearing --looks-wise, fit-wise, temperature-wise, protection-wise... that's my philosophy.

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by mpescatori on 10/14/10 at 07:06:47

Leather, all the time !

He!!, I was BORN fully clad in leather !!!

;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/14/10 at 07:18:54

Here's a little "Stayin above freezing" tip. Since the chest gets blasted with the air, I use a fleece lined, big pistol carrier, unzipped all the way & opened up. It covers a large %age of the chest & really helps when its painfully cold.

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by mornhm - FSO on 10/14/10 at 07:37:37

I have two jackets, one leather, one mesh, both have "armor" at the appropriate places. Both are MC specific jackets and would not be comfortable to wear much if you aren't riding - arms are shaped, waist is tight, etc.

I got the mesh jacket because I figured it would be cooler than the leather one in summer. I got the leather because I thought it would last longer.

I tried the mesh a couple of times in the summer, and decided it was actually hotter than the thick leather jacket - I speculate due to the heat transferring directly to me because the back of the jacket "sticks" to me even when I'm moving. The leather jacket has lots of vents in front and one across the back. The front has an perforated leather panel that has a zipper to open the front and expose the perforated leather . All of this allows air to enter the jacket and puff the jacket up (I probably look like the sta-puff marshmallow man (in black leather) when I'm going down the road. I think this is what makes me feel cooler if the sun is beating down from above - kind of a heat shield.

The leather has seen much more use than the mesh (my son uses the mesh now), but the leather has held up much better. I'm guessing that if I wore the mesh every day like I do the leather, it would have been replaced a couple of times by now.

In cooler weather, once I zip the leather jacket up it is much warmer than the mesh jacket. It also came with a quilted liner that zips in. For winter, I have an electric jacket I put under the leather jacket.

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by mpescatori on 10/14/10 at 10:05:10

6C7375726F6859695961737F34060 wrote:

GRRREAT TIP !

Come to think of it, my grand-dad way back in the '30s would fold up yesterday's newspaper, it seems paper is airtight and the many layers worked like an "onion effect" and kept the cold air out, warm air in, and no sweaty undershirts.

Waaay back in dem ol' days... ;)

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by JohnBoy on 10/15/10 at 13:17:18

7D6075637371647F6279100 wrote:

He!!, I was BORN fully clad in leather !!!

;D ;D ;D

Technically, it ain't Leather until it's Tanned!
So you better be getting your Arse to a nude beach!

Title: Re: Leather vs Fabric riding jackets
Post by Ed L. on 10/16/10 at 07:28:24

I use a First Gear mesh jacket for summer riding. It gets hot when you are at a stop sign or light but keeps you cool once moving. Cooler weather is when I use a leather motorcycle jacket with the zippered vents on the front and back. Both jackets have the soft pads as armor on all the right places. I also have one of those cheap buffalo hide e-bay jackets which must weigh 20 lbs. I used it for two years an had to replace the zipper on it. I had it on when I dumped the bike and it did it's job keeping my skin protected. I'm not using it now cause I lost about 50 lbs and it looks like a tent when I wear it. Cheap gear is better than no gear in a crash.