A Beginner’s Guide to Selecting a Motorcycle Jacket

If you’re new to riding motorcycles, it’s important to get the right gear to wear. Spending thousands of dollars on a good motorcycle means nothing if you skimp out on quality equipment to go with it. One of the most important to choose is the Motorcycle Jacket. There are certain things to look for in a good jacket.

One of the things to consider is the fit of the jacket. It should feel snug enough that the armor is hitting in the right places and loose enough for you to move comfortably. It should not feel loose like casual wear since its purpose is to protect you in a fall or crash.

Another item to consider is the type of riding you are going to do as well as how much riding you will be doing. These decisions will play into the kind of jacket you’ll need to select.

Leather Motorcycle Jackets

The Leather Motorcycle Jacket is the traditional choice because of its ability to protect riders. Leather is highly abrasion resistant and to an extent water resistant as well. So, if you see a manufacturer saying that a leather jacket is waterproof, you are being misled. The water will eventually seep down into the coat.

Abrasion resistance really comes down to the thickness of leather and quality of stitching at seams. The thicker the leather the better the protection it provides, and of course good quality stitching is the other half of the equation. However, thick leather jackets have their negatives. Since they are heavier than other textiles, a rider can become tired from riding faster. They can also make you feel warm and sweaty during summer if they don’t have good venting.

But leather due to its natural quality of resisting wind and cold becomes the best choice for making the Winter Motorcycle Jackets.

Leather Racing Jackets

The thrill of motorcycle racing does come with the dangers associated with the sport if you are not adequately dressed. Therefore, the Leather Racing Jacket a race track rider needs must be thick and should fit like a second skin. Ideally a Leather Race Jacket should be made from at least 1.2mm thick full grain cow or buffalo hide. A very good padding on knees, shoulders and back is a must. Enough venting to allow air flow for those hot track days is needed. A nice pre-curve in the Jacket chassis and sleeves will go a long way in providing the much-needed comfort while in the tucked in position. So, look for quality thick leather and snug fitting precurved Leather Race Jacket if you plan to hit the track.  

Mesh Motorcycle Jackets

These jackets are Summer Motorcycle Jackets and are the most inexpensive in the market, but they provide the least amount of protection. They are worn in the summer because they are ventilated, cooling down the rider. There are leather jackets that have mesh inserts to cool down the rider that offer more protection than a completely mesh version.

Textile Motorcycle Jackets

One of the great functionalities of a textile jacket is that it is lighter than leather and come in several types of material (Nylon, Polyester, Cordura and Kevlar are most common ones). These are less expensive than leather and can be made waterproof. These, however, provide lesser abrasion resistance compared to Leather Motorcycle Jacket.

Hi-Viz Motorcycle Jackets

Many riders have switched to high visibility jackets because of the difference they’ve seen in their riding experience. Hi-Viz jackets are mainly neon colors: green, yellow and orange. They are like the colors that construction workers and emergency personnel wear. These can make you conspicuous for other drivers particularly during night and bad weather conditions, preventing accidents.

Four Season Motorcycle Jackets

The jacket that can be used throughout the year in all type of weather conditions, is by definition, a true fours season motorcycle jacket. It needs to have lot of essential functionality. Removable thermal and breathable waterproof liners are must haves. It should provide enough air flow during hot rides, so generous venting or mesh paneling is highly desirable. Intelligent Hi-Viz design, pockets for storage and connectivity with riding pants are some of the value-add features. Four season motorcycle jacket can be your yearlong companion.