Motorcycle Leather Jacket Armor

Okay, so the calendar to the right has very little to do with motorcycle leather jackets but it sure is nice to look at.  Seriously, the 2010 Fast Dates Calendar is a very hot item that sells out as fast as they get them on the shelves.  It’s provides 16 months worth of important Superbike dates for the real fans of motorcycle racing.  The pictures aren’t too bad to look at either.

When selecting a motorcycle leather jacket there are a few considerations you need make such as, the style, the material, the color, the protection, and the fit. We’ll examine each of these considerations on what to look for when purchasing a new jacket.

Style      There are basically two popular styles to choose from, the traditional collared style and the racing style.  The collared style is probably the most popular style for cruising.  When you’re looking for this style you will want to have either snaps or thread to secure the collar. You don’t want your collar flapping in the wind or disturbing your blind spots. A collared jacket will not prevent airflow from robbing you of your body heat.  The racing style will fit more snuggly around the neck area as it has no collar and will help keep the wind out.  However, you’ll need to wear some soft material around your neckline to keep this snug fitting jacket from chafing or irritating your neck.

Material              Leather is the most popular material for motorcycle jackets as it is also the most durable.  However, leather is not very weatherproof and it needs care and upkeep to prevent dry rot, using a leather conditioner can help here.  Cordura is a high performance nylon product, developed by DuPont which is super resilient to abrasions, tears and scuffs. It’s very lightweight and can be wind and waterproof, but it’s not going to provide much warmth on those cool days so you’ll need to wear layers underneath.

Color     Black is the traditional color because back in the “old days” oil, lube and dirt where everyday hazards.  Black is still popular today mostly for nostalgic reasons but colors that will let you stand out at night are popular too. Oranges, whites, and yellows are good but if you don’t want to look like a road worker then there are other options such as reflective patches, stitching and piping that will light up when headlights are pointed at it. 

Armor   This is probably the most important of all considerations when purchasing a new motorcycle leather jacket.  Armor may make the jacket more bulky but it will save your life.  Armor is like padding and is mostly located around the elbows, shoulders and the spine area.  It can either be flexible or rigid.  Flexible armor offers less protection that the rigid but it is also more comfortable and less restrictive. The rigid is like a hard shell surrounded by padding.  This is the choice, maximum comfort or maximum protection.  Make sure you watch the video below before making this choice.

Fit           As mentioned above, the collar should be snug but not restrictive. You’ll need a way to secure the collar or a means of preventing chafing with a collarless jacket.  Your sleeves should fit a little longer when arms are lowered. You’ll want the sleeves to fit snugly around the wrists when you raise your arms to a riding position and you’ll also need a way of securing the sleeves so air can not ride up the arm. Velcro, zipper or elastic will work just fine.  The length and fit around the waist is important too.  You’ll want to have a jacket that is a little higher in the front so it doesn’t bulge up while riding and the back should be lower so that it covers the back and your pants.

Take a look at some of the products below to find great deals on men’s and women’s motorcycle leather jacket armor.