ALT-1 What to look for in a Leather Motorcycle Jacket
Look at your car windsheld sometime. Chances are you have several chips in there. What would have happened if that would have been your bare arms? Drive in the rain with your hand out the window. Is the rain cold? Does it sting? A leather motorcycle jacket protects against that too.
After telling a biker I had a great denim jacket for protection, he told me that denim would not protect me in a fall, and he had the scars to prove it. He told me to get the best leather jacket I could afford and always wear it when I ride. The reason is, he said, denim will shred. After the denim is gone, what do you think happens to your arms?
There are a miriad of things that fly up at you when you ride a bike. The only time I rode without a full face helmet, I got hit by a Japanese beetle and it felt like I'd been shot. I surely would not want them hitting my arms. Denim offers some protection from flying things, but if something sharp flies up, that denim may not stop it.
In addition, denim will not keep you dry, nor will it cut the wind the way leather will. Leather is water resistant and is easily made waterproof with an inexpensive treatment. It is also the best barrier against the wind.
If you ride a motorcycle, a good leather jacket is a must. A leather motorcycle jacket is a shield against bugs, stones, and whatever else the road throws at you. A good one will keep you warm, dry and protected while making you look sharp.
Most any leather specialty store has what they call "motorcycle" jackets, but unless they have a zipper and not snaps or buttons, it is not a true motorcycle jacket. Buttons or snaps will pop or rip open in the event of a fall. If the jacket fits too loosely or it doesn't close securely, it could be pulled off you during a slide and then that costly leather jacket isn't helping you at all. It should fit snugly on the body and should have a heavy-duty zipper.
How do you know it will keep you warm on those "polar bear" rides? Wind would go right through a zipper that was set center front. Look for an offset zipper. The zipper should have an underlay and an overlay so the zipper isn't right at the opening of the jacket when it's closed. Jackets that have a snap or button front over top of the zipper are the best. Also, look for a zip-in lining that you can remove in warm weather and zip back in for cooler weather. Remember: you can get hypothermia in 60-degree weather. Think wind chill factor. A 60 mph ride on a 60-degree day gives you a wind chill factor of 54 degrees. A 50-degree day at the same speed has a wind chill of 39 degrees.
No jacket will keep you warm if it gaps at the wrists and the waist. I had a few chilly rides home in my leather because the cuffs gapped open and the wind went right up both sleeves. Look for thick, knitted cuffs or cuffs that have an adjustable snap so you can fit it snugly to keep the wind out. Elastic or ribbing at the waist will hold it close to your body, keeping valuable body heat in and cold wind out.
It is easier to get something from a jacket pocket if you are riding, so look for a jacket with a lot of zippered pockets. I have a great jacket that has a small pocket in the seam and it's just the right size for toll or parking change.
Racing leather jackets are a bit tougher than regular jackets. It is almost a certainty you'll drop the bike on a track, so the jackets are made sturdier and more fitted. The top racing motorcycle manufacturers each have their own line of racing gear, including top of the line racing leathers.
For some great riding gear including leather motorcycle jackets, racing leathers, and street leathers, here are just a few sites that offer some affordable gear:http://www.ridegear.com/1/3/racing-leather-jackethttp://www.bikeweekleathers.com/catalog.php?action=110&cat_id=63http://www.harley-davidson.comhttp://www.leatherup.com/
