GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Hey everyone
I want to buy a riding jacket and I was just wondering what kind of riding jacket you all waer when you ride??
Im not sure if I want a leather jacket or should  get the one that not leather ( I think it's cloth but not really sure ) but it has hard plasic in the back and elbow. I kind of like the non leather one because I feel like it's eazyer to move in but people keep telling me that the leather can save your life.

I've been through 2 teknic jackets. The first saved my ass 4 times until it needed to be retired.  My new one is a Teknic Chicane. Great jacket. Both jackets are leather. I don't know how textile jackets hold up while sliding down the road at 50+ mph, but leather has served me well.  The one thing that is always worth the money is protection. You will get used to the added weight of the leather.  Eventually, It won't feel right riding without it.  Both of my leather jackets are vented and have removable liners. Both are cold/hot friendly.

I still wear on old leather jacket bought at a Honda dealer in'77-'78. It's pretty well worn out but I just can't let go of it. Love the scooter and this forum.

C........

I have a first gear mesh tex 2 jacket. It served me well when I crashed and slid along the pavement. You can see pictures of it here. (http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~trflink/my_crash/my_crash.html)

I think that it is a great jacket (and cheap, too) but for my next jacket, I'm going to go with one of the hybrid leather/textile jackets.

I've got an older Hein Gericke leather jacket.  Bit too short of arms/torso for my 6'5 frame, but it's still functionally good.  Been crashed once by my dad at ~10 mph, and once by me at ~20.  Looks like crap though, so I'm looking to "upgrade" to something new.  Odds are, I'll end up with a Teknic Chicane as I just bought a pair of the same model gloves, so then I'll be matching.  My folks both ride, and both bought non-leather jackets (Teknic brand, don't know the model) recently, and I just don't trust 'em as much as I do any model leather jacket.

Goat it looks like the sleeve on your jacket wore all the way through.  Is that right or is it just a weird camera angle??

Joe Rocket "Ballistic" jacket, with the shoulder logo's destitched and removed.
(http://www.alpha-sports.com/joe_rocket/ballistic3_jacket_blue_full.jpg)

Got it because I used to get funny looks at the place I was working when walking in with a black "biker" leather jacket.  The textile JR looks more like a skiing jacket and so is less threatening...
:roll:

I have been happy with it, Its at least as cool as my old perfed Technic leather jacket, and with the vents zipped up and liner in, its MUCH better in the winter.  Had it for 4 years and at least 20K riding miles and its held up very nicely.  No crashes (knock on head) but I hear they hold up well enough.

I have a leather Joe Rocket jacket that I love.  When I first got it, it felt bulky and heavy, but when I thought how no one would like me if I had no skin left on the upper part of my body from road rash without it, I thought maybe I can just get used to the weight of this jacket.   :thumb: Luckily I have, and now I can't even ride without it.  It's got a removable liner as well.  It seems stiff at first, but it wears in after a few months.  
Well worth the $$

~Amanda

DEAD COW.....old H-G complete with scrape marks from when I crashed at RRR ....looks kewl with seven individual scrape marks...from my seven plate back protector.

or a old Vanson suzuki quad racer jacket....got for $10 due to 2 small holes in it from a crash

I wear a dri rider textile jacket. Its not bad, but I think for my next one Ill be lashing out on a nice leather one but the $$$$ over here are horrendous. Try $800 for a dainese/Alpine Stars or $600 up for Joe Rocket!

It seems to be a general agreement that leather provides the best abrasion protection.  I have a set of Hein Gericke leathers (jacket and pants, zip together).  When it's really farging hot in the summer, though, I have Joe Rocket textile jacket and pants, armored (back, shoulders, forearms, knees), that breathe a lot better than the leather and should be better than street clothes for abrasion protection....

Right now I have a pretty standard black leather. It is OK, but I hope next season to get either a ICON motorhead or if something nicer/better comes out I will go with that. The main reason I want a new one is because after about 65mph it blows up like a balloon. I thought if felt real snug in the store . I thought wrong. Whatever jacket you get make sure it fits well at all speeds.

Joe Rocket Textile in appalling yellow (yeah but city traffic parts infront of my white ex-Police 750 Beemer............just call me Moses :lol: )  and a Technics Chicane perforated for real rides.

Another vote for leather here. Fabric tears (not matter how fancy it is), whereas leather rubs off in thin layers.

I'm stuck with fabric until I can afford leather though. I have a DriRider touring-style jacket, which is dog ulgly but has a removable liner and does keep me dry.

I seem to have accumulated three jackets, the one in my avatar is a "Buffalo" with EC approved  removable armoured panels in back, elbows and shoulders and a detachable lining, it is textile and waterproof, I reproof it with one of those camping sprays at the end of each summer (did it last week) for the oncoming winter.  A few more weeks and back goes the lining. This works well.

I also have the classic black leather without armour, I use this a great deal especially on short hops in temperate weather, when it gets hot I have a lighter brown leather one sometimes I wear a nylon "street" jacket that offer very little in the way of protection. With the leathers I often wear a Hi-Viz tabbard, flourescent yellow for day-time viz and reflective strips for night. There are loads of jackets about with armour and apart from the look-style not a lot to choose between them despite some price fluctuations, see what you like, buy the best you can afford and stop looking is advice that often stands me well.

I wear  a joe rocket NOVA jacket I got off ebay new for $80. It has armor and removable liner. Works well for me. Lots of pocket space and zippers for breathability

Joe Rocket Suzuki Corona Jacket, great jacket with plenty of protection.

I have a Joe Rocket "Hard Drive" jacket.  It's textile, waterproof, with padded shoulders and back, with padding and armor in the elbows. it also has a zip out liner which is good for when it's hot.  it's got nice venting in the biceps and down the back which really has an effect anywhere over 30mph. It looks pretty silly, but definitely feels safe. and bonus, it was on closeout at NewEnough (there's still some left, I believe). The main jacket pockets are a little awkward to use, but it has two covered breast pockets which are terrific; very easy access.

Briggs, my jacket does that ballooning thing as well. solution: if you have a backpack with chest strap(s) wear that on top of the jacket (even if it's empty), buckle and tighten down the chest straps and it'll make the jacket more form-fitting. also if there's velcro or clasps on the jacket sleeves, make sure those are snug as well.
When I first got my jacket I felt like a flying squirrel going down the highway at 60  :lol:  , the straps on my backpack made things a lot better. plus, if I do realize I need to stop to buy something small, I've got a backpack to put it in.  :thumb:

Regards,
Riz

Alpine star Stunt jacket. Worked fine at 90 mph get off. Mostly tumbling then some sliding.

Something small?   I've been known to fit a case of bottled beer in my backpack.  Only for a few blocks, I think the crash would be quite gory.

Leather Joe Rocket (ladies) Speedway.

Just recently crashed a brown leather Vetter Barnstormers bomber-type jacket, which for being 18 years old, protected me very well, despite having no armor; at 69mph.

Currently using a Fieldsheer Monza II textile jacket, that I had originally purchased as a summer jacket (I already put the liner back in), and I just ordered a TourMaster Cortech Coaster Air leather jacket for next summer.

I wear a Dainese Free perf'ed front jacket.  I have a Dainese back protector in the pouch for extra protection.  Its actually my second one.  I crashed in my last one and liked the results enough to buy it again :thumb:

I also have the Teknic Spider jacket for cold and rainy weather.  It is great to keep you dry and it has CE approved Knox armor

I also have a Fieldsheer Mach 1 mesh jacket for hot weather.  It also comes with CE approved hard armor and a liner for cooler mornings.

Got a Joe Rocket textile " Suzuki Corona" jacket. Looks DOPE.

A heavy black canvas Dickies jacket I wear around town.

I want to eventually get a good leather jacket.

as far as leather goes......does swede leather still protect as much or is it not as good?  Also, do most of your jackets have added pads and stuff or are they just regular jackets?

My old jacket is just a plain old brown motorcycle jacket...like the one Brando wore in "The Wild One" I guess. It's pretty thick but has no extra padding. I have worn suede before and slid on it at about 25 mph and it did save my skin but looked like crap afterward. The Baby G is a fine little machine and this is one fine forum.

C.......

I wear this leather jacket (Alpinestars TZ-1).

(http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/photos/300/i2732.jpg)




In the summer months I wear this perforated leather jacket (Alpinestars Stunt).

(http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/photos/300/g5319.jpg)

Both zip together with my leather pants.
(http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/photos/300/g1065.jpg)
I've since added knee sliders to these pants.


I also have textile stuff but after seeing someone crash, wearing the same stuff I have I decided to buy the leather. It does hold up better in a crash.

blue Fieldsheer Mach 3.

Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket, and FirstGear HT Overpants.

However, after reading a number of posts on this forum, I convinced my wife to buy the Joe Rocket Leather Jacket instead, and full leather chaps.

The original sales person I spoke to convinced me that the textile would be fine, but after one fall, it would come apart completely.  He said it would give the same protection, but wouldn't last very long.  I think I was probably given the wrong advice, and will likely replace my textiles will full leather next year.  From what I've heard/read, the leather holds up much much better, with or without the protect CE type armor.

I have an Alpinestars T something textile jacket (blue and white from 2001-2002).

I have a newer Firstgear RevX jacket from last year... i love this one, so much more well built than the cheap alpine stars.

I have a first gear cobra rain suit of sorts,but can be used as a normal suit if need be..  i use the pants as an overpant..

Joe Rocket Reactor jacket.  it's a great summer jacket for me.  mesh body, leather sleaves and back, with armor pads and a back protector.  great air flow with the mesh, but comforting with the leather where it is.  also has snaps along the sleaves for getting a nicer, closer fit.

(http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/photos/300/g986.jpg)

all leather is not created equal.  when Motorcycle Consumer News did a compariive test they found that while top-grade leather was the best, top-grade textile was better than the second best leather.

http://motorcyclebeginners.com/fabric.htm

if you regularly ride really really fast, top-grade leather is a really good idea.  for the rest of us, decent synthetics will do the trick.  i've read more than a few stories of people crashing at 70-80mph in mesh gear and having no road rash.

i personally wear joe rocket phx overpants and jacket.  they're comfortable enough that i wear them everytime i ride, even if i'm just going a 1/4 mile to the grocery store in the august heat.

i've upgraded the elbow armor to GP armor, and am looking to do the same with my knee pads and maybe get a plated spine protector to replace the foam one the jacket came with.

cheers,
will

belstaff mercury jacket got from former manx tt 250 class racer for a cut-rate price  :thumb:

tho mine's silver, not blue
(http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~garba/belstaff-mercury.jpg)

but now that weather is cold my legs are asking for the same courtesy i give my torso... thinking about the hein gericke overpants (http://www.newenough.com/hein_gericke_cargo_overpants_page.htm) or some other armored overpants...

edit: looks like i was wrong: it's actually a belstaff avalon:
http://www.nbriders.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1454

i'm extremely happy with it. its warm without being stifling, moderately reflective, and extremeley well made. it oozes quality. and it's a nice touch different from what everyone else is riding with.

Leather.  Saved me for real.  I love leather.  I think Leather is the most perfectest fabric ever (how's my grammer?).  

It's warm when it's cold out and breathes when it's hot out.  Mine is fairly light weight with a liner and I've used it riding in the snow at 7 degrees in truckee (I was pretty cold) as well as 105 degree Sacramento summers (I get pretty hot though).  It covers that range really well and I wear it on every ride.  I love it and it "skids" really well which is important if you ride on the street  :cheers:

I haven't tried a textile jacket so I can't comment.

I'm in Belstaff Typhoon lined jacket & pants for the cold stuff - lining is easily removed for mild weather. Belstaff works well in the rain. Technics mesh for peak summer.

I've had no unplanned dismounts to date so can't speak personally to the protective qualities of either.

If money is no object you might check out Vanson leathers &/or Aerostitch for very good one & two piece textiles.

Quote from: GVHAlpine star Stunt jacket.

same here. I only trust leather.

I have 2

For long rides in hills and stuff i have a Teknic Lightning leather jacket, comphy as hell and pretty warm with the liner in.
And for rides to work in the morning when its cold i have a Joe Rocket Ballistics with a fleece liner my sisters BF gave me. Warm as all getout, with more and better armor than is in the leather jacket, hmm...come to think of it i may take the joe rocket armor out and put it in the teknic for longer rides....

Goat, I passed your crash/gear review on to another forum.  Your helmet is an international celebrity now. lol   Someone down under was looking for crashed helmet photos on beginnerbikes.com

I wear textile til I can afford some nice leathers... and find some that fit properly.  I've got a Fieldsheer Monza jacket.

Joe Rocket Phoenix 3.0....crash tested at 30+ MPH.  No damage to the jacket other than the Dry Tech liner got "scuffed" rubbing against the shoulder armor on  the inside.  Did crack the acromion in the shoulder, though.  :(  I do wonder how bad the break would have been without the JR armor and padding in the shoulder.  If you can afford a close fitting leather jacket or a Roadcrafter suit, go for it.  Don't neglect the armor!  FWIW, with the same budget and climate here in Florida, I'd buy the Phoenix 3.0 again.

:cheers:

Gene

QuoteI have 2

For long rides in hills and stuff i have a Teknic Lightning leather jacket, comphy as hell and pretty warm with the liner in.
And for rides to work in the morning when its cold i have a Joe Rocket Ballistics with a fleece liner my sisters BF gave me. Warm as all getout, with more and better armor than is in the leather jacket, hmm...come to think of it i may take the joe rocket armor out and put it in the teknic for longer rides....

I was thinking exactly the same thing 'cos I have the same jackets too :cheers:

I wear a Hi-Viz lime yellow Aerostich 2-piece Roadcrafter: http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.store

It's got armor at the knees, hips, back, elbows and shoulders.  I haven't gone down in it so I don't have any first hand experience with its survivability.  But I'll vouch for it's comfort and waterproofness.  It was expensive but I don't regret it.  I actually bought it before I bought my GS or my helmet.  With the two-piece suit, you have the option of just wearing the jacket, but I think I've done <10 miles without wearing both pieces.

The yellow is great at getting the attention of drivers.  At first, I was very self-conscious when I wasn't on my bike (like at a restaraunt) and wearing this glowing neon suit, but that's a very small price to pay.

Lets see - my jacket is a Teknic Interstate. Waterproof - windproof, zip out liner, venting in arms and back with armour in elbows, shoulders and back.
I really like it. Works well in lots of different weather conditions. It is really waterproof - I know first hand - on a few occasions in some pretty heavy and long duration rains.
No get offs at any speed so far (knock on head too) so can't vouch for durability. However My buddy did get off at about 70kph wearing a Frank Thomas 'Aqua' jacket. One seam partially ripped under the arm - nothing that can't be repaired. He was also wearing Frank Thomas insulated pants - just a few scrapes on the surface of the pants. Both are textile and both performed very well. He had a spill on his mountain bike at about 10kph a couple of weeks later that cause more damage to him. He was wearing shorts - what was he thinking?! lol.

My pants are JR Ballistic overpants with armour in the knee and shin. Some additional padding in the hip area. Great pants for comfort riding in most all weather conditions. They can get hot though even with the outside zips partially open but I wear them all the time.

After saying all of that, my riding buddy and I are considering getting into the leathers but not sure why just yet. I'll think about that over the winter.

Whatever you do - get something to protect you. Just go out in front of your house and drag your bare hand across the asphalt. You'll get the  picture.  ;)

Ride safe
Dandy D

i got a black frank thomas jacket. Its got 2 layers to it, removable if its warm out and shaZam!. Armour in the elbows, back, arms, everywhere. I love it, set me back only 400$. Well worth it IMO as i dropped my bike and no scratches on the jacket or me. Very werid.  :?