Hi All,
I currently have a mesh (lace :icon_mrgreen:) padded jacket from my scootering days. However, I would like to look at more protection now that I'm moving up to the world of motorcycling. What recommendation do you have for riding gear? Are leathers or textiles more effective? What brands / types do you prefer? I've seen all leather riding suits, and while they may look fine on some, I believe I would look like an over-stuffed bratwurst in one of those.
Though I have a helmet, I'm looking for boots, gloves, pants, and a jacket. Your thoughts would be more than appreciated. :thumb:
El Noobo
leather is best...mesh, in general, sucks (I'm sorry you guys who've had good crash eperience in mesh are a minoraty)
I prefer this suit...very durable, decent fit, pretty resiliant to asphault, and it's CHEAP!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycle-Racing-Street-Riding-Leathers-2pc-Race-Suit_W0QQitemZ270022862032QQihZ017QQcategoryZ6750QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
(I've had two of these suits...only replaced due to theft...2+ years of badassness)
There's a ton of info on all this stuff if you do a quick search. Search for terms like "leather vs mesh" or "leather vs textile"
In short: Leathers > Mesh > Textile.
If you live in a climate where you can survive the heat, get leather or perforated leather. If not, get mesh. Specifically, I highly recommend the Cortech GX-Air jacket. It's mesh, with leather/CE padding in all the important areas. Mine survived a 30 mph wreck (I guess you could technically call it a high side, since I did go flying through the air) last week, without a single scuff. I walked away with a bruise on my ass where I landed, and that was it.
For boots, I wear all leather over the ankle steel toed work boots that cost $20 from K-mart, because I'm broke. MC specific boots would obviously be better.
Gloves, get ALL LEATHER. Accept no subsitutes. Do a search for "leather gloves" with the author "AlphaFire X5" you'll get to see some nasty pics that show why all leather gloves are a must.
Sources: I like newenough.com great prices, great customer support. However, try to test-fit everything in a local store before you buy it, sit on a/your bike with it on, if you can, to get an idea for how it will feel.
i never ride with out my leathers any more, i waited long enough but... it was time, its the best mony you can and should spend ever while on a bike of any kind
Quote from: rangerbrown on August 26, 2006, 09:53:06 PM
i never ride with out my leathers any more, i waited long enough but... it was time, its the best mony you can and should spend ever while on a bike of any kind
same here. leather is best, followed by textile, followed by mesh (as stated above). but if you're serious about protection there's no reason to NOT have leather.
Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on August 26, 2006, 08:42:04 PM
There's a ton of info on all this stuff if you do a quick search. Search for terms like "leather vs mesh" or "leather vs textile"
In short: Leathers > Mesh > Textile.
If you live in a climate where you can survive the heat, get leather or perforated leather. If not, get mesh. Specifically, I highly recommend the Cortech GX-Air jacket. It's mesh, with leather/CE padding in all the important areas. Mine survived a 30 mph wreck (I guess you could technically call it a high side, since I did go flying through the air) last week, without a single scuff. I walked away with a bruise on my ass where I landed, and that was it.
For boots, I wear all leather over the ankle steel toed work boots that cost $20 from K-mart, because I'm broke. MC specific boots would obviously be better.
Gloves, get ALL LEATHER. Accept no subsitutes. Do a search for "leather gloves" with the author "AlphaFire X5" you'll get to see some nasty pics that show why all leather gloves are a must.
Sources: I like newenough.com great prices, great customer support. However, try to test-fit everything in a local store before you buy it, sit on a/your bike with it on, if you can, to get an idea for how it will feel.
I'm sorry but your list is out of order.
Leather > Textile > Mesh.
You're in Washington State? Get leather. No reason not to.
Quote from: Egaeus on August 27, 2006, 08:08:35 AM
You're in Washington State? Get leather. No reason not to.
+1 If I lived in a cooler climate, it would be all-leather, all the time! Since it can get above 100 during the summer here in San Jose, I go for perf. leather/mesh in the summer. And a big AMEN on the leather gloves. I like my Cold Fronts for the winter, and....erhm...I haven't a clue what my summer gloves are, but they're leather, reinforced, and armoured! :thumb:
I personally like the textiles better than leather.
Don't know why.
Quote from: gsmetal on August 27, 2006, 09:08:37 AM
I personally like the textiles better than leather.
Don't know why.
Textiles are all good until you fall. Then you slide forever. Seen it, don't want to be part of it. Perforated leather is comfortable for me up into the mid 80's, tolerable up to around triple digits. Done track days in the upper 90's and even that wasn't too bad. Sweat washes off, scars, not so much. I have buddies who have put holes in mesh, and teltiles on Alpine slides. Wouldn't want to see what would happen at 60+ on a bike.
Quote from: makenzie71 on August 26, 2006, 08:41:43 PM
leather is best...mesh, in general, sucks (I'm sorry you guys who've had good crash eperience in mesh are a minoraty)
I actually think people who have had a bad crash experience in mesh are the minority. You very rarely hear those stories, and though many people distrust mesh for a high speed crash, not that many people have any sort of negative experience with it.
I love my textile jacket. In a year or so I'll be able to afford leather. My jacket is 1/3 the price of the leather version and offers nearly the same protection.
(http://www.cyclegear.com/images/tdyno_gry_310x356.jpg)
-Turd.
Quote from: D-Day on August 27, 2006, 02:01:16 PM
Quote from: gsmetal on August 27, 2006, 09:08:37 AM
I personally like the textiles better than leather.
Don't know why.
Textiles are all good until you fall. Then you slide forever. Seen it, don't want to be part of it. Perforated leather is comfortable for me up into the mid 80's, tolerable up to around triple digits. Done track days in the upper 90's and even that wasn't too bad. Sweat washes off, scars, not so much. I have buddies who have put holes in mesh, and teltiles on Alpine slides. Wouldn't want to see what would happen at 60+ on a bike.
Where you located, D?
Quote from: Unnamed on August 27, 2006, 02:11:17 PM
I actually think people who have had a bad crash experience in mesh are the minority. You very rarely hear those stories, and though many people distrust mesh for a high speed crash, not that many people have any sort of negative experience with it.
Find me 1 person who had a good experience after crashing a text/mesh setup and I'll find you 10 people who crashed under similar circumstances with leather who walked away unscathed, and 10 who went down similarly in text/mesh and bled.
Quote
Where you located, D?
Quote
Chicago, but I have property in AR.
hy6
Quote from: makenzie71 on August 27, 2006, 05:02:13 PM
Find me 1 person who had a good experience after crashing a text/mesh setup and I'll find you 10 people who crashed under similar circumstances with leather who walked away unscathed, and 10 who went down similarly in text/mesh and bled.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=28453.msg305621#msg305621
Quote from: D-Day on August 27, 2006, 05:16:41 PM
Quote
Where you located, D?
Quote
Chicago, but I have property in AR.
Then you haven't experienced proper 85-degree heat. When it's 85 here, I walk from my cage to the front door of the office (about 100 feet), and sweat is already starting to show through my shirt. I can't commute on the bike because even if it's 75 degrees in the morning, the humidity is so high that I'm soaked by the time I get there. When it gets up to 95 with that kind of humidity, you will just about have heatstroke in town. I'm from Arkansas. It rarely gets this humid there. Not saying that it doesn't happen, but not often.
It's all about evaporation. Where it's drier, leather is tolerable. But for everyday riding, you just can't do it here.
Quote from: makenzie71 on August 27, 2006, 05:02:13 PM
Quote from: Unnamed on August 27, 2006, 02:11:17 PM
I actually think people who have had a bad crash experience in mesh are the minority. You very rarely hear those stories, and though many people distrust mesh for a high speed crash, not that many people have any sort of negative experience with it.
Find me 1 person who had a good experience after crashing a text/mesh setup and I'll find you 10 people who crashed under similar circumstances with leather who walked away unscathed, and 10 who went down similarly in text/mesh and bled.
Me. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=29443.0
Let me try again. You said
Quote from: makenzie71 on August 26, 2006, 08:41:43 PM
leather is best...mesh, in general, sucks (I'm sorry you guys who've had good crash eperience in mesh are a minoraty)
I didn't say that mesh was better than leather. Its not. I said that mesh holds up damn well in crashes, as evidenced by the numerous people on this forum alone who have crash tested mesh jackets. To assert that mesh is unsafe in a crash is preposterous. Its not the best, but it works really really well.
mesh works fine, not as good as leather. and generally, mesh is one time crash only. damage usually renders the article incapable of FULLY protecting again. leather is good many times over.
Quote from: Egaeus on August 27, 2006, 05:58:40 PM
Quote from: makenzie71 on August 27, 2006, 05:02:13 PM
Find me 1 person who had a good experience after crashing a text/mesh setup and I'll find you 10 people who crashed under similar circumstances with leather who walked away unscathed, and 10 who went down similarly in text/mesh and bled.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=28453.msg305621#msg305621
Ahahah I was cited! :P
Quote from: pantablo on August 27, 2006, 09:33:47 PM
mesh works fine, not as good as leather. and generally, mesh is one time crash only. damage usually renders the article incapable of FULLY protecting again. leather is good many times over.
++1, good explanation pablo.. everyone should follow this advice. Hey if you don't have a crazy amount of money to go all out on gear right now, go for the mesh/text clothing. If you don't crash and kept the jacket in nice condition, you can sell it for half or whatever and buy yourself a leather jacket in time.
Quote from: makenzie71 on August 27, 2006, 05:02:13 PM
Quote from: Unnamed on August 27, 2006, 02:11:17 PM
I actually think people who have had a bad crash experience in mesh are the minority. You very rarely hear those stories, and though many people distrust mesh for a high speed crash, not that many people have any sort of negative experience with it.
Find me 1 person who had a good experience after crashing a text/mesh setup and I'll find you 10 people who crashed under similar circumstances with leather who walked away unscathed, and 10 who went down similarly in text/mesh and bled.
I've gone down at 75 mph and walked away without a single scratch to my skin. A few bruises, yes, but no road rash. My textiles were all tore up and I had to throw them way afterwards, but they did their job.
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 27, 2006, 09:37:52 PM
Ahahah I was cited! :P
Pretty sure that was me, bro ;)
Quote from: pantablo on August 27, 2006, 09:33:47 PM
mesh works fine, not as good as leather. and generally, mesh is one time crash only. damage usually renders the article incapable of FULLY protecting again. leather is good many times over.
Bingo. Leather is reuseable, but mesh is far better for hot weather. It really depends on where you live. I highly doubt you could survive a Texas summer with leather. Mesh is essentially a requirement if you want to wear gear (which many choose not to).
I used to wear a leather jackett but it wasn't motorcycle specific, It sucked when it was really hot, and it also really sucked in the rain. It would get really heavy and waterlogged and takes forever to dry out. I now have a motorcycle specific textile jackett and I think it should give good protection, with its hard armor. Motorcycle specific leather may give slightly better protection, but with my textile jackett I can open up a bunch of vents and stay cool in the summer and I can zip in the liner and stay warm and dry in the rain. If you can only afford one set of gear, and I know that many of us are broke, I sugest textile for its good protection and great flexability
If you ride alot I think Text is the way to go. if your going for looks then leather. Text is waterproof leather is not I ride in all weather conditions and leather gets real wet and heavy My text coat is great for all conditions. I certainly don't go around thinking about wrecking....supersticious I guess. I wreked with no leather or anything before and had no scratches just a broken wrist.
Quote from: El Noobo on August 26, 2006, 08:36:25 PMWhat recommendation do you have for riding gear? Are leathers or textiles more effective? What brands / types do you prefer? Though I have a helmet, I'm looking for boots, gloves, pants, and a jacket. Your thoughts would be more than appreciated.
Since I live in the same climate as you...
Moto Leather == WAY more protection
Perf'd Moto Leather == Great for hot days
Textile == Only worth it if it's 100% waterproof and you plan on riding in the rain.
Mesh == Feels like riding naked, but offers protection
Fake "Motorcycle" Jacket == Looks cool, but won't do shaZam! in a crash
Trust me, there is no perfect all-season jacket... If you plan on riding on dry days during the Spring, Summer, and Fall, then get a leather jacket that has good armor, decent perforation, and a decent liner. You have TONS of options... I chose my Icon Retro Daytona because it: Looks friggen sweeeeeeeet, is quality 1.2 mm leather, has good armor in the shoulders and elbows, has great perforation and vents, is DAMN comfortable, and has a great liner... Did I mention is looks cool too? :laugh:
But... I also have a 100% waterproof textile jacket. It's only 450 Denier, so the best I can hope for is that I'll make it through the crash, 'cause there's NO WAY the jacket will be useful after that. It's WARM! It's comfortable... It zips to my 100% waterproof 600 Denier riding pants... But, it TOTALLY SUCKS in the summer.
So...
Dry REALLY FRIGGEN HOT days == Perf'd leather, wet T-Shirt, and LOTS of water... Or mesh... Or go to the beach and drink margaritas. :thumb:
Dry Warm days == Perf'd leather
Dry not-so-warm days == Perf'd leather with liner... Or non-perf'd leather without liner.
Dry cold days == Perf'd leather with liner and hoodie... Or non-perf'd leather with liner.
Wet == 100% waterproof Textile jacket with as high a denier rating as you can get.
Cold == Layers and THICK gloves.
Wet & cold == Combo of layers, thick gloves, hoodies, waterproof gear, and lots of shivering.
Gloves == 100% THICK LEATHER... There is no option. For riding in the cold or cold and wet, I suggest the Cold-Front Carbon glove... I love it! :icon_mrgreen:
Boots == Leather (or similar motorcycle specific abrasion resistant material) above your ankle
Helmet == Full-Face saves chins. Open face looks cool, but ain't doing jack in a crash.
Pants == Pretty much the same idea as jackets... Leather is best for dry, waterproof (with a high denier rating) is best for wet.
One thing to keep in mind when buying a leather jacket is that down the road you may want to (and probably should) get leather pants to go with it. If you get pants that zip together, you have yourself a 2-piece that is suitable for track use. For this reason, I usually recommend that folks go with Alpinestars or Dainese. Both have a good selection of pants and jackets, and they both are very reliable. There may be other good brands, but those are the two that I've seen in action the most.
Quote from: brett on August 29, 2006, 03:25:17 PMI usually recommend that folks go with Alpinestars or Dainese.
They do make good stuff... I like Alpinestars stuff. They have different fits between the different styles of jackets, so if one doesn't fit a different style probably will. They also make a wide variety of gear AND it's readily available and easy to find on sale.
Dai
mne
xpens
ive is... well... Da
imn expensive. :o
Keep in mind that if your pants and jacket don't match, you can take the mating zipper from one and get it sewn to the other... That's what I did with my textile gear. :thumb:
[,7
Dude... You can get a 500+ Denier Textile jacket with Waterproof/Breathable membrane (ala Goretex) and waterproof zippers (yes, they really are) for under 3 bills... EASILY. Most are more like $200.
Theoretical leather is fun to talk about, but let's get real.
Can you go to the store and buy it?
Does it come in the color you want?
Is it worth spending 5 bills on it?
Does it have good armor?
Does it fit you?
So... Anyway...
Just wear what Pablo wears: leather thong and lace one-piece suit.... :icon_rolleyes:
:icon_mrgreen:
[j
You paid more for your jacket than I did for nearly all my gear. Yeah... It sucks that my perf'd leather isn't waterproof and that my waterproof jacket isn't leather... But, I can pay for both of them AND have money left over to buy more crap.
Brown leather only works on bomber jackets with fur collars... Black leather is about as exciting as watching HD riders drink themselves into a brick wall... No... Wait... I mean... Black leather is boring.
I just don't get the point of a black, non-perf'd, waterproof leather jacket... It's HOT HOT HOT... So, I guess I can pay less for two jackets and be comfotable year round. :dunno_white: To each his own eh? :icon_razz:
[j
The first one would look good on the floor.
The second one would look good on fire.
But... WTF do I know? This is MY jacket: Icon Retro Daytona (http://www.newenough.com/product_pictures/i/icon_retro_daytona_jacket/yellow.jpg)
i just got a vanson jacket
for very
cheap
Quote from: ducati_nolan on August 28, 2006, 10:40:56 PM
... but with my textile jackett I can open up a bunch of vents and stay cool in the summer and I can zip in the liner and stay warm and dry in the rain.
ditto for many leather jackets. not all are perf'd. many have zip vents. almost all come with a liner for cold days.
and motorcycle specific leather does not get heavy and waterlogged. Coming back from my first trackday, which I RODE to, I rode 1 hr home in this:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/pantablo/Willowsprings045.jpg)
I was fine. Leather didnt feel overly heavy. I dont know where you get your info. Moto leather is NOT fashion leather. that is crap.
and leather jackets can be bought for $300 or less. newenough.com has them for as low as $170 (firstgear leather jacket). there's no [cost] reason NOT to wear leather, unless you insist on mesh (not textile, mesh) because of the temps.
buy the most that you can afford whether its textile or leather.