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.

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.


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...


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.   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.  

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.