Hi All,

I currently have a mesh (lace  ) 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.

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!

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.



-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.