Dedicated to Golden State Bikers

An important phrase you will often hear from expert riders regarding safety is, “See and be seen.” The “see” part of this phrase is referring to your ability to see clearly what is going on all around you. The “be seen” part is in reference to other driver’s ability to see you. There are a couple things you can do to increase others ability to see you. First, you should always ride in spots where the traffic around you can see you either in front of them, next to them, or behind them. This means not riding in people’s blind spots. In addition, it means doing what is other drivers expect you to do. For example, if you are flying down the highway at one hundred miles per hour, the cars you are passing are likely not going to see you coming. They could end up moving out in front of you at the last second resulting in an accident.

Something you can do to increase your visibility before you ever even climb onto your bike is to wear brightly colored gear. It is the same concept as construction workers wearing bright orange vests. The idea is to draw the attention of traffic so they can see you from a long way off. You can find brightly colored equipment of all kinds. From the helmet all the way down to the boots, many manufacturers make high visibility motorcycle clothing.

In addition to bright colors, another important factor of high visibility clothing is reflective gear. This is especially important at night, and during a storm. Here are a few choices for highly visible motorcycle clothing:

Jacket

Typically sport bike jackets come in a variety of bright colors. Most of these types of jackets are equipped with reflective seems that are easily seen at night. Basic leather jackets that are quite common for cruiser riders are mostly black, and occasionally brown. If you are wearing a plain jacket you should consider purchasing some kind of colored vest or overcoat to wear during low visibility situations. The vest you decide on should ideally have some waterproof and reflective qualities to it.

Pants

Since your torso is what most people are going to be able to see rather than your legs, highly visible pants are not as pertinent as a jacket. However, there are many different kinds of sport riding pants and nylon pants that come in loud colors. The nylon pants are valuable for not only making you easier to see, but also keeping you dry in the rain.

Gloves, Boots and Helmets

You won’t find many riders who spend the extra money on reflective gloves, boot and helmets. Most motorcyclists are content to wear their normal equipment when it comes to these kinds of gear. There are some choices for more visibility in these areas. Finding them could prove to be a bit trickier than finding high visibility jackets and pants.

High-Visibility Motorcycle Accessories

Other than what you wear on your body, there are some other things you can mount directly to your bike that will make you easier to see. Various reflective decals can be purchased very inexpensively. For a bit more money you could purchase something like a reflective license plate holder, or LED brake lights and turn signals.

Many riders’ biggest concern is that you can control how you ride, but you can’t control how other people drive. That is why every motorcyclist should do whatever it takes to “see and be seen,” at all times, and that is why you should consider high visibility motorcycle clothing.

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It’s a beautiful day so you call up a few friends and organize a nice long motorcycle ride. You ride for a couple hours, and are far from home when the clouds roll in. You hopelessly wish away the rain, but unfortunately the afternoon has brought in the thunderstorm. Now you are caught in a torrential downpour. It is at this time that you begin kicking yourself for not having the necessary raingear to safely and comfortably make the rest of the journey home.

After about 1 minute of riding through this storm you are sufficiently soaked, and are now freezing cold. Each little drop of rain feels like a tiny needle poking your exposed hands and face. The bigger drops feel like a small pebble hitting your skin at terminal velocity. You are being splashed with water by every car that is now angrily blasting past you because you have slowed to 30 miles per hour on the highway. You think, “What could possibly be more miserable than this?” That’s when it starts to hail. Now your situation has gone from miserable to very dangerous. You can no longer wait for an overpass to stop under, instead you must pull off and sit there soaked in rain and wait for the storm to pass. The rain has now successfully “put a damper” on your motorcycling adventure.

Anyone who has ridden a motorcycle for more than a few months probably has a story similar to this one. Getting caught in the rain is not only miserable, but quite dangerous. Even if you are equipped properly, riding in wet conditions is not recommended. However, if you are well equipped you can at least brave these conditions comfortably. Being comfortable will aid you in making good riding decisions and help you focus on the road instead of thinking about how freezing you are. This article will give you a brief synopsis of each piece of raingear you might consider bringing with you.

Basic Raingear

First of all, three basic things you will want in case you are caught in the rain are proper riding boots, gloves and a helmet… preferably a full helmet equipped with a face shield. The gloves will serve as a shield between your bare hands and the cold wind and sharp rain drops. The boots will keep your feet from getting water logged and frozen by the water being kicked up by your front tire.

Helmets

The helmet will protect your scalp and face from the painful raindrops as well. The face shield is preferred because it is designed like a windshield on a car. It repels water down and to the sides instead of sitting right on the lens like simple shades would do. This will increase your vision during a rain storm, though you will likely still have to wipe your face shield occasionally to clear off any residual drops that are being stubborn. A half helmet will cover your scalp, but your ears and nose will still be exposed to the painful pokes of rain.

Waterproof Jacket

That leaves two things that you will need to stay dry, warm and comfortable during a rainstorm: a waterproof jacket and pants. There are many different types of jackets that you can purchase to stay dry. Many of these jackets are also designed for warm weather as well. Most leather jackets will offer a decent amount of protection from the wind and rain, however you may want to consider some sort of bright colored nylon poncho to carry along as well. The bright colored poncho will increase your visibility to other drivers who are also struggling to see through the storm. It will also help to keep the water off your nice leather jacket. The leather jacket will only do the job of keeping you dry for a little while, until the water begins to seep under your collar and down your shirt. That is why you may want to consider a real rain jacket. These jackets are usually nylon lined on the outside to repel water. They also typically have a hood that goes under the helmet to prevent water from going down the back of your neck. Another important feature is an elastic cuff to keep water off your arms. These kinds of jackets are usually sized large enough to easily fit over whatever jacket you are wearing underneath. You should lean toward purchasing a brightly colored jacket to make you easy for others to see.

Waterproof Rain Pants

Much like rain jackets, rain pants are usually lined in nylon to repel the water. They typically have elastic ankles and an elastic waste band to keep water from sneaking inside your pants and down into your boots. Wearing jeans in the rain is miserable because denim will stay soaked for hours to come. Well after you have cleared through the storm your legs will still be wet.

Remember, the best way safely ride when its wet is to not get wet.

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One of the dumbest things a motorcyclist can do is wear flip flops on a bike. Not only will this make it much more difficult to shift gears, but it exposes your feet to being trashed out by rocks on the road, or broken in an accident. When riding a motorcycle the thing that is closest to the ground is going to be your feet. They are most closely exposed to all of the debris on the road. Even your average tennis shoe will not offer much protection from larger rocks kicked up on the highway. Nonetheless, many motorcyclists including myself are guilty of wearing improper footwear most of the time. Though you will not catch me dead wearing flip flops! Though not a wise choice, motorcyclists are usually too excited to get out on their bikes that they don’t want to take the extra time to gear up properly. There are some much better choices to make before climbing on your bike, including slipping on some proper boots. This article will go over the benefits of the features of a well designed riding boot.

Types of Boots

There are two basic types of motorcycle boots. One is designed for sport bikes, and one is designed for cruisers.

Sport Bike Boots

First we will examine the sport bike boots. Sport bike boots come in a myriad of colors. This is because most sport bike riders like to have all their gear match their bike. They also come in either a three quarter length, or a full length boot. The full length boot is going to offer a bit more coverage higher up on the leg. Most sport bike boots are constructed with a micro-fiber material that is designed to resist abrasion. For impact protection, these types of boots have some sort of impact absorbing foam. There are many different types of foams of which could be a lengthy scientific study in itself. All of the foams however perform the same basic function: To absorb the impact of a harsh blow, and spread it throughout the boot instead of directly onto your foot and ankle. In addition to the safety features of the boot, there are also many different comfort features. These boots are ventilated in some area to keep the foot and leg cool. Each boot is going to have its own specific comfort features such as arch support, wider foot bed, and different kinds of Velcro straps that add to the comfort of the rider. On the bottom of the boot is usually a rubber tread that maximizes grip on the foot pegs, as well as on the ground.

Cruiser Boots

Cruiser boots have a more subtle look to them. They typically come in either black or brown leather. They also come in a three quarter, or full length size. Cruiser boots have the appearance of a nice work boot yet are engineered for more protection than the average work boot. Most cruiser boots have a steel or plastic toe to guard against debris on the road. Most of these kinds of boots have a steel ring on either side of the ankle held in place by straps that go around the heel of the boot. The ring is designed to give support and protection your ankle in case of a crash. In addition, they have a slip resistant sole to maintain grip on and off the foot pegs. Unlike sport bike boots, cruiser boots typically do not have an impact absorbing foam lining. For comfort, these boots normally have a padded insert. Cruiser boots are secured by laces instead of Velcro straps.

Fancier Options

There are some more expensive types of boots that are designed for cold, wet weather. These boots have a lining that serves to repel water, as well as keep the foot warm. These boots have similar safety features as most sport bike boots. In fact, if you can afford it, these boots are the best boot money can buy. Though they are designed for colder weather, wearing them when it’s warm will not be a problem due to their well designed ventilation systems.

Wrap-Up

The debate will likely rage on for years to come… What is the point of wearing riding boots? Riding boots are not going to make the difference between life and death in a crash like a helmet would. Obviously, this is because they are protecting your feet instead of any vital organs. However, they could prevent you from crashing due to getting hit in the foot with a rock and losing focus on the road. In addition, they will protect your feet in case you do happen to crash.  Hopefully this article helped to answer any questions you might have about the benefits of a proper boot. Now you can make your own personal decision, are you going to wear boots or not?

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Remember when you were a kid and you were running around on the concrete when you tripped and fell down? On the way down you inevitably put both hands down to catch yourself and the result was quite painful. The same instinct to catch your fall with your hands will likely kick in if you crash your motorcycle. That is why the oft overlooked use of riding gloves should be considered.

You will not find a state that requires a motorcyclist to wear gloves. So wearing gloves is really up to each individual rider. There are several different choices of gloves to wear. One of the biggest factors as to why many people choose to not wear gloves is the price tag. The fact of the matter is the nicest Harley Davidson glove is not a necessity. Some motorcyclists choose to wear some gloves that are not even designed for riding specifically. These kinds of gloves will not offer as much protection, but they are better than nothing. This article will examine a few of the different choices you will find when deciding which glove to choose.

Fit

The first thing to consider when purchasing a riding glove is the fit. You don’t want a glove where your fingers are touching the end of the glove. The reason for this is once you grab hold of the grips on your bike your hand will be rotated forward, but the glove will tend to grab hold of the grip. Therefore your fingers will be jammed into the fingertips of the glove and become quite uncomfortable after a bit of time. You also do not want a glove that is going to have an excess of space between your fingers and the end of the glove. This will rob you of some dexterity as you operate all of the hand controls on your motorcycle. The ideal glove should fit about a quarter inch longer than your finger length.

Different Conditions? Different Gloves.

You may also want to consider owning two pairs of gloves. One pair for warm and dry weather, and one pair for cold and wet weather. Trying to ride in cold weather with improper gloves is miserable. The wind just goes right through a normal pair of gloves, so having a pair of gloves for cold weather is an essential if you want to ride on colder days. There are tons of choices for cold weather gloves. These are more expensive than warm weather gloves because they are usually insulated with Thinsulate or some other form of insulation. Something to examine when you are looking at different cold weather gloves is the dexterity each glove offers. You should try on many different pairs to see what fits best, and what is the most comfortable. In addition to protection from the elements, these gloves usually provide all the typical safety aspects of the most protective warm weather glove.

Types of Gloves

The most protective glove on the market is made of leather, and has plastic armor on the knuckles. The plastic will do a great job of preventing damage to the knuckles either via rocks coming up off the road, or from a crash. These gloves often have a rubber pad on the palm of the glove to offer more grip on the handlebars, as well as to resist abrasion in case of a crash. Most of these gloves are also vented on the backhand side. They are put on and taken off by a Velcro strap on the back of the wrist.

The next kind of glove is a basic leather glove. This glove does not have the added protection on the knuckles, but it can be found with rubber palms and backhand ventilation. These gloves can be found with either a Velcro attachment on the back of the wrist, or simply a slip on variety.

A popular choice for cruiser riders is the fingerless gloves. These offer maximum dexterity, and addition to that they look real tough! They are typically made of durable leather. These gloves cover the palm, back of the hand and each finger up to the first knuckle. Fingerless gloves are great for warm weather, but of all the riding gloves they offer the least amount of protection. Most of these gloves also have the Velcro strap for putting them on and taking them off.

Economical Gloves

Finally, there are some choices that are a little easier on the wallet. You can find some leather gloves or work gloves at a hardware store. These gloves will do a decent job of protecting your hands from debris kicked up off the road, but that’s about all the protection they will offer. Some of the leather choices may hold up decently in case of a crash to prevent your hands from getting overly torn up by the road.

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“Avoiding Road Rash in Comfort”

You want to see something amazing and exciting? Tune into one of the AMA motorcycle races that are often seen on TV that display the ridiculous skill that some of the riders have worked hard to obtain. These racers blast around the courses and through turns at speeds up to 200 miles per hour. These racers lean over far enough through the corners that they are dragging their knees. The thought crosses the mind when watching one of these races, “What happens if they crash?” Well the answer is simple. They slide… a very, very long way. These riders are trained to go into a slide when they know they are about to go down. That way, instead of tumbling and breaking every bone in their body, they simply slide to a stop and let their protective gear keep them from injury.

If these riders are kept safe by their gear at well over a hundred miles per hour, one can assume that if the average street rider wears the proper equipment they will be well protected. Obviously, the every day rider is not going to wear full racing leathers. However, they should not neglect to cover the majority of their body with some kind of proper gear. This includes the legs. The vast majority of casual motorcyclists are content with throwing on a helmet and possibly some boots. The most unprepared of motorcyclists can be seen wearing shades, a t-shirt, some shorts and flip flops. If that person were to crash they would either be dead, or so banged up they would be wishing they were dead. What happens if you crash while wearing only some shorts or jeans? Well, my guess is your legs would look similar to some raw meat that’s been beaten bloody by Rocky Balboa. This article will go over a few different types of dry weather riding pants to help you decide which kind of pants would best suit your needs.

Full Race Pants

These pants are the most protection a rider can get for their legs. They are also the most expensive, and the most cumbersome. They are typically designed for people who ride their sport bikes to the max. There are a lot of different choices of racing pants. These types of pants are usually constructed with some variety of durable leather. They also come in a synthetic mesh material that comes in many colors. They also have knee protection for dragging the knee around tight corners. They also have padding in the hips in case of a crash. The most popular brand of racing pants is manufactured by Joe Rocket. Joe Rocket also controls most of the sales of jackets for sport bikes.

Full Leather Pants

These pants are designed for riders of all kinds. They protect against small debris kicked up off the road, and they also are designed to prevent road rash. They will not however offer any extra padding around the joints. In addition to their safety features, these pants do a good job in keeping the legs warm. They are typically constructed with durable leather.

Riding Jeans

These are a relatively new variety of riding pant. From the outside they look just like normal jeans. However, they are usually a lot thicker in the knees and will hold up well to prevent road rash in a sliding situation. They also protect against small debris kicked up off the road. These pants are valued because they are more fashionable than most varieties of riding pants. They are constructed with some sort of abrasion-resistant denim.

Leather Chaps

These pants cover only the legs. They are held up by a belt around the waste. It would be rare to see someone on a sport bike wearing chaps. These are worn by riders on cruisers or touring bikes. Chaps usually fit a little bit looser than normal leather pants. They are usually black, but they can also be found in brown or white. They are constructed with durable cowhide leather to protect against small debris on the road. More expensive varieties of chaps have an elastic lining on the inner thigh portion for a more comfortable fit. Cheaper pairs are typically made of only leather. These pants are valued for their comfort, and because they are easier to take on and off.

Those are the basic types of dry weather pants. There are many pants that are waterproof, and are designed to be worn in the rain. Those will be discussed in another article. Though it is quite rare to see someone wearing proper pants, they are a vital part of motorcycle safety gear. The extra time it might take to put on some good pants could end up being well worth it.

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Let’s get right down to business here.  You have only one pair of eyes and the threat of high-velocity projectiles taking aim on your face during a ride is a virtual guarantee.  Even the most casual motorcycle rider has taken a bug, rock or some other object to the face, so it’s not a question of  ”if” you get hit, it’s only a matter of how many times will you get hit during a single ride and whether those hits go to the eye.  The plain truth is; riding a motorcycle without proper eye protection will at a minimum; get you a 100% probability of catastrophic eye loss and perhaps even death through loss of control.  Considering the probabilities against you and the repercussions of failing to protect the eyes, this subject of protective eyewear could arguably be considered of even higher importance than even the highly touted helmet, and most definitely places it on the list of critical essentials.  Given the importance of the issue, let’s take a moment and examine protective eyewear.

In the Beginning

Eye protection is not a new concept.  In the old days before glass or plastics, eye protection was accomplished with bronze or iron face shields that contained either fine slits or tiny holes to view through. Remember the gladiators?  Eventually with the advent of glass, eye protection was marginally improved through ground and polished lenses, however, it wasn’t until impact resistant safety glass came into being that such lenses could be considered truly protective.  Nowadays, with high-tech plastics, protective eyewear has evolved once again.  Pure glass lenses no longer exist and the shatter-proof plastic lenses are king.

Overall Design, Style and Function

One of the first things a rider will want to consider is what form of protection they seek, and once again, what level of risk they are willing to accept.  There are many options available here ranging from face shields, goggles and glasses, with each providing differing levels of protection.  Many motorcycle helmets take on a dual role by providing not only head protection, but also employ partial visors or full-face shields for eye and face protection.  These options provide the greatest level of safety and protection because they cover more of the face and eyes than do the other options.  Goggles are another alternative that many riders use, and though goggles are predominantly worn by off-road riders, many street riders prefer them as well. The primary difference between off-road and street goggles is that street goggles generally possess somewhat smaller lenses than their off-road cousins.  The appeal in the use of goggles vs. visor or shield is that many goggles possess quick-change lenses enabling the user to adjust to a variety of lighting conditions.  Another benefit to goggles is for riders wearing prescription eyeglasses that don’t want to wear a helmet-based shield or visor, whereby many goggles are specifically designed to accommodate prescription eyeglasses.   The final form of eye protection is safety riding glasses.  Riding glasses are typically differentiated form other forms of safety glasses by the use of foam surrounding the eyepieces to reduce wind.  Of the available choices, the riding glasses possess the least level of overall protection since the eyes, though the most critical, are the only thing being protected.

Additional Factors

Tinting:

Another factor to consider is lens or shield tint in any of the various forms of eye protection discussed.  Lighting conditions change regularly and it’s often a good idea to have options available to get the most your gear.  Though full-face shields offer the greatest overall level of protection to the eyes and face, this option is also the least flexible in terms of quickly and easily adjusting to variable lighting conditions.  One of the most common ways to combat this issue is by using a clear all-purpose shield and wear tinted glasses.  This allows the rider to change the eyeglasses without the hassle of trying to change out a shield.  Goggles and riding glasses tend to be far more flexible in terms of adjusting to changing conditions quickly and easily.  Many goggle manufacturers make their products with quick-change lenses that snap in and out in seconds.  This is an excellent way to adapt your protective eyewear to changing light conditions.  Lens colors will vary, but generally speaking you will primarily utilize clear for night riding, smoke or dark tint for bright sun conditions and some riders prefer yellow lenses for flat light, or foggy conditions.

Coatings:

Additional factors to consider are whether your choice of eye protection is made with UV ray protection, scratch-resistant lenses and fog-resistant coatings.  Many of the lower end products, particularly in glasses and goggles will tend to not provide these extra benefits.

Wind Mitigation:

Of course when you use a full-face shield, wind is not a factor since your face is completely covered.  However, if you should choose one of the other options, you will need to make certain that sufficient foam surrounds the eyepieces to reduce the effects of wind blowing into your eyes.  When riding at 70 MPH, wind has a funny way of getting into the smallest of cracks surrounding your eyewear.  For durability, you will want to make certain you are using neoprene foam as opposed the garden variety lightweight foam.  This type of foam will tend to breakdown quickly and you’ll be out purchasing another pair.

The Right Stuff

So which type of eye protection is the right stuff?  The absolute best answer here is that which type or style of eye protection you choose is of far less importance than making the simple choice of committing to safe riding and protecting your eyes before firing up the beast in your garage.  Given the availability of quality protective options here, there is absolutely no reason not to.  You have only one pair of eyes; protecting them is truly the right stuff.

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The practice of head protection has been around for a very long time.  Dating back to ancient times, the original helmet utilized in combat was a rudimentary piece of equipment constructed of leather.  Later combat helmets began utilizing metals in the construction, and the use of steel helmets reigned supreme until the mid 20th century when plastics technology began taking root.  Helmet design and technology from it’s origins to today has radically changed, as has the role of the helmet itself.  Once considered only a battlefield piece of equipment, the helmet has evolved into the realms of high-tech and now protects the heads of not only soldiers, but also athletes, people in dangerous professions and recreational enthusiasts, including motorcycle riders.  This article will briefly examine today’s modern street motorcycle helmets and what you should be looking for when choosing a helmet.

Function

All motorcycle helmets specifically function to do one job; to protect your head from fatal trauma that results from impact.  Most helmets are designed with essentially four components that accomplish the job: the outer shell, the liner, the padding and the retention system.  The outer shell and liner do the lion’s share of protecting, while the padding is purely a function of comfort and of course, the retention system keeps it securely on your head.   As an important side note, any helmet that has been dropped or been previously worn in a crash is very likely to be compromised and should be replaced.

Design

Today’s motorcycle helmets are available in a wide range of designs, features and prices, but not all helmets are created equal.  When shopping for a helmet, the very first thing you should be looking for are certain stamps that indicate the helmet is fully approved as meeting the highest levels of safety standards.  DOT and Snell approved helmets have been designed and tested to meet certain federal safety standards and represent the optimum level of head trauma protection.  Most commercially available helmets meet these standards.  If a particular helmet you like is not DOT or Snell stamped, you should continue looking.

Style

Helmet style is something you should also carefully consider.  Fully approved helmets range from full-face, three-quarter and even a DOT approved half helmet.  As with most elements of motorcycle riding, the helmet you choose will be primarily driven by your personal tolerance and willingness to accept risk.  Consider a full-face helmet for the highest level of protection because it protects more than just your skull.  Like the name implies, a full-face helmet also covers and protects the chin and face in the event of a crash. A three-quarter helmet will protect head and face but leave the chin exposed, and a half-helmet will protect the head only.  A popular trend among the “I hate helmets” crowd is use of lightweight “skullcaps” or other novelty lids.  Such helmets do not meet the minimum safety standards and cannot legally be sold in the U.S. as a motorcycle protective helmet.  As a function of risk management, any “helmet” that falls into this category should be avoided.

Additional Factors

Now that you’ve found a DOT and/or Snell approved full-face helmet, what other factors should you consider before handing over the credit card?  Proper fit is, of course, an important thing to consider.  Full helmets should be able to easily slide onto your head, yet allow no movement laterally as you turn your head inside.  Half-helmets or “skid lids” should fit comfortably on your head, and yet be snug enough when the strap is tightened to possess little or no movement.  Movement is a key concept here because a helmet that is too loose will have a tenancy to slip or twist during an impact which can significantly reduce its effectiveness and perhaps cause unintended injury.  Additional consideration should be made to the design features of your helmet.  Does the helmet have a built-in visor, a flip-up visor or is it open face?  Ventilation is also a significant factor in choosing your helmet.  Of course, half-helmets get plenty of ventilation but it can get a little stuffy in that full-face helmet.  Look for adequate ventilation slots in the helmet to ensure airflow.  Assuming all other factors are equal, consider a brightly colored helmet over traditional black as a function of visibility.  You may even want to consider helmet add-ons such as reflective stickers or tape to add to the visibility factor, however under no circumstance should any alteration be made for any reason to the basic construction of the helmet.  Doing so will dramatically reduce the helmets effectiveness in the event of a crash.

So what can you expect to pay for a quality DOT/Snell approved helmet?  For better quality helmets with a greater range of design features and options, you can expect to pay a premium in excess of $500.  However, there are plenty of good quality helmets available in the $100-$200 price range, and you can even find approved half-helmets for as low as $50.

Wrap Up

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer here. The helmet you choose is a matter of personal choice after first carefully considering your level of risk tolerance.  If you happen to be riding in a no helmet law state, you may even choose to take the risk of riding with no helmet at all, but considering that the vast majority of states have adopted such laws, the selection of a helmet that’s right for you will need to consider many factors that hopefully have been addressed here.  The best advice is; buy the most helmet you can that fits into your budget and best satisfies your level of acceptable risk.

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Few things identify or say more about you as a motorcycle rider than the jacket you wear.  Traditionally speaking, if you see a guy walking around in a waist length black leather jacket with buckles, you will automatically identify him as a motorcycle rider.  But not just any motorcycle rider, but a “biker” who straps himself to a Harley, that loud and punishing king of the street cruiser.  These were the guys your mother warned you about, remember?  But things have changed a bit in the world of motorcycling with the introduction of the imported sport bikes, and along with the bikes came a whole new breed of rider and riding gear.  The new breed generally doesn’t wear the traditional black leathers, but sport fast looking, high-performance synthetic fiber jackets to match not only the color of the bike, but the new riding attitude as well.  Those hardened old school bikers will always remain faithful to the traditional leathers; it is after all, part of the culture.  However, with advances in textile and fiber technology, many riders and motorcycle jacket manufacturers are crossing over.

In this article we’ll draw some comparisons and explore the anatomy of a motorcycle jacket.

Materials

There are basically two options available when it comes to motorcycle riding gear: leather and synthetic fiber.  As a protective material, natural fibers such as cotton or wool do not perform well are not typically utilized in the manufacture of motorcycle riding gear.

Abrasion Protection

Myriad studies have shown that leather as a protective material for motorcycle riders is unsurpassed.  It actually acts as a very tough second skin, assuming of course that you have purchased a high quality product.  There are a lot of imported and cheaply made leather jackets on the market that use inferior grade hide.  The primary things to consider are the thickness and quality of the leather, and the stitching.

High-tech synthetic fibers such as abrasion-resistant poly-titanium and Kevlar® are now being widely utilized in the new generation jackets.  These materials perform much better than their early heavy nylon cousins, but still do not match the protection of a quality grade natural leather jacket.

Comfort

Contained within the broad scope of comfort are the dynamics of thermal and moisture protection, breathability and fit.  If the riding weather presents you with a 30 degree wind chill, leather is again a superior choice because the molecular structure and tanning process of leather provides maximum insulating capacity and wind resistance.    On the other hand, if it’s a 70 degree day and riding in leather, you’re likely to reach your destination being a mere fraction of your former self.  Simply put, leather does not breathe well and requires ventilation to stay cool.  In terms of water resistance, leather performs reasonably well, though regular maintenance is required to maintain its water resistant qualities.

By contrast, synthetic fiber jackets tend to breathe extremely well, and possess superior water resistant qualities, with some materials even possessing water-proofing.  However, fiber jackets tend to be somewhat less effective in overall thermal protection than leather.  Fortunately, there are options available that we’ll discuss later.

Fit is also an important part of the comfort equation.  With today’s advanced manufacturing processes, jackets can be easily tailored for a good fit in either leather or synthetic.  The primary comfort features to look for are gusseted or buckled waist and sleeves to reduce wind, as well as, an integrated flap over the zipper. Underarm and shoulders should provide ample freedom of movement without being floppy.  Many high-end synthetic jackets are even custom tailored with a built-in bend in the arms to provide a more natural and comfortable riding position without binding.

Durability

From a durability point of view, leather is again, unequalled.  Because leather is highly abrasion resistant and a non-melting natural material, a quality leather jacket can withstand the rigors of multiple crashes.  Assuming you’re fortunate enough to ride without incident, a good leather jacket will quite likely go with you to the old biker’s home.

With the advanced fibers currently in use, a good quality synthetic jacket will be quite durable as well, but cannot equal the longevity of leather.  This is largely a function of the material’s tolerance to general wear, and the breakdown of material in a crash event.  If you’ve ever intentionally burned off a loose string of man-made fiber, you’ve seen that it actually melts.  Now consider the extreme heat and friction being generated by a sliding mass on asphalt, and you get the picture.

Maintenance

In general, synthetic material is easier to maintain than leather, being both easily washable and treatable for water resistance.  By contrast, to be cleaned, a leather jacket needs to be sent off to the cleaners, and the leather needs regular conditioning to maintain suppleness and water resistance.

Additional Considerations

In addition to the basics we’ve discussed, here are a few other things to consider

Liners:

Breathable - An optional way of combating moisture retention due to lack of ventilation in a leather jacket is through the use of moisture-wicking liners such as Gore-tex®.

Insulating - In order to enhance thermal performance, particularly for synthetic fiber jackets, many higher end products will include a Thinsulate^TM liner.

Heated - Some manufacturers are now offering heated jacket liners that also integrate with gloves.

Pockets:

Ample pockets are a nice feature in a motorcycle jacket, and generally speaking, a synthetic jacket will provide a greater number of pockets than the leather alternative.  This is largely a function of the manufacturing process.

Padding & Armor:

One of the most distinguishing features in a synthetic jacket is the use of built-in memory cell foam at certain points such as torso and shoulder areas, and even armored elbow and shoulders.  Again, due to the manufacturing process, this is more cost effectively and easily accomplished with the fiber material than leather.  However, there are many high-end leather jackets available that incorporate these additional safety features.

Visibility: Bright vs. Black

When it comes to safety, visibility is vital.  Traditional black leather jackets are simply less visible to other vehicle operators than the new generation jackets.  Synthetic fibers can easily be dyed to virtually any highly visible color, while leather is less flexible in this regard. Additionally, synthetic textiles also lend themselves well to additional reflective material being sewn in than leather.

And The Winner Is:

Sorry, no clear winner can be declared.  The simple fact is that each style or type of jacket possesses certain qualities that make it superior to the other and both will perform well under most conditions.  On the one hand you’ve got the leather jacket; that time-tested material that’s been around as long as cows, goats and maybe even dinosaurs have roamed the earth with man.  On the other hand you’ve got the new generation, high-performance synthetic fiber jacket that’s lightweight, comfortable and generally inexpensive by comparison.  Which option you choose is entirely a matter of personal choice and you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong either way.  But consider for a moment your risk management program and the entire reasoning for wearing a riding jacket in the first place; and the answer is protection.  Given the information available, which option do you think is best?

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