Canadian GP
Well-known member
Back in my day leather was the only option. What are the pros and cons of both?
TIA
TIA
Leather VS textile jackets?
- Thread starter Canadian GP
- Start date
consider mesh neither leather nor ballistic fabric is cool
Mesh is yet still excellent protection and armor.
It's easy to make warmer, $60 liner and whatever rain jacket you choose- it's impossible to make the others cooler - easy to make the mesh warmer.
I wear a JR mesh jacket with armour and love it. Ride from 8 degrees with the liner up to about 30 when like today - it's a short sleeve shirt.
Great armour you don't even feel.
The $60 liner makes it warmer and windproof.
Have TWO ballistic touring jackets ( one a 3 pc set ) - never worn them. ( the JR XL set is for sale on here )
Have been wearing kevlar sliders but just ordered Olympia Recon 3 Mesh Pants which are convertible ( there is a thread around. )
The Kevlars are flexible and comfortable but damn are they warm. Nice thing is they can pull over boots.
They don't look arrmoured but are.
The Recon supposedly provided excellent protection while much cooler and they convert to shorts which is something I wanted.
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/olympia-recon-3-mesh-pants
There is a ton of gear here
http://www.revzilla.com/search?query=recon+3&x=0&y=0
with good videos and explanations.
Incredible what's available and getting better every year.
Mesh is yet still excellent protection and armor.
It's easy to make warmer, $60 liner and whatever rain jacket you choose- it's impossible to make the others cooler - easy to make the mesh warmer.
I wear a JR mesh jacket with armour and love it. Ride from 8 degrees with the liner up to about 30 when like today - it's a short sleeve shirt.
Great armour you don't even feel.
The $60 liner makes it warmer and windproof.
Have TWO ballistic touring jackets ( one a 3 pc set ) - never worn them. ( the JR XL set is for sale on here )
Have been wearing kevlar sliders but just ordered Olympia Recon 3 Mesh Pants which are convertible ( there is a thread around. )
The Kevlars are flexible and comfortable but damn are they warm. Nice thing is they can pull over boots.
They don't look arrmoured but are.
The Recon supposedly provided excellent protection while much cooler and they convert to shorts which is something I wanted.
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/olympia-recon-3-mesh-pants
There is a ton of gear here
http://www.revzilla.com/search?query=recon+3&x=0&y=0
with good videos and explanations.
Incredible what's available and getting better every year.
Last edited:
versatility
I have been a leather-wearer for the 1st 20 yrs of street riding......until I finally tried textile 2 yrs ago.
When street riding now, I always wear textile, unless I am "on location" in the midst of the twisties and going on kamikaze day runs-then I will wear leather.
I have been a leather-wearer for the 1st 20 yrs of street riding......until I finally tried textile 2 yrs ago.
When street riding now, I always wear textile, unless I am "on location" in the midst of the twisties and going on kamikaze day runs-then I will wear leather.
TorontoBoy
Well-known member
Leather offers by far much better protection against sliding and road rash, because it is abrasion resistant and long lasting. Leather is also hot and heavy, and not waterproof. I would pass out if I wore leather in +25C weather. There is also perforated leather, which is leather with little holes in it, providing additional air flow.
Textile and mesh should be considered a one time crash garment. Similar to a helmet, the garment may be destroyed when you fall. Textile can be near waterproof, is light and can have good ventilation. Mesh is cooler than textile because air goes right through.
All three types of material need armour, which will protect you from the initial blunt force trauma of a fall. Textile and Mesh will keep the armour from moving, providing extra slide protection from road rash. While the material that slides on the pavement may wear through, the armour underneath should not, thereby providing you with protection.
There is really no one type of material that can do it all. If you must choose one I would choose textile. Ideally you should have all three.
Textile and mesh should be considered a one time crash garment. Similar to a helmet, the garment may be destroyed when you fall. Textile can be near waterproof, is light and can have good ventilation. Mesh is cooler than textile because air goes right through.
All three types of material need armour, which will protect you from the initial blunt force trauma of a fall. Textile and Mesh will keep the armour from moving, providing extra slide protection from road rash. While the material that slides on the pavement may wear through, the armour underneath should not, thereby providing you with protection.
There is really no one type of material that can do it all. If you must choose one I would choose textile. Ideally you should have all three.
